San Diego’s largest gymnastics school and camp program has elevated two of its executive directors to the role of dual CEOs. San Diego Gymnastics has named Erin Adams and Paige Conroy as dual CEOs, taking over for current CEO and co-founder Christina Grady.
San Diego Gymnastics is the region’s largest full-service gymnastics facility, with four locations – including Point Loma – around the county and a fifth about to open offering classes and programs to promote physical activity, including parkour, tumbling, alternative pre-school, an after-school program, camps, parties, Kids’ Night Out and open gym.
“The last few years have been a time of extraordinary challenges and growth. Erin and Paige were instrumental in allowing us to be nimble and flexible during difficult times, all while growing the business and opening our La Costa location and relocating our Point Loma gym,” Grady said.
“Since first being hired as executive directors they have been instant sensations with our team and the community, providing advancement for our long-time employees, building an amazing team of managers and coaches, and assisting numerous families along the way. They have truly been the face of San Diego Gymnastics and their time has come to officially take the leadership reins and drive our expansion,” she added.
Grady will be scaling back from her current day-to-day management duties and maintain an advisory role along with additional co-founder Doug Grady while their children also begin assuming positions within the organization.
As dual CEOs, both Adams and Conroy will be involved in all aspects of daily operations and administration, with Adams focusing primarily on HR and operations and Conroy leading marketing and enrollment efforts.
Adams started her career in fitness early, working as a customer service representative at a private athletic club, quickly promoted to front desk manager and eventually duty manager for the entire facility. After completing her bachelor’s degree in sociology and women’s studies at Cal State University San Marcos in 2011, she was promoted again to the business office overseeing accounting and sales and then moved over to serve as the club’s member retention specialist.
Adams then switched to the spa side of operations, spending six years as spa director managing multiple locations in the Baltimore area. In 2018, Adams returned to San Diego and was recruited to join San Diego Gymnastics as an executive director.
“My experience running membership-based businesses and operational expertise is a natural fit for my new role at San Diego Gymnastics,” said Adams. “I am excited to continually focus on development and growth for all our staff, expanding internal structures to make more upper-level management positions available for our dedicated employees. Our goal is to be the place passionate gymnastics coaches come and have the opportunity to not only coach but use their unique skill sets to build an exciting and fulfilling career.”
Conroy also began working in the fitness industry early in her career, including positions at both 24 Hour Fitness and as an event manager at a local gymnastics facility during her undergraduate work at San Diego State University. After graduating from SDSU in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies and a minor in literacy, Conroy set out with a goal to become a kindergarten teacher and elementary school principal.
She returned to SDSU to earn her California teaching credential and cross-cultural, language, and academic development certificate. She faced a career crossroads when she was offered a full-time job as general manager of a startup gymnastics company. Conroy took the leap of faith and forged a new dream to develop a career in the gymnastics and education industry. After three years in her first gymnastics role, she was offered a position at San Diego Gymnastics as an executive director and immediately went to work focused on curriculum development, marketing, and member growth.
“My passion for health, fitness, and aspirations to work with children goes back as far as I can remember,” said Conroy. “Looking forward, I am excited to open more gyms and develop new and interesting programs for our members, as well as career opportunities for others. Shaping young minds and building their confidence is the best part of this career.”
San Diego Gymnastics has four locations in San Diego County, including spots in Point Loma/Midway, La Mesa, Chula Vista, and Carlsbad, covering a wide range of neighborhoods and is about to open its fifth gym in Mission Valley in January 2023.
All San Diego Gymnastics coaches are USAG certified, CPR and First Aid certified and background checked. Team members include California Credentialed teachers, collegiate-level gymnasts, parkour coaches trained by a certified World Freerunning Parkour Federation instructor, physical and occupational therapists, and kinesiology and child psychology majors.
San Diego Gymnastics opened its first location in Liberty Station in 2008 after owners Doug and Christina Grady were trying to find time to shuttle their three children to various activities, including driving their daughter 30-plus minutes each way to gymnastics three times a week while each working full-time jobs. Learn more at sdgymnastics.com.
