Staff
Our Staff
Bonnie Petitt is the owner of Bright Stars Gymnastics Academy. She's a graduate of Lasel College. Her love of the sport and her excellent rapport with children has given her a winning edge to share with the members of the Bright Stars Gymnastics Academy: USA GYMNASTICS professional member, *USAG Safety certified, FUN and FIT Certified, USA Gymnastics University Junior Olympic Coach certified, USA Gymnastics University Business exectutive certification, MELPD Certified, KAT Certified, and CPR Certified. Attended business and coaching clinics organized by USA Gymnastics University 2005-2012. Attended USA Gymnastics University coaching clinics held at the Karolyi's Camp in Houston, Texas which is also the National Team Training Facility. This clinics were taught by the choreographers of the USA Junior Olympic Program. Bonnie was a Massachusetts' All-Around State Champion and coached 2000 USA Olympic gymnast Allyssa Beckerman as a 9 year-old competitive gymnast. Bonnie is proud to say she began her coaching career twenty five years ago at Yellow Jackets Gymnastics Club. Bonnie is also happy to have coached several state champions and looks forward to the opportunity of coaching more! Her favorite gymnast? NADIA!
Bonnie has four amazing children: Sam, Julia, Jack, and Alexander, and her husband, Greg. She loves The Beatles and the movie Father of the Bride and is proud to say she was born in Salem, Massachusetts. She enjoys spending her summer days at the Ocean City Boardwalk and on the beach making sandcastles with her kids and nieces and nephews.
Greg Petitt is owner of Bright Stars along with Bonnie. Greg graduated from Thomas Edison State College. He teaches swim classes as well as boys sports conditioning classes. Attended USA Gymnastics University business seminars. Greg is USAG Safety Certified. His favorite gymnast:1996 USA Olympic team member Amanda Borden. Greg flips over his wife and four kids, and anything sports-related. He’s certified through USA Gymnastics. Greg is a well-rounded coach in various sports. From baseball to rugby, Greg plays or has played most sports on a competitive level. He loves to chow down his favorite childhood meal of Hotdog and Noodles which has a nice spicy kick! Ask him about it. He might even give you the secret recipe! His favorite movies are Rudy and Field of Dreams.
Lance Alani was born and raised in Illinois . He attended Adlai E. Stevenson High School and where he was a the captain of his high school varsity gymnastics team. He competed 4 years and, with the help of his team, won Illinois state championships 3 years in a row. Lance was also a competitive diver for Stevenson. Lance competed a whip full and a double tuck dismount on floor. His favorite event was parallel bars. He also trained in three different styles of martial arts. His favorite activities are skiing and water skiing. Lance is a huge movie buff and loves to recite movie quotes, his favorite movie is Back to the Future. Lance's favorite gymnast is Xiao Qin because pommel horse is, in Lance's opinion, the hardest event and nobody performs pommel horse as well as this chinese gymnast.
Mia Azotea is one of our preschool instructors and also conducts private lessons for children with disabilities and special needs. Mia graduated from Ursinus College in 2001 and began working as a behavioral therapist immediately after graduation. She moved to Florida where she became certified as Associate Behavior Analyst (BCABA). While in Florida, Mia acted as the Director for a school for children with Autism. In 2006, Mia moved back to NJ to start her family. She has three boys, Zachary (6), Austin (3) and Mason (2). In addition to her work at Bright Stars, Mia continues to work as a behavioral therapist. Mia is available to conduct private lessons at Bright Stars, which focus on developing listening skills, gross motor development and social skills. Mia is also available for private swim lessons for children of all levels with disabilities or fears of water. She believes that Bright Stars is the perfect place for children with Autism to develop socially and physically through activity and reward.
Jessika Bock is our USAIGC team coordinator as well as one of our IGC and in-house recreational/competitive team coaches. She is studying at the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey for a BFA in Photography. Jess has had a love for gymnastics since she started taking classes at the age of 3. She was a competitive JOGA gymnast throughout high school and danced her way through college. She has been coaching for 9 years as a recreational and competitive gymnastics coach. Her Favorite Gymnast? Dominique Dawes! She loves being outside and spending as much time with her family and friends as she can. She loves traveling, trying new foods and her favorite movie is Pride and Prejudice.
