Staff
Susan Pascale-Frechette
Owner
Susan Pascale-Frechette
Entering her 33rd year as a swim instructor, Susan is the founder and owner of Pods Swimming. She has taught thousands of Rhode Islanders to swim through various local swim programs. Her experience, knowledge, and positive encouragement have allowed many children to enjoy the water and the sport of swimming.
Before becoming owner of Pods Swimming, Susan was an entry level swim coach for the Bay & Ocean State Squids from 1996-2007. During that time she attended several American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) clinics and received two “New England Age Group Coach of the Year” awards from New England Swimming. Her program was the starting point for many top New England swimmers and national-level swimmers. In 2007, she joined the United States Swim School Association and founded Pods Swimming; she then became certified in their Infant/Toddler program. Susan has attended the annual USSSA National Conference since 2008 to the present. She also coached for SSA from 2007 to 2019 and Gator’s Swim Club from 2019 to the present.
Susan is a recipient of the 2016 Rhode Island Small Business Journal Entrepreneurial Women to Watch Community Champions. Susan has also been named the SBA 2019 Rhode Island and New England Women-Owned Small Business of the Year. She is a 1997 graduate of the University of Rhode Island, where she received her BS in Dental Hygiene. Susan practiced dental hygiene at the office of Drs. Rubinstein & Ducoff in Providence, RI from 1998-2016. In 2017, Susan became a Certified Pool Operator. Susan currently serves as the Safe Sport Chair of New England Swimming. She and her husband Marc reside in Barrington with their daughter Jillian and son Evan.
Jamie Pascale
Program Director
Jamie Pascale
Entering her 29th year as a swim instructor, Jamie's creativity, enthusiasm, and knowledge have given her exceptional success in teaching children to love and be safe in the water.
For seventeen years before becoming the program manager of Pods Swimming, Jamie was a private swim instructor and an entry-level swim coach for the Bay and Ocean State Squids. Jamie worked with the Cuttlefish and Pods programs which were the starting point for many top New England swimmers. The knowledge she attained from her coaching experience at Squids has proven to be an invaluable asset to the development of children as swimmers and athletes, and she generously shares that knowledge and experience with Pods Swimming staff.
In 2008, Jamie became certified in the United States Swim School Association's Infant/Toddler program and in the Special Abilities course in October 2014. She has also attended the annual US Swim School Association National Conference since 2008 to the present. Jamie is a former Ocean State Squids swimmer who brings with her fifteen years of competitive swimming. Jamie is a 2004 graduate of Rhode Island College where she received her BA in Graphic Communication. She currently is the Pods Swimming Program Director and graphic designer.
Adam Dutra
Aquatics Manager
Adam Dutra
Entering his 12th year as a swim instructor and coach, Adam has worked with a variety of different age groups spanning from only 6 months old to over 70 as well as every skill level from beginner to experienced. In his time as an instructor, Adam has focused on creating an environment within each lesson that promotes comfort for the student, allowing for greater success and overall fulfillment, and believes that 50% of teaching someone to swim is getting them comfortable within the water.
Adam is joining Pods with over 14 years of competitive swimming experience and has swum competitively for the Newport County YMCA and Mt. Hope High School. It was during his time as a swimmer that he really found the importance of proper technique and sought to incorporate it within the lessons he was teaching. Originally hoping to work with children, Adam attended Rhode Island College with intent of becoming an elementary school teacher, however switched majors during his sophomore year and graduated in 2018 with a bachelor’s in environmental studies. After graduating Adam worked for National Grid for nine months before joining the Pods Family in 2019 as the pool operator and a swim instructor. Adam worked for Pods for three years while obtaining his master’s degree from the University of Idaho before leaving in 2022 to work as a wetland scientist. However, Adam’s love of swimming and working with children is what brought him back to Pods at the beginning of 2023 as the Aquatics Manager.
Marguerite Pascale
Front Desk Receptionist /
Lead Cuttlefish Instructor
Marguerite Pascale
Marguerite is entering her ninth year as a Pods Swimming instructor. Marguerite grew up spending summers in Long meadow and taught herself to swim. Marguerite always prioritized learning to swim in her household. As the mother of three daughters, she enrolled them in swim lessons at six months old and ensured they learned all four strokes. Before working at Pods, Marguerite was a biller and front desk coordinator for Dr. John Volpe for over two decades. In 2014, Marguerite became certified in the United States Swim School infant/toddler course. Currently, Marguerite is the lead Cuttlefish teacher. She is responsible for the growth, development, and curriculum for the Pods cuttlefish program. Marguerite is a woman of many hats. Any day, you may see Marguerite answering the phone or floating a six-month-old. Marguerite’s passion and diligence have allowed hundreds of Pods swimmers to enjoy the sport of swimming and love the water!
