Gina, a radiologist, and Ryan, a lawyer, are former Goldfish parents and current owners of two Goldfish locations. Like most Goldfish stories this one begins in Michigan, where the Bewersdorfs currently reside, in 2009 when Gina signed their son up for swim lessons. Prior to attending Goldfish lessons, he did not want to learn how to swim and refused to participate in any of the community swim classes Gina took him to. However, when they went to Goldfish Farmington (which had just opened), he took the plunge and started splashing his way to the swimmer he is today. Their son made quick progress in the pool due to the fun atmosphere at Goldfish and the one-on-one attention he received from his instructors. Their daughter began swimming at 6 months and is now a state competitor. Seeing this transformation in her own kids Gina was inspired to learn to swim. After months of training, she was comfortable enough in the water to finish the Ironman triathlon (comprised of a 2.4 mile open water swim, 112 mile bike and full marathon) multiple times, one of the most iconic long course triathlons in the world. They just couldn’t stop there, so Gina and Ryan decided to open Goldfish Swim School - Reston in November of 2014 and Goldfish Swim School - Falls Church in September 2017. Coming soon is Goldfish Swim School - Alexandria!

Melissa has been with Goldfish since October 2015. She loves pink and is a #MomOfThree; she has two sons, Kayden and Preston, and a daughter, Oakleigh, who are all currently taking swim lessons at Goldfish. Melissa grew up in Delaware and graduated with a degree in Social Work from East Stroudsburg University. GO WARRIORS! Melissa loves traveling, but her favorite place to travel is San Francisco, California. When Melissa is not at Goldfish, you can find her eating tacos and spending time with her family. melissa.kraus@goldfishss.com

Tommy was born and raised in the great state of Michigan, so you can sure bet your two cents that he is a die hard Lions, Wings, and Tigers fan. He moved to Northern Virginia in September of 2014 to help open Goldfish Swim School-Reston. Tommy graduated from Grand Valley State University with a bachelors in Marketing. When he is not at Goldfish you can find him on the ice playing hockey or on the golf course working on his game. Tommy enjoys seeing the excitement on the children’s faces as they learn a life changing skill. tommy.hamilton@goldfishss.com

Winona is a student at The University of Maryland. GO TERPS! She is currently studying Arabic and Political Science. Her favorite color is black and her favorite Disney movie is Ratatouille. She enjoys going to the beach, playing with her cats, and teaching piano. Winona loves working at Goldfish because she knows that the work we do is impacting children's lives and changing them for the better, and she loves being a part of that! Winona.zaky@goldfishss.com

Madi has been with Goldfish since it opened its doors in November 2014! She has been here so long because she loves teaching kids how to swim and making them smile. Madi’s favorite Disney movie is Toy Story. Her favorite color is green. Madi loves eating tacos and ice cream. When Madi isn’t at Goldfish, she is normally in New York exploring the city! madi.cook@goldfishss.com

Ms. Valentina has been working with Goldfish since March of 2015 and is attending Northern Virginia Community College. In her free time, she loves to ride her bike or run through the trails of Reston. Ms. Valentina was actually born in Bolivia and is fluent in Spanish! Her favorite Disney movie is The Little Mermaid, so if you catch her under the sea, be sure to ask her to sing you a tune from the movie! valentina.golac@goldfishss.com

Mr. Aidan is a student at South Lakes High School. GO SEAHAWKS! Aidan loves working with kids because not only does he make them laugh, but they make him laugh too! His favorite color is green and his favorite Disney movie is Finding Nemo. When Mr. Aidan isn’t at Goldfish, he is playing soccer or listening to music.

Miss Andrea is a student at Chantilly High School. GO CHARGERS! She loves teaching because she loves being able to teach and be silly with kids. Her favorite color is white and she loves reading, going on hikes and playing outside. Miss Andrea's favorite Disney movies are Hercules and Mulan. Make sure to give her a big high five in the pool!

Miss Andrea is a student at Northern Virginia Community College. GO NIGHTHAWKS! She loves swimming because of how relaxing it is, whether she's doing her sea otter back float or swimming laps. Miss Andrea always feels relaxed when she’s in the pool. Her other hobbies are cheer, track, choir and ROTC. Her favorite color is green and her favorite Disney movie is Finding Nemo.