Sheri Cullen is our USAG Team Event Coordinator and Meet Director at Bright Stars. She attended the Art Institute Of Philadelphia. Sheri is a "gymnastics mom" to USAG team gymnast, Christa. Sheri is a USAG Professional Member and is USAG Safety Certified! Sheri is also a graduate of the ACORN certification program taught by USA Gymnastics University and attended business and coaching clinics organized by USA Gymnastics University 2009. Sheri flips for her husband Chuck and five children Christa, Kyle, Lauren, Mark and Luke and dog, Snickers. Her favorites are long summer days on the beach with her family, mint chocolate chip ice cream and expressing her creative side through many "projects". Favorite Gymnast: Dominique Dawes. To contact Sheri you may email her at Sheri.brightstars@comcast.net
Wendy DiSanti is a Preschool and Recreational Gymnastics Instructor and a birthday party hostess. She has been teaching at Bright Stars for two years and has been involved in gymnastics since her childhood. Wendy is a mother of two young girls who are part of one of our teams here at Bright Stars for several years. She loves working with children and says her favorite thing about teaching at Bright Stars is seeing the smiles on the children's faces, especially when she helps them to master a new skill! She is also a Girl Scout Leader and PTO volunteer. She an active member of the community she gets to see many of the children outside of the gym. She is interested in health and fitness and enjoys walking. Wendy also loves the beach and camping and flips over her two daughters Gianna and Carmela and her husband Marc.
CeCe Foley is one of our Recreational Class Instructors and USAG level 3 Team Coach. Cece was voted Bright Stars Teacher of the year 2011 and 2012 by parents and gymnasts! She has attended numerous USA Gymnastics University coaching clinics. She has 11 years gymnastics experience and has been coaching for nine years. She's been with Bright Stars since it opened. She holds USA Gymnastics Safety Certification as well as Fun & Fit Certification. She graduated from Holy Spirit High School and Atlantic Community College. CeCe flips over her 2 poodles named Mini & Foxy. She's passionate about animals. No wonder her favorite movie is Ace Ventura, Pet Detective. She enjoys traveling and thinks Sushi is the most scrumptious food on the planet. Her favorite gymnast? Olga Korbut!
Christine Golderer is the head coach of our USAG team program. Christine comes to Bright Stars with a wealth of knowledge and team experience. She is a former high level competitive gymnast and earned a full college scholarship for gymnastics. She has almost 20 years of experience as the head coach of a USAG team program. She has successfully coached girls of all ages and levels. Christine’s accomplishments include numerous individual and team state, regional and national titles as well as many college scholarships.
Jim McElroy is one of our recreational class instructors and has been coaching at Bright Stars for approximately four years. He currently teaches boys gymnastics and sports conditioning, girls gymnastics and tumbling and trampoline classes. Jim is USAG Safety certified. He is a former competitive gymnasts and brings a great deal of coaching experience with him to Bright Stars. He has coached both recreational and team gymnastics and tumbling programs in the past. Jim is graduated from Life University in 1997 with his Doctorate in Chiropractic. Jim flips over his wife and three young children. He enjoys all sports and is an avid Phillies and Eagles fan!
Marilyn Korte McElroy joined us at Bright Stars about five years ago in hopes to not only teach young children the love of dance, but to also mold and fine tune our current gymnasts by teaching proper ballet or dance technique as well as dance terms! Marilyn is a graduate of the North Carolina School Of Performing Arts where she received professional training from ballet greats including Melissa Hayden of NYC and Dame Margot Fonteyne. She has danced as a principle dancer with Ruth Mitchel Dance Theater, North Carolina Dance Theater and The Atlanta Festival Ballet. Marilyn also helped train gymnasts at the Gymnastics Academy of Atlanta, working with the team on floor routines, grace and proper placement. She is a certified USA Gymnastics instructor. She is a native of Southern NJ where she began training w/ Gerry Hughes of Accent on Ballet, Phyllis Papa of Atlantic Contemporary ballet, David Howard and Steps in NYC. Professionally, Marilyn has performed w/ North Carolina Dance Theatre, ACBT and The Hungarian State Ballet. Recently, Marilyn danced with the Moscow Ballet in the Nut Cracker as a guest performer. Marilyn is USAG Safety Certified! Marilyn flips over her family: Jimmy, Sarah, Carson and Kylynn. She loves the color red but her favorite movie is Fried Green Tomatoes. She loves Mexican food. Ole!
