Jose Carrera, Office Manager
Jose graduated from Burroughs High School in 1998. He currently is going to college pursuing a career in business & teaching. His future goal is to own a business of his own. Jose has worked at Fun & Fit since 2002.
Danielle Darling
Facility Director, Day Camp Director and an Instructor
Danielle Darling has been coaching gymnastics to children of all ages since 1999. In 2004 she graduated from California State University Northridge with a B.A. in Child and Adolescent Development.
Danielle is currently the Facility Director, Day Camp Director, an Instructor and loves working with children and their families especially here at Fun & Fit.
Codi Dobie, Head Instructor
Codi became a Fun & Fit student at the age of 8, and joined our teaching staff at the age of 17 years while a senior at John Burroughs High School. She is very good with children “because they like my wacky personality”. Codi says, “It has always been a dream of mine to one day coach a class of my own.”
Codi also loves to cook and hopes to one day become a top chef. “I have been cooking as long as I can remember and love it almost as much as showing off my round-off back handsprings.
Alex Gastelum, Customer Service Director and an Instructor
Alex Gastelum has been with the Fun & Fit family since 1997. Alex has been the Director of Customer Service for the past 7 years and has been coaching Tumble-Tots and preschool classes since 2000. Alex takes great pride in his efficiency running a successful office and enjoys helping his students grow in a fun and exciting environment.
Jeff Lulla, President
Jeff Lulla is a member of the USAG National Safety Review Board, USA Gymnastics University system, a National Safety Instructor for USA Gymnastics, co-author of the USAG Kinder Accreditation for Teachers (KAT) Course, an industry consultant, and for years has been a seminar presenter for the Amateur Athletic Foundation, the US Association of Independent Gymnastics Clubs, Gymnastics B.C. Canada, and USA Gymnastics. He also serves on the USAG National Preschool Advisory Panel and has participated at the USAG Business Owners Conference presenting table topics on technology and marketing.
Jeff Lulla earned a B.A. degree in Physical Education from CSUN in 1976, and has over 30 years of teaching and coaching experience. In 1985 Jeff opened the first Fun & Fit Gymnastics Center in Burbank, California and in 1987 opened the second Fun & Fit Gymnastics facility in Santa Clarita, California. Both Fun & Fit Centers also contract with private schools and their local city Park and Recreation Departments teaching recreational gymnastics both on and off site.
In 1991 Jeff began to license a self-esteem building curriculum developed at Fun & Fit to other gymnastics schools and fitness clubs. Since then, hundreds of gymnastics and youth fitness programs internationally have been licensed to use what is called the “Fun & Fit Gymnastics Program”.
Erica Isabel Chavana, Instructor
Erica began cheering and tumbling for an all-star squad at the age of 9, her love for the sport came quickly. She cheered for her junior high and for her high school. While in high school she coached girls from different Jr. high schools, choreographed and taught the tryout material for different schools. She went on to cheer for The University of Texas Pan American and began coaching at Kelly’s Center Stage. After completing her first two years there Erica transferred to The University of Texas San Antonio where she graduated with a Fine Arts Degree. While studying to become an Elementary teacher she spent five years coaching at Stars Cheer and Tumbling Academy where her teams won multiple National titles. She assisted in many UCA regional and state competitions and was a head judge for Jr. high and high school cheerleading tryouts in South Texas and Central Texas regions prior to relocating to Los Angeles. She is excited and looking forward to building new relationships with the kids and the staff here at Fun and Fit Gymnastics.
Nicole Unson, Instructor
Nicole started at Fun & Fit as a Teacher in Training (TNT) and became employed as an instructor in 2008. She loves working with children because she has a fun, child-like personality. She loves being a part of her students’ lives and plans to be here for a while.
Nicole is attending John Burroughs High School where she is currently a cheerleader. She will be graduating in 2011. When she was younger, Nicole took up acting and modeling for a hobby, but is currently focused on academics. She took dance classes in school and privately for 2 years. Nicole looks forward to graduating high school and attending college to further expand her education.
