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Staff
The staff
at All-American is specially trained by Patti Komara.
Members are CPR and First Aid certified as well as USAG Safety Certified.
Some members are USAG PDP, and Preschool Fundamentals certified. The staff loves
children and realizes that FUN has to play a part in every lesson so the
children will want to return.
Patti’s
All-American is very fortunate to have such a large, qualified staff.
The staff will try to maintain the same schedule throughout the
year. However, your child may
occasionally have a different teacher.
All the staff utilizes the same lesson plans and curriculum sheets,
but every instructor has their own style of teaching.
Please help your child adjust to a new teacher if this occurs.
Our enthusiastic staff is well trained through Patti Komara’s own
teacher–training program and mentoring system. Many of the staff members
are USAG Safety Certified, American Red Cross First Aid, and CPR
Certified. All of the teachers are involved with year round in–service
training as well as continuous video training.
Our office staff is always here to help you.
Our business hours during the school year are Monday thru Wednesday
8:30am - 9:00pm, Thursday 8:30am - 8:00pm, Friday 8:30am - 9:00pm, Saturday from
8:30 am – 4:00 pm,
and Sundays from 12:00-4:00 pm
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Patti Komara (President) In 1969,
Patti Komara founded Patti's All-American gymnastics in Dyer,
Indiana and it has since become one of the most successful gyms with
gymnastics, dance, swimming, and a fitness based nursery school
called Gym-N-Learn. Patti
began speaking at national seminars in 1981 on preschool and
school-age gymnastics and the business of owning a gymnastics
school. Patti has spoken for Purdue University and national
seminars for AAHPERD, AAETC, TMCA, USAIGC, IDEA, and USAG. She
began her national seminars in 1986 and began putting her speeches
on videotape and DVDs and then founded Patti Komara's Tumblebear
Connection. Patti has since produced more than 60
instructional videotapes for instructors and owners. Presently
she has written and sells books on yearly lesson plans for The
internationally know Tumblebear Gym Program, School-age Gymnastics,
Dancing Gym Bears, Yoga Bears, CheerBears, Gym-N-Learn, and her
newest book on her very successful swim program. Patti has
written over 50 articles on the gymnastics business. In 1995 Patti
was selected by USA Gymnastics to be a member f the committee that
created the KAT preschool gymnastics certification program and
co-authored the KAT workbook. In 2003 she was named USAG
Business Leader of the Year. In 2005 Patti was selected as
Client of the Year by Action International and in 2006 was given the
National Service Award by USAG at their annual business
conference. |
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Rachael
Tripp (Vice
President of Sales, School-Age
Manager, and Training Manager),
started teaching gymnastics at Patti’s in 1995.
She is a former varsity cheerleader at Lake Central High
School.
Rachael has been involved in gymnastics for many years and
competed as an optional level gymnast. She is a former Purdue
Calumet cheerleader and was asked to be on the UCA cheering staff.
Rachael has been certified by USA Gymnastics PDP Level I,
Preschool Fundamentals, Kinder Accreditation for Teachers, and is certified in American Red
Cross CPR and First Aid.
Rachael is also USA Gymnastic Safety Certified. She graduated
from Purdue University Calumet in May 2002 with a Bachelors Degree
in Marketing. Rachael attended the National Gymnastics
Congress five times where she took classes to further
her education and two National Brain Trust Conferences. |
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Diane
Spevacek (General Manager, Facility Manager, and Special
Events Manager),
has
been teaching at All-American since 1989. She brings a lot of
enthusiasm and love of her job and is a former gymnastic student of
Patti’s Gymnastics.
Diane has been certified by USA Gymnastics, Preschool
Fundamentals, Kinder
Accreditation for Teachers and is Safety Certified.
She is also certified in American Red Cross CPR and First
Aid. Diane and her husband, Scott, reside in St. John. Her daughter,
Nicole, was a teacher here and now lives in Chicago.
Diane attended numerous classes during the 2005 USA National
Gymnastics Congress in Indianapolis as well as attending a national
preschool workshop in Chicago, and Region V congress in Columbus,
Ohio. |
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Ali
Pienta
(Assistant School-age Manager, Gymnastics and Swim
Teacher, and Staff Birthday Party Manager) has
taught at Patti’s All-American since 2001. Ali attended the National Gymnastics Congress in
St. Paul, Minnesota August of 2006 and in San Jose, California of
2007 this past summer.
