2022 JG TEAM
Years as a Lifeguard: 27 years
Years overseeing JG Program: 7
Education: Garfield HS (E.L.A.), Cerritos College, Executive Leadership Program USC Price
What is your favorite marine animal and why? Chinook salmon - can adapt to different environments and swim against the current to get the job done.
What is a fun fact about yourself? Fluent in French and Spanish. Traveled with Red Bull Air Race for 5 years teaching pilots egress from submerged aircraft.
Cpt. Omar Naranjo
Junior Lifeguard Captain
Years with LBFD: 8 years
Years with JGs: all 8 years!
Education: B.A. from Cal State Fullerton
What is your go-to dance move? Anything that embarrasses my children
Which JG event are you most excited for? the Ironguard!
What is your favorite place in Long Beach? Pancho's
Fun fact about yourself? I'm a mom of 3 that has never had a sip of coffee
Kylee Yocky
Administrative Assistant
Years as Lifeguard: 9 years
Years with JGs: 4 summers
Education: B.A. in Geography from UC Berkley
What is your favorite place in Long Beach? Colossus Bakery
Your favorite Marine animal? Dolphins, only one half of their brain sleeps at a time and I wish my brain could do that
Fun fact about yourself? I spent 6 weeks traveling around New Zealand in 2019 as part of the CSLSA Exchange!
Devon Beebe
Junior Lifeguard Coordinator
Years as Lifeguard: 4 summers
Years with JGs: 1st summer!
Education: B.S. in Kinesiology-Allied Health
Fun fact about yourself? I lived and worked on a cruise ship for 6 weeks!
What is your favorite place in Long Beach? Gusto's and fingerprints on 4th st
You’re sailing around the world, what’s the name of your boat? La Chalupa
Sabrina Zavala
JG Assistant Coordinator
A Group/Cadets
Years as Lifeguard: Going on 13!
Years with JGs: This is number 6
Education: MFA Literary Translation, BA Liberal Arts & Linguistics
What's your favorite place in Long Beach? Ma n Pa's
Which JG event are you most excited for? The Ironguard
You’re sailing around the world, what’s the name of your boat? Cong Lruise
Jacob Edelstein
Cadet/A Instructor
Years as Lifeguard: This is 7
Years with JGs: 5th summer as an instructor
Education: Finishing up my bachelors degree in marine biology and planning to get my teaching credential.
What's your favorite hobby? Roller skating on the bike path!
Favorite Marine Animal? the Mola Mola, or sunfish. They’re the largest bony fish and they only use their dorsal fin to swim, which makes them look very silly.
Maggie Mathis
A Instructor
Years as Lifeguard: 12 years
Years with JGs: 2nd summer
Education: LBCC and CSULB
What is your favorite place in LB? Going down Ocean Blvd at night to look across the water at all the lights along the Queen Mary and the port of Long Beach.
If you could choose any two famous people to have dinner with, who would they be?
Will Ferrell and Snoop Dogg.
Mike Carrillo
A Instructor
B Group
Years as Lifeguard: 11 Years!
Years with JGs: This is number 8
Education: BA in Business Administration from University of Oregon; MA in Education from National University
Which JG event are you most excited for? Pier Jumps
Your favorite Marine animal? Stingrays because they teach us the importance of shuffling
A fun fact about yourself? I work as a middle school history teacher here in LB!
Brenden Gruneisen
B Instructor
Years as Lifeguard: 6 years!
Years with JGs: 2nd year
Education: BA in Psych
What is your favorite place in Long Beach? El Dorado Park
You're sailing around the world, what is the name of your boat? The Pale Whale
A fun fact about yourself? I can roll my stomach sideways!
Which JG event are you most excited for? The Talent Show
Mia Tedesco
B Instructor
Years as Lifeguard: 5th year
Years with JGs: 1st summer!
Education: pursuing a BA at CSULB
Your favorite Marine animal? definitely has to be sea lions
If you could choose any two famous people to have dinner with, who would they be? Kanye West and Elon Musk
What's your favorite place in Long Beach? Open Sesame
Max Alvarado
B Instructor
Years as Lifeguard: 5 years
Years with JGs: First summer
Education: Senior at University of Idaho studying Biology with pre Health and Microbio minors
What is a fun fact about yourself? I was born in Long Beach but grew up in Boise, Idaho
What are your favorite hobbies? Swimming, running, hiking and reading
Which JG event are you most excited for? The Ironguard
Zoe McCormick
B Instructor
Years as Lifeguard: 42 years!
Years with JGs: I'm a rookie
Education: Wilson HS, LBCC and CSU-Fresno
What are your favorite hobbies? Telemark Skiing, mountaineering, ice climbing, rowing, roasting coffee, and making kombucha
What is your favorite place in Long Beach? Taco shore on 2nd
Your favorite Marine animal? Great White Shark
Scott Crail
B Instructor
Years as Lifeguard: 4th summer
Years with JGs: 1st year!
Education: BA in Mathematics
Which JG event are you most excited for? Regionals and Pier Jumps!
What is your favorite place in Long Beach? Aroma di Roma after a swim on the Peninsula
You're sailing around the world, what's the name of your ship? Sunshine Bandit after my first dog
Amanda Poor
B Instructor
C Group
Years as Lifeguard: 7th summer
Years with JGs: Going on my 5th
Education: BA in Psychology and MA in Leadership Development
What's your favorite place in Long Beach? Marine Stadium Farmers Market
You're sailing around the world, what is the name of your
ship? The Black Dog because of my black lab named Sailor
Your favorite Marine animal? Beluga whales, they are gentle giants
Paige Gurich
C Instructor
Years as Lifeguard: 3 years
Years with JGs: 1st year
Education: 2nd year at UCSB
Which JG event are you most excited for this summer? Pier Jumps
Your favorite Marine animal? Emperor Penguin, they are the largest species at 48in tall. It's nice to find a place where 4ft is considered the maximum.
A fun fact about yourself? I have a cockatiel, guinea pig and dog
Hanna Kawamoto
C Instructor
Years as Lifeguard: 5th year
Years with JGs: 2nd summer!
Education: Bachelors from American University
Your favorite hobbies? I do triathlons and compete in surf lifesaving
You're sailing around the world, what is the name of your
ship? The Abbey Express
Which JG event are you most excited for? Regionals and Pier Jumps
Abbey Vince
C Instructor
Years as Lifeguard: 3rd Summer!
Years with JGs: 1st summer
Education: Studying Biology at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
You're going sailing around the world, what is the name of your boat? Jenny after Forrest Gump
Your favorite Marine animal? Whale sharks
What is a fun fact about yourself? I am doing research on sea otter behavior and how they are affected by humans, boats, and kayaks
Ella Jorgensen
C Instructor
Years as Lifeguard: 4th summer
Years with JGs: My 1st time!
Education: Associates degree in Fire Science
You're going sailing around the world, what is the name of your boat? The Codfather
Which JG event are you most excited for? Pier Jumps
If you could choose any two famous people to have dinner with, who would they be? Kevin Hart and Adam Sandler
Alex Carroll
C Instructor
Years as Lifeguard: 4th year
Years with JGs: 1st summer!
Education: Senior at UCLA
What's your favorite place in Long Beach? Spinnaker Bay where the moon jellies are
Your favorite Marine animal? Manta rays because they are so majestic
What is a fun fact about yourself? I swam with whale sharks
Brooke Gruneisen
C Instructor