Ms. Anna loves the camaraderie that comes from swimming as well as how fun the sport is. She is in her Junior year of High School at South Lakes. Ms. Anna loves the color red and her favorite movie is a toss between Hercules and Beauty and the Beast. When she is swimming like a little fish, she loves to read. Next time you see Ms. Anna, remember to ask her what her favorite book is to read!

Ms. Caroline is a student at George Mason University. GO PATRIOTS! She is studying to be an elementary school teacher. Her favorite color is green and she loves teaching and seeing her students accomplish their goals. Ms. Caroline also enjoys color guard, drawing, knitting, and traveling. Her favorite Disney movies are Mulan and Hocus Pocus. You can say hi to Caroline either on deck or at the front desk!

Mr. Chris is a student at George Mason University. GO PATRIOTS! He is studying the brain. His favorite color is cyan and his favorite Disney movie is Hercules. Mr. Chris also enjoys studying squids and octopuses, exploring nature, and collecting bugs. He loves swimming because it makes him feel like a fish and it’s great for exercise and motor development!

Miss Claire is a Student at Northern Virginia Community College, where she studies international affairs. Not only was Miss Claire born in Germany, but she has lived in 6 different countries. She loves working at Goldfish because she loves working with kids and she loves swimming - the perfect combination! Her favorite colors are blue and purple, and her favorite movie is Spiderman. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, camping, and dancing.

Miss Colette is a student at Chantilly High School. GO CHARGERS! Colette loves snowboarding, rock-climbing, making clothes, painting, and running. She loves working at Goldfish because of its welcoming and friendly environment. Her favorite color is red and her favorite Disney movie is Pocahontas. Next time you see Miss Colette, make sure to give her a big high five!

Mr.Eli is a junior at Northern Virginia Community College. In his free time, he loves playing basketball, watching sports, and playing video games. His favorite Disney movie is Peter Pan. Mr. Eli loves working at Goldfish because he loves to teach young ones a life-changing skill. One of his favorite things about swimming is floating! Be sure to give Mr.Eli a big high five in the water!

Ms. Erin is in her senior year at James Madison High School. She truly enjoys teaching children how to swim and knows that it’s a life skill that is important to teach. Her favorite Disney movie is Tangled and she loves the color purple. In her free time, she enjoys reading a good book and catching up on her favorite TV shows. Welcome Ms. Erin to the team next time you see her!

Mr. Ever is a student at Northern Virginia Community College. GO NIGHTHAWKS! His favorite colors are black and white. Mr. Ever loves working at Goldfish because he loves helping kids learn how to swim and leave with smiling faces. He also loves reading and playing video games. His favorite Disney movie is Alice in Wonderland.

Ms.Gaby is a recent college graduate of George Mason University. GO PATRIOTS! Ms.Gaby believes that swimming is very relaxing. She loves spending time in the water and coming up with fun games to play with kids. Her favorite color is purple. Some of her hobbies include hiking, playing frisbee golf, and going to the beach. Her favorite Disney movie is Tarzan. Next time you see her, welcome her to the Goldfish team!

Mr. Izzy is in his second year at Northern Virginia Community College. Go NIGHTHAWKS! Mr.Izzy is very involved with film-making, and loves art, music, and video games. His favorite Disney movie is Lilo and Stitch. He loves working at Goldfish because of the atmosphere and the opportunity to teach young kids how to swim! Be sure to give Mr.Izzy a big high five when you see him!

Mr. Jack is a student at Northern Virginia Community College. GO NIGHTHAWKS! His favorite color is green and his favorite Disney movie is Finding Nemo. In his free time, he enjoys playing the guitar and hiking. Mr. Jack loves working at Goldfish because he has a passion for teaching important skills to others. Be sure to say hi to Mr. Jack either on the pool deck or in the water!

Mrs. Jackie has a degree in Elementary Education from Purdue University. GO BOILERMAKERS! She is a #MomOfThree and all of her children are pursuing their own careers. Mrs. Jackie loves working at Goldfish because she loves the water, the little swimmers, and the great people that work here. Mrs. Jackie’s favorite color is purple and she spent most of her childhood in a pool as a competitive swimmer. In her free time, she enjoys singing, playing the piano, and watching her favorite Disney movie, Mary Poppins.