She studied one year at ISU with an athletic scholarship
playing softball.
While attending Indiana State University, she became
certified in American Red Cross First Aid, Adult, Child and Infant
CPR and is certified as a Water Safety Instructor. Ali
is also
certified by USA Gymnastics,
Kinder Accreditation for Teachers
which is the highest level for teaching preschool gymnastics.
She is also
safety certified by USA
Gymnastics.
She is currently enrolled at Purdue University Calumet
majoring in Chemistry and Biology in the Pre-Medical program.
She lives in Dyer with her Mom and Dad, sister Valerie,
Grandma Edna and her cock-a-too, Holiday!
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Adrian
Sickles
(Back Handspring Manager and Gymnastics Teacher), graduated
from Lake Central High School in May 2002, where she was a varsity
cheerleader. She attends Purdue University Calumet and is pursuing a
career in Fitness Management. Adrian is certified in American Red
Cross First Aid and CPR.
She is is also
safety certified by USA
Gymnastics. Adrian was a power tumbler and competed for ten years.
She has won many competitions including a national title.
She teaches many of our advanced classes at All-American.
Adrian attended numerous classes during the 2005 USA National
Gymnastics Congress in Indianapolis.
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Amy
Pataky
(Gym-N-Learn Director),
took gymnastic lessons at Shirley’s in Crown Point for eight
years and here at Patti’s for six years. She was hired originally
in 1990 and was employed for eight years during her high school and
college years. After receiving a degree in education from Purdue
University Calumet and teaching second and fourth grades for five
years she decided to return as a gymnastics teacher, she then
created the Gym-N-Learn Program the only fitness based nursery
school in NW Indiana. Amy is certified in American Red
Cross First Aid and CPR and has been
Gym-N-Learn Director since 2003. She is also has been certified by USA
Gymnastics in Preschool Fundamentals, Kinder
Accreditation for Teachers, and is Safety Certified. Amy
is married and resides in Schererville with her husband Michael. |
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Chris Walker (Boys Gymnastics Manager and Gymnastics Teacher),
joined
our staff in December of 2001. He was a Jesse White Tumbler in
Chicago. Chris taught gymnastics with the Jesse White Tumbling Team
and at the Chicago Park District for 10 years. He won first place at State and first place at many
other U.S.A.G meets. He is First Aid, CPR,
and Safety Certified along with being a Pro Member of USA
Gymnastics. Chris is also
safety certified by USA Gymnastics,
Kinder Accreditation for Teachers
which is the highest level for teaching preschool gymnastics.
He currently resides in Griffith, and has a daughter named Kayla. Chris attended numerous classes
during the 2005 USA National Gymnastics Congress in Indianapolis.
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Nicole
Gainer
(
Pool Manager, Kids Night Out Manager, Gymnastics
and Swim Teacher),
Nicole
has worked here at All-American for twelve years as a swim
instructor and is our pool manager. She has coached swimming
for twenty-one years. She has been heralded as one of the most
fantastic instructors working with children in the water. She
was assistant coach at Munster and Lake Central swim club. Nicole
has been the head coach and assistant coach for East Chicago High
School and Bishop Noll Institute. Nicole has been an aquatic
director at various YMCA's and country clubs in Northwest Indiana
and Illinois. She is a gymnastics instructor here at
All-American and has previously taught gymnastics for Tumblebear Gym
on Wheels. She also is American Red Cross First Aid, Adult, Child
and Infant CPR certified as well as a Water Safety Instructor.
Nicole is also safety certified by USA Gymnastics,
Preschool Fundamentals, and Kinder Accreditation for Teachers which
is the highest level for teaching preschool gymnastics. Nicole
assists with our Gym-N-Learn Program and Runs our Kids Night Out
program.
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Kelli
Devine (Gymnastics Teacher, and Assistant Preschool Manager)
graduated
from Indiana State University with a degree in Exercise Science.
She has two children, Taylor and David, and a wonderful
husband who also happens to be her best friend.
She has been a fitness instructor and a personal trainer for
the past 24 years-- the last seven at Omni. Kelli
is also certified by USA Gymnastics,
Kinder Accreditation for Teachers which
is the highest level for teaching preschool gymnastics. Kelli
also is USA Gymnastics safety certified and Preschool Fundamentals
certified. She
was a competitive swimmer, tri-athlete and a
body builder.
