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Swim Instructors

Kerri Going-Balbino

Kerri Going-Balbino is a Professional Swim Coach, with Level 4 certification with the American Swim Coaches Association, placing her among the top 7% of coaches in the country. She brings nineteen years of experience, including mentoring opportunities with some of the top coaches in the Metropolitan area.

Her educational background includes a Master’s degree from Stony Brook University, with an Advanced Graduate Certificate in Coaching and School District Administration along with a BA in Elementary Education from Adelphi University.

In coaching, her experience includes: appointed Metropolitan Zone Coach and Coaches Representative, USS Head Coach, HS Varsity/JV, and NCAA DI Assistant Coach and Recruiter for Stony Brook University.

In competitive swimming, her accomplishments include: Junior Olympic Champions, Zone Champions, NYSPHSAA All-American, NCAA DII National Qualifier, and 23 Top 16 National Age Group Reportable Times including two #1 rankings in the USA.

Kerri is looking forward to making a difference with the Jefferson Valley Swim Team at Club Fit!

Melissa Curley-Bianchini

Melissa Curley-Bianchini is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Children & Families Specialty. She received her Master's Degree in Social Work from Fordham University. As a social worker, Melissa has extensive experience in the fields of mental health issues, addictive prevention & intervention services, children & family therapy and sensory integration therapy. She has taught swimming and directed several aquatics programs over the past 20 years here in NY and on the west coast. Melissa believes that all individuals should know how to be safe in and around the water.

Lisa Coffman

Education/Experience:

BS - University of Minnesota
AEA Certification
AEA Personal Training Cert
WSI
WSI Instructors Candidate Training
CPR

Lisa has been involved in competitive swimming since the age of 8 years old. She has competed at the state, regional, and national levels (under AAU and USS programs). She swam NCAA DIII and DI in College and also helped to develop an USS swim club while in College. Lisa has worked at Club Fit for 15 years, prior to that she was a member, and teaches aquatic exercise and all levels of ages of swim instruction.

Ashley Curran

Education/Experience:

B.S. Biology - Coastal Carolina University
Working on a degree as a Physical Therapy Assistant
American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor
ARC Water Safety Instructor
CPR/AED Certified

Hobbies: Swimming, rollerblading and football

Philosophy of Swimming: You don't have to be a great swimmer to start, but you have to start to be a great swimmer.

Jessica Helf

Education/Experience:

WSI
FIT
CPR/AED

Specialties: Sign Language

Hobbies: Hiking, Dancing, Reading

Philosophy on Swimming: Water is essential for life, and is our gift from Earth. To not be able to utilize that gift to its full potential is the greatest shame of all. For hydration, exercise or pure enjoyment, water surpasses all else.

Susan Gerena

Education/Experience:

B.S. Physical Education - Brooklyn College
M.S. Physical Education - Hunter College
Certification - Special Education
American Red Cross Certifications
Water Safety Instructor
Water Front Lifeguard and Water Front Lifeguard Instructor
CPR/AED Instructor
First Aid Instructor
Bloodborne Pathogens Training: Preventing Disease Transmission Instructor
Administrating Emergency Oxygen Instructor
Department of Education City of New York - 32 years teaching experience

Specialties: American Red Cross Learn to Swim Program, Water Front Lifeguard Training, CPR/AED, First Aid

Hobbies: Construction and Home Repair, Electronics, Literature, Crocheting Prayer Shawls

Philosophy of Swimming: My tag line is "Water is the solution." This wonderful solution is gravity free, supportive, soothing environment in which to learn a life long skill...swimming. This life-saving skill can be learned at any stage of life and at any level of ability. Swimming, whether recreational or competitive, is an excellent form of physical fitness training.

Larry Koffer

Raised in the gritty streets of the south Bronx, Larry's mother took him to the Bronx River that ran past his apartment building where he began his love of swimming. He participated in competitive swimming in high school and was the 1964 Bronx Park Department 100 meter swim Champion. Larry has been a Club Fit member for over 10 years and is a waterholic. A lifetime sports enthusiast, whose background includes cross-country running, several martial art forms, golf and dabbles in yoga to see the core similarities in the forms. Larry is CPR/AED certified and WSI certified by the American Red Cross and has been very successful with helping beginners, especially getting adults more comfortable and actually swimming.

