owner
Daniel Gundert
CEO
With Gyminny Kids since 2003
Daniel Gundert, married with five children, is the Owner and CEO of Gyminny Kids Gymnastics. A juggernaut children’s activity center with four locations and over six thousand weekly students has been serving the community since 1987. Daniel is a Nationally rated gymnastics judge and the founder of D&M Leotards, a children’s activewear company. Daniel’s focus is providing fun and fitness for all ages while building character through sport. Daniel acquired his real estate license to broker and acquire the properties Gyminny Kids operates on and help his friends, clients, and family achieve their real estate goals. Daniel donates half of his real estate commission to child-related non-profits. Daniel met his wife, Melanie, almost thirty years ago while they did gymnastics together as children at the same club in San Diego. All five of their super-charged children are competitive gymnasts, which has become a family affair. Start with gymnastics; go anywhere!
directors
Laryssa Johnson
Program Director
With Gyminny Kids since 2018
Laryssa has twelve years of cheer and six years of gymnastics experience. She is currently studying to be a nurse, which goes along with her desire to do great things for kids both in the gym and hospital. “This job gives me real-life experience working with children, and I savor every moment. There’s something electric about working in a facility that is always buzzing with activity. Gyminny Kids is POPPIN” Laryssa is a top-rated coach and mainstay at the front desk. She’s organized, efficient and friendly. What else could you ask for? If you give Laryssa twenty tasks, she’ll do twenty-one, and she’ll do it with a smile and a pep in her step. “Bring it on; I can’t wait to start my next shift!”
staff
Alex Templeton
Coach
Alex is a Track and Field star! He enjoys snowboarding, hiking, and going to the beach. Alex grew up in North County, San Diego, graduated from Poway High School, and was an avid athlete, including soccer, football, and competed in track & field at Grossmont College. Alex received a scholarship to a DII school at Lincoln University in Missouri, where he met his wife. Alex Majored in Wellness and got his Masters in Christian Studies. Alex has coached the jumpers at Lincoln University, coached 17X All American, 3 National Champions, and was a part of 2X NCAA Women’s National Championship teams. Alex loves athletics and uses his experience to coach athletes of all ages and abilities at Gyminny Kids.
With Gyminny Kids since 2022
Bianka Tellez
Coach
Bianka Tellez is an energetic and passionate coach who brings joy and enthusiasm to every aspect of her work. With a heart full of laughter and a smile that lights up a room, she excels at motivating and inspiring others. With Bianka, you can expect a dedicated professional who brings positivity, energy, and a genuine love for what she does. Her infectious enthusiasm is contagious, making her an invaluable asset to any team or organization. Get ready to be inspired and motivated as Bianka leads the way to success!
With Gyminny Kids since 2022
Carrie Pohlman
Girl’s Team Coach
Carrie Pohlman was a successful competitive gymnast. Carrie competed for 11 years, through level ten. She started coaching when she was in High School and has been coaching ever since. For the last fourteen years, Carrie coached at Elite gymnastics of San Diego. Carrie was the competitive team coordinator and coached all recreational and team levels though her specialties were floor exercise and balance beam. Carrie has an Associate Degree in criminal justice and has a passion for learning and personal growth. “Most of all, I love coaching and seeing children reach their goals through hard work and determination!”
With Gyminny Kids since 2021
Charlie McDowell-Horn
Coach
Charlie joins us with years of experience in customer service, group lessons, dance, and karate. In addition, he spent time working at Lego Land, where he fostered his creative spirit, which lends well to teaching children and creating exciting lesson plans. Charlie is a front desk expert and Coach at Gyminny Kids. He comes from a large family with six siblings, so he fits right in with the family feel Gyminny Kids provides. His middle name may as well be “Creative Genius,” as he has a way with kids. Charlie enjoys film work, Goju Karate, junior lifeguarding, cheer, yoga, and dance in his free time. There’s more. He earned his BA in Mass Media at the California State University of San Marcos while on the Dean’s list. Charlie also has an AA in Arts and Humanities. Catch him at the beach during his off time, where he soaks in Southern California’s beauty.
With Gyminny Kids since 2021
Dave Moser
Facilities & Maintenance Director | coach
Dave Moser has worked at Gyminny Kids since 1988! An experienced coach and a wonderful mentor to many students who have become coaches, including Miss Lauren. Dave, otherwise known as Mr. Moose, brings a silliness that the littles enjoy as much as his High School students. Dave is the Head Coach at Poway High School and won California State coach of the year. While Dave can still tumble and flip around the gym, his real talents come in the form of dance and classical ballet. We’re not done yet; Mr. Moose is a computer expert and a tech nerd that comes in handy as he manages the gym’s networks and keeps our electronics online. A man of many hats, Dave has taught thousands of children over the last thirty years. He is a gymnastics legend who has brought joy to the community for the last three decades, and we hope to have him for another thirty.