Susan Maclean dance instructors. She started her lifelong study of the art of dance at the age 3 with Mary and Phyllis Papa, Royal Academy of Ballet, Trenton, NJ. Susan attended the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and as a member of the Stockton Dance Co. toured professionally in Boston, Philadelphia and New York City. Her original choreography was part of the repertoire. Currently, and for eight years prior, Susan is employed an adjunct professor of dance at Atlantic Cape Community College. She also spends four months of the year teaching at Atlantic County Special Services School in Mays Landing, NJ. At Cygnus Creative Arts Center, EHT, NJ, Susan brings the joy of moving to senior citizens as well as elementary and high school aged special needs population. In Linwood, NJ at Jazz - Rock Ballet Studio, Susan has instructed ballet, tap and jazz dance for twenty five years. Susan wants to continue to pursue her passion for teaching, choreographing and performing. She hopes to share her many years of knowledge and expertise with our vital, growing dance community.
Jayne Marascio is our Recreational Program Director and has been with Bright Stars for approximately five years. She has 30 years of gymnastics experience, 16 of which has been coaching competitive and recreational gymnastics to boys and girls from ages 18 months to 18 years. (She was also a USAG judge!) She is: USA GYMNASTICS Instructor member, USAG Safety certified and KAT Certified. Jayne also attended numerous business and coaching clinics organized by USA Gymnastics University. She is originally from North Jersey and relocated to Galloway 8 years ago. Jayne flips over the World Champion NY GIANTS and loves musicals and Broadway! Her favorite movies are Grease 2 and Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. Her favorite gymnast of all time is Nadia...Let's bring back the "Perfect 10!" To contact Jayne you can email her at jayne.brightstars@comcast.net
Kathy McKee is our birthday party coordinator as well as one of our preschool class instructors and drop-in program instructors. "Miss Kathy" has been greeeting little friends at Bright Stars for approximately five years. She's a certified elementary school teacher (and certified in CPR and First Aide, too) and has been teaching preschool in Ocean City for 23 years. Kathy is USAG Safety Certified and is a USAG instructor member. Kathy flips over her husband John and her two daughters: Casey and Kelly! During her free time, she enjoys attending Penn State football games, taking walks with her Golden Retriever Max, and spending Sunday afternoons on the beach with family and friends. She loves all types of movies but her all-time favorite is Sleepless in Seattle. And yes, she cries every time she watches it! To get in touch with Kathy for Birthday Party info you can email her at birthday.brightstars@comcast.net
Suzanne Morrison is our swim program director and is one of our swim program instructors. She has over 16 years of competitive swim experience, including high school, the collegiate level and masters swimming. She is an American Red Cross trained swim instructor, and is certified in CPR and First Aid. She has taught swim lessons for over 12 years. Currently she holds a level 2 ASCA swim coach certification and is the head coach of the Margate Sharks swim team, which she has coached for almost 8 years. She loves the look on a child’s face when they have accomplished something they didn’t realize they could do. She flips over her husband Steve and 2 daughters, Eva & Genevieve. Her biggest down fall in life is her love of pizza!! Suzanne moved to Southern Jersey in 2000 from Long Island, NY
Maribeth Mrugalski is one of USAG team coaches as well as one of our in-house recreational/competitive team coaches. Maribeth participated in competitive gymnastics for 10 years as well also a competitive cheerleader for a year. She coached competitive cheer for 2 years and gymnastics for 7. Maribeth is a USAG Professional Member as well as USAG Safety Certified and has attended numerous USA GYmnastics University courses and holds several certifications. Maribeth flips over spending time with her children Hunter and Kinley and going to the boardwalk. She also LOVES to clip coupons! Her favorite movie is The Little Mermaid and her favorite food is pizza! Maribeth’s favorite gymnast?.....Shawn Johnson!
