Meet The Team

Ms. Dana Schuchardt

Owner

Dana could not have been more excited about opening Goldfish Swim School – Park Ridge! As a lover of the water and a lifelong swimmer, she feels it is important for other children to learn this essential life skill, AND to have fun while doing it! Dana grew up in Birmingham, MI where she was first introduced to swimming at age 4. Her love for the sport developed quickly and continued on throughout college, where she was an NCAA All-American and the 2011 captain of the University of Arizona swim team. After college, Dana relocated to California following a marketing career in the wine business. In 2016, she was ready to get back to her roots and pursue new and exciting opportunities. As the Owner and General Manager of Goldfish Swim School – Park Ridge, Dana has the chance to combine her passion for swimming and children, with her background in Business Marketing and Brand Management. She is looking forward to welcoming you and your little ones to the Goldfish family this up-coming year! Swimming-Related Accomplishments: 16-time High School Swimming State Champion, NCAA National Champion – University of Arizona, 2008, 2-time NCAA All-American, University of Arizona Swim Team Captain, 2011, 4-time Pac12 Conference All-Academic, 2-time Olympic Trial Qualifier, 2004, 2008, Olympic Trial 17th Place Finisher, 100 Butterfly, 2008

Mr. Alex Schuchardt

Owner

Mr. Alex is one of the owners of Goldfish Swim School Park Ridge with his wife Dana Schuchardt. Mr. Alex has a passion of helping others and making sure we strive as a team to give you the Golden experience. Mr. Alex joined the team a year ago and has been an amazing partner to work with. The Schuchardt’s also had a blessing added to their lives with welcoming a baby girl (Weston) this year! Mr. Alex and Ms. Dana are so excited on opening a second Goldfish Swim School in Arizona, where they have moved to last year.

Ms. Megan Sklade

General Manager

Megan came to us from Goldfish Swim School in Arlington Heights, and we are SO lucky to have her! Megan has over 20 years of aquatic operations management experience, and was also a competitive swimmer for 12 years! She is very passionate about Goldfish and teaching children the importance of water safety. Please introduce yourself to Megan the next time you’re in the facility – She cannot wait to meet all of our amazing members!!

Ms. Emily Voss

Assistant General Manager

Miss Emily loves working with children! She started nannying when she was twelve years old and she has been working with Goldfish for almost 5 years. Her favorite movie is Interstellar and she loves to listen to podcasts. Some fun facts about Miss Emily are that she has two cats named Lucy and Piper, and she loves to travel abroad. Some of the places Miss Emily has travelled to include Spain, Italy, France, and China.

Mr. Anthony L

Sales and Service Manager

Mr. Anthony is a recent graduate from North Eastern Illinois University. He has volunteered regular at his local church. Outside of work, he is a big sports fan and gamer. Mr. Anthony also loves to attend concerts whenever he can, whether local or mainstream. Fun Facts: He can play 3 instruments- Guitar, Vocal and Piano. Mr. Anthony has been in 5 musicals!

Ms. Emily S

Front Desk Representative

Ms. Emily is the youngest of 3 siblings. She has been a nanny for 2 years now! Ms. Emily is currently studying Psychology. She loves all things Disney and theater. She has worked in theater at her high school for all 4 years! Fun Fact: Ms. Emily S loves doing crafts like painting, drawing and knitting. She also played basketball and softball for 9 years.

Mr. Nathan M

Deck Supervisor

Mr. Nathan goes by Nate as well. He loves videos games, riding bikes and watching movies! Mr. Nathans favorite kinds of pets are dogs and cats. If you can tell Mr. Nathan a cool fact you automictically get a high five! Fun Facts: He knows how to speak German! Mr. Nathan can do a couple of voice impressions. Mainly Yoda, Kermit the frog and Carl Wheezer!

Ms. Sydney S

Deck Supervisor

Ms. Sydney has been a competitive  swimmer since she was 10 years old. She loves swimming butterfly, but she is better at the freestyle. However, when she is not in the pool, she often hikes or goes on runs. Exercising is always the cure to a bad day for her she says, especially swimming! Fun Facts: She was the captain of her swim team in high school. She can play two instruments, the alto saxophone and the oboe.

