There’s a lot happening at Twisters right now and we couldn’t be more excited to share it with our community!
As we continue working hard to bring our third location to life, we’re also celebrating exciting internal growth within our organization. Twisters has always been about more than gymnastics, it’s about building people, fostering passion, and creating a lasting impact. This month, we’re proud to spotlight four incredible leaders whose recent promotions reflect both their dedication and the bright future ahead.
Brittany Barnao – Global Director of Operations
With 21 years at American Twisters, Brittany’s journey is a true reflection of growth, commitment, and leadership. Now stepping into her new role as Global Director of Operations, she will oversee alignment across all locations while helping guide the company forward as part of the Senior Leadership Team.
For Brittany, what makes Twisters so special has always been the culture. She describes it as a place filled with passionate people who truly love what they do. A team that, after so many years together, feels more like family than coworkers. That sense of connection continues to fuel her excitement as she steps into her new role, especially as she looks forward to mentoring future leaders and watching them grow while preparing to open our third location.
Outside of Twisters, Brittany enjoys traveling and dedicating her time to volunteering with local animal rescues. But even beyond the gym, the impact of her work is always top of mind. She believes gymnastics offers so much more than physical skills. It builds confidence, strengthens mental resilience, and creates lasting memories that stay with athletes long after they leave the sport.
When reflecting on her time at Twisters, Brittany is most grateful for the countless opportunities for growth and learning she’s experienced over the years, along with unforgettable moments like watching the Olympic trials together as a team. At the heart of it all, she credits the positive culture at Twisters to one simple but powerful idea: passionate people doing what they love.
Maddy Ashby – Recreational Program Leader
After 14 years with American Twisters, Maddy has grown alongside the program she now leads. In her new role as Recreational Program Leader, she oversees instructional programs and supports the coaches who help shape so many young athletes’ first experiences in gymnastics.
For Maddy, the most rewarding part of her job is simple but powerful, seeing the smiles on her students’ faces when they accomplish something new. Those moments, she says, truly light up her day and remind her why she loves what she does. As she steps into her leadership role, she’s especially excited to strengthen her relationships with the recreational coaching staff, ensuring they always feel supported and know they have someone to turn to.
When she’s not in the gym, Maddy enjoys relaxing at the beach, reading, and catching up on reality TV. But her passion for helping others grow is always present in her work. She hopes every student who comes through Twisters leaves with greater confidence and the belief that they can achieve anything they set their mind to.
Some of her favorite memories come from the energy and excitement of camp days, especially when she walks into the gym and all the campers start shouting “Coach Maddy! Coach Maddy!” Those moments, she says, mean everything. She believes the positive culture at Twisters starts with a fun and supportive environment for staff, which naturally carries over into the experience each athlete and family has in the gym.
Her advice to young gymnasts reflects that same supportive spirit: don’t be too hard on yourself. Mistakes are part of the journey, and growth comes from continuing to try while having fun along the way.
Kelley Petrella – Assistant Recreational Program Leader
Kelley has been a part of the Twisters family for 11 years, and her passion for both the athletes and the experience they have each week continues to drive her forward. Alongside her roles as Party Program Leader and Open Gym Leader, she now steps into her newest position as Assistant Recreational Program Leader, where she works closely with Maddy to support and enhance the recreational program.
For Kelley, the most meaningful part of her job is knowing that gymnastics is often the highlight of a child’s week, and that she gets to be part of that joy. In her new role, she’s excited to focus on improving both the experience for the kids and the day-to-day environment for the staff who make it all happen.
Outside of the gym, Kelley loves spending time with her family and expressing her creativity as an artist. Whether she’s working with her hands or creating something new, she finds joy in tapping into that creative side.
Her impact on athletes goes far beyond teaching skills. She hopes every child leaves Twisters with confidence, bravery, and the understanding that they can do hard things. This is something she feels is especially important for young girls to learn early on. Some of her most meaningful memories come from watching children overcome challenges, particularly those who begin with occupational struggles and, through persistence and gymnastics, achieve things they never thought possible.
Kelley believes the culture at Twisters is built on genuine love for the job, for the athletes, for the families, and for each other. It’s that shared passion, she says, that makes it hard to have a bad day when everyone walks in smiling. Her advice to young gymnasts is both simple and powerful: do the work, have the fun, don’t quit. You are capable of more than you think!
Sarah Livingston – Head Coach, Boca Xcel Team
In just two and a half years, Sarah has made an incredible impact at Twisters, and her promotion to Head Coach of the Boca Xcel Team marks an exciting new chapter. In this role, she oversees training plans, lesson execution, and team development, all while continuing to build strong relationships with her athletes.
For Sarah, those relationships are at the heart of everything she does. She loves being able to connect with her athletes and watch them grow in a sport they both share a passion for. As she steps into her new role, she’s especially excited about the opportunity to continue building and strengthening her team.
When she’s not coaching, Sarah enjoys spending time with her fiancé, Coach Stephen. But her dedication to her athletes is always present in her work, where she strives to create an environment that feels safe, supportive, and empowering. She wants every athlete to feel confident walking into practice each day, knowing they are supported and capable.
Some of her most meaningful moments have come from watching her athletes progress, especially seeing last season’s Xcel Gold group step up and compete at Level 6. For Sarah, those moments are a powerful reminder of what consistency, effort, and belief can accomplish.
She believes that consistency in coaching, combined with positive energy at every practice, plays a huge role in creating the culture that makes Twisters so special. Her advice to young gymnasts reflects her long-term perspective: gymnastics is a marathon, not a sprint. Progress takes time, patience, and effort—but with dedication, anything is possible.
As we prepare to open our third location, it’s leaders like Brittany, Maddy, Kelley, and Sarah who are helping shape the future of Twisters. Their passion, leadership, and commitment to every athlete and family are what make our community so strong.
We are incredibly proud of their journeys and can’t wait to see all that they accomplish next at Twisters. 💙
