Swimhaus is a beloved swim school in Gilbert that’s known for its no-headache policies for parents, incredible results-driven swim instruction for kids, and their incredible involvement in the community.
It’s no surprise that this swim school is family owned and operated by an incredible couple also in the thick of their own parenthood journey to Mae, their four-year-old daughter.
Keep reading to meet the mompreneur behind Swimhaus, and to learn a little more about the Valley’s best swim school.
- Name: Erin Gleason
- Age: Just getting started!
- Location: Live in East Mesa and work in Gilbert
- Children (names and ages): Mae. 4 years but thinks she is 24
Tell us a little bit about your family! I am from a small beach town in Michigan where I grew up with my two siblings. We were very close with extended family, who primarily lived in the same town. This made picking up and moving to AZ even more difficult. Since being here we have added an energetic daughter to our immediate family and have made such strong friendships that these new people in our lives feel like family.
You founded your business with your spouse. How did you start the company together? I always knew that I wanted to work with kids. I went to school to become an early education teacher. When I graduated, finding a teaching position was next to impossible. I ended up working as a nanny for the next 13 years.
At a certain point I knew I needed to transition from being a nanny and started exploring options. My husband has always been a serial entrepreneur and we knew we wanted to do something together.
After taking the kids I nannied for to a swim school in Michigan, I called my husband and said I found the perfect fit for us! He was able to handle more of the backend, business development tasks and I could use my experience and love for kids to help guide our instructors and run the day-to-day.
Were you able to take maternity leave? We had Mae in March of 2020 so it was a unique situation. Due to Covid, we had to close Swimhaus on a Friday and had Mae on Monday. From the maternity leave standpoint, the Covid lockdown was great for us as we were both able to stay home longer than we would have if the world didn’t stop.
How do you make time for self-care in between all that you have going on? I love to read at night in bed. I also love getting up early before everyone is up to enjoy my coffee in peace and quiet. It’s probably my favorite time of day to just sit and breathe.
What lessons have you learned in your career that you apply to parenting? Gotta keep going. No matter how much you want to crawl into a corner and cry.
How has motherhood impacted you personally and professionally? Out of necessity, I have become way better at using my time more efficiently. I’m also more present for the small things in life. Having a child really opens your eyes to what’s important. I’m finding myself doing old lady things like watching birds lol
Is there a promo code or discount code you can offer readers? Get a FREE trial lesson to try a class at Swimhaus, just call our front desk.
How has your marriage been impacted by your joint career-life? Jim and I work really well together. We have different skill-sets that complement each other. I think the biggest impact has been at night. It’s so easy to allow work talk to creep into the conversation. We try to be mindful of this and shut it down after dinner. That works about 10% of the time, ha!
For some fun chit-chat, now!
- Favorite East Valley date night? Buck & Rider with my favorite guy
- Coffee order? Dark roast with a small splash of heavy cream. I never order coffee out; always at home in my house before my daughter wakes.
- Favorite restaurant in the East Valley? Too many to list! We love OHSO for the atmosphere and Pita Island (NE corner of Gilbert and Guadalupe) for lunch. Pita Island is such a fantastic hidden gem, we just love this local business.
- Greatest challenge in your career thus far? Building a business during Covid with a newborn at home
- Last Netflix show you binged? Stranger Things and Great British Baking Show
- Favorite family tradition? Oh boy, we have a lot… The most common are family dinners. It is a great time to sit down and talk about the day and what we’re all dealing with. I think it brings us all closer as a family.