With Gyminny Kids since 1988
Earl james Vargas
Team Coach | Coach
Earl loves playing video games, cooking steak, lifting weights, and hanging out with his wife and puppies. Earl has been coaching gymnastics for over six years. His background is strength and conditioning, which eventually translated to gymnastics. He has an AA in Theology, Applied Business Management, and Kinesiology. Earl has led the kid’s department at church, overseeing operations and curriculum development. Earl has a permanent smile; he loves working with children and believes in the massive benefits of gymnastics. Earl is a walking celebrity at Gyminny Kids. Autograph time!
With Gyminny Kids since 2015
Gary Johnson
Facilities & Maintenance | Safety Director | coach | Bungee bouncer founder
With Gyminny Kids since 1993
Gary is a twenty-seven-year coach of North County Gymnastics and the Gyminny Kids. Gary has a background in Engineering and was a previous Machinist. During that time, Gary perfected the bungee bouncer system that has brought joy to thousands of children. Gary is a member of the illustrious Seven Oaks community located in Rancho Bernardo. During his free time, he eats pizza, participates in water aerobics, works on home improvements and watches Say Yes to the Dress. “Even though I have been coaching over thirty years, every day working with kids feels like my first day on the job. I just love this sport and all it has to offer.”
josh hodges
Rockets Head Coach | Coach
With Gyminny Kids since 2021
Josh comes to Gyminny Kids with over twenty-five years of coaching experience. Josh is a former NAWGJ Judge and aided in creating floor choreography for high-level gymnastics. Josh is a friendly, fun coach who relates to students of all ages. He studied the sciences: two hundred hours in Anatomy, Physiology, and Neurology, one hundred and fifty hours in Myology, and one hundred hours in Pathology. Talk about brains! Josh was voted funniest by his class in school, and he has a gift for artwork. His talents don’t end there, so if you want to learn more, bring your questions to class. He is a riot!
Lauren Padilla
Coach
With Gyminny Kids since 2024
Coach Lauren is a lifelong gymnast who was coached by our very own Coach Josh! She’s originally from Russia but grew up in San Diego and pursued gymnastics at a young age. She understands the importance of teaching younger generations and gladly participates by sharing her wealth of gymnastic knowledge. She loves the beach, pasta with vodka sauce, and the color pink. She loves working with children and the sport of gymnastics, so working at Gyminny Kids is a win-win! She shares her students excitement in helping them learn new skills and loves to seem them excel. We are ecstatic to have her on the team and know you will be too!
Lily Neblina
Coach
With Gyminny Kids since 2023
Meet Lily - a lifelong gymnast! She was a competitive gymnast and stuck with gymnastics all the way through high school. She now gives back to the sport by coaching and sharing her wealth of knowledge learned through years of experience. When she’s not coaching, you may find her deep inside a book with her feet buried in the sand. Her favorite food is pasta (with orange sauce) and she loves the color pink. She once met the Olympian Madison Kocian and loves the gymnastics movie, Stick It. Lily loves helping others, and helps her students become the best gymnasts they can be with a smile on her face. We are lucky to have her on our team!
Macy Augustus
senior office lead | Coach
Meet Coach Macy! She is an energetic and outdoorsy individual with a very contagious smile. As an office administrator and gymnastics coach, Macy brings a positive and lasting impression to children's lives. Her love for teaching and nurturing younger generations creates a purposeful and impactful environment here at Gyminny Kids. With a passion for swimming, hiking, and roller skating, Macy's vibrant personality adds energy and enthusiasm to any setting. She is dedicated to creating a positive experience for children and leaving a lasting, positive impact on their lives. We are grateful to have Coach Macy apart of the Gyminny Kids family!
With Gyminny Kids since 2021
mark steitz
Coach
Mark Steitz is a parkour extraordinaire with over 15 years of experience. These years of training also included freerunning, which is similar to parkour, but incorporates aspects of gymnastics and acrobatics with artistic flair. In his free time, Mark enjoys eating ramen, training parkour, surfing, skateboarding, snowboarding, exploring the outdoors, and making music and art. His favorite aspect of coaching is being a part of his students’ process in learning something new. Mark believes that being able to have a positive impact on his students’ lives is an amazing responsibility, and he absolutely loves being a part of that journey.
