Executive Team

Emler Swim & Gym

Ashley Sheetz is the Chief Executive Officer of Emler Swim School, where she leads the organization’s strategic direction, operational growth, and mission to deliver life-saving swim instruction to families across the country. With a deep commitment to safety, customer experience, and team development, Ashley brings decades of leadership to one of the nation’s most trusted swim school networks.

Prior to joining Emler, Ashley served as Chief Operating Officer at At Home, where she was responsible for store operations, marketing, and supply chain. During her tenure, she held multiple executive roles including Chief Customer Officer, Chief Revenue Officer, and Chief Digital Officer. She played a pivotal role in scaling At Home’s loyalty program, launching e-commerce capabilities, and expanding the brand from $800M to over $2B in revenue. Earlier in her career, Ashley held CMO roles at Sally Beauty and GameStop, bringing a strong background in marketing, digital strategy, and customer engagement.

Ashley serves on the Board of California Pizza Kitchen and is Board Chair for Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity. She is also a member of the AEA Investors LP Senior Advisory Council. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Ashley lives in Dallas with her husband and son.

Alvin Allgood is an experienced business leader with a strong track record in startups, turnarounds, and scaling multi-site operations across both for-profit and non-profit sectors. He currently serves as Vice President of Operations & Integration at Emler, where he oversees growth initiatives, operational integration, and cross-functional alignment across the organization.

Prior to this role, Alvin was CEO of Swim Kids, COO at Vital Voices Global Partnership, and the founding COO of Educational Services of America, leading organizations through periods of rapid expansion and transformation. A U.S. Army veteran with an honorable discharge, Alvin is skilled in finance, marketing, HR, IT, and change management. He is known for assembling high-performing teams, managing large-scale construction and real estate projects, and delivering results through collaboration and strategic execution.

Matt Austin is a dynamic marketing and digital executive with a proven record of driving growth through strategic leadership, data-driven decision-making, and customer-first innovation. He currently serves as Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Digital Officer at Emler, where he leads brand, marketing, digital, and IT transformation across a growing network of school locations.

Previously, Matt was Vice President of Global Ecommerce at Fossil Group, overseeing digital operations for five brands across more than 25 websites. He has also held leadership roles at JCPenney, Samsung, PepsiCo, and PricewaterhouseCoopers, spearheading initiatives in ecommerce, retail strategy, customer loyalty, and pricing. Known for building high-performing teams and launching impactful marketing programs, Matt brings a blend of analytical rigor, brand instinct, and operational precision to every challenge.

Prentiss Gregorie is a seasoned financial executive with over 30 years of experience driving transformational growth for private equity and venture backed companies across diverse industries. Prentiss has a proven track record of optimizing financial operations and delivering measurable improvements in financial performance.

As Chief Financial Officer at Emler, Prentiss directs the finance and accounting function while leading company-wide cost optimization and business process improvements. He collaborates closely with the executive team to streamline operations and drive growth in both Revenue and EBITDA.

Previously, Prentiss served as CFO for several private equity-backed companies in the restoration services, construction, and software development industries. In these roles, he developed business processes, executed numerous acquisitions, integrated operations, and led successful exit transactions. He began his career at Deloitte and has since built a reputation for financial leadership in fast-changing environments.

Craig Kinney leads real estate and site selection for Emler Swim School, combining strategic planning with deep operational expertise to support successful growth and expansion. Since joining Emler in 2012 as an Operations Manager, Craig has played a key role in scaling the organization while strengthening systems that support long-term sustainability.

In his current role, Craig oversees all new site development and leads a high-performing operations service team that supports schools across the network. His ability to analyze data, interpret market trends, and cultivate strong industry relationships helps identify high-performing locations and emerging markets that align with Emler’s mission and business goals.

Craig is a relationship-driven leader who excels at aligning big-picture strategy with day-to-day execution. He is known for his collaborative approach, thoughtful decision-making, and ability to drive complex initiatives from concept through completion. Craig lives in Burleson with his wife and three children, and brings the same dedication to his family life as he does to supporting Emler’s growth.

Steve Obert is the Vice President of People, Processes, and Recruiting at Emler Swim School. In his current role, he leads company-wide initiatives focused on talent acquisition, employee experience, and operational excellence. Known for his collaborative approach, Steve plays a key role in aligning people strategy with business goals to foster a positive, high-performing culture across the organization.

Since joining Emler, Steve has held several leadership roles spanning marketing, sales, training, and operations. His ability to build strong teams, streamline systems, and drive cross-functional success has supported the company’s continued growth and mission to deliver exceptional experiences for families and staff alike. He is especially passionate about mentoring future leaders and creating scalable systems that empower teams at every level.

Before his time at Emler, Steve spent over a decade in the sports and events industry with organizations including Hawaiian Falls, US Road Sports, and the Anaheim Ducks / Honda Center. Outside of work, Steve enjoys family life in Texas with his wife and three children, where he’s most often found on the sidelines cheering them on in their favorite sports.