Vinny Tandon
Front Office Representative
Vinny Tandon
Originally from India, Vinny moved to the United States in 1992. Vinny attended St. Xavier’s college in Bombay where she received he BA in psychology with a minor in child psychology. Vinny has been apart of the Pods community since 2000 as former Squid parent and all three of Vinny’s children learned to swim through Susan and Jamie’s program. Vinny has currently worked at Pods for 7 years and is thrilled to continue to be apart of this wonderful organization assisting parents in their own children’s life journey’s.
Marc Frechette
Pool and Facilities Operator
Marc Frechette
Since 2021 Marc Frechette has been Certified Pool Operator and lifeguard at Pods. Prior to taking on CPO responsibilities Marc owned and operated Minuteman Press of Seekonk for 18 years. Marc is not a former competitive swimmer, however began training in his forties and has competed in local open water events including The Ecoman Challenge and The Save the Bay Swim. He is also an avid scuba diver and currently training to become a Dive Master. Prior to owning Minuteman Press, Marc graduated from Johnson and Wales University with a degree in culinary arts. He worked in Beaver Creek Colorado as a chef at Beano's Cabin and The Lodge and Spa at Cordillera.
Caitlin Eramo
Head Instructor
Caitlin Eramo
Caitlin is entering her 11th year working in aquatics. Before joining the Pods family, Caitlin started her aquatics career in the North Shore of Massachusetts with the YNS Sharks swim team, where she worked as the Head Age Group Coach and Lead Masters Coach. She later transitioned into the Director of Aquatics for the Ipswich YMCA, overseeing their lessons program and operations and staffing for their various pools and waterfront properties.
Jenna McManus
Head Instructor
Jenna McManus
Jenna brings thirteen years of competitive swimming experience to the Pods Swimming community. Jenna joined the Pods staff in March 2012. In 2013 she became certified in the United States Swim School Association's Infant/Toddler program, and in October 2014 completed the Special Abilities course.
Jenna is successful in teaching children of all ages to swim. She enjoys helping fearful children become comfortable and happy in the water. Jenna also enjoys teaching all four strokes and helping swimmers with their stroke technique. Jenna is excited to help the swimmers in the Pods program be the best that they can be in and out of the water.
Tom Wynne
Head Instructor
Tom Wynne
Tom began his swimming career at the age of two under the direction of Susan and Jamie. Tom represented the Ocean State Squids as an age group swimmer from 1998-2005. He went on to play Division 1 rugby at both the high school and college levels and was the rugby coach at Bishop Hendricken High School for nine seasons. Tom graduated from Iona College, where he received his BA in Secondary Education, focusing on History, before receiving a Master's from Providence College for European History. Tom grew up lifeguarding for over ten summers at various beaches throughout the Ocean State. Tom is excited to give back to the community where he started his roots and can't wait to share the love of water with future generations.
Cole Hughes
Head Instructor
Cole Hughes
As a former Pods swimmer, Cole learned to value the benefits of proper body position and breath control. Swimming for Portsmouth High School and loving working with children Cole decided to return back to Pods as an instructor and has been with us ever since. In addition to attending high school and working for Pods, Cole is an avid sailor and works as a sailing instructor to children ages 7-14. Cole is very excited to share his enjoyment of the sport of swimming with the Pods community.
Jenna Mansour
Head Instructor
Jenna Mansour
Jenna grew up in East Providence, and now attends Cranston High School West. Jenna has been swimming since she could walk and worked as a junior lifeguard in Little Compton RI. She loves kids and had been teaching toddlers to dance for two years before joining Pods.
Ryan Voccio
Head Instructor
Ryan Voccio
Ryan grew up in Cranston and currently attends Bishop Hendricken High School. Ryan learned how to swim at a young age and has been a competitive swimmer for the past 4 years. Currently, Ryan swims for both Bishop Hendricken as well as Gator Swim Club with his favorite strokes being Butterfly and Freestyle. Ryan came to Pods with previous experience giving swim lessons and is passionate on helping kids become more comfortable in the water.
