Aliso Viejo

Dan Berzansky founded Premier Aquatic Services in 2011. As a competitive swimmer, Dan taught swim lessons every summer throughout high school and college. In college, he swam on scholarship for Division I Stony Brook University in Long Island, New York. He was captain of the men’s college team his junior and senior year and is a five-time conference champion. After college, Dan was hired to open the aquatics program at the Jewish Community Center (JCC) of Orange County in Irvine. While there, he built a vibrant learn-to-swim program and started the OC Waves Club Swim Team, a USA Swimming sanctioned (USS) club program, which has produced scores of highly successful swimmers. In 2011, Dan graduated with his MBA from Pepperdine University and proceeded to leave the JCC.

In all, Dan has over 20 years of coaching and teaching experience, as well as over 14 years of experience in the recreation field with a focus on project management. In addition, he has over 17 years of experience as an instructor for the American Red Cross where he has taught classes ranging from CPR/AED classes, Professional Rescuer, instructor courses and lifeguarding and First Aid classes. In his free time, Dan is a Director for Stop Drowning Now, a drowning prevention education program which provides free drowning prevention education programs for children.

Dan currently lives in Laguna Niguel, CA with his wife and three young children.

Ryan began swimming for Hillside Aquatics when he was 4 years old. After swimming for over 15 years, Ryan was offered an athletic scholarship to Concordia University Irvine. There he obtained his Bachelors in Communications and his MBA. While attending school in Irvine Ryan fell in love with coaching and teaching swim lessons again. This led Ryan to pursue a career with Premier Aquatics in 2011. Ryan has now been teaching and coaching for over 15 years.

In his free time, Ryan likes to hang out with his friends & family, go camping, and travel.

Eric is the Aquatics Director at at the Aliso Viejo Aquatic Center. He and his wife Jenny have four children. Eric loves the outdoors and is an avid sports fan.

He fits right in here because he’s a kid at heart and knows “You don’t stop playing because you get old. You get old because you stop playing.” Be sure to say hi if you see Eric around deck!

Hello Premier Families! Meet Tristan, the Programs Director at the Aliso Viejo Aquatic Center.

Tristan is the Programs Director for Premier Aquatics at the Aliso Viejo Aquatic Center. She is passionate about cultivating a safe, streamlined, and fun learning experience for swimmers, parents, and instructors alike.

Her journey into the aquatics world started with competitive swimming at age eight. This developed into a love for all things water from endurance open water swimming, to coaching, to competing in collegiate triathlons for UC Davis.

Since joining Premier in 2019, she has been a Swim Instructor, Lifeguard Manager, and  Program Director. Tristan enjoys working with instructors to consistently build on their skills, and lean into Premier’s community-focused culture.

When she’s not working or poolside challenging every kid to their best high-five, you’ll likely find her hiking, cooking, or cycling- aka what she considers to be the best way to explore!”

Say hi to Tristan if you see her around!

Sal Ulloa brings a decade of swim instruction experience coupled with six years in management and training roles in the swim school industry. Raised in Orange County, California, where swimming is a way of life, Sal’s aquatic journey began as a competitive swimmer at Seal Beach Swim Club at 11 years old. Later continuing this journey with high school swimming and water polo. Sal studied Business Administration at California State University Long Beach where he continued to play club water polo.

Currently he is the Training and Curriculum Director at Premier Swim Academy. In this role, Sal brings together his swim instructor and management experience along with modern instructional design principles to create engaging, interactive, and strategic training systems.

Hi, my name is Michael! I am a Deck Manager and Swim Instructor at Aliso Viejo Aquatic Center and Saddleback College. I am excited for the opportunity to share my passion for swimming with the students at premier aquatics and get to work with so many great people, on the deck and in the water!

