About Us

Next Generation Gym Owners is here to help business owners take control of their business, recruit new members and earn their freedom. We have been-there, done-that and we’re here to help others do the same. In fact, each of us here at Next Gen not only owns our gym, but has been through many challenges over the years as we grow our programs.

THE OWNERS OF NEXT GEN

OUR COACHING STAFF

OUR ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM

ABOUT US

JUSTIN JOHNSTON
CEO for Next Generation Gym Owners | Owner of Twister Sports
Justin also owns Twister Sports in Warrensburg, MO. His background is in Occupational Safety and Health. He spent 21 years in the United States Air Force before retiring in 2019. Justin spent seven years in the Missouri Highway Patrol. In his current role at Twisters, he is the facility manager of a 35,000 sq. ft. building and specializes in contracts and leasing agreements. Justin has general contracted all renovations at the gym to include a 1,000 sq. ft. ninja warrior obstacle course. Justin is the CEO of Next Generation Gym Owners and the first point of contact for all new Academy members. Justin can be seen alongside his wife, Danielle, on weekly episodes of Fireside Chat with the Johnstons.
    SHELLEY SHEPARD
    Conference Director for Next Generation Gym Owners | Owner of Five Star Athletics
    Shelley owns and operates Five Star Athletics in Reno, NV. Shelley has owned cheer gyms since 2003. Along with her husband Tom, she opened Five Star in 2010 from the ground to now over 500 athletes. Five Star Athletics has a strong All Star Cheer Program known throughout the industry. Five Star also offers recreational cheerleading, tumbling, warriors, summer camps, and high school programs. Shelley has a bachelor’s degree in education. As a Next Generation coach, she specializes in teaching how to have a profitable All Star program and systemization. Shelley is the Chief Operations Officer for Next Gen ensuring the effective implementation of all programs within the company including conferences, programs, and sponsorships. Additionally, Shelley is a consultant in the Next Gen Owners Academy specializing in all star programs and all star budgeting.
      DANIELLE JOHNSTON
      CFO & CMO for Next Generation Gym Owners | Owner of Twister Sports
      Danielle owns Twister Sports in Warrensburg, MO. Twisters offers recreational and competitive cheerleading, tumbling, hip hop, gymnastics, ninja warrior, and indoor batting cages. They have about 700 athletes and host approximately 275 birthday parties each year. Danielle and Justin have founded seven businesses since 2013 and have experience in making a business valuable and prepared for sale. She has worked in digital media and marketing for many years. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and did public relations for the Air Force for seven years. Danielle is an owner and consultant for the Next Gen as well as the CMO and CFO. As a consultant, Danielle specializes in staff management, partnerships, marketing, public relations, website development, and budgeting. Danielle and Justin are best known for Fireside Chat with the Johnstons and her daily blog.
        RIANA LUCK
        Project Director for Next Generation Gym Owners | Owner of Premier Academy
        Riana owns and operates Premier Academy in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada and is a co-owner in two other locations. Premier Academy offers competitive and recreation cheerleading, Ninja, tumbling, a licensed preschool and hosts a large number of birthday parties and camps throughout the year. As a mom of five young kids, she has been able to create systems to create freedom to spend time with her family and ensure the gym is successful. Riana is responsible for all curriculum in the Next Generation Academy. She develops the content for all courses, and also serves the company as a consultant. In her role as a consultant, Riana specializes in working with international gyms, staffing, and systemization.
          DAN COTTON
          COO for Next Generation Gym Owners | Owner of Oregon Dream Teams
          Dan, along with his wife, Tori, own and operate Oregon Dream Teams in Beaverton, OR. ODT specializes in all star cheerleading, but also has a thriving recreational program. Dan is also the owner of Dream Camps, providing residential and at-home camp instruction to All Star and high school programs throughout the United States and Canada. Dan served in the United States Army National Guard for eight years. He currently works full-time as a police officer for the City of Beaverton. Dan is the Head Coach for the Next Generation Academy and the host of the Next Generation People and Profits podcast, which notably received more than 5,000 downloads in its first year. This podcast is the #1 business building podcast in the after-school industry.
            KIERRA PELZ
            CONSULTANT | Premier Academy
            Kierra co-owns and operates Premier Academy in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada as well as coaches & manages the Keyano College Cheer Team. As a teacher/educational assistant for many years, the transition to cheer gym owner was all about learning and growing as an entrepreneur.  Using Next Generation Gym Owners was a big factor in the growth of the gym, and sustainability through the COVID-19 closures. As the owner of a thriving gym for the last nearly 6 years, Kierra has become a driving force in the industry, empowering athletes and gym owners alike to embrace their love for cheerleading while achieving business success.  After just 3 years, she joined the Next Gen team, offering learning opportunities, connections and coaching for owners in the Academy.  Kierra emphasizes the importance of systems/proper delegation, community/culture building, and fostering a sense of purpose within the industry to build your business as a gym owner.  Aside from competitive and recreational cheerleading, Premier Academy now offers birthday parties, recreational tumbling, school programs, and day camps to name a few of the many programs making it a profitable business and serving roughly 400 athletes.