Regina Phelps comes to us from Orange County, N.Y. She is one of our USAG team coaches and also coaches our in-house team and recreational classes! She has 3 children of her own, one son and two daughters. All three were gymnasts, with the youngest still remaining in the sport. When not in the gym, she spends time with her family and loves hiking and mountain biking. Miss Regina is also a full-time student in a PT program. She is excited to be part of the Bright Stars family.
Colleen Phillips is one of our recreational class instructors and birthday party hostess. She is a USAG Instructor Member and USAG Safety Certified. She has 16 years gymnastics coaching experience and 2 years of cheer experience with the Linwood Panthers…she was the one responsible for bringing the taxi squad back! Colleen flips over spending time her family! Her favorite food is chicken Caesar salad; her favorite movie is Drop Dead Fred. Her favorite gymnast is Cassidy Phillips…her daughter!!
Maureen Richmond is one of our amazing swim instructors. She has been teaching here at Bright Stars since our swim program began two years ago! Maureen holds a Bachelor's degree from Stockton College of NJ. Maureen is a Water Safety Instructor certified from the American Red Cross. She holds several certifications such as Level 1 Stroke School, Level 2 & 3 Physiology School. Maureen is also certified through the American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA) and is the Head Coach of the South Jersey Swim Team.
Tara Santoro is one of our preschool instructors and birthday party hostesses. Tara participated in competitive cheerleading for 10 years and was also a preschool aid (focusing on 2 and 3yr olds) for a few years before having her own children. Tara is married and has 2 beautiful girls, Gracie, who is a USAG gymnast at Bright Stars and Kaylee, who is a Linwood Panther cheerleader! She also has a son (John) who is the prince in her life. Some of her favorite things to do in her free time are: going to the beach, playing a good game of chess, and taking day trips with friends and family to museums, zoo's, and aquariums! Her favorite movie is "Despicable Me" and lives by Mahatma Gandhi's quote "YOU must be the change you want to see in the world."
Patti Schoen is a handles all of the accounts at Bright Stars. She is a USA Gymnastics Professional Member and USAG Safety Certified. Patti is also a graduate of the ACORN certification program taught by USA Gymnastics University. She also attended business and coaching clinics organized by USA Gymnastics University. Patti flips over her 3 daughters: Lexi, Georgia, Lila and her husband Joe. She loves to watch playoff hockey and HGTV. She grew up in Philadelphia where she coached youth cheerleading for over 10 years. She loves to watch her children play sports.
Genna Vezinho is a recreational gymnastics and tumbling instructor and is one of our USAIGC team coaches. She graduated from Egg Harbor Township High School where she cheered and played lacrosse. She is a student at Rowan University seeking to major in physical education. She has been involved in gymnastics for fourteen years. Genna is USAG safety certified. She also has been coaching at the International Gymnastics Camp for the past three summers where she partakes in the Professional Coaching Diploma Program. Her favorite food is buffalo chicken wings and the best time to eat those is when she’s watching NFL games all Sunday, particularly the Dallas Cowboys!
Melissa Wahl is one of our receptionists. She can frequently be found assisting families in the evening. Melissa attended grade school at Notre Dame Academy, and High School at Arch Bishop Caroll. She graduated from The Beauty School at Gordon Phillips and obtained a position working with Clinique Beauty products as a makeup artist. Melissa also holds a Real Estate License in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and started working with her father, who buys and sells Real Estate. Melissa moved to Egg Harbor Township in 2000 , where she and her family currently reside. Melissa has two wonderful daughters Maya and Ava who are Bright Stars Team Gymnasts.
Laura Watts is our Special Events Coordinator and an assistant program director for our recreational program, a Preschool Gymnastics Instructor and a birthday party hostess. She is USAG Safety Certified and a USAG Certified Instructor. Laura is a graduate of Mainland Regional High School and a student at Richard Stockton College. A versatile athlete, Laura’s talents include competitive gymnastics, swimming, soccer, snowboarding and surfing. Laura loves her dog, Brice and is a big fan of the Philly Flyers and Michael Jackson, which might explain why her favorite movie is This is It.
