SFG is pleased to introduce you to our staff. Each member of our staff is USA Gymnastics Safety Certified, participates in regular coaches training and annual Congress, and is certified in infant/child/adult CPR.

SFG Staff Biographies

Alyce Finwall
Recreational Instructor, Team Coach
Alyce began her career in movement studying dance and competing as a gymnast from an early age. She discovered her love of modern/contemporary movement and theatricality while attending Hamline University where she studied art and communications theory, and performed with the university's theatre department. She has performed with many influential independent choreographers and companies in Minneapolis, Washington DC and New York City, most notably as a principal dancer and guest choreographer with the avant garde ballet company Ballet of the Dolls, where she starred in over 20 original ballets and co-choreographed two evening length works with artistic director Myron Johnson. Her dance training includes scholarships from the Cunningham School in New York, and with the Cullberg Ballet in Stockholm, Sweden by invitation from the artistic director Lena Wennergren Juras. Alyce began choreographing in 1994, developing a uniquely creative and theatrical style, noted for it's "sexiness and intelligence" by the New York Times, and for having a "fierce fluidity in performance and a brooding surrealism in the choreography" by the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Her work has been performed throughout the U.S. and in Europe, and has received numerous grants and awards including support from the Jerome Foundation, the 92nd Street Y Harkness Dance Project, the Walker Art Center, the MN Dance Alliance, the MN State Arts Board and the WeismArt Museum. Alyce has also worked extensively for film, music videos and fashion as both a dancer and choreographer. Alyce is originally from St. Paul, MN.

Andrea Cummings
Recreational Instructor
Description coming soon

Anne Johnson
Recreational Instructor, Team Coach, Office
Description coming soon.

Desiree Herran
Desiree Herran wears many hats at San Francisco Gymnastics. She is a Lead Coach, a Co-Manager and also an Instructor. She was born in San Francisco and says that she started gymnastics at age four because her big sister was doing it. She participated in gymnastics competitively up to class IV & level 5 - 7. Desiree has been coaching since 1997, first for Daly City Gymnastics and then for SFG since 2002. She recently graduated from San Francisco State University receiving a B.A. in Business Administration. Her favorite foods are chocolate-covered strawberries and lasagna. Desiree likes to run, snowboard and spend time with friends in her spare time.

Eric VanderMeer
Co-Owner, Head Team Coach and Recreational Instructor.
See Owners

Emily Yu
Recreational Instructor, Birthday Party Coordinator
Description coming soon.

Emma Thompson
Administration
Description coming soon.

Jamie Ta
Office
Description coming soon.

John Louis
Boys Team Instructor
Description coming soon.

Lee Pinkstaff
Head Boys Coach, Girls Team Coach, Recreational Instructor
Lee Pinkstaff is a boys and girls instructor and team coach at SFG. He was born in San Jose, California . Lee started taking gymnastics in 1978, competed in high school and took classes at Oregon Gymnastics Academy in Beaverton, Oregon. He competed on the varsity gymnastics team at Benson High School in Portland, Oregon from 1978-1982. He started coaching in Visalia, California in 1983 and has coached every level in the junior program for both boys and girls. Lee is also the former Oregon Boys State Chairman, has a 5-year service award from USA Gymnastics and is PDP Level II certified. He has a B.S. in Exercise Science from Portland State University with a minor in Sports Medicine. He is currently two classes shy of earning an A.A. in Computer Information Systems. Lee's favorite food is prime rib and his hobbies include computers and bicycling.

Nancy Hahn
Nancy is one of our 'Senior Staff members. Although part time, she loooooves teaching and we are very excited to have her. She used to be a higher level gymnast herself in her younger years, but never lost the love for this wonderfull sport of gymnastics. Now her own kids are a little older (7 and 5) she has some time open in her schedule to do what she really likes and she is really good at: teaching gymnastics!

Sonia Wymiarkewicz
Recreational Instructor
Sonia is one of our current higher level gymnasts on our competitive team who developed herself as a great instructor for the younger groups at our gym. She sure knows how to combine her love for the gymnastics sports and her love for being around kids in her classes that she teaches.

Yuhong Yao
Recreational Instructor
Yuhong Yao is part of SFG's team of instructors. She instructs Tumblebugs, girls, boys, and pre-team classes. Born in Beijing, China, Yao began studying gymnastics when she was seven. Yao was on the state team in 1978 and participated in China 's National Junior Competition. She won 4th place in individual and the gold medal in team all around. She has taught gymnastics for many years. Yao received her B.A. in Law from Beijing Remin University in China and is studying to get a Computer certificate from City College of San Francisco. Her favorite food is sushi. Yao likes to spend her free time reading, hiking, swimming & traveling.

Employment at SFG
Employment opportunities become available from time to time. If you are outgoing, dependable, great with children and interested in working with us, as a coach or in the office, we would like to hear from you. We are an equal opportunity employer, and for full time and some part-time positions, provide benefits such as health care, 401k accounts and vacations. If you are interested, please fill out an application and return it to us. Employment Application