Helen Peters

Helen Peters has her Master's Degree in Special Education from Fordham University. She has taught Special Education classes at the elementary and secondary level. Helen has taught children with a variety of disabilities in and out of the water. She has taught swimming to children and adults for over 20 years, 17 of them at Club Fit. In addition to swimming, Helen is a Lifeguard Instructor. Helen enjoys passing her love of swimming onto others.

Brittney Pisano

Brittney has been an employee in Club Fit's Aquatics department for 6 years as a Lifeguard and Water Safety Instructor. Over the last two and half years, Brittney has been one of the swim coaches here at Club Fit. She works directly with the 90 swimmers that make up the Swim Team to foster their skills and achieve their fullest potential. She is a USA Swimming Coach as well as an ASCA Level 2 Swim Coach.

Brittney's educational background includes a BS in K-12 Physical Education from C.W. Post of Long Island University. She is currently working towards her MS in K-12 Special Education from Saint Joseph's University.

Brittney wishes to keep contributing her skills and knowledge to children and adolescents, whether they become star varsity athletes, or simply love and appreciate the health benefits of swimming.

Kristen Schaeffler

Education/Experience:

A.A. Criminal Justice
B.A. Forensic Psychology with a minor in Police Studies
Water Safety Instructor Certified
Fundamentals of Instructor Training Certified
Lifeguard Certified
CPR/AED Certified

Hobbies: Hiking, reading, swimming, ice skating, snow boarding

Philosophy of Swimming: As a swim instructor it is important to encourage, guide and engage all students as well as to introduce skills in a progression that allows for success, confidence, and ultimately the desire to learn more.

Marie Kane-Seitz

Education/Experience:

BA Economics
BS Communications/Psychology minor
ARC Water Safety Instructor
ARC Lifeguard
ARC CPR/AED

Hobbies: Swimming (of course), Bicycling, Photography, Reading

Marie has taught swimming for 25 years and has worked at Club Fit since January 2009. Marie worked in media planning in New York City before starting her own Media Planning agency in Cold Spring 20 years ago. Her favorite part of teaching is seeing young children go from fearful to joyful in the water. Marie provides a safe, encouraging environment for children and adults to have fun and improve their swimming skills. When not working, Marie can be found at the ocean with her husband and four children.

Cassie Wain

Education/Experience:

Bachelor of Business Administration - Lehman College
American Red Cross Lifeguard
CPR/AED Certified
Water Safety Instructor

Specialties:

Use organization and planning skills to develop targeted lesson plans to meet individual student's need
Schedule and teach swimming lessons to students of various ages, skill levels, and physical abilities

Hobbies: Spending time with my loved one and family

Philosophy on Swimming: Swimming has been a huge part of my life and I hope to give the effect that my mentors have given me.

Matt Williams

Education/Experience:

B.A. Criminal Justice Keuka College
Water Safety Instructor
American Red Cross Lifeguard
CPR/AED certified

Specialties: Exciting and productive swim lessons

Hobbies: Swimming, frisbee, beach volleyball and all other sports

Philosophy of Swimming: Just keep swimming! Just keep swimming! - Dory from Finding Nemo

Kristina Wolak

Education/Experience:

BS Business Administration - Clarkson University, New York
MS Tourism and Recreation - College of Tourism & Hotel Studies, Poland
ASCA Level 1 Coach
WSI/WLGT/CPR/AED

Kristina Wolak has been an instructor and coach for 12 years. As a competitive swimmer for 11 years, her accomplishments include top 10 finishes at Junior Olympics, NCAA DI & DII Championships. Kristina coaches with the Club Fit JV Swim Team and also instructs Swim Clinics at Club Fit JV.

Hobbies: Hiking, Camping, Reading, Swimming in the ocean, Sailing on the Hudson, Obstacle Racing...anything and everything outdoors!

Philosophy on Swimming: Relax and have fun!