Meet Our Team
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Meet the Hudson Valley Swim Franchise Team
Hudson Valley Swim was founded in 2003 by Jeff Gartner along with his wife Joan, as a way to bring a cost-conscious, problem-solving outlook to the task of building a family-owned swim school business.
With over two decades of experience, the Hudson Valley Swim family grew from a local vision for the neighborhood to a nationwide success. Our team provides years of knowledge, training, coaching and support to our franchise partners, with a model designed to build and grow your own swim school business.
Hudson Valley Swim is a family-owned business. We view every owner as part of our family and give them the support and experience they need to build and grow their business.
Learn more about the Hudson Valley Swim franchise team!
Jeff Gartner
Hudson Valley Swim Founder and CEO
2003 – Present
Jeff Gartner is one of the top innovators and technologists in the swim school industry today. With several decades of experience in the field, Jeff dedicates himself to creating a streamlined business solution that supports customer needs and owner growth.
As an eBusiness leader, Jeff has spent his career on the front lines of global technology companies like IBM, CA, and Avaya developing productivity and technology tools that impact millions of people daily.
Joan Gartner
Co-Founder and COO
Joan Gartner oversees operations across Hudson Valley Swim’s eight corporate locations while extending invaluable operational counsel to our franchise network. With an extensive tenure in the industry, Joan has emerged as a beacon of leadership within Hudson Valley Swim, consistently prioritizing customer satisfaction, optimizing recruitment processes, and refining operational workflows. Her commitment to excellence in delivering premier swim lesson programs across diverse markets has established her as a preeminent authority in the field. Joan’s unwavering dedication to supporting and mentoring others has earned her widespread esteem from both our internal team and franchise partners alike.
Nick Gartner
Franchise Development Director
Over the span of nearly a decade, Nick Gartner has played an instrumental role in shaping Hudson Valley Swim into a renowned national brand. Armed with a degree in economics and certified as a Franchise Executive (CFE), Nick serves as the Director of Franchise Development, holding a pivotal position within the franchise organization. His responsibilities encompass educating prospective franchisees about the business opportunity and orchestrating training sessions to facilitate the seamless onboarding of new owners. Through Nick’s strategic guidance, Hudson Valley Swim has swiftly expanded into fresh markets, fueling the company’s rapid growth trajectory.
Scott Stricof
Sales Operations Director
Scott Stricof brings decades of operations and business development experience as Hudson Valley Swim’s Sales Operations Director. Scott strategically engages in countless initiatives designed to support and grow the Hudson Valley Swim brand while building trust based relationships. Scott also supports franchise owner partners in growing their businesses. Scott comes to the franchise with a sports program and hospitality services background, making him the perfect fit for the brand role. His interpersonal and strategic business sense have informed Hudson Valley Swim’s expansion plans and helped establish it as one of the nation’s best swim school franchises.
Sean Arroyo
National Aquatics Director
Sean Arroyo’s aquatic journey began as a senior instructor at Hudson Valley Swim in 2019, building on his long-standing career with the NYC Parks & Recreation Department since 1999. With teaching experience dating back to 2001, Sean earned recognition as a USA Certified Swim Coach in 2008, establishing himself as a reputable authority within local and regional swim teams. His ascent within Hudson Valley Swim saw him appointed as Corporate Aquatics Director in 2021, followed by assuming the role of National Aquatics Director in 2022. Sean’s profound expertise has been pivotal in introducing innovative techniques to enrich the lesson program and refine the curriculum using industry best practices. Renowned as an instructor trainer within our program, Sean continues to inspire and empower others with his unwavering passion for aquatics.