Ms. Charlotte F

Swim Instructor

Ms. Charlotte loves Disney movies! She enjoys taking care of kids as well as creating great bonds between herself and her students. Fun Facts: Her favorite sport is basketball and she loves Marvel movies.

Ms. Colleen C.

Swim Instructor

Miss Colleen’s favorite color is purple. She has three brothers and considers her mom to be one of her role models. Miss Colleen’s favorite food is pasta and her favorite musician is Luke Bryan. She would love to visit Ireland. When Miss Colleen was younger she did gymnastics, she can even do a cartwheel! She enjoys dancing and her favorite dessert is ice cream. Some of her hobbies include walking her dogs, traveling, and playing sports.

Ms. Kelly C.

Swim Instructor

Miss Kelly’s favorite color is pink. She loves going to beaches and visiting different cities, and she hopes to go to Spain one day. Her Grandma is her role model and she has five sisters. Miss Kelly’s favorite foods are spaghetti and meatballs and chocolate. She just got a new puppy and her favorite animal is an otter. A special talent of Miss Kelly is that she can do a handstand underwater. Some of her hobbies include baking and listening to music, she really likes to listen to Steve Lacy. Give Miss Kelly a high five when you see her around the school!

Ms. Lauren W

Swim Instructor

Ms. Lauren is known for being an outgoing, fun person. She comes from a huge family and loves them dearly. She likes to go to the gym in her free time. Fun Fact: She is a travel softball player and has been for 13 years. She is a catcher on the team. She also loves traveling and has been to 32 states and 4 countries.

Mr. Luca A

Swim Instructor/Lifeguard

Mr. Luca Is a varsity cross country and track runner. He has 3 younger siblings who he takes to the local pool to swim in the summer. Mr. Luca loves being outdoors and playing sports with his siblings and friends. Fun Fact: He used to be a competitive swimmer. He was also MVP for his cross country team at school.

Mr. Matthew S

Swim Instructor

Mr. Matthew likes to go by the name Matt instead. He loves videos games and used to play a lot of sports. Mr. Matt has a little sister and a rescue dog named Shadow. He’s currently in school to get his degree in computer science. Fun facts: In 8th grade, Mr. Matt went to state for the 100M and 200M dash for track and field. Mr. Matt also likes to listen to all genres of music.

Ms. Maya Z.

Swim Instructor

Miss Maya’s favorite color is pink. She is Polish and has two brothers. She looks to her mom as one of her greatest role models. Miss Maya enjoys hanging out with friends and traveling to Florida. Her favorite food is pasta and her favorite artist is Rihanna. One of her favorite movies is Mamma Mia. Miss Maya absolutely loves dogs and has one of her own!

Ms. Mia Z

Swim Instructor

Ms. Mia loves the color blue and eating cheeseburgers. Her favorite place to travel is Florida, but she would love to visit the Bahamas! Ms. Mia has a twin brother and a little sister, and she looks up to her mom. She also loves gymnastics and can even do a flip on a beam! Ms. Mia’s favorite movie is The Notebook and her favorite musician is Morgan Wallen.

Henry Schuchardt

Trainee

Meet Henry our unofficial mascot!

Ms. Sophia G.

Swim Instructor

Miss Sophia has one brother. Her favorite color is aqua and her role model is Selena Gomez. She loves to eat sushi and steak. One of her secret talents is that she is able to make her tongue look like a clover. One day, Miss Sophia would like to visit New Orleans and Greece. Some fun facts about Miss Sophia are that she used to act in commercials and she used to own horses.  Her favorite movie is The Lego Movie and her favorite musician is Bruno Mars. Miss Sophia’s hobbies are biking and baking.

Ms. Luisa O.

Swim Instructor

Miss Luisa’s favorite colors are blue and mint. She has three siblings and her grandmother is her role model. Durango, Mexico is one of her favorite places to travel to, and one day she wants to visit Bora Bora. She can be shy at first but once she opens up she is very talkative and loves meeting new people! Miss Luisa’s favorite food is entomatadas, these are very similar to enchiladas. Her favorite band is Intocable and her favorite movie is Cinderella. Some of Miss Luisa’s hobbies include swimming and dancing.