Emma Heilborn
Head Instructor
Emma Heilborn
Emma grew up in Swansea MA and is a 2021 high school graduate from Joseph Case High School. She is now perusing an education at Framingham State University in elementary education with a minor in American Sign Language. Emma has always loved spending time with kids and being by the water and this is what lead her to wanting to work at Pods. She looks froward to teaching children not only how to swim but how to be safe in the water as well!
Anna Marin
Head Instructor
Anna Marin
Anna is currently a senior at Smith college majoring in psychology. She has spent most of her life swimming and swam competitively for her local YMCA for two and a half years. She has a thorough knowledge of all four strokes. This is her first year at Pods. She loves working with kids and has spent summers volunteering in kindergarten classrooms and tutoring in elementary schools. Patience, encouragement, and kindness drive her teaching. Lessons follow the Pods' curriculum and focus on safety, comfort in the water, and technique. She hopes to make the pool feel like a safe and fun space for all students and is excited to share the joy of swimming.
Emma LeDuc
Head Instructor
Emma LeDuc
Emma is currently a freshman at CCRI. She is majoring in education and minoring in psychology. After her two years at CCRI she plans on transferring to a University to finish her degree and work for her masters. She competitively swam at her high school for four years and is still actively swimming. Emma is the oldest of four and loves interacting with kids and teaching them new skills that can be helpful for their future. I hope to teach the children the skill of swimming proficiently and the fun it brings.
Kyle Wisialowski
Head Instructor
Kyle Wisialowski
Kyle grew up in Old Saybrook, CT, and worked five summers as a lifeguard for his local beaches. He has been swimming competitively since he was eight years old and now serves as a co-captain for the club swim team at Brown University. He is passionate about water safety and loves helping kids acquire new skills. He can’t wait to see the difference he makes while working as an instructor at Pods!
Sandy Medeiros
Aqua Aerobics Instructor
Danielle Sawka
Sandy is retired after serving most of her life in hospitality. Sandy graduated with a liberal arts degree and focused on private club management. She worked at Brown Faculty Club, Ocean Cliff Resort, Wannamoisett Country Club, and Kirkbrae Country Club, where she was their first female general manager. Additionally, Sandy directed the Grand Bridal Show at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet for 13 years.
Sandy has many passions, including singing in the St. Margarets Parish choir, which she has done for 32 years, and is the co-founder of the Chorus of East Providence.
Sandy is a cancer survivor and has struggled with partial paralysis of her right side. After participating in her first water aerobics class at Pods, she was instantly drawn to it and noticed its fantastic benefits.
Sandy is so excited to be instructing the water aerobics class and has worked hard to develop a program that is beneficial to all. She states that the participants in her class are her inspiration, and she loves to see the smiles on their faces and watch each of them grow and improve in their mobility!
Sofia Castano
Head Instructor
Sofia Castano
Sofia grew up in East Providence and was a 2020 graduate of the Wheeler School. She started swimming young and swam for the Grist Mill Pool Club in Seekonk, MA, and The Wheeler School. While Sofia loves to swim, her favorite sport is soccer, and she has played since she was 3. She has previously taught lessons at the YMCA and is currently a lifeguard in East Providence. She attends Rhode Island School of Design and is majoring in architecture.
Diane Sisson
Lifeguard
Diane Scisson
Diane joined the Pods team as a certified lifeguard after retiring from her career in the insurance industry. Graduating from Bryant University with a degree in Accounting, Diane followed her passion for many years before deciding to leave for a more relaxing atmosphere.
Diane has always had a passion for the water and grew up sailing and swimming in Narragansett Bay. This love evolved and grew stronger as she got older. Diane continues to swim and enjoys open water swimming. She currently swims with the Narragansett Open Water Enthusiasts, and has partaken in the Save the Bay Swim as well as the Escape From Alcatraz Swim.
Additionally, Diane enjoys spending time with her family, biking and hiking!
Thea Perry
Head Instructor
Thea Perry
Thea currently attends Barrington High School, where she swims for the high school swim team. Thea started swim lessons at a very young age and has been competitively swimming for the Bayside YMCA for seven years and at Kendbrin Swim Club since the age of 8. Thea has a passion for working with all types of kids and understands how to adapt kids to the water. Thea has been part of the Best Buddies Program for two years and has participated in unified theater and sports. Thea is so excited to continue pursuing this passion of working with children with disabilities at Pods!