ASA in the Press
Atlanta Swim Academy Celebrates 40 Years of Making Waves
Walk into Atlanta Swim Academy on Johnson Ferry Road and you’ll feel a unique warmth wash over your soul. Water splashes, the hum of parents chatting in the viewing room, and a rhythmic chorus of “kick, kick, kick” from instructors mix with children’s laughter in the pool. Murals of colorful sea life paint each wall, and a newly installed bronze dolphin statue greets visitors from the rooftop. For East Cobb families, this is more than a local swim school.
This year, Atlanta Swim Academy (ASA) is celebrating 40 years of helping kids become confident, capable swimmers while building a strong sense of community.
What started in 1985 as a scuba and swim training center by Brad Grzelka’s parents, Ron and Barb, has grown into a 3,000-square-foot aquatic facility with three climate-controlled indoor pools, including a junior Olympic-sized lane pool. Brad, who attended Wood Acres and Walton High School, grew up on the pool deck.
Today, ASA teaches more than 2,000 children each week. Swimmers range in age from 3 months to early teens. The year-round program focuses on water safety, developmental milestones and fun. Toddlers blow bubbles, sing songs and play games in beginner levels like Baby Splash and Guppies – all while learning essential water safety.
After years of working in the business, Brad had a vision for growth and expansion. In 2006, that dream became a reality. He took over the family business 25 years ago and helped expand the facility and shift the focus entirely to swim instruction. “We’re teaching kids a lifelong skill, and we’re doing it in a clean, safe, welcoming place with amazing instructors who care,” Brad says.
That family-focused atmosphere is what sets ASA apart. Some instructors first learned to swim at the academy and now teach the next generation. “We’re three generations deep at this point,” says HR manager Adria Dennis, a former swim coach. “You can tell this place is different from a corporate swim school. It feels like family.”
Safety and training are top priorities, with all staff undergoing Red Cross certification and ongoing development. ASA’s Parent Portal app tracks student progress and makes class scheduling easy. The space is spotless, with eight full-time maintenance staff and a long-standing A+ health rating. Atlanta Swim Academy is open seven days a week and offers both group and private lessons, as well as free trial classes for new families.
As students progress through creatively named levels like Otters, Sea Turtles and Triggerfish, they build water confidence. We also offer a FREE Baby Splash class for 3- to 5-month-olds, designed to introduce your little one to the water in a gentle and playful way. Graduates of advanced levels can join SwimFit, ASA’s noncompetitive swim team for ages 8 to 12.
Beyond lessons, ASA runs Camp H2O every summer and partners with local schools and organizations to give back to the community throughout the year.
In 2023, Brad received the USSSA Humanitarian Award, honoring his outstanding service and community impact. “We believe in giving back,” says Brad, who also served on the national board for the United States Swim School Association.
To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Atlanta Swim Academy will host a community festival on Oct. 11, featuring games, food, fun for the whole family and 1,000 free hot dogs.
“We’ve changed a lot over the years,” Brad says, “but our mission hasn’t. We’re here to build stronger swimmers and a stronger community.”
The academy is located at 732 Johnson Ferry Road in Marietta. To learn more, visit atlantaswimacademy.com or call/text 770-973-3120.
The U.S. Swim School Association Applauds Georgia’s Model Aquatic Safety Plan
The U.S. Swim School Association is proud to announce that the Georgia Department of Health issued a “Model Aquatic Safety Plan,” a lifesaving guide developed with collaboration and significant input from USSSA.
The plan was created under Izzy’s Law, legislation named in honor of a 4-year-old child who tragically drowned in 2022 during a private swim lesson in Burke County. The law, which went into effect on Jan. 1, 2024 called on the Georgia Health Department to unveil new aquatic safety guidelines for swim instructors in the state. The recommendations include suggested instructor-to-student ratios, CPR certification, secondary supervision during lessons, and more.
Atlanta Swim Academy has been an active member of the United States Swim School Association since 2006.
ASA's Owner Brad Grzelka has offered guidance and support in the development of Georgia's Model Aquatic Safety Plan and is pictured here with the bill's sponsor Senator Max Burns at the State Capitol last year.
Fox 5 Good Day Atlanta 6/11/20
Channel 12WRDW
Owner, Brad Grzelka, speaks with Channel 12 WRDW, discussing the importance of swim lessons and researching swim instructors
Top Work Places 2022
ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION NAMES ATLANTA SWIM ACADEMY A WINNER OF THE METRO ATLANTA TOP WORKPLACES 2022 AWARD
Marietta, Georgia, March 13, 2022 - Atlanta Swim Academy has been awarded a Top Workplaces 2022 honor by Atlanta Journal-Constitution Top Workplaces Top Workplaces. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage LLC. The anonymous survey uniquely measures 15 culture drivers that are critical to the success of any organization: including alignment, execution, and connection, just to name a few.
"During this very challenging time, Top Workplaces has proven to be a beacon of light for organizations, as well as a sign of resiliency and strong business performance," said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. "When you give your employees a voice, you come together to navigate challenges and shape your path forward. Top Workplaces draw on real-time insights into what works best for their organization, so they can make informed decisions that have a positive impact on their people and their business."
Top Work Places 2021
The Atlanta Swim Academy Family is excited to be named a top work place for the fourth year in a row! We are one of the top 75 small companies in the Atlanta metro area to be named by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey. Thank you for helping make ASA an award winning community!
Top Work Places 2020
The Atlanta Swim Academy Family is excited to be named a top work place for the third year in a row! We are one of the top 75 small companies in the Atlanta metro area to be named by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey. We love to carry on this tradition!
Paul Milliken FOX5 at ASA
Community Impact Committee: Ask The Expert! 2019
The Atlanta Swim Academy Family is excited to be named a top work place for the third year in a row! We are one of the top 75 small companies in the Atlanta metro area to be named by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey. We love to carry on this tradition!
Chair of the Community Impact Committee 2019
The owner of Atlanta Swim Academy, Brad Grzelka, has been very involved in the United States Swim School Association for years now. To continue his growth and involvement in this organization, he took on the role of Chair of the Community Impact Committee. The debut was taken place in the Ready Set Swim magazine in a featured article! Be sure to check it out and read all about what Brad does for his community.
Top Work Place 2019
The Atlanta Swim Academy Family is excited to be named a top work place for the second year in a row! We are one of the top 75 small companies in the Atlanta metro area to be named a Top Workplaces 2019 by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey. The anonymous survey measures several aspects of workplace culture, including alignment, execution, and connection, just to name a few. Thank you for helping make ASA an award winning community!
USSSA Magazine 2018
United States Swim School Association featured us in their December 2018 magazine. The picture of ASA is in the table of contents displaying our beautiful underwater Christmas tree party that was held earlier in the month.
Treats for Troops 2018
November 12, 2018 we were seen during Good Morning Atlanta! We collected over 800 pounds of candy for the Soldiers' Angels (Official) Treats for Troops program! This great program collects excess Halloween candy and ships it to deployed service members and hands it out to veterans in VA Hospitals across the country! View the video on our Youtube channel!
Top Work Place 2018
The