Ms. Elizabeth M.

Swim Instructor

Miss Elizabeth’s favorite color is red. She has two siblings and her favorite food is pizza. Steven Spielberg is her role model and her favorite movie is Parent Trap. She loves film and she plays two sports, basketball and softball. Miss Elizabeth likes to travel to Colorado and one day she would like to visit Italy. She loves to read and a special talent that no one knows about is that Miss Elizabeth can speed read!

Ms. Megan W.

Swim Instructor

Miss Megan loves going to Colorado to ski and hike in the mountains. Her favorite color is purple and her favorite foods are steak, ramen, and raspberries. She has one older brother and her role model is Michelle Obama. Her favorite musician is Taylor Swift and her favorite movie is The Notebook. A fun fact about Miss Megan is that she is adopted and she was born in Colombia. Some of her hobbies include playing golf and soccer.

Ms. Rebecca D.

Swim Instructor/Lifeguard

Miss Rebecca’s favorite color is purple. She loves traveling to Florida and would like to go to Paris one day. Her role model is her mom and she has two older siblings. Miss Rebecca’s favorite foods are pasta and chicken tenders. She has been playing sports since she was two and wants to be a teacher one day. She can also play the flute. Miss Rebecca likes to drive around listening to music and her favorite musician is Luke Combs.

Mr. Walter F.

Swim Instructor

Mr. Walter’s favorite color is blue. He is Honduran and loves to travel to Honduras. His parents are his role models and he has four siblings. His favorite foods are burgers, pizza, and Latin cuisine. Some of his hobbies include soccer, swimming, cooking and dancing. He also likes to go bowling and play guitar. Mr. Walter’s favorite band is cold play and his favorite movie is Spiderman.

Miss Alyssa S.

Swim Instructor

Miss Alyssa’s favorite color is purple. She would love to travel to India and Colorado. Her role model is her mom and she likes eating pasta. She has two siblings and her favorite artist is Taylor Swift. Miss Alyssa loves the movie Titanic and in her free time she likes to dance!

Miss Colette H.

Swim Instructor

Miss Colette’s favorite color is purple. Her parents are her role models and she has four siblings. One day, Miss Colette would like to travel to Italy. Her favorite food is chicken alfredo and her favorite movie is Frozen. Did you know that Miss Colette can wiggle her ears?! She also likes to cook and listen to music. Some of Miss Colette’s hobbies include singing, drawing, and hanging out with her friends.

Miss Kathleen N.

Swim Instructor

Miss Sofia A

Swim Instructor

Miss Sofia’s favorite foods are pasta and ice cream. Her favorite artist is Taylor Swift and her favorite movie is Rocky. One day, Miss Sofia would love to travel to Hawaii. She is a triplet and she has three siblings. Some of Miss Sofia’s hobbies include running, reading, and listening to music.

Miss Nora F

Swim Instructor

Miss Nora has two siblings. Some of her favorite foods are fruit and French fries. She likes to go shopping and listen to country music. Her favorite artist is Taylor Swift. Miss Nora’s favorite color is pink and her mom is her role model. She also loves to hangout with her friends.

Mr. Cole E.

Swim Instructor

Mr. Cole’s favorite color is blue. He has two siblings and his favorite musician is Turnabout. Panda Express is one of Mr. Cole’s favorite foods, and one day he would love to visit Africa. Some of Mr. Cole’s hobbies include diving, and playing hockey.

Miss Kelly K.

Swim Instructor

Miss Kelly loves to travel to Florida but one day she would like to see Europe. She has one dog and one sister, and her sister is her role model. Her favorite color is pink and her favorite musician is Taylor Swift. Some of Miss Kelly’s favorite foods are pasta, sushi, and pizza. In Miss Kelly’s free time she likes to play lacrosse and cheer, and her favorite movie is Moana.

Miss Alexis B.

Swim Instructor

One of Miss Alexis’s favorite things to do is play hockey. Her role model is Patrick Kane. Her favorite color is blue and her favorite movie is Cars. One day, Miss Alexis would like to travel to Italy. She has one sister, and one dog named Maggie. Her favorite musician is Luke Combs and she loves pasta.

