BOARD OF DIRECTORS

*Executive Committee

Anchor 1

President*

Kim Joseph Onisko, CPA, CFE, CFF, ABV

Kim is a lifelong competitive swimmer who got his start with free swimming lessons in the City of Detroit. He believes every child should have the opportunity to learn to swim no matter their economic circumstance. Kim has served on a number of non-profit and for-profit boards of directors. Kim works as a forensic accountant and economic expert witness for BPM, LLP.

Vice President*

Greg Shea

Greg Shea is an avid open water swimmer. The retired engineer has lived in Long Beach for 40 years. His four adult children are all graduates of Long Beach Schools and share his love of all aquatic sports. Greg was the recipient of the 2024 ACOA Waterman of the Year for his leadership of the Annual Naples Island Swims.

Treasurer*
Andrew Barber, MS Tax, CPA

Andrew is the Managing Partner of Crisell and Associates, a Long Beach accounting firm.

Andrew has supported ACOA from its inception and continues to guide our financial health. We are grateful for his many hours of pro bono work helping us serve the youth of our community.

Secretary/Communications*

Maddie Merrill

Maddie is a lifelong swimmer who competed in her first swim meet at five years old and still swims recreationally today. During her aquatic career, Maddie swam multiple events at the 2016 United States Olympic Trials, competed for the USC Women’s Swim & Dive Team, and set several Moore League records during her time at Millikan High School. Today she works as a Financial Advisor and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst at Morgan Stanley. Maddie has a strong passion for working with children in underserved communities to promote water safety and pool confidence.

Web Site/Social Media*

Jacki Hirsty

Although her background is in architecture and design, Jacki has been involved with swimming for many decades, as a competitor, teacher, coach, and administrator. She was a late bloomer, achieving PBs in her 30s and still competes, having set many masters' world records. She is grateful for the tight aquatic community and its warm embrace.

Waterproof our Youth*
Scott Dixon

Scott is the Long Beach Fire Department, Marine Safety Battalion Chief. He is also Staff Commodore of the Long Beach Yacht Club, President of the Milliken HS Booster Club and Member of the Long Beach Century Club.The Long Beach Poly High School swim and waterpolo standout went on to continue at the University of Redlands. Scott is a Long Beach native and resides with his wife, Kendra, and their three children Taylor, Cooper and Berklee. Scott leads the ACOA Waterproof Our Youth Program.

Grants for Gear*

Laura Serna

Laura Isabel Serna is an enthusiastic masters open water swimmer and proud member of the Long Beach Grunions. She's the mom of a high school swimmer and committed to the idea of making swimming a sport that is accessible to everyone. She is also a tenured Associate Professor of History and Cinema and Media Studies at the University of Southern California.

Membership

Ann Oakleaf

Ann is a lifelong swimmer and a dedicated member of the Grunions Masters Swim Team, where she has competed for the past 20 years and served as a board member and committee chair. She is also actively involved in local nonprofit initiatives. As a lawyer, Ann specializes in family law matters.

Poly HS Learn to Swim Project

Ishmael Plutón

Long Beach Poly High School is proud to have “Coach Ish” as a History Teacher, Swim and Waterpolo Coach. ACOA is proud to have him as a member of our Board. The Long Beach native was a high school standout athlete in both sports. He went on to UC Davis to play Waterpolo.

He returned to his Alma Mater to Coach the 2021 Long Beach Poly High Waterpolo team to the first CIF Championship in 92 years. In 2023 he would Coach the Long Beach Poly High Swim team to its first ever Moore League Title. Ishmael is currently leading an ACOA Poly HS Pilot Project teaching kids ages 6 to 13 how to swim.

Cerritos Wetlands Project
Lenny Arkinstal

The former Investment Consultant founded Los Cerritos Wetlands Stewards in 1994. Lenny, Tom Shadden, Dick Miller and John Callas would go on to found the Aquatic Capital of America. In addition to leading all environmental issues, Lenny teamed with Scott Dixon to champion the ACOA Waterproof Our Youth Program at Fairfield and Los Altos YMCAs.

Kalani Caldwell

Kalani is a Long Beach native who learned how to swim in Alamitos Bay and continues to use that same bay as her home course for open water swimming. Kalani has successfully completed the Catalina Channel and has inspired many others to do the same. Kalani has coached for nearly five decades in Long Beach at the youth, club and Master’s level. Her experience as a local high school coach and official has opened her eyes to the importance of ACOA’s programs like Waterproof our youth and Grants For Gear.

Hanne Chupik

Hanne grew up in Norway, where she spent her youth sailing and rowing. She began rowing as a teenager and went on to represent Norway in numerous junior competitions. After moving to the U.S. for college, she joined the Long Beach Rowing Association and Beach Crew at CSULB. Her professional background is in hospitality and maritime interior design, though she has dedicated the past decade to being a full-time mom. Hanne now serves as President of the non-profit Long Beach Rowing Association. A lifelong rower, she is passionate about helping the ACOA serve as a bridge to the many water sports available once someone learns to swim.

Past President*
Rich Foster

Rich is the immediate past President of the Aquatic Capital of America. In 2008, he wrote and published the biography of Olympian Mark Spitz. Rich has been a high-level volunteer in the aquatic sports for several decades. He is a past Board Member of the United States Olympic Committee and served as the President of USA Water Polo for 12 years. Rich served as the Vice-Chair of the FINA Water Polo Committee (now World Aquatics). He was the chair of the 2004 Olympic Swim Trials in Long Beach. Rich also maintains an active Sports Law practice, representing Olympic champions such as Mark Spitz, Janet Evans, Amanda Beard, Phil Dalhauser, Dara Torres, Rowdy Gaines, Nastia Liukin, Misty May-Treanor and many others. He teaches the Sports Law Class in Long Beach State University’s Masters Program in Sports Management.

Chairman Emeritus/Founder

Tom Shadden

Tom Shadden was the original founder of the Aquatic Capital of America Foundation along with John Callos, Dick Miller and Lenny Arkinstall. He graduated from Long Beach State and The Wharton School. He retired as Senior Vice President of Morgan Stanley after 42 year in the Long Beach, California office. Shadden was active on many philanthropic boards in Long Beach including a long affiliation with Long Beach Memorial Medical Center and its Foundation, where he served as a Director and Past President. He also served as a Director of the LBMMC Heart and Vascular Institute, as Board of Governor for the Sea Festival of Long Beach, and as Vice President of the Kiwanis Club of Long Beach. He was a member of the Long Beach Yacht Club, where he was Chairman of the 1975 Congressional Cup and was elected Commodore in 1980. More.

ACOA Advisory Board

Matt Gruneisen- At Large

Beth Bailey- HS Water Polo

Katie Rowe- HS Swimming

Hank Wise- SwimLB

Bradley Adamson - Viking Swim

Liz Carlton- Grunion Swim

Mary Melton- Dragón Boat

Jeff Kiesel- Outrigger Canoes

Todd Smith- Sailing

Kenny Williams-SUP/Kayak

Steve Munatones- Open Water Swimming

Debby Mc Cormick- McCormick Divers

Katie Allen-Algalita Marine Education

Craig Eisenberg- Swim Guy

Karen Kachigan- California Aquatic Supply

Devon Beebe- LBJG Junior Lifeguards

Jo Murray - LB Press Telegram/ Grunion

ACOA Awards Banquet Chair- Maddie Merrill

ACOA Hall of Fame Chair- Rich Foster

Century Club- Rich Foster

: