President
Mary's swimming experience started at the age of five months with her parents, Jack and Sherrill Nelson, realizing the importance of starting young. Mary at the age of 5 began swimming as a member of the Fort Lauderdale Swim Team (FLST); her swimming career continued while growing up taking her to numerous Junior Olympics and State Championships.
Mary’s swimming experience started at the age of five months with her parents, Jack and Sherrill Nelson, realizing the importance of starting young. Mary at the age of 5 began swimming as a member of the Fort Lauderdale Swim Team (FLST). Her swimming career continued while growing up taking her to numerous Junior Olympics and State Championships. She was a member of the Fort Lauderdale High School Swim Team and later at the University of Miami.
Mary first began teaching children how to swim at the age of 16, combining both her knowledge of swimming and her gentle encouraging approach with children. Her college career eventually led her to San Francisco, California, where she graduated from San Francisco State University with both a Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Arts and an Elementary Education degree. Upon returning to Fort Lauderdale with Elementary Education background, she helped to improve, develop, and organize the comprehensive learn to swim programs for FLST.
Building upon the foundation started by Jack & Sherrill Nelson, in December 2007, Mary, along with her business partner, Dan Vawter, led the way for the next generation of swimming excellence with the opening of AquaChamps Swim School. Mary has been educating others in the aquatic industry through several speaking engagements with the World Aquatic Health Conference, the National Water Safety Conference, the United States Swim School Association, and the National Drowning Prevention Alliance. Mary and her husband, Tom, are the proud parents of two beautiful girls, Rose & Ella, and their dog, Maggie, who all love to swim.