            Kierra remains actively involved in coaching in the gym, competitions, and community events. As a mom of two young kids, she has been able to create systems to create freedom to spend time with her family and ensure the gym is still successful. As a Next Generation coach, Kierra’s primary strength is systemizing and time management.

              TORI COTTON
              CONSULTANT | Oregon Dream Teams
              Tori Cotton co-owns Oregon Dream Teams with her husband, Dan Cotton. Together, Tori and Dan have and worked hard to grow both the all star and recreational programs in the gym. ODT specializes in all star cheer of all types: Elite, Prep, Novice, FUNdamentals, and CheerAbilities. Additionally, they offer recreational classes, warrior classes, preschool programming, and summer day camps. Tori is also a co-owner of Dream Camps, a summer camp business for teams and individual athletes. As a Next Gen coach, Tori specializes in creating gym culture and running a profitable all star program. 
                ADAM FORTE
                CONSULTANT | Former Owner of Intensity Cheer Athletics

                Adam Forte is the co-owner of Forte Spirit Solutions, through which he consults gym owners and coaches on coaches training, curriculum development, stunting and tumbling training, and music production. Adam was also a gym owner and director with his wife Jessica, of Cheer Intensity for 16 years. Adam and Jessica built their gym from the ground up in an area “unpopular” in cheerleading – Albany, NY.  This has given Adam experience to help gym owners, coaches, and athletes across the world grow programs from the ground up in a creative and efficient way. Adam has coached multiple teams to victories at the Summit, NCA Nationals, and place in the top 10 at the cheerleading worlds.

                Adam operates out of a place of service, sharing his knowledge and experience in the industry by leading gym owners and coaches in creating efficient, productive, and strong systems that promote success and longevity!

                  KELLIE BUCHANAN
                  CONSULTANT | Owner of Big Rock Gymnastics & Dynamite Cheer
                  Kellie Buchanan is the owner of Big Rock Gymnastics & Dynamite Cheer in the small town of Richfield, UT. Kellie owned Dynamite Cheer for 10 years before buying Big Rock Gymnastics in 2015. Kellie runs a number of successful programs at her gym and is an expert in daytime programming and maximizing floor space. Her gym also offers a full curriculum preschool, day camps, night camps, class and team programs as well as birthday parties. As a consultant at Next Gen, Kellie specializes in teaching owners how to effectively delegate as well as maximize their space and fill all hours of the day.
                    JESSICA FORTE
                    CONSULTANT | Former Owner of Cheer Intensity Athletics
                    Jessica Forte is the owner of Forte Spirit Solutions, a cheerleading consulting business that specializes in choreography, clinics, and staff training. Her passion is in creation, so choreography and program development light her up! Jess also owned and operated her own gym prior to founding FSS. She opened Cheer Intensity Athletics at the age of 18 and ran it for 17 years before transitioning into consulting. Jess has served on a number of industry boards and is passionate about being a part of the evolution of the industry at large. She specializes in problem solving and creative solutions as well as communication and organization!
                      SAMANTHA LOSACK
                      CONSULTANT | Owner of Quantum Athletics
                      Samantha Losack owns Quantum Athletics in Lockwood, MO. Quantum offers recreational and competitive cheerleading, tumbling, hip hop and ninja. Her facility also offers an After School Program as well as full time Summer Kids Camp. She has grown her business close to 250 athletes in a town of less than 1,000 people. Through systems and delegation, her gym has continued to thrive while she is also handling the day-to-day of two young children and two additional businesses outside of the Cheer industry.

                      As a Next Gen consultant, Samantha specializes in helping gyms get systemized and organized while delegating tasks to free up their time. She also has personal experience as a gym owner who opened her business at a very young age and in a very small town.