With Gyminny Kids since 2023
Quin Shannon
Head Trainer
Quin Shannon has been coaching gymnastics full-time since 1984. He has owned and operated a preschool and PE gymnastics program, directed large recreational programs, coached Xcel, Junior Olympic, and Elite gymnastics, and was an NCAA Division 1 coach. He is a national instructor for USA Gymnastics and the National Gymnastics Association. He currently spends his time coaching the coaches, showing them how to teach great gymnastics in a fun way. Quin is a master gymnastics clinician and is world-renowned for his effective training methods. In addition to traveling the world holding clinics, he is the Head Trainer at North County Gymnastics & the Gyminny Kids. His hobbies include trying to surf, trying to play guitar, and trying to be a better person.
With Gyminny Kids since 2023
Ronna Swink
Front Office | Coach | Telesales rep.
Ronna has fifteen years of ballet, three years of pointe, tap, and jazz experience. "Turn it up and catch me doing the jitterbug in between phone calls." Ronna loves being around young people. She feeds off their energy and enjoys the fast-paced nature of working at the front desk. Ronna is a customer service connoisseur. Friendly, bubbly upbeat at all times. After your conversation with her on the phone, you may be pals for life. Ronna is the Gyminny song bird. She loves singing with a capital S! "Singing and painting bring me alive and gives me that kick of extra pizazz." In Ronna's free time, you can find her at karaoke, dancing, drawing portraits, spending time with family, and gardening in her famous homegrown garden. "My plants and flowers are my babies." Then I cook them, ha! The students that walk through the doors of Gyminny Kids are like Ronna's own. Speaking of, Ronna is married and has two wonderful children, Indiana and Chancellor. She has a heart for teaching the next generation and sprinkles her positivity everywhere she goes. When she smiles, the room lights up! Ronna has been with Gyminny since 2015 and looks forward to many more.
With Gyminny Kids since 2015
Scott Zimmerman
coach
With Gyminny Kids since 1995
Scott has a BA in Psychobiology. He has twenty-plus years of coaching experience and four years of Acro Power Tumbling. “I enjoy coaching kids in an atmosphere that develops children through positive reinforcement. Most of all, I love Gyminny because of the people I work with. We really do have an all-star cast!” Scott’s passion project is coaching the Rancho Bernardo High School gymnastics team as a way to give back to the community. In Scott’s free time, he enjoys music, hiking, snowboarding, reading, and spending time with his wife and puppy. Scott is a famed local DJ and DJs events all over town. Scott wears many hats at Gyminny Kids, so you may catch him on the fly at the front desk, coaching, or teaching Zoom classes. Scott is a whirlwind of energy and creativity!
Thea Obrist
team coach
With Gyminny Kids since 2024
Meet Coach Thea! Let's delve into some interesting facts about Coach Thea. Apart from her coaching duties, she enjoys immersing herself in captivating books and podcasts. In her free time, you may catch Thea engaging in the unique activity of milking goats! How fun! This fun-loving aspect of her personality adds to her charm. Coach Thea's deep-rooted love for children and gymnastics mechanics shines through in her sessions. Students enrolled in Coach Thea's class are fortunate to benefit from her expertise and her care. We are thrilled to welcome her to the Gyminny Kids Poway team!
Trisha Bernal
Exploring Movement Director
With Gyminny Kids since 2018
Coach Trisha is an anointed teacher. “Teaching is in my DNA.” Trisha has four cute children and many more that she teaches here at Gyminny. Trisha is the Special Needs Director at Gyminny Kids. The program is called “Exploring Movement,” which gives students of all abilities to thrive in a fun, physical, and social environment. During her free time, she is a full-time Mom and Superhero. She does it all! Trisha loves crafts, organizing, biographies, the color of the ocean, mountains, and gluten-free pizza. “I’m allergic to everything, achoo! As I was saying.”
Our Founders
Liz Mullarkey
Rob Bryson
Background
BS in Physical Education MS in Sports Management Head Coach
University of Wisconsin at LaCrosse (5 years)
Assistant Coach, Ohio State University (2 years)
Prairie du Chien High School Coach (7 years)
Why I Started Gyminny Kids
I wanted to work for myself as well as pursue an area I was very knowledgeable in.
Hobbies
Packers fan, theatre and musicals, the outdoors and traveling.
Background
Associate Degree for Milwaukee School of Broadcasting
Retired Collegiate & High School Basketball Official
Avid Golfer
Why I Started Gyminny Kids
We saw a niche in the market to fulfill the needs of an active community.