Nicole
Nicole Nelson, Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer: Nicole Nelson is a CPA and practiced public accounting for nearly 20 years with BDO USA, LLP. Nicole now works as a consultant and trainer of accounting content with 2 Liquid Assets. Nicole is also a professional dancer and has danced for over 35 years in many styles including ballroom, ballet, country, hip-hop, jazz, show dance, and aerial. Nicole teaches various dance classes at AfterHours Dance Studio. Nicole has previous experience working with children as a teacher assistant and nanny for 10 years and as a high school and grade school dance coach. Nicole also serves on the UW Chapter of Orange County's Board of Directors as President and Treasurer and is a Director Emeritus for the University of Wisconsin-Business School Alumni Advisory Board. It is Nicole's vision to be surrounded by singing and dancing, seeing all people learn full self-expression at a young age to carry with them through life.
Melody
Melody Hojati, Chief Financial Officer and Director: Melody Hojati is a CPA with over 10 years of accounting experience. She practiced public accounting for 3 years prior to transitioning to private industry. She currently works for two sister non-profit educational organization called the Institute for Humane Studies and the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. She loves to donate her time to help others and, while having no formal training, still loves to get out on the dance floor! She is an active member of her local Church and has a passion for helping children.
Nhi
Nhi Nguyen, Corporate Secretary
Kris
Kris Mendoza, Director
John
John Burkart, Director
Lori
Lori Gallagher has been dancing with Century Dancesport for nearly 12 years. She has started programming called "Dancing with the Seniors" where she brings dance to our senior population to enliven their spirits and keep them moving! We work to partner programs to connect seniors and the youth we work with. Lori expresses her joy through her life-long love of dance and shares this with her family, friends, and everyone around her.
Stacey
Stacey Swadish. Stacey is a CPA and practiced public accounting for five years with BDO USA, LLP. Stacey has grown up dancing and has studied and performed various dance styles with a number of Dance studios and troupes. Stacey loves expressing her creativity and sees her participation with Right 2 Rhythm as a way of tying together all the things she loves to do and sharing them with her community.
Jeni
Jeni Tryon, Director: Jeni is a CFP, CDFA, and LPL Registered Principal, and has been providing quality financial counsel since 1998. After graduating from the University of California, Irvine (UCI) she began her investment career with Salomon Smith Barney. She now has her own Private Wealth Company, Tryon & Co. Throughout her career, she has expertly consulted on complex trust and high profile divorce settlements; managed large portfolios for high net worth clients, and provided guidance and direction for clients in transition. Her keen financial insight and tax efficient strategies strive to ensure that clients do not outlive their assets.
Jeni is Past President of Orange County Executive Women International, a non-profit organization that brings together executive women and actively plans charity events that benefit children and families. Her work has included planning hospital visits, working wardrobes donations and organizing a reading rally for children in Santa Ana.
A trip to Uganda, had a profound impact on Jeni. Traveling through some of the poorest parts of Africa, and seeing children in need of food and clothing both overwhelmed and inspired her. Jeni responded to the need by starting her own non-profit organization, Opportunities for Orphans, with a mission to serve the educational needs of children worldwide that have lost one or both parents. Seeing children of multiple ages learning in one small classroom, Jeni determined to provide these children with the opportunity to develop other skills.
In her spare time, Jeni indulges her lifelong passion for the arts. She is a trained ballet and jazz dancer, and has performed in Salsa and other Latin dances throughout Southern California. She enjoys attending the Orange County Performing Arts Center and sharing her passion with family, friends and clients.
Jeni is Past President of Orange County Executive Women International, a non-profit organization that brings together executive women and actively plans charity events that benefit children and families. Her work has included planning hospital visits, working wardrobes donations and organizing a reading rally for children in Santa Ana.
A trip to Uganda, had a profound impact on Jeni. Traveling through some of the poorest parts of Africa, and seeing children in need of food and clothing both overwhelmed and inspired her. Jeni responded to the need by starting her own non-profit organization, Opportunities for Orphans, with a mission to serve the educational needs of children worldwide that have lost one or both parents. Seeing children of multiple ages learning in one small classroom, Jeni determined to provide these children with the opportunity to develop other skills.
In her spare time, Jeni indulges her lifelong passion for the arts. She is a trained ballet and jazz dancer, and has performed in Salsa and other Latin dances throughout Southern California. She enjoys attending the Orange County Performing Arts Center and sharing her passion with family, friends and clients.