Theater
Carly Markesich
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Founder
Carly Markesich earned her B.A. in International Studies at the University of St. Thomas and is a graduate of Rice University’s Leadership Institute for Nonprofit Executives. Carly has been working in the gymnastics industry since 1979, as a coach and administrator. She is a USAG Pro Member, holds a USAG Meet Director’s Certification and currently serves on the Texas State Administrative Committee for USAG. Over the years, Carly and Discover have received numerous awards including the Gymnastics Association of Texas’ Distinguished Service Award for outstanding service to the development of gymnastics and gymnastics programs in Texas, and Discover was named one of Fortune’s Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) 100 Fastest Growing Companies. Discover is now preparing for a second facility and program expansion. Carly is the CEO of Discover Gymnastics, Houston’s premier gymnastics facility, serving over 2000 students each week, ages 6 months – 18 years, including all levels of gymnastics, both competitive and non-competitive, in a 22,000sf state-of-the-art facility. Classes include gymnastics, tumbling, trampoline, children’s fitness, special needs programming, summer and holiday day camps, and a competitive team program for both boys and girls. Discover also offers ancillary activities including birthday parties, a retail pro shop, and hosts three USAG sanctioned gymnastics competitions each year – The Texas Classic Meet, The Svetlana Boguinskaia Invitational and the Reindeer Games, plus one Special Olympics meet each year. |
Spokesperson and Director
Svetlana Boguinskaia was a Soviet/Unified Team/Belarusian gymnast. Especially renowned for the drama and artistry she displayed on floor exercise, she was called the “Belarusian Swan” and the “Goddess of Gymnastics” because of her height, balletic grace, and long lines. Boguinskaia is a three-time Olympic Champion, winning an individual gold medal in Vault at the 1988, and team golds in 1988 and 1992. Today Boguinskaia lives in Houston, Texas with her husband and two children. She runs two businesses, an online gymnastics apparel retailer and a summer camp for gymnastics students, but she also considers herself a stay-at-home mother. |
Svetlana Boguinskaia
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Erin Murphy
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Chairman of the Board
Erin Murphy Goodman is a Houston-based lawyer with an extensive background in large, complex legal claims. At the national level, Erin is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, an honorary organization of lawyers, judges and legal scholars whose careers have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the welfare of their communities and the highest principles of the legal profession. At the Texas State level, she is an Endowment Fund Scholar with the Texas Bar College, a Fellow of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, and serves in executive and board positions for a number of 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(6) organizations. Erin earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Stephen F. Austin State University and her Doctorate of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law. Erin and her husband Justin R. Goodman, have one daughter – a competitive USAG gymnast – and one son. She and her husband are active supporters of the Discover Fitness Foundation and the Erin Murphy Goodman Endowment Fund at Stephen F. Austin State University, which funds scholarships and opportunities for student/athletes. |
Secretary
Jamil Joyner is a pediatrician and site leader at Texas Children’s Pediatrics Gulfgate- an underserved pediatric clinic on the southeast side of Houston. She attended Rice University for undergraduate school and then Baylor College of Medicine for both medical school and Pediatrics Residency. She graduated from the Rice MBA Executive program in 2014. She currently splits her time between seeing patients and various administrative projects. Jamil has a personal interest in fitness and the importance of exercise in children’s health in the Greater Houston community. She is excited about an organization that can provide growth opportunities for children who would normally not have access. |
Dr. Jamil Joyner
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Frank Simonton III
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Treasurer
Frank Simonton III is a Certified Public Accountant with licenses in both Texas and California. Frank provides tax advisory and IRS mediation services to privately held corporations, partnerships, trusts, nonprofit organizations, and high net worth families. Frank is also a founder and principal owner of Texas Conserve Energy LP (www.conservetx.com), a locally based utility management consulting business. Frank holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Louisiana State University and a Master of Business Administration concentrated in Finance from The University of Houston. Frank is a member of the LSU Foundation Houston advisory council, which helps expand academic opportunities through increased philanthropic support. Frank believes in the virtues of physical fitness and nutrition and hopes to improve the health of local children through his efforts with the Discover Fitness Foundation. |
Soaring Kidz
Mina first moved to Houston in 2007 to begin his first job as a pediatric physical therapist. He noticed that there were no programs that offered sports and recreational programs for kids and teens with special needs year round, so that’s how the idea of starting Soaring Kidz came about and in the fall of 2008, they started with one T-Ball program in the Fall and the organization has continued to grow. We now offer 6 sports programs throughout the year to include: Soccer, taekwondo, basketball, T-ball, Gymnastics, and flag football. We also offer several recreational activities and programs throughout the year such as: Art for All, Golf and Dancing. We also provide an opportunity for our kids and their families to attend several live sporting events throughout the year free of charge. We have been to Astros, Rockets, Dynamo, and Skeeters games. |
Mina Iskander
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