I am originally from St. Louis, Missouri, and moved to California in 2022. I grew up competitively diving, and my favorite event was the 10 meter platform! I went on to compete at the Division 1 collegiate level, diving for University of Missouri, and graduated with a bachelors degree in 2016. After graduating, I continued to coach club diving, and had the opportunity to coach Division 1 for Saint Louis University.

I am thrilled to combine the skills and techniques I have acquired at Premier to establish a secure, educational, and enjoyable atmosphere for your children to learn how to swim!

My name is Kayla Cunningham and I am a Deck Manager and Swim Instructor for Premier at the Aliso Viejo Aquatics Center!

I grew up loving the water. I started my swim journey with NOVAquatics for about a year, then I transitioned to playing water polo and swimming all 4 years in high school, and played for a couple seasons in college as well. I am currently at Saddleback College where I am working on my Associates for Kinesiology and plan on transferring to obtain my Bachelors and then hopefully my Masters. My goal is to provide physical and hydrotherapy to kids.

Working for Premier was a no-brainer! My brother worked here a few years back and when I saw how much he enjoyed it, I knew I’d love it too! Premier’s goal to ensure water safety as well as help families reach their swimming goals in a embracing community is so amazing, and I am truly blessed to be a part of such a wonderful company. I love working with everyone and seeing the smiling faces from the families everyday! Such a wonderful community, like a family on its own!

Outside of the water and school, I like to spend time with my family, dogs, and friends. Some of my hobbies include line dancing, art, and a new-found love for snowboarding. I love all genres of music but my favorite has to be country (hence the line dancing).

I cannot wait to meet you all, hope to dance with y’all on deck!

Hi! My name is Noah. I’m a Deck Manager at the Aliso Viejo Aquatic Center and I’ve been with Premier Aquatics for six years now. I strive to ensure the satisfaction of my swim instructors, students, and their parents by working diligently to create a positive experience for all those who work with me.

When I’m not working, I can usually be found on a film set or at home building my career as a full time filmmaker. I have always been deeply committed to this pursuit, and I take comfort in knowing that I will have lived a life filled with purpose and meaning. If you happen to see me on deck, please don’t hesitate to come say hello. I’d love to meet you!

Hello, Premier Aquatics folks, My name is Jay Hughes, and I am a swim coach at Aliso Viejo Aquatics Center.  

I have been teaching swimming lessons for 4 years now and I enjoy everything swimming has to offer. I started off as a swim instructor in 2019 and as the years went by, I became a swim coach for the Premier swim team, AVFF. The best part of working at Premier is all the smiles on everyone’s faces and being in the water!  

My hobbies are swimming of course, walking my dog, watching classic movies, playing video games, and reading. My favorite color is blue as all the clothes that I wear are nothing but blue! An interesting fact about me is I have another job. I’ve worked as a physical therapy aide/lifeguard at Saddleback College for 13 years and I also coach for the Special Olympics. My favorite food is Pepperoni Pizza, I’m a big coffee drinker and I am a big nerd when it comes to Star Wars and Dinosaurs! One last known fact about me is that I am a very loud swimming teacher! If you ask anyone at AVAC, they will tell you. You even hear me when you are in the parking lot! I am looking forward to meeting and swimming with you!  

Thank you kindly for your time! Your Friend, Coach Jay! 

Hi! My name is Dorsa and I have been with Premier since August of 2022! I grew up in Southern California and I’ve always loved being in the water. My favorite thing to do is to go to the beach and spend time with the people I love. I can’t wait to meet you and share my love of swimming!

Hi, my name is Cody Burton! I am a Lifeguard Manager at AVAC. I was born and raised in Laguna Beach and have always enjoyed the ocean. At the pool, I’m regularly seen bugging our guards and ensuring they have all the resources necessary to keep our facility safe. I started as a guard at AVAC in the fall of 2022 and have enjoyed practically every second. Before Premier, I started as a lifeguard on a lake up in Washington for a camp over the summer. I felt that I would be crazy if I weren’t to expand on the skills I had gained that summer, and I have zero regrets.  