Kelli is First Aid and CPR certified, AFAA and Ace certified
for group fitness and personal training.
She’s is also a member of I.D.E.A. – International Dance
and Exercise Association. |
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Natasha
Wojciechowski (Gymnastics Teacher) has been with All-American
since 2005. Natasha took gymnastics at
Patti’s All-American for four years. She enjoys working with
children, teaching gymnastics and doing gymnastics. Natasha is American Red
Cross First Aid, Adult, Child and Infant CPR certified
Natasha lives in
Dyer with her mother, sister Ashley and five foster children, Amber,
Harmony, Tyler, Kylee, and Katrina.
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Brittany
Ricciardi
(Gymnastics Teacher) has
been with All-American since 2004.
She took
six years of gymnastics and four years of dance classes from All-American. She played basketball for Lake Central High School
where she was also a cheerleader. Brittany went to Purdue
Lafayette for one year then transferred to Purdue Calumet to be closer to her
family.
She is American Red
Cross First Aid, Adult, Child and Infant CPR certified.
She is majoring in biology and is in the Pre-Med program.
She has three sisters and lives in Schererville with her Mom and
Dad. |
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Chrissy
Wilk
(Gymnastics
Teacher)
has
been with All-American since 2004 and is excited to teach children gymnastics. Chrissy graduated
in 2005 from T. F. South High School and worked here at All-American
until she left for the University of Illinois.
She now attends Purdue Calumet where she is majoring in
Biology. She took gymnastics lesson for two years and tumbling lessons for six years,
three of them being taught by Miss Rachael and Miss Adrian.
Chrissy is American Red
Cross First Aid, Adult, Child and Infant CPR certified.
Chrissy lives with her Mom and Dad is Lansing, Illinois.
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Rhonda
Zaluckyj
(Gymnastics Teacher)
joined our All-American staff in 2006..
Rhonda took tumbling classes in Griffith and at Patti’s
All-American for four years.
She loves being around children and loves to play her guitar.
Rhonda
is American Red
Cross First Aid, Adult, Child and Infant CPR certified.
She lives in Cedar Lake with her husband, Stevie and her two
children, Seth and Faith.
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Tara
Leonard
(Special Events Instructor)
has
joined the All-American staff this year.
Tara took gymnastics lessons for six years and dance lessons
for three years here at Patti’s.
Tara competed on the Patti’s All-American Team during the
80’s. She is currently attends classes at Purdue Calumet working on
a degree in Criminal Justice.
Tara is Paula our evening Customer Service Manager oldest
daughter. Tara lives in Dyer with her son Antonio.
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Alyssa
Chandler
(Gymnastics Teacher
and Special Events Instructor)
has
joined the All-American staff this year. Alyssa took gymnastics and
tumbling lessons since the age of four. Alyssa is very athletic and loves all kinds of sports. She
has ran track and played volleyball as well as a variety of other
sports.
She also took two years of dance instruction.
Alyssa is USGA certified in Preschool Fundamentals. Alyssa loves working with children and can’t wait to share
her knowledge in teaching gymnastics. Alyssa lives in Dyer
with her parents, her brother Will, two dogs, and one cat. |
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Meridith
Gjeldum (Gymnastics Teacher
and Special Events
Instructor)
has
joined the All-American staff this year. Meridith started in
gymnastics here at All-American. She has five years of gymnastics
experience and one year of dance instruction. She has been on the
Lake Central Varsity cheerleading squad and was part of the
Advanced Tumbling and Trampoline Team. Meridith is also a
certified lifeguard. She loves to run and go fishing. She
lives in St. John with her Mom, Dad, two sisters - Mia and Meg, her
brother, Marc and her dog named Zena.
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Amber Pfiel (Gymnastics
Teacher) joined the All-American staff this year. Amber
took tumbling classes for seven years. She has competed on an
All-Star Cheerleading Squad, Cheer Command Rockets in Mokena,
Illinois for eight years. She competed in the three World
championships during her cheer career. Amber is
attending Purdue North Central in the fall majoring in business and
finance. Amber lives at home in Dyer, with her mom, her dog,
Bailey and puppy named Remmi.
