Azarian Gymnastics - Orange County's Premier Gymnastics Facility

Staff

	Eduard Azarian – President, Program Director & Boys Team Head Coach
		Originally from the Soviet Union, Eduard comes from a tradition of excellence in the sport of gymnastics. Following in the footsteps of his father, the famous Albert Azarian, Eduard is a second generation World Champion & Olympic Gold Medal Winner. Eduard's credits include: 1975 All Around Junior National Champion of the USSR 1976 Member of the USSR Senior National Team 1976-1979 Winner of several international competitions 1978 Silver medalist of the World Championship in France 1979 P Bars Gold medalist at World Cup Championship in Japan1979 All-Around Champion Spartakaide 9-Time Champion of the USSR 1980 All Around 2nd place at World Cup Championship in Ontario, Canada 1980 Olympic Gold Medalist 13 years coaching experience in the USSR with the boys and girls National Team 13 years coaching in the USA. Trained 34 State Champions, 25 Regional Champions, a Junior National Champion, and 2 USA Junior National Team Members 26 years of coaching experience. 16 years of personal training and competing experience 2004 Coach of the Year Award Click here for more on Eduard Azarian

	Marina Azarian - General Manager
		Marina has over 12 years experience in gymnastics business management. From 1997-2005, Marina was the business office manager at a top Northern Orange County Gymnastics Academy. Prior to that, she served as the office assistant at a Los Angeles County Gymnastics Center. Marina has extensive experience in human resources, marketing material development, web site management, scheduling, as well as member communication and community relations. Marina is a graduate of Armenian State University, where she studied English, Armenian, Russian and German languages. Her credentials include teaching and translating.

	Tim Klempnauer – Boys Team Coach & Team Coordinator
		President of the USA Men’s Gymnastics Coaches Association, 2003 Member of the USA Gymnastics Board of Directors, 2004 Vice-President of the USA Men’s Gymnastics Coaches Association, 1994-2003 Men’s Region 1 Chairman, 1998-2000 Men’s State Director, 1989-1993, 1995-1998 USA Gymnastics Board of Directors member, 2003 USA Jr. Olympic Program Committee member, 1998-2000 Co-Meet Director of the Jr. Olympic National Championships, 1991, 2002, 2004 International (F.I.G.) Judging rating, 1997-2000 National Judging rating since 1985 USA Gymnastics Safety Certified since 1987 USA Gymnastics Professional Development Program, Level 1 & 2 Certified

	Dillon Reeve – Girls Team Head Coach & Event Coordinator
		16 years in the sport of Men’s competitive Gymnastics 12 years of coaching experience, collegiate through pre-school Coach to the 2003 and 2004 Level 9-10 Women’s State champion Team, Illinois Tumbling Coach for Chicago Illinois Women’s State Gymnastics Team Creative Movement Teacher and Director, Montessori Pre-school Gymkhana Gymnastics Optional Girls Head Coach Seattle Gymnastics Academy Boys Team Head Coach Coached four men and three women to receive scholarships to five state colleges Bartlett Gymnastics Men’s Team Head Coach Region 5 Men’s Training Camps, Pommel Horse Floor and Vault Coach Floor Coach - Region 5 Women’s Hot Shot Training Camp Coach to the 2003 and 2004 Level 9-10 Women’s State Champion Team, Illinois Four years of training with the Technical Director of the USAG Experienced in Teaching Autistic Children Lead Trampoline roll for Wagner’s Ring Cycle directed by Cirque du Soliel Lead Acrobat for Cirque De La Mer NBA Seattle Super Sonics Dunk Squad Performer and Stunt Team Captain Business Degree from University of Washington “I want to motivate children how to do their very best through hard work and persistence, teach them that when they set their minds to it what appears impossible becomes possible, and educate them on how to empower all of their relationships so they in turn grow and flourish in the gym and through life.”

	Vanessa Gonzalez-Excel Program Director, Academy Director, Girls Team Coach, Office Personnel
		Vanessa has been coaching gymnastics since 2002. Following in her sisters foot steps she joined the sport at the age of 2 and has lived in it ever since. She has coached preschool through girls competitive level 9 but focuses on the compulsory levels and excel. She believes that instilling the right foundation in gymnastics is critical for future progress. She has also spent the last few years assisting in the management of another major Orange County gym. Her coaching philosophy is “You can only get out of this sport what you put into it. That includes coaches! You can’t expect your child to go out there and dominate unless you have embedded in her every single day the tools needed to achieve her goals! Work your girls hard but work yourself harder, give them confidence and pride and demand perfection because if you don’t they wont strive for it! They will surprise you with what they can achieve!”

