Staff
NGTC is set-up differently than most gyms. From it's foundation, NGTC is built upon a platform of strength and longevity. Unsettled by the revolving door that is the coaching staff at most gyms, NGTC is establishing itself as a place for coaches to call home!
Our head coach and director of gymnastics, Danita Rigert, is also co-owner. Her responsibilities include overseeing coaches, designing curriculum, and overview from the earliest stages of recreational gymnastics, to the highest optional levels! This ensures optimum structure in a fun environment and ensures each child is learning (skills that will carry forward) while they are playing!
Plus, you won't have to worry about Coach Danita leaving. Her style of teaching is taught to everyone who interacts with kids at the gym.
So, what makes NGTC special? It's PEOPLE!
Danita Rigert, Head Coach/Director of Gymnastics
The love of sport. That is the passion that drives this Northwest Gymnastic Training Center head coach and co-owner in everything she does. From gymnastics coaching to her many days spent in the gym herself, athletics is her passion and it shows. Danita Rigert, grew-up in Amarillo, Texas. It was here that her love of sports blossomed. A gymnast herself, she was also an accomplished ballet dancer and basketball player. Prior to college she contemplated her future, which included basketball scholarships to major college programs. Danita graduated Summa Cum Laude from West Texas A&M with a degree in Sports and Exercise Science in December, 2001. However, thankfully, this was only the beginning of her career. Introduced to gymnastics coaching while in high school, she later moved to Oregon after college and took a position at the (then) American Elite Gymnastics Academy in March, 2002.
Under her guidance and leadership, the American Elite program achieved new heights with two back-to-back undefeated seasons with her level 4 teams, and state championships with her level 5 team. Shortly thereafter, Danita decided to move back-home for a while to start her family. After meeting and marrying a true gentleman from the Portland, OR area, she returned to Amarillo where she had a baby son with her husband in 2006. While in Texas, Danita taught gymnastics to young aspiring gymnasts at Emerald College where success followed her every move. Several of her young girls took top honors in the state of Texas.
Finally, with a solid dream, a good business plan and her business partner Tina now lined-up, Danita came back to Oregon, in December 2007. It was then that her dream of opening her own gym began to take shape. Northwest Gymnastic Training Center (NGTC), the start of Danita’s vision, opened its doors June 1, 2008 with the help of her husband and business partner
Tina Stinson, General Manager
Tina and her husband have made a career of being business owners. Married for more than 16-years now, they began their careers as the co-founders of the famous Portland Golf Show way back in 1993. At one point growing it to the largest all-golf retail show west of the Mississippi, they later formed the Eugene Golf Show in 1999. In 2002, Tina and her husband sold the shows and founded SecurePro Technologies, LLC.
A thriving electronic security business today, it was time for Tina to put her mind for business to work with her passion, kids! It was this passion that created the bond for Tina and Danita and NGTC was formed!
Today, Tina is co-owner and General Manager at NGTC. Responsible for the business end of the gym, she allows Danita to remain focused on the training and learning new techniques, etc. But, with two gymnasts of her own, Tina is no stranger to gymnastics coaching. You will find Tina working with Pre-Team and filling-in as necessary.
Coach Tharien: Tharien is the newest member of the coaching family, and the newest Oregonian. Currently moving to Gresham from the San Jose, CA area, Tharien brings his background of gymnastics and sports training to NGTC. His experience comes from coaching and owning gyms in California where his responsibilities ranged from general manager / coach, to olympic level coaching. His responsiblities at NGTC will include, among other things, coaching optionals and compulsory teams and business development. Welcome Tharien!
Coach Melody Melody comes to NGTC from California. An genuine passion for the sport, Melody assists Coach Danita with the Teams. You will see Melody working with all the levels as her skills are versatile and give us a distinct advantage of having another quality professional with tremendous eye's for detail working with all the team gymnasts. Melody will rarely miss an opportunity to "teach" and uses every second of her practices to get the most out of each girl! And nobody gives more off the gym floor than Coach Melody. Her love for her gymnasts and the sport carries over into her affinity for taking great photos. She even developed and continues to manage a site where you'll see all her photos from competitions, as well as uploads from our other parents! Great job Melody!!!
Coach Jessica Jessica is one of the foundations at NGTC. An accomplished competetive gymnast herself, Jessica has the responsibility of coaching the Level 4's, along with some Recreational classes. Jessica h, as the best aura about her as she teaches and communicates with a caring and understanding style. Students find Jessica to be "one of the fav's!"
Coach Bethany Coach Bethany is our boys team coach. A gymnast from age 3, Bethany had an accomplished junior career reaching Level 10 and winning numberous awards before competing 4-years at Michigan State University. Her accomplishments and accolades are to many to list here, however she is also very proud of her degree and experience working with kids with developmental disabilities. Bethany brings a calming, positive energy into the gym, not to mention years of gymnastics experience! And congrats to Coach Bethany for an outstanding boys competetive season…7 State Titles!
Coach Arielle: Arielle is the NGTC Pre-Team Coach, and will be assisting with Team. A native of Gresham, Arielle was a competetive gymnast herself all the way to Level 10 where she qualified for and competed at Nationals! The PreTeam program has grown tremendously under Coach Arielle, and her athletes prove her coaching effectiveness by moving straight to team without missing a single beat. Look for more of her working with the Teams in the coming weeks and months!
Coach Kylie Kylie is the epitime of what we want our gymnasts to grow into. A "retired" level 10 gymnast during her competition days, Kylie has coached several different class levels and filled-in for absent team coaches. Kylie is a truly wonderful person with a contagious positive attitude. Coach Kylie recently accepted a job in her chosen career field, a move we are excited to see her take! We wish her the best, and will still see her as she fills-in periodically.
Coach Andrew Andrew is a natural athlete currently coaching at NGTC while earning his massage therapist certification. Andrew helps with the teams, and also coaches the tumbling classes. Always a positive attitude, Andrew commutes each day from east of Portland, near The Dalles. Well Andrew, thanks for making the commitment to all the students….we are better because of you.
Coach EJ Eric (EJ) is a strong athletic tumbler. With a Black Belt in TaeKwonDo, EJ can be seen doing some great tumbling demonstrations as he teaches tumbling and fills-in on rec. classes. You may also see him in the office from time to time. But most importantly, we owe most of the great holiday decorations each season to EJ! Thanks. However, already close to earning his private pilot's license, if you don't see him in the gym, he's probably flying overhead!
Coach Haylee Haylee has been in a gym her entire life. Haylee learned gymnastics while growing up in the Portland/Vancouver area by parents that owned their own gymnastics facility, Sunburst Gymnastics. Her parents sold Sunburst, and we are lucky to have her with us. Haylee is no stranger to success strategies and brings a wealth of knowledge with her to her preschool and beginners gymnastics classes
Coach Tonja Tonja is one of our fine staff of pre-school and rec coaches. Trained and certified as a Yoga instructor, Tonja, a parent of two beautiful little ones herself, is great working on the basics and teaching some good listening skills.
Coach Eric A background in golf, Coach Eric was the director of golf and Head Men's and Women's golf coach at Portland State for 10 years. The 2-time NCAA Coach of the Year works with the girls on the mental game, overcoming mental blocks, goal setting, acheiving personal bests and helping create "Habits…for a lifetime!"
NGTC is always looking for quality experienced coaches. Our quality programs are quickly expanding and we are currently looking to add to our outstanding list of certified coaches. If you feel you have the passion and desire to help kids create healthy habits and improve gymnastics skills, we encourage you to drop us a line or stop-in during business hours to speak with us about opportunities we currently have.