Miss Kelly Z.

Swim Instructor

Miss Kelly’s favorite color is yellow. She has two siblings and her favorite movie is Lilo and Stitch. Some of her favorite foods are strawberries and pasta. Miss Kelly likes to travel and watch Marvel movies. She also plays basketball, tennis, and piano.

Miss Ella R.

Swim Instructor

Miss Ella has two siblings. She likes to listen to Nicki Minaj and her role model is Alex Morgan. Her favorite color is purple and she likes to play soccer in her free time. Miss Ella’s favorite foods are pasta and Pirate’s Booty. A couple fun facts about Miss Ella are that her fingers are double jointed, and she has never broken a bone.

Miss Sarah Z.

Swim Instructor

Miss Sarah’s favorite color is pink. She loves going to Florida but one day she wants to travel to Hawaii. Her favorite food is pasta and she has two siblings. Miss Sarah’s favorite movie is The Greatest Showman and her favorite musician is Morgan Wallen. Two fun facts about Miss Sarah is that she can speak Hawaiian and she is a cheerleader. Some of her hobbies include: playing soccer, crafting, cooking, baking, and working out.

Miss Gisele Z.

Swim Instructor

Miss Gisele’s favorite colors are pink and yellow. She has four siblings and her role model is Christina Aguilera. The Notebook is Miss Gisele’s favorite movie and Taylor Swift is her favorite musician. Some of Miss Gisele’s hobbies include sewing, singing, exercising, acting, and making her own clothes.

Mr. Mathew S.

Swim Instructor

Mr. Mathew’s favorite color is blue. He has two siblings and he loves to travel to Mexico. His favorite foods are pizza and chicken tenders. Some of Mr. Mathew’s hobbies include going to the gym, playing soccer, and hanging out with friends.

Miss Grace M.

Swim Instructor

Miss Grace’s favorite color is blue. She loves to travel to Georgia and her favorite food is strawberries. Her grandpa is her role model and she has two brothers. Miss Grace also has a dog, and she loves to train him to do tricks! She likes to listen to Taylor and her favorite movie is Unbroken. Some of miss Grace’s hobbies include playing soccer and reading.

Miss Lydia Z

Swim Instructor

Miss Lydia’s favorite colors are green and indigo. She likes to travel to Poland and the East Coast, and one day she would like to visit Costa Rica. Her role model is Christiane Amanpour and she has one brother. One of Miss Lydia’s favorite movies is Beetlejuice and one of her favorite musicians is Mazzy Star. Some of Miss Lydia’s hobbies include writing, reading, singing, dressing up, taking cute photos, and swimming.

Miss Claire D.

Swim Instructor

Miss Claire’s favorite food is mac and cheese. She loves Taylor Swift and her favorite movie is Harry Potter. She has one brother and her mom is her role model. Miss Claire has two dogs and she used to dance in her free time. She doesn’t travel often but one day she wants to go to Hawaii. Her favorite colors are pink and blue.

Miss Brooke S.

Swim Instructor

Miss Brooke loves traveling to Mexico. She is a cheerleader and her favorite food is Cinnabon. Taylor Swift is one of her favorite musicians and The Notebook is her favorite movie. Her mom is her role model and she has one sibling. A couple fun facts about Miss Brooke is that she likes to bake, she loves the Fall, and she has a dog named Boss.

Miss Bella F.

Marketing Coordinator

Miss Bella is our Marketing Coordinator. She joined our team in September of 2023 and we could not be happier to have her on board! Coming from Venezuela, she brings a wealth of knowledge to our school with a master’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from Roosevelt University. You’ll often find her immersed in the world of books in her free time while sipping on cafecito con leche.

Miss Erica S.

Swim Instructor

Miss Erica loves to travel to the Pacific Northwest and one day she wants to visit Norway. Her favorite foods are pasta and any type of baked good. Miss Erica knows how to sail, and she knows how to use a pogo stick. Her favorite animal is a hippo and her favorite movie is The Princess Diaries. Some of her hobbies include dancing, hiking, camping, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, and art.

Miss Margo B.