Outside of work, I love exploring. I enjoy long hikes through mountains or free diving along the coast and everything in between. I look forward to seeing you all on the deck. Peace! 

Hi, I’m Zoe! I’ve always loved the water and the pool is my favorite place to be. I’ve grown up playing water polo and swimming and I can’t go a day without being in the water. I love teaching people how to swim because it’s something I love so much. If I’m not on the deck I’m at the beach or taking pictures on my film cameras. So excited to see you on deck! 

Hi families! My name is Caitlyn and I’ve been a swim instructor at Premier since the start of Summer 2023. I have always loved water sports myself, so all of my past jobs have been in that field as well. I was a competitive swimmer and surfer for roughly 5 years and I played water polo for a year as well. I LOVE sports. I could talk about any sport for hours. I love working with children especially because I grew up in a big family. I am currently studying child psychology and development along with some criminal justice classes. I am so happy working at Premier. I really couldn’t ask for a better job and I can’t wait to meet all of you! 

Hey!!! I’m a swim instructor here at Premier! I’m currently a junior in high school who is involved in may things, such as film, drama, and track and field. My favorite things to do are dance, sing, and run. My favorite things to eat are ice cream and sandwiches. Currently in drama I am the lead dancer, stage manager, choreographer, and assistant director. I am also in consideration for a couple of lead roles. Another thing I love to do is watch movies. I like all types of movies but one of my favorites is Tangled. I also love Dinosaurs and being silly with my friends. My favorite color is blue! I love working at Premier due to the environment and all the laughing that happens in the pool, can’t wait to swim with you! 

Hi, my name is Miabella! I began with Premier as a Flying Fish at the early stages of their program when I was four years old. I am currently in the swim and waterpolo team at Capistrano Valley High School. Fun fact, I have so much hair that I’ve broken up to six swim caps per season per sport. If I’m not at practice or at work, I am probably at the beach hanging out with friends swimming in the waves or just watching the beautiful sunsets!  

I have looked forward to the day that I could give back to this program and help develop confidence in young swimmers like my coach did for me when I was a young swimmer. Can’t wait to fly with some new fish! 

Hey guys! This is me Galal your favorite Swim instructor! Let’s start off with some fun facts about me: I love to go outside a lot… like ALOT! For example, I love to swim, skate and play water polo. Also, I really love cars like REALLY LOVE CARS. I am currently also learning how to fix cars and how to remove and install parts. I am currently learning how to disassemble a V8 Chevrolet engine and put it back in.  

Safety is my main priority whether I’m working with cars or teaching lessons. I really love working with Premier because Premier is my first ever job that made me proud and safe around others. Premier is and will always be my favorite ever company. I would for sure recommend it. Premier made me a family and it will always be in my heart no matter what.  

Some background about my swimming journey is that I started around the age of 8. Swimming has always been my favorite thing to do. My favorite stroke would probably be butterfly. As for other favorites: My favorite color on a car would probably be matte black. WHY? Because anything with black goes so well with it. Trust me on this. My actual favorite color would be turquoise green because it’s just a super cool color! My favorite ice cream would be cotton candy.  

That’s about it! I hope to see you guys around. If you do, please don’t hesitate to say hi and ask questions if needed! 

Hi Premier families! My name is Oliver and I currently play water polo for Saddleback College. I just finished my 9th year of water polo and my 5th of swimming. I’ve always wanted to coach water sports because I grew up in the water and want to spread my love of it with others.

In my free time, I play standup bass and bass guitar ever since I started in 4th grade. I grew up around Portland, Oregon so I love the outdoors and backpacking. I haven’t gone backpacking since I moved, but I’ve been wanting to go for years!

I chose Premier because of the amazing staff and great reviews I’ve seen. Everyone really cares about giving the kids the best possible coaching and I feel like it’s a place that will help me grow both as a person and as a coach.