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Annie Loudermilk (Gymnastics
Teacher) joined the All-American staff this year. Annie
took gymnastics classes since she was two years old as well as five
years of dance classes in when she was younger. During her
high school years, Annie took additional Tumbling and Trampoline
classes and dance classes (Jazz, Leaps & Turns, and
Ballet) for three years. Annie was a member of the Andrean
High School dance team (Ninerettes) for four years. She is
attending Purdue Calumet University majoring in History and plans on
attending Law School in the future. Annie lives at home with
her mom, dad, brother named Mikey, and Dog named Tyson. |
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Erin Zlotkowski (Gymnastics
Teacher) joined the All-American staff this year. Erin
took tumbling classes for since she was two years old. She
also took one year of dance classes at a young age. She competed
in Tumbling and Trampoline for twelve years. She also
was on the Lake Central gymnastics team for two years. Erin lives at home with her mom,
dad, brother Matt and her dog named Rico.
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Katie Bomba (Gymnastics
Teacher) joined the All-American staff this year. Katie took
gymnastics classes for five years here at Patti's All-American. She
was on the Lake Central gymnastics team and a Tri-Town Raiders
Cheerleader for four years. Katie is attending a Purdue
Calumet University majoring in biology. She currently lives in
Dyer with her mom, dad, and younger sisters. |
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Jill Hansen (Gymnastics
Teacher) joined the All-American staff
this year. Jill took six years of gymnastics and four years of
tumbling classes here at Patti's All-American. She was on the
Junior Varsity Lake Central Cheerleading squad for two years.
She also competed on the JV Lake Central cheerleading squad earning
a fifth place in the State of Indiana. Jill loves to tumble
and can't wait to share her knowledge and talents with her
students. Jill lives at home with mom, dad, brother, Josh and
her dog named Sammie.
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Dance
Staff |
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Robin
Arvanitis
(Dance Manager)
began dancing at the age of three.
She took locally until she was eight years old, and then
continued training at Birmingham Southern College, Chicago City
Ballet, Masi Ballet, Ruth Page, Ellis DuBoulay, and Lou Contes.
She was accepted at Joffrey Ballet of New York City in 1989,
but she decided to begin a teaching career instead.
Robin had her own studio until the spring of 1998 when she
joined the staff at Patti’s All-American.
Robin has staged eighteen recitals, three professional
Nutcrackers, four musicals, dance engagements from 1998-2004 at
Great America, and numerous parades.
Many of her students have gone on to dance at the University
of Iowa, Butler, Northern Illinois, Barat College, the Joffery
Ballet of New York, and Chicago Ballet. Some of her students have
performed in Showboat, the Arie Crown Nutcracker, and the Great
America Review. Robin is certified in American Red Cross First Aid
and CPR. She also runs
the Tri-Town Pop Warner Dance & Cheer which has won four
National Dance Titles. Robin
resides in Schererville, with her husband, Tim, and their two
children, Riley and Renn.
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Jeana
DeKruiff (Dance
Teacher and Assistant Dance Manager)
has been dancing since the age of nine.
She has studied Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, and Pointe under
the teaching of Robin Arvanitis. She attended the Tremaine Dance Convention in 2001 and 2003
and performed with Dance Connection at Great America. Jeana is certified in American Red Cross First Aid and CPR.
In the summer of 2003 she taught dance at the Highland Park
District. She is also
the choreographer for the Marian Catholic High School fashion shows.
Jeana graduated college at Columbia in Chicago with a Bachelors
Degree in Art Entertainment and Media Management. She began teaching here
at All-American in 2000. |
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Valarie Studer
(Assistant Dance Teacher) has been trained via video
instruction as well as on-the-job training. She has been a huge help
during dance recital time with costume alterations. Val is American Red
Cross First Aid, Adult, Child and Infant CPR certified. Val lives in
Schererville with her husband, James, and their four children,
Amber, Victoria, Hannah, and
Colin, Victoria and Hannah are all students here at All-American.
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Office
Staff |
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Paula
(Office Administrator) has been at All-American Gymnastics
since 1989.
Prior to that, she was a manager of a beauty shop for 10
years. She is certified in American Red Cross First Aid and
Adult, Child and Infant CPR.
Paula, along with her husband, Chuck, resides in Sauk Village
with her daughter, Lisa.
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Claudia
Pienta (General
Office Manager and Tech Manager) She
has
been here since 1998. Prior to that time, she was a realtor for nine years.
