Meet Our Staff

Traci Criswell

Founding President & Owner

Traci started The Children’s Gym because of her passion for teaching children in a positive environment. She felt there was a need to provide a place for a diverse group of students to gather and learn gymnastics non-competitively. She grew The Children’s Gym from a small preschool gymnastics program, to a facility that caters to now over 1,000 students!

Andrea Lawrence

Chief Operating Officer

Andrea grew up here at The Children’s Gym and is now running the company. She is passionate about creating a positive and welcoming space for everyone who comes through TCG’s doors. The gym feels like part of her family and she wants that feeling to translate to students, parents, and staff alike. In her free time, she loves living an active lifestyle, whether she’s hiking, camping or running. She enjoys traveling, has lived in Italy, and has done volunteer work in Ethiopia, Africa.

Kelsey Alderman

Operations Lead

Kelsey started coaching at The Children’s Gym in 2013. She received her Bachelors Degree in Child Psychology and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Sport and Performance Psychology. Kelsey is passionate about positive coaching and creating environments that help kids thrive. In her free time she loves playing sports and spending time with family and friends.

Tami Fitzgerald

TCG Squad Leader & Gymnastics Coach

Tami has been involved with gymnastics since the age of five, both recreationally and competitively. She has been coaching for over 30 years! Outside the world of gymnastics, Tami enjoys biking, hiking, rafting, hunting, camping and almost anything outdoors you can think of!

Joey Ochoa

Performance Group Program Leader & Gymnastics Coach

Joey has a background in gymnastics and dance and has performed in Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and even on the Las Vegas strip in the world famous Folies Bergere. He has coached gymnastics, tumbling, dance, and cheer in various gymnasiums and dance studios and is happy to be a part of The Children’s Gym family since the spring of 2014. In his free time, he likes to write lyrics and hopes one day to write professionally for big named stars!

Christine Baird

Gymnastics Development Leader & Coach

Christine started competitive gymnastics in Germany, where she was recruited to an elite training program at the age of six. She competed at the National Championships twice, winning once, before she moved to the United States at twelve. She has coached for thirteen years, specializing in coaching and managing recreational and competitive mens and womens gymnastics programs. Outside of the gymnastics world, Christine loves to travel, read, road trip and dance her way through life!

Katelyn Crouch

Gymnastics Coach

Katelyn started coaching at TCG in 2017. She has a Bachelor of Arts from Portland State University focused on elementary school education. Her passion is working with children and currently works in an after-school program teaching kids as well. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with loved ones and listening to live music.

Adam Havsky

Gymnastics Coach

Adam started training in acrobatics and gymnastics at the Circus Center in San Francisco when he was still in elementary school and it has been a part of his life ever since. After moving to the east coast he was a competitive cheerleader for four years where he also began coaching tumbling. In college he performed as an acrobat and continued coaching tumbling and gymnastics. When he’s not coaching he spends his time pursuing his dream of performing as a professional circus acrobat.

Patrick Henry

Gymnastics Coach

Patrick has been coaching gymnastics for 8 years and has loved every minute of it. He joined TCG in 2014 and took a quick hiatus to help update a daycare that his dad owns back in Texas. Patrick is now back and excited to coach your kiddos and help them learn new skills and create lasting memories. He loves reading, JRR Tolkien, snacks, and weight lifting.  

McKinley Hughes

Preschool Play Coordinator & Gymnastics Coach 

McKinley is passionate about empowering young children to creatively move their bodies without inhibition. She holds a BFA in musical theatre and has a background in theatrical movement. When not helping kiddos learn gymnastics she can be found working as a professional actor or playing her ukulele. In every class that she teaches, McKinley hopes to inspire all of her students to toss kindness at each other like confetti.

Fiona Jahoda

Gymnastics Coach

Fiona lover workign with people, especially young youth. Getting to inspire and fill a kids day is the best feeling in the world. When Fiona was a child she had the wonderful opportunity to take classes at TCG. It was her happy place even though she was shy. She hoped to carry on what she learned as a child into the next generation. Fiona has worked within leadership and advocacy for mental well being in her scholl for the last 5 years. In her spare time she likes to run, do all sorts of visual arts, and sing. 

AnaCapri Mauro

Gymnastics Coach

AnaCapri grew up in Rhode Island where she spent many years in the theater as an educator in various children’s programs. After moving west she dove into environmental/outdoor education, taking kids and adults outside and doing hands-on science, while earning a B.A. in Environmental Studies. In her spare time AnaCapri is usually climbing, training aerial fabric, or biking around the city in pursuit of the perfect chai. 

Tricia Khougaz

Gymnastics Coach

Tricia grew up in a rural area outside a small town in Southern California. While in school she did theatre, music, creative writing and performance, and played a variety of sports such as gymnastics, soccer, softball, horseback riding, cross country, water polo and horse polo. She received a bachelors degree in Animal Science from Cal Poly – San Luis Obispo. After graduating she took a gap year, mostly traveling and doing work stays on farms training horses. She has been in Portland for two years now, and decided to work with children since she believes inspiring youth is the way to a better future. In her free time she likes to read, paint, hang out with her many dogs, and teach horseback riding lessons. 