Miss Jacquie has been with Goldfish since July 2015. Her favorite color is purple and her favorite Disney movie is Toy Story. You may even notice her “To Infinity And Beyond” tattoo on her right forearm! Miss Jacquie loves working at Goldfish because she loves teaching and being able to teach children about the importance of water safety. When she isn’t at Goldfish, you can catch her hanging out with her friends or her younger siblings, Graham and Virginia.

Miss Jayde is currently in her sophomore year at Northern Virginia Community College. Go Nighthawks! Miss Jayde loves playing basketball and learning about cars. Her favorite color is blue, and her favorite Disney movie is Mulan! Miss Jayde loves working at Goldfish because of the fun and safe learning environment for kids. She also loves swimming because of the water and she loves going to the beach. Make sure to say hi to Miss Jayde next time you see her!

Miss Joanne is a student at Chantilly High School. GO CHARGERS! Her favorite color is navy blue and her favorite Disney movies are Mulan and Coco. She enjoys singing, drawing, and sleeping. Miss Joanne loves working at Goldfish because she loves being in the water and meeting new people!

Mr. Justo is currently a senior at South Lakes High School. Not only does he love spending time with the kids at Goldfish, but he loves being able to teach them, too! Mr.Justo loves swimming because he says it’s refreshing every time he enters the pool. In his free time, he likes going on hikes, spending time outside, or hanging out with his friends. His favorite colors are blue and green, and his favorite Disney movie is Coco.

Miss Kati is a student at George Mason University. GO PATRIOTS! She grew up swimming with Reston Association. Miss Kati loves working with kids and seeing them grow to love swimming as much as she does. She loves swimming, shopping, and watching Broadway shows and movies. Miss Kati’s favorite Disney movie is Mary Poppins and her favorite color is purple!

Ms. Katie is currently in her senior year of high school at Robinson and is actively applying to colleges. She loves working at Goldfish because she finds swimming relaxing. Outside of Goldfish, Ms. Katie loves babysitting and playing with animals. Her favorite color is blue and she loves the Disney movie, Frozen. If you see her around, make sure to give her a big high five!

Mr.Khatib is a student at George Mason University. GO PATRIOTS! His favorite color is blue and his favorite Disney movie is The Incredibles. Mr. Khatib enjoys volleyball, basketball, soccer,and swimming. Khatib loves working at Goldfish because he enjoys teaching his students how to swim and do tricks in the water! Make sure to say hi to Mr.Khatib when you see him!

Miss Kita is a student at South Lakes High School. GO SEAHAWKS! She is excited to be working at such a fun place and enjoys teaching swim because it is such an important life skill. Her favorite colors are blue and red, and her favorite Disney movie is Wreck-It Ralph. When Miss Kita is not at work, you can find her drawing, making jewelry, reading, rock climbing, playing the piano, or riding her bike.

Mr.Luca is currently a sophomore at South Lakes High School. Go Seahawks! Mr.Luca loves to play football. His favorite Disney movie is Cars! He loves working at Goldfish because he loves working with kids and seeing them grow in their swim abilities. Say hi to Mr.Luca next time you see him!

Mr. Luis is currently a freshman at George Mason University. Go Patriots! Some of his favorite hobbies include playing football and soccer. His favorite Disney movie is The Lion King and his favorite color is blue. According to Mr.Luis, swimming is a great way to relax and a great form of exercise. He loves working at Goldfish because of the lovely kids! Say hi to Mr.Luis next time you see him in the pool!

Ms. Maddy loves working at Goldfish because of the children. She said the environment is so playful, uplifting and fun! Plus, she loves teaching her children that swimming is a life skill. Ms. Maddy is in her senior year of high school at South Lakes. In her spare time, Ms. Maddy loves traveling, hanging with friends or singing a tune. Her favorite Disney movie is Tangled and she loves the color pink.