Arpine Geragoosian, Instructor
Arpine has been a gymnast for about 5 years and has been teaching at Fun and Fit for over a year now. She has experience teaching many levels and loves working with children and their families. She is exctited to start college this year at Glendale Community College. Aside from gymnastics, Arpine is a very skilled artist and has high hopes of persuing a career in Animation. She is looking forward to working with your children and helping them to grow into not only better gymnasts but also better people.
Natalie Hauptman, Instructor
Natalie has been involved in gymnastics since the age of four. She is currently a junior at John Burroughs High School and is on the Varsity Cheer Squad. Natalie loves working with children and has taught gymnastics to children of all ages at LA Valley College. Natalie is an avid photographer and is currently in the Advanced Photography Program at John Burroughs High School. She is very excited to be teaching here at fun and fit.
Janelle Molin, Instructor
Janelle is a varsity cheerleader at John Burroughs High School. She has been a cheerleader for 5 years and a figure skater for 4 years. She started taking gymnastics lessons at age 7 at various gyms including Fun & Fit. Her interest in tumbling and cheer as well as her experience in working with kids has drawn her to become an employee here. What she really enjoys about Fun & Fit is their positive energy, and she’s excited to contribute to it as an instructor.
Shawn Marsh, Instructor
Shawn began his gymnastics career in high school and has never looked back. Dedicated to the sport and physical discipline of gymnastics, Shawn attended Cal State University Long Beach working toward a BA in Physical Education. As an individual gymnast, Shawn has won many awards. Beginning in high school where he was the Los Angeles City gymnastics finalist three years in a row. A highlight in his gymnastics career was participation in the opening ceremonies of the 1984 Olympics. He has received accolades from such diverse groups as the LAPD Police Activity League and the Special Olympics Committee of Southern California. Shawn has personally trained a Special Olympics gymnast who, under his guidance, won four (4) gold medals. His experience spans over 20 years and encompasses more avenues of gymnastics than most gymnasts see in their lifetime.
Tami Strachan, Instructor
Tami has been a gymnast for 8 years and has been coaching/teaching gymnastics just as long. She is a graduate of Daniel Pearl Magnet High School class of 2007. She started studying to be in the medical field, either to be a Pediatric Nurse or a Paramedic. “I love working with and inspiring the lives of children and young gymnasts”, says Tami.
Amy LeCroy, Instructor
Amy started gymnastics at age 3 and competed up to level 8 until the age of 14, when she began coaching. She has been coaching children of all ages gymnastics and cheerleading since 2003, and loves it!
Amy graduated from San Francisco State University with her Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology. She plans to become a Physical Therapist.
Elyssa Alarcon, Instructor
Elyssa currently attends Burbank High School and is a member of the cheerleading squad. She plans on attending college to study psychology. Elyssa loves working with children and hopes to help build the confidence they need to succeed.
Courtney Foote, Instructor
Courtney recently moved to California after obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Communication from the University of Houston. He began gymnastics training at the age of 5 at Byron’s Gymnastics in Houston, Texas. His talents took him to Brown’s Gymnastics where he competed nationally. Upon entering high school, he took his acrobatic talents to the National Basketball Association performing acrodunking for the Houston Rockets, and entertained crowds across the country with Team Acrodunk and the High Impact Squad.
Courtney also excelled in the world of competitive cheerleading. During his high school years, he performed with Texas Lone Star Cheer. For the following three years, he held a coaching position at PTX Cheer while simultaneously studying full time and performing with the U of H cheerleading team.
Courtney says, “Everyday I strive to impact lives through the power of acrobatics.” As a resident of Los Angeles, he will be able to influence our youth in a positive and healthy fashion.
Ryan Garner, Instructor
Ryan began gymnastics at the age of 5 and competed until the age of 15. He then coached and practiced through High School. Ryan moved to Hawaii and spent 10 years there where he met and married the love of his life. Ryan and his wife moved to California to continue his education at the Art Institute of California majoring in Media Arts & Animation. After graduation he hopes to become an animator for a local studio. Ryan is also a big DC Comics fan and hopes to write a comic book some day.
Ryan loves gymnastics with all of his being and loves working with children and teaching them skills that he believes can help raise their self-esteem and make their lives better.