Brandi Larson

Gymnastics Coach

Brandi has been coaching all ages of humans in various physical disciplines since 2011; including gymnastics to children. She loves teaching kids how to move and control their bodies, and is even working on an undergraduate degree in kinesiology right this very moment. When she’s not coaching gymnastics she enjoys taking aerial acrobatics classes like lyra, silks, or her favorite, contortion.

Rose O’Reilly-Hoisington

Gymnastics Coach

Rose has been coaching kids in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and adults in empowerment self-defense since 2016. Building each child’s confidence, ability to communicate, and their trust in themselves is just as important to her as teaching gymnastics. Rose went to university in Eugene, Oregon and got a Bachelors in art. She enjoys reading, painting, horseback riding, and empowering her friends. She hopes to start a nonprofit teaching self-defense to anyone who wants to learn it.

Mikaela Overlin

Gymnastics Coach

Mikaela grew up in Vancouver, Washington and has been coaching recreational gymnastics for over three years. She has an Associates in Women’s Studies and is currently attending Portland State to earn a Bachelors in Urban and Public Affairs. In her free time, Mikaela enjoys practicing gymnastics, hiking, writing poems, and watercolor painting. One day, Mikaela hopes to create a non-profit that provides for children, families, and communities in need.

Hannah Pilant

Performing Group Staff

Hannah was a gymnast for seven years, and then did competitive cheerleading where she competed at the Cheerleading World Championship in Orlando. She currently competes in the Miss America Organization, paints, and loves reading. Hannah is in school for secondary education, and wants to be a middle school math teacher. Hannah is fluent in Spanish and loves working with kids from different backgrounds. She hopes to someday teach in Ecuador.

James Roeske

Gymnastics Coach

James Roeske a native of Milwaukee, WI began Martial Arts, Dance, and Gymnastics training at a young age. He is an accomplished Marital Artist holding the rank of 3rd Degree Black Belt in American Freestyle Martial Arts. James appeared in a number of tv shows, movies, and magazines throughout his childhood. He then began performing in and around Los Angeles for the International Festival, Haha Café, and Knotts Berry Farm to name a few. In 2011, James relocated to Phoenix, AZ where he owned and operated his own Martial Arts studio for 8 years. In 2019 James moved to Vancouver, WA with his wife and is excited to settle down and bring his love of teaching to The Children’s Gym.

Justin Scott

Gymnastics Coach

Justin grew up in a martial arts studio which granted him the awesome opportunity to train with ninjas. He started teaching at a young age and hasn’t really stopped since. In his teen years he started practicing parkour and incorporated that into his teaching. Justin attended college for bass performance at Musician’s institute and audio engineering at PCC, and hopes to one day create and distribute his own music.

Peyton Still

After School Care Coordinator & Gymnastics Coach 

Peyton has been working with children for over five years. Besides working with children, Peyton also has a passion for singing, art, and cooking. Briefly, Peyton attended the “Le Cordon Bleu” French school of the culinary arts. While fairly new to the world of gymnastics, Peyton has found another passion to add to the ever-growing list. She looks forward to working with your children and learning along side them every day.

Megan Tramp

Gymnastics Coach

Megan was a competitive cheerleader and later coached her former high school cheerleading team, as well as All Star competitive teams. She is also an avid musician and has toured nationally for several years. Megan attended Portland State for Spanish education and has worked with children in a classroom setting. Megan thoroughly enjoys teaching children’s gymnastics and the many positive life lessons that emerge in the under current of her classes. She plans to be with The Children’s Gym for many years to come! 

Brooklyn Wease

Gymnastics Coach

Brooklyn has her bachelor’s degree in Public Health and is passionate about physical, mental, and emotional wellness. She has enjoyed many sports throughout her life including running, swimming, and dancing. Brooklyn did gymnastics as a kid and is excited about encouraging a love for the sport in others. Brooklyn enjoys working with children and being a part of helping them reach their goals. 

Jenna Amundson

Hospitality Team Leader

A bona-fide born and bred Oregonian, Jenna comes to us with several years of working experience in a variety of settings. An avid reader, writer and traveler, Jenna is working on completing a second Bachelor’s Degree in English at Portland State.  Jenna has been to Norway, Sicily, England, spent an entire month in Ireland, and has taken road trips around the entire Western portion of the US. She is aunt to two nephews, a niece and great-aunt to one darling little redhead

MJ Monemi

Hospitality Team

MJ grew up in California where she played tennis competitively from the age of 5 before joining the rowing team in high school. She currently has a Bachelor’s in Psychology and hopes to one day pursue a Master’s in Counseling to become a counselor for kids. In her free time, she enjoys decorating cakes, reading, writing and playing games of all kinds.

Brooklyn Detherage

Hospitality Team & Coach

Brooklyn grew up in a small town in the Gorge where she spent a majority of her childhood playing sports or outside hiking her favorite trails. Brooklyn now lives in Portland and loves the change and pace of the busy city. Brooklyn plans to go back to school and become a Special Education teacher or a Speech-Language Pathologist.