Swim Instructor

Miss Margo’s role model is Jennifer Lawrence. Her two favorite foods are sushi and shawarma. She has two siblings and a dog named Knight. She enjoys going to Trader Joe’s and her favorite movie is Frozen. She loves traveling to Oregon and one day she would like to visit Thailand and Italy. Some of Miss Margo’s hobbies include playing guitar and playing volleyball.

Miss Sophia S.

Swim Instructor

Miss Sophia’s favorite color is teal. Her mom is her role model and she has one sibling. She is 100% Greek and loves to travel to Greece but one day wants to visit London. She loves dogs and her favorite food is a Carne Asada bowl from Chipotle. Miss Sophia’s favorite movie is Tangled and her favorite artist is Lana Del Rey. Some of Miss Sophia’s hobbies include wrestling, traveling, and hanging out with family.

Mr. Cristhian F.

Swim Instructor

Mr. Cristhian has three siblings. His favorite foods are chicken and rice and his favorite color is blue. Mr. Cristhian really enjoys the movie ‘The Social Network’. Something interesting about Mr. Cristhian is that he was born in Alabama but he grew up in Honduras. Some of his hobbies include going to the gym and playing video games.

Miss Kayla A

Swim Instructor

Miss Kayla loves pasta! Her favorite color is pink and her favorite movie is Home Alone. She is an only child and has been a swimmer for 6 years! She has also travelled to six different countries. Some of Miss Kayla’s hobbies include swimming, baking, traveling, and reading.

Miss Ellie M

Swim Instructor

Miss Ellie’s favorite color is sky blue. Her mom is her role model and she has one sister. She likes pasta and French fries and her favorite artist is Shawn Mendez. Miss Ellie likes the ocean and one day she wants to travel to the Great Barrier Reef. She has surfed in the ocean and swam with stingrays. When Miss Ellie was fourteen she started playing the violin. Some of her other hobbies include swimming, sailing, surfing, and reading.

Miss Alexis V.

Swim Instructor

Miss Alexis has two siblings. Her favorite movie is Mama Mia and her favorite color is pink. Some of Miss Alexis’s favorite foods are pasta and steak. She has a dog names Harry, and she loves to listen to Taylor Swift! Some of Miss Alexis’s hobbies include playing golf and playing lacrosse.

Miss Lila M.

Swim Instructor

Miss Lila’s favorite color is blue. She has three brothers and her favorite food is a cheeseburger with fries. She knows how to play three instruments, piano, guitar, and ukulele. Her favorite movie is The Titanic and she loves Taylor Swift. Some of Miss Lila’s hobbies include playing volleyball and singing.

Miss Carolina C.

Swim Instructor

Miss Jennifer J.

Swim Instructor

Jennifer’s favorite color is blue. She has family in Colombia and loves to travel there. One of her favorite movies is Paddington and she loves listening to Taylor Swift. Miss Jennifer likes to eat anything with pasta and she loves to do arts and crafts.

Miss Gillian L.

Swim Instructor

Miss Gillian loves Disney movies! Her favorite color is blue and she has one brother. She likes to eat pasta and fruit and she plays softball.

Miss Miriana D.

Swim Instructor

Miss Miriana is a twin! She also has a little brother and her mom is her role model. She is Italian and loves to eat pizza and pasta. Her favorite movie is Mean Girls and she likes to listen to Lana Del Ray. Florida and Wisconsin are two of her favorite places to visit and she loves to hangout with her friends.

Miss Kat K.

Swim Instructor

Ms. Kat enjoys spending time with her friends and family! Ms. Kat is enthusiastic about swimming and working with kids! Ms. Kat is determined to help children accomplish their swimming goals and improve student’s overall water confidence. Ms. Kat is dedicated to helping students, and providing them with the Golden Experience! Some fun facts about Ms. Kat is that she is a big sister and her favorite color is green! In her free time she enjoys collecting a variety of cds and cameras!

Mr. Nick S.

Swim Instructor

Mr. Nick enjoys spending time swimming! He is determined to helping students progress through our Goldfish curriculum through his instruction. Mr. Nick likes to spend his free time with his friends and family! Some fun facts about Mr. Nick is that he has one sibling, and two dogs!