Miss Maira has a degree in Philosophy and Humanities from California State University, Sacramento. GO HORNETS! Her favorite color is purple and her favorite Disney movie is Moana. Miss Maria loves swimming because it's a great low-impact exercise and it makes her feel closer to home. Some other hobbies she enjoys are hiking, reading, art, and human wellness. You can say hi to Miss Maira either in the water or at the front desk!

Ms. McKina is a freshman at George Mason University. GO PATRIOTS! Not only does Ms. McKina believe that knowing how to swim at a young age is very important, but she loves working with the kids at Goldfish. She loves swimming, listening to music, and being with her friends. Her favorite Disney movie is The Lion King and her favorite color is yellow.

Miss Meredith is a student at Chantilly High School. GO CHARGERS! She loves swimming because it's a great form of exercise and it is fun no matter how skilled you are. Her favorite color is blue and her favorite Disney movie is The Lion King. When Miss Meredith isn’t at Goldfish, she is competing in Irish dance, reading, spending time with her family and friends, and taking pictures.

Miss Mira currently attends Langley High School. Go Saxons! Her favorite hobbies include swimming, running, and travelling. Some fun facts about Miss Mira is that she loves the Disney movie, Finding Nemo, and her favorite color is blue! She loves the fun and friendly environment at Goldfish and also working with all of the kids. She believes that swimming is a very relaxing sport and she loves being in the water! Welcome Miss Mira to the team!

Mr. Mohammed is a student at George Mason University. GO PATRIOTS! His favorite color is navy blue and his favorite Disney movie is Wall-E. He enjoys cooking, reading, and swimming. Mr. Mohammed loves working at Goldfish because he loves being able to work with students so that they become the greatest swimmers IN THE WORLD!

Mr. Mustafa is a student at Langley High School. GO SAXONS! His favorite color is red and his favorite Disney movie is Cars. Mr. Mustafa has been swimming for 10 years and is excited to share all his secrets with your little swimmer! When Mr. Mustafa isn’t swimming, he is playing videos games or hanging out with friends.

Mr. Nery is a recent graduate of Park View High. His favorite color is green and he loves the Disney movie, Lilo & Stitch. When Mr. Nery isn’t at Goldfish, you can find him hiking, fishing, playing sports or just enjoying the great outdoors. Next time you see Mr. Nery in the water, make sure to give him a big high five!

Miss Nickolyn is currently a sophomore at George Mason University. Go Patriots! Miss Nickolyn loves the color blue and one of her favorite hobbies is actually figure-skating! You can also catch her watching her favorite Disney movie, Hercules. Miss Nickolyn loves working at Goldfish because she loves teaching and learning more about swimming techniques. Plus, she loves the great staff here. Next time you see her, give her a big high five!

Ms.Nora is a sophomore at South Lakes High School. GO SEAHAWKS! At school, she loves theatre arts and learning about plants. She loves working at Goldfish because she gets to work with amazing people and amazing kids. Her favorite color is blue and her favorite Disney movie is Tangled!

Mr. Peter is a junior at South Lakes High School. Go Seahawks! He loves Goldfish because it provides a friendly environment! He also loves working with kids because he has babysat his younger cousins and neighbors. Mr. Peter enjoys playing basketball and hanging out with his friends. His favorite color is red and his favorite Disney movie is The Lion King.

Miss Raisa is a student at Northern Virginia Community College. GO NIGHTHAWKS! She is currently studying business management. Her favorite color is lavender and her favorite Disney movie is Moana. Miss Raisa loves working at Goldfish because she loves seeing all of the smiling faces of our families when they walk in our door.

Mr. Richard is a student at Northern Virginia Community College. GO NIGHTHAWKS! His favorite color is blue and his favorite Disney movie is Wall-E. In his free time, Mr. Richard likes to read. He loves Goldfish because of all the mermaids that hang out at the pool and also giving cannonballs!

Mr. Ronnie loves swimming, especially here at Goldfish! Mr. Ronnie is a Junior at South Lakes this year. Outside of Goldfish, he loves playing sports with friends or checking out the new video games on the market. Mr. Ronnie’s favorite color is red and he loves Toys Story, “To Infinity and Beyond!” When you see Mr. Ronnie tell him a good joke, he will love it!