                        TRACEY PAGE
                        CONSULTANT | Owner of Supreme Cheerleading
                        Tracey Page owns Supreme Cheerleading in Burlington, Ontario. She started the gym 13 years ago and specializes in success within a very saturated market and large city of 200,000. Supreme Cheerleading offers elite and prep all star cheerleading, as well as recreational cheerleading, tumbling, day camps, skills clinics, private lessons and a number of other services. Tracey has experience as a consultant in a variety of fields. As a Next Gen consultant, she specializes in building program culture, how to stand out in a saturated market, recreational programming and developing a successful sales funnel.
                          MELANIE WILMOTH
                          CONSULTANT | GYM MANAGER CONSULTANT & NG FINANCE | TWISTER SPORTS
                          Melanie is the gym manager at Twister Sports and an administrative assistant for Next Generation Gym Owners. Melanie has a degree in public relations from the University of Central Missouri and has been the manager at Twisters for 8 years. Her daily duties include training and managing 32 full-time and part-time staff members, marketing and filling programs and classes at the gym, overseeing competitive and recreational programming and ensuring the gym meets its financial and strategic goals each quarter. Within Next Gen, Melanie is responsible for the quality assurance of several programs, billing and client communication and manager consultations and training. Melanie is also a coach for managers in our Elevate level of the Next Gen Academy.
                            EMILY SHEPARD
                            Next Generation Gym Owners
                            Emily is the administrative assistant for Next Generation Gym Owners. She grew up cheering at Five Star Athletics before moving on to University of Kentucky Louisville. Emily is currently a law student and assists Next Gen part-time with conferences and day-to-day administrative tasks.
                              LEXI HUNNICUTT
                              Twister Sports
                              Lexi is the Client Success Manager at Twister Sports in Warrensburg, MO. For the past four years, Lexi has been in charge of the trial program, birthday party program, specialty summer camps and all events at the gym to include large-scale community events and performances. In her role at Next Gen, Lexi is the client success manager, assisting with on-boarding new clients and ensuring they see success in their journey.
                                JACLYN URBAN
                                Alaska Golden Heart Cheerleading

                                Jaclyn has been in the cheer industry as an athlete, coach and program director for more than 17 years. Before moving to Alaska, she resided in Tokyo, Japan where she began her own Competitive cheerleading program for American and Japanese athletes. She is now the Program Manager for Next Generation Gym Owners and is an all star coach at Alaska Golden Heart Cheerleading in Fairbanks, AK. She has a Bachelors of Science in Human Resource Management and is actively pursuing her Masters in Business Administration. She is the primary point of contact for members of the Next Gen Academy, and manages the Academy members area. Jaclyn also provides administrative support and questions, and phone and email support for our clients.

                                  BRANDON LEMING
                                  CONSULTANT | Owner of Tullahoma Cheer & Gymnastics

                                  Brandon Leming is the co-owner, along with his wife Katie, of Tullahoma Gymnastics and Cheer. Together, they run a number of successful programs at his gym- recreational tumbling and gymnastics, competitive cheer and gymnastics, after school care, daytime programming, and a thriving birthday party system. With an emphasis on energy, encouragement, and excellence in all they do, they’ve grown to impact over 600 families each week in a city of only 21,000 people.

                                    LEXY HUMPHREY
                                    CONSULTANT | Owner of Victory Cheer & Tumble
                                    Lexy Humphrey is a dynamic entrepreneur and the driving force behind three successful businesses, with Victory Cheer & Tumble taking center stage. In 2019, she founded the gym in her own garage, starting with nearly 60 kids. With the invaluable support of Next Gen, Lexy transitioned from a full-time Family Consumer Sciences teacher to a full-time business owner. Under Lexy’s leadership, Victory Cheer & Tumble experienced remarkable growth, now boasting an enrollment of almost 500 kids. Leveraging the systems taught by Next Gen, Lexy’s business acumen allowed her to establish and build her own facility in Glencoe, AL. This facility offers a diverse range of programs, including competitive cheerleading teams, recreational tumbling classes, ninja programs, a workout facility, licensed preschool, and tournament hosting.
                                      MALORIE LEAVITT
                                      CONSULTANT | Owner of Inspire Sports
                                      Malorie Leavitt owns Inspire Sports based out of Eagle Mountain, UT. Malorie has worked hard to grow her business and started it when she was 19. She has grown from teaching from a park with 30 students, to her basement,to now two locations in less than 5 years. Malorie grew up competing in gymnastics, coached Jr Olympics, and loves creating a safe place for people.Inspire Sports offers tumbling, rec cheer, all star cheer, parkour, and aerial silks, as well as camps, clinics, and birthday parties. Malorie specializes in systemizing, training, and building good gym culture between coaches, students, and parents.
                                        NICOLE DURAN
                                        CONSULTANT | Owner of Vibe Cheer & Dance
                                        Nicole Duran, the proud owner of Vibe Cheer Gym. Nicole believes in creating more than just a gym – but about cultivating a tight-knit community. She has always been driven by the passion to establish a family-like culture at Vibe Cheer. Navigating through a competitive landscape, she has made it a point to stand out through culture, marketing and branding. Innovation is key, and at Vibe Cheer, she has been pushing the envelope with unique training programs and inventive events.
                                          ALLY LOOMIS
                                          Marketing Assistant
                                          Ally is the All-Star Cheer Coordinator at Dynamic Elite in Rochester, NY. For the past 2 years she has been overseeing the entire cheerleading program top to bottom and has been coaching at the gym now for 10 years. In her role at Next Gen, Ally is the marketing assistant responsible for creating and executing marketing strategies that enhance our brand presence. Ally studied marketing at Brockport College and has her associates degree in Business Administration.