Hi Everyone! I am Coach Katie, and I am so excited to get to work with amazing swimmers this year! Some fun facts about me include that I have been a competitive swimmer for about 4 years now and my favorite stroke is butterfly! I love the beach and being in the water with my friends. Some of my goals for 2024 are to have good connections with all my students, really get to know everyone, and keep on staying positive! I chose Premier because I love the environment and staff and they make all the swimmers who come here so successful! I am so excited to get to meet you and can’t wait for some amazing lessons!

Hey there! I’m thrilled to introduce myself as a swim instructor at Premier, My name’s Jaden, and I can’t wait to dive into an adventure with you. A couple of fun facts about me: I’ve been swimming since I was 2, but besides swimming, you’ll often find me surfing in the ocean or eating some peanut butter brownie ice cream (my all-time favorite). My goal as your instructor is to make every lesson fun, and engaging. So, get your swimsuits and goggles ready, can’t wait to meet you!

Hey there! I’m Rola, originally from Lebanon, and I’m excited to work with you as a swim instructor. With a background as a competitive swimmer from my younger days, swimming has always been my main passion. Whether gracefully gliding through the pool or pushing my limits, swimming makes me feel alive. While basketball and dance are fun hobbies, nothing beats the tranquility and strength I find in the water. When not swimming or hitting the gym, I enjoy cooking, photography, and exploring new places. Additionally, I’m an avid Formula 1 fan, getting caught up in the excitement of races. I love going to the beach and bringing a touch of Lebanese culture to everything I do. I chose Premier because of its unwavering commitment to excellence and community, which perfectly aligns with my values. I’m eager to meet you and share some incredible aquatic adventures together!

Hi Aquatic Family! My name is Kayla Rude and I am a swim instructor and lifeguard at AVAC. I grew up in Aliso Viejo and spent most of my childhood in the pool and at gymnastics. I love to go to the beach and wakeboard on the Colorado River in my free time. I love working with kids and watching them grow in their swimming skills. Fun fact: I took swimming lessons at the Aliso Viejo Aquatic Center as a child just like all of you! My goal is to teach kids to be safe and have fun in the water. I can’t wait to spend time in the water with all of you!

Hi! My name’s Kyle and I’m a customer service rep at AVAC. In or out of the pool, I love to swim and do other exercises including hikes and weightlifting. I am currently attending LCAD majoring in animation, so as you can imagine I love cartoons and talking about them. Being a picky eater, I’m also a big snack and food guy. My birthday is on October 4th just in case you were wondering. A fun fact about me is that I wanted to grow up to be a merman. See you at the pool this summer!

Hi everyone! My name is Haley and I’ve been working at Premier since 2019 as an admin. I’m the one who answers the phone and schedules all your kiddos’ lessons. I love to spend my free time at the beach and with my friends. I also love taking my dog to the beach, but she’s not a huge fan of the water, unfortunately. I enjoy traveling, spending time with my family, and exploring new places. A couple of my hobbies are doing Pilates and taking pictures on my digital camera. I love to photograph moments to look back on. Premier has been the place where I’ve gotten to see myself grow. From getting my license to graduating high school and starting college, to many more. I’ve always loved working here and I hope to see y’all around!

Hi everyone I’m Nashley, but feel free to call me Nash:) I am 17 years old and I have been working at Premier Aquatics for almost a year now. I’m always happy to help everyone with anything and just a phone call away. I always enjoy talking to all the kiddos and helping out families with any problems! Fun Fact: Even though I work for Premier now, I actually learned to swim here when I was younger!  Working here has taught me so many things and has helped me grow so much as a person.

Outside of Premier, on my free time I love to go out with my friends and explore new places, taking photos and listen to music. I love going to concerts and going on new adventures. I am currently a senior in high school and I plan on majoring in criminal justice at CSU Fullerton or Saddleback College. Whether I am out on deck or at the front desk if you ever have any questions or want to talk about anything (especially harry styles!) please feel free to come up to me!