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

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

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.

Grants and Partnerships*

Paul Dunning

Paul Dunning’s accomplishments are truly impressive! He has a remarkable combination of experience in both finance and lifesaving, and his work in Ecuador is particularly noteworthy. Reducing drowning deaths by such a significant percentage is a major achievement. His dedication to water safety, both locally and internationally, really shines through in his volunteer work and leadership roles. Volunteer positions and achievements include Founder - Project Ecuador, Director - International Life Saving Federation - Americas Region, Chairman - Sister Cities of Long Beach, President - Long Beach / Manta Sister Cities, National Lifesaving Award - Untied States Lifesaving Association, and Innovation & Sustainable Development Award - Sister Cities International. Research Author - American Journal of Public Health.

Poly HS Learn to Swim Project

Ishmael Plutón

Ishmael Pluton, "Coach Ish," was born and raised here. He was introduced to the world of competitive aquatics in elementary school through swimming at Lakewood Aquatics. In high school, he joined the water polo (goalkeeper) and swim teams (distance swimmer) at Long Beach Polytechnic High School. He would go on to play one year on the NCAA team at UC Davis and then played on and served as president of the UC Davis men's club water polo team for 3 years. All throughout, Ishmael was a lifeguard at the UC Davis pools, a summer counselor, and eventually director of the Bayshore Aquatics Camp. After graduating from UC Davis with a B.A. In History and a double minor in Education and French, Ishmael returned home to Long Beach to get his teaching credential at CSULB. He was eager to give back to the aquatics community and began his coaching career for the Wilson boys' aquatic program. The next year, Ishmael landed a job at his Alma Mater as the head boys' water polo coach and assistant boys' swim coach and, in the following year, got a job as a full-time world history teacher at Long Beach Poly. In 2022, Ishmael took over the boys' swim team as the head coach. Ishmael also coached various club water polo teams in Southern California: Huntington Beach, LB Shore, and Viking Aquatics. While at Long Beach Poly HS, Ishmael guided the boy's water polo team to its first CIF championship (2021) in 92 years and the boys' swim team's first-ever Moore League championship (2023). Coach Ish is still currently coaching both the boys' aquatics programs at LB Poly and teaching world history, which is his dream job.

Cerritos Wetlands Project
Lenny Arkinstal

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

Peter Knapp- Viking Swim

Liz Carlton- Grunion Swim

Hanne Chapuk - Rowing

Mary Melton- Dragón Boat

Jeff Kiesel- Outrigger Canoes

Todd Smith- Sailing

Kenny Williams-SUP/Kayak

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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