Miss Vanessa is a student at Northern Virginia Community College. GO NIGHTHAWKS! She is currently studying to be a vet. She loves working at Goldfish because she loves working with kids and helping them learn new swim safety skills. Her favorite color is rose gold and her favorite Disney movies are Mulan and The Princess and the Frog. When she’s not at Goldfish, she is hiking, playing with her cat, traveling, or swimming!

Miss Virginia is a student at South Lakes High School. GO SEAHAWKS! She loves working at Goldfish because of the community she gets to be a part of and the work she gets to do. When Miss Virginia isn’t working, you can find her watching her favorite Disney movie, Hercules, or hanging out with her dog, Coco, or her 2 siblings that also work at Goldfish, Jacquie and Graham.

Miss Yenifer AKA Miss Yeni is a student at South Lakes High School. GO SEAHAWKS! She loves playing soccer and her favorite part of her job is making kids laugh. Miss Yeni’s favorite color is red and her favorite Disney movie is The Little Mermaid. Miss Yeni is also Miss Vanessa’s little sister! Next time you see Miss.Yeni, give her a big high five!

Mr. Zach has been working at Goldfish on and off for a few years now. He looks forward to being a positive influence on children, plus he loves being in the pool. Mr. Zach is planning on attending Virginia Tech, but is currently finishing up his studies at Northern Virginia Community College. His favorite color is blue and he enjoys watching The Lion King. When he isn't in school or working, he loves playing sports, like basketball and soccer. Make sure to let Mr. Zach know who your favorite basketball team is next time you see him around!

Miss Zoe is a student at Chantilly High School. GO CHARGERS! Her favorite color is blue and her favorite Disney movies are The Lion King and Tangled. Miss Zoe loves teaching young swimmers how to be safe and have fun in the pool! She also loves photography and art. Be sure to say hi to Miss Zoe on the pool deck!

Miss Christine is a freshman at George Mason University. Go Patriots! Christine loves working at Goldfish because she is able to be in a loving community and help others through her job. In her free time, she loves dancing, exercising, listening to music, and doing photography. Her favorite Disney movie is Mulan and her favorite color is blue.

Miss Cydnee is a graduate of South Lakes High School. GO SEAHAWKS! Her favorite color is red and her favorite Disney movies are Mulan and The Princess and the Frog. Miss Cydnee also enjoys napping, snacking, and surfing the world wide web. She loves working at Goldfish because of all the beautiful people she gets to work with!

Miss Iliana is a student at Northern Virginia Community College. GO NIGHTHAWKS! She is currently studying Business Administration. Iliana loves working at Goldfish because she loves seeing kids’ faces light up and being able to work with an amazing staff. She loves the environment and energy at Goldfish. Her favorite color is royal blue and when she isn’t working, she is spending time with her family, volunteering, or trying new foods. Iliana is also bilingual and her favorite Disney movie is The Princess Diaries.

Mr. Jeremy is a junior at George Mason University. He loves that swimming is able to bring children together of all skill levels, and create a common interest! His hobbies include photography, cooking, playing video games, and watching movies. In fact, his favorite Disney movie is Aladdin and his favorite color is blue. Be sure to say hi to Mr.Jeremy at the front desk!

Mr. Nathan is a student at Northern Virginia Community College. GO NIGHTHAWKS! His favorite color is purple and his favorite Disney movie is Up. Nathan enjoys working out and he LOVES SLEEPING! Mr.Nathan loves working at Goldfish because of the very kind and fun staff. Be sure to give Mr. Nathan a high five at the front desk!

Jessica has been with Goldfish since July 2015. She moved to Virginia from her home state of Texas. Jessica is a #MomOfThree; she has a son, Donovan, and two daughters, Alex and Annabelle, who have all taken swim lessons at Goldfish. Jessica’s favorite place to travel is Disney World, because she is a Disney fanatic and her favorite Disney movie is Mulan. Jessica’s favorite color is green. Fun fact - she has never eaten a hot dog or a hamburger! When she’s not at Goldfish, you can find her hopping on her pogo stick, as she jumps rope at the same time, or spending time with her kids at the park. jessica.mummert@goldfishss.com