	Albina Azarian – Office Manager, Excel & Pre Team Instructor
		Albina has over five years of working in the gymnastics office environment as an office manager assistant, special event coordinator and an academy supervisor. Albina has grown up in the world of gymnastics and dance. She did gymnastics for five years and has danced for over nine years in Hip Hop and Jazz. Albina has coached gymnastics for Levels 1-4 including Pre Team. She has also helped choreograph a routine for a North Orange County dance company that she was training and performing with. Currently, Albina is the office manager, special event coordinator and an assistant Excel and Pre Team coach at Azarian Gymnastics.

	Perry Davies – Girls Team Coach
		Perry is a former gymnast. He was the All Around Regional champion in 1986 and a National qualifier in 1987. Perry has seven years of coaching experience, working with both boys and girls teams, levels 5 - 10. “To me there is no greater feeling than watching a child succeed. My favorite motto is, "You have to show them how much you care, before they care how much you know"

	Erika Purtell - Compulsory & Optional Girls Team Coach
		Erika’s life passion is gymnastics. Born and raised in Long Beach she started her gymnastics career at the holding several state, regional and national titles on those events. Erika worked as the optional beam and floor coach for one of the biggest gyms in Orange County, producing two level 10 state champions, one regional champion, national champions and five division I scholarships. After she went on to establish and head coach the St. Joseph High School gymnastics team where they went to place 5^th at CIF finals. Erika believes “in instilling every child with the right work ethic, motivation and technique to achieve gymnastics greatness.”

	Jayne Garland – Girls Team Dance Instructor
		Jayne-Mari Garland received much of her dance training from the late Lila Zali, who founded Ballet Pacifica. Jayne-Mari has also studied with, and performed with other Orange County based Companies including the Golden State Ballet, and Capistrano Ballet Theater (Anaheim Ballet). She has successfully choreographed dance groups for national dance competitions, and has been awarded for her choreography. Currently, she coaches dance and flexibility at Azarian U.S. Gymnastics Training Center, and teaches adult ballet and stretch/conditioning at West Coast Dance Academy. Jayne's foremost priority as a coach/instructor/choreographer is to provide a positive atmosphere where students are encouraged to believe in themselves and become the best they can be. Jayne-Mari Garland also holds a Master of Arts degree from Cal State University Fullerton.

	Jennifer Fulton – Girls Pre Team & Team Coach
		Jenni has been involved with the sport of gymnastics since the age of 4. She competed for 15 years and up to Level 10. Jenni qualified to multiple USAG Regionals, USAIGC Nationals and AAU Nationals. She was USAIGC National Beam Champion in 1993. Jenni was also part of the AAU National Team Champions in 1991. Jenni has been coaching gymnastics for 9 years now and has coached every level from preschool to optionals. Her primary specialty has been compulsory levels. She has had multiple Level 5 teams place in the top 5 out of the state in both Georgia and California. Jenni greatly enjoys the sport of gymnastics and wants to help every gymnast achieve their goals. “I set the bar high for all of my gymnasts, and through hard work and dedication, they always manage to achieve their goals along with mine.”

	Cherie Adame - Dance Instructor
		Cherie has been dancing professionally for ten years. A native of Orange County, she received her B.A. in Dance from the University of California, Irvine. Cherie has had the opportunity to teach ArtsBridge programs all over Orange County bringing dance, world cultures and choreography projects back to public schools. Cherie has been blessed to travel nationally and internationally as a performer. She has worked numerous times throughout Japan for Tokyo Desneyland, other resorts, and for our Air Force troops in Okinawa. Cherie also is an acrobat performing Chinese Poles, Bungee, Web, and Lyra for different corporate industrials. She just got back dancing on a cruise ship to Alaska with Holland America and then touring south through the Panama Canal. She is part of The Grove in Los Angeles Carouso's Top Hats, a west coast version of the Rocketts. You might currently catch a quick glimpse of her flying high above the castle in Disneyland as Tinkerbell.