She is
a vocalist, pianist, and a Music Director at the 11:00 Mass at Our Lady of
Consolation Catholic Church. She loves working on computers and gardening.
Claudia
attended the National Gymnastics Congress in August 2002 in
Cleveland, Ohio, the USA National Gymnastics Congress in 2005 in
Indianapolis, Indiana and attended the
National Gymnastics Congress at St. Paul, Minnesota in August of
2006, and San Jose, California of 2007 this past summer. She
is certified in American Red Cross First Aid and Adult, Child and Infant CPR.
Claudia has
lived
in Dyer since 1984 with her husband, Andy, and their
daughters, Valerie and Ali. Ali presently teaches both gymnastics and
swim. |
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Tina Okerstrom
(Bookkeeper and Human Resource Manager) joined Patti’s in March 1996.
She is currently doing our bookkeeping and payroll. Prior to that
time, she worked as a legal secretary in a Chicago law firm.
Tina
also is a licensed esthetician and works for a doctor’s office in
Orland Park, Illinois. She resides in
Crown Point with her husband, Mike and children, Eric and Michelle.
Michelle is a current student here in Advanced Tumbling. |
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Tracy Velez (Vice President,
Marketing Director, Pro Shop Manager, Swim Manager, and Office Director)
graduated
in May 2002 from Purdue University Calumet with a Bachelor’s
Degree in Marketing. Tracy took gymnastics lessons here at Patti's
and has taught gymnastics for eight years. Tracy is USA
Gymnastics Safety certified as well as certified in American Red
Cross First Aid and CPR. She has attended USA Gymnastics National
Congress. Tracy has been with Patti's All-American staff since
1997. |
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Nicole
Garza
(Office
Administrator, School-age Manager, Gymnastics and Dance Teacher)
is currently finishing her college at Columbia College
for Vocal Performance and Music Business.
She has released her debut album –
all original music - entitled “Nicki G Versatility.”
She has been with us since 2001. Nicole is First Aid and CPR
certified. She
teaches both preschool and school age gymnastics and various dance
classes including Hip Hop. In 2001, she was the captain of the Lake Central
Cheerleading squad and an All-State nominee. She
also danced for 7 years, won National Dance Championship in Jazz and
Pom in 2000, and choreographs for different teams and stage
productions around Chicagoland area.
She lives in Schererville with her mom, dad, sister, and
three puppies. |
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Pat
Botma
(Customer Service
Representative
and Gym-N-Learn Teachers Assistant )
has been a stay-at-home mom for the past 16 years.
Pat has been married for 25 years and has two children, Kate
16 and Colleen 14.
Her children have been coming to gymnastics since they were
in preschool at Patti’s All-American Gymnastics.
Pat loves children.
She definitely is a people person. She looks forward to
meeting and greeting everyone at the door and helping customers in
any way possible. |
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Bernadette
Sheely
(Office Administrator, and Patti's
Administrative Assistant) Bernadette loves
working with and around children. She has been a Girl Scout
Co-Leader and is currently a sixth grade Faith Formation instructor. She is
CPR and First Aid certified. Bernadette is an avid
reader of non-fiction and loves to garden and landscape as her
hobby. She lives in Lowell with
her husband, Dan and her daughter, Sondra, who attends gymnastics
here at Pattis.
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Brynn
O’Keefe
(Office
Administrator)
joined All-American this year. Brynn
took gymnastics for seven years and also took dance for
approximately three years. She
was a cheerleader at Lowell High School.
Brynn recently transferred from Purdue University in West
Lafayette to Purdue University Calumet.
She is majoring in Psychology.
Brynn is currently living in Lowell with her parents and her
brother, Kyle (17 yrs.). |
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Heather
(Office
Administrator)
is part of our office
staff.
Heather has been a stay at home Mom for the past nine months.
She graduated in 1999 with a Masters in Business
Administration and received her Bachelors in Applied Mathematics in
1995. Heather enjoys
working with computers, flower and vegetable gardening, scuba
diving, hiking, and just being outdoors.
She is also certified in First Aid and Child/Infant Choking
& CPR. Heather
lives in St. John with her husband, Mike, her daughter,
Corinne, and is currently waiting for baby number two due in
September. |
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1530
Joliet Street, Dyer, IN 46311
(219)
865-2274
24-Hour
Fax (219)865-2389
email: customerservice@pattisallamerican.com |
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