BOARD OF DIRECTORS

*Executive Committee

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

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.

Membership

Anne 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.

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.

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.

Grants and Partnerships*

Paul Dunning

Paul is a Long Beach native and a retired corporate finance executive. His love of Waterpolo, swimming and bodysurfing helped develop his dedication to water safety and drowning prevention. Paul enjoyed 33 Summers as a Long Beach Lifeguard. He continues to volunteer his leadership and lifesaving expertise through the International Life Saving Federation in countries like Cambodia and most notably in Ecuador where he helped reduce drowning deaths by 43 %.

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.

President Emeritus*
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, entitled “Mark Spitz: The Incredible Life of an Olympic Champion”. 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 (the longest term in the sport’s history). Rich served as the Vice-Chair of the FINA Water Polo Committee (now World Aquatics) the international water polo governing body for the aquatic sports. 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.

Anchor 1

ACOA Advisory Board

Matt Gruneisen- At Large

Kalani Caldwell- At Large

Beth Bailey- HS Water Polo

Katie Rowe- HS Swimming

Hank Wise- SwimLB

Bradley Adamson - Viking Swim

Liz Carlton- Grunion Swim

Hanne Chupik - Rowing

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- Maddie Merrill

Century Club- Rich Foster

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