	April Littlejohn – Academy & Excel Instructor
		April has been coaching gymnastics for five years. She has been part of the Adult Gymnastics program for eight years. April believes in teaching the kids with a positive attitude and a smile. "I believe that the kids should have fun, be encouraged to learn new skills and to always try their best."

	Debra Kelly – Office Personnel
		Debra is a coach for our students with special needs and also enthusiastically assists with office responsibilities and events at the gym. Debra has an extensive background in counseling, public relations and marketing. She earned an MA from Pepperdine University and is licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. While maintaining a private practice, Debra specialized in adolescent and family counceling and has led tharapy groups and community workshops focusing on stress management and positive parenting. Debra greatly enjoys teaching others about the extraordinary phychological benefits the sport of gymnastics provides including the development of self-confidence, determination and overcoming fears.

Daniel Goglanian – Academy & Adult Program Instructor

Coach Daniel has been coaching gymnastics since 1992. With a heart for kids and a desire to see them grow and develop, he enjoys teaching academy classes ranging from beginning boys through pre-team.

Daniel began gymnastics at age 14 and competed throughout high school. He now coaches because it gives him the chance to connect with kids one-on-one - and along with their parents and teachers - provide them with the skills necessary to do well in life. “I try to create an encouraging environment in which each child can feel accepted, have fun, be challenged and do things they never thought they could! Once a child understands that the disciplines gain them the freedom to do what they really love, they excel! It’s always a pleasure to see the boys move through the levels, build their confidence and develop into not just amazing athletes, but capable young men with the character and values to sustain their successes.”

Daniel enjoys working at Azarian U.S. Gymnastics Training Center because it is a family atmosphere with capable and caring coaches and staff! And he always welcomes parents to inquire about their child’s progress.

Coach Daniel is CPR and Safety certified and also teaches an adult gymnastics class for those who’d like to condition or improve upon their current skills. When he is not coaching, Daniel is a recruiter for an Arts College and works with the youth at his church.

	Brett Hamby - Academy Instructor
		Brett is currently a student at UC Irvine, majoring in chemistry and minoring in drama. Brett was a gymnast for ten years up to Level 10. Brett has been coaching since he was 16 and he loves it. His philosophy is "if you love it and you are determined, you can get anywhere!"

	Amber Lockhart - Preschool & Academy Instructor, Special Events Instructor, Office Personell
		Amber did gymnastics up to Level 8. She has been coaching for eight years and she moved to California from Boston. Amber is First Aide and CPR certified. She loves working with children. Amber gets as much pleasure from teaching them the new skills as the children do from learning them. Amber likes to see children motivated and she encourages them to achieve their goals. In her spare time Amber likes going to the beach.

	Sean Reilly – Academy Instructor
		A gymnast since age 3, Sean is very dedicated to his sport. After Nationals this year, Sean plans to compete at the college level. He practices six days a week after he coaches. Even though gymnastics is a little hard at times, he shows the kids he coaches that it is also very fun and rewarding. “When you compete for the first time and walk out on to the floor, you feel like you’re the center of the universe.” Sean loves teaching the world’s toughest sport (it’s a fact) to younger generations in hopes that one day he can turn on the TV and say, “Hey, I coached that kid!” Also, he wants to let you know that he doesn’t look as goofy in real life as he does in the picture.

	Hope Litton – Academy Instructor

	Joette Orman - Little Champions Director and Instructor
		Joette has been involved with gymnastics and acrobatics since she began in a Parent-N-Me gymnastics class at 18 months of age. She started coaching gymnastics and training in the Great Y Circus when she was 13 and has never stopped. When she was 17, she created and directed the gymnastics and cheer tumbling program at the Redlands YWCA. Joette has performed nationally and internationally as a professional acrobat for the past 10 years. She has performed multiple times for the Laker's halftime, Redwings pregame, and many corporate and theme park shows. She has traveled all over the U.S. with the Moscow State Circus and has spent many months performing internationally, such as in Japan and Switzerland. Joette also performed in Cirque De La Mer for the first 3 seasons. She currently teaches ground and aerial acrobatics. She is an ACE certified personal trainer and a nationally registered EMT. She currently works part time on an ambulance and is an active member of FEMA's Disaster Response Team. She is also currently pursuing a degree in psychology.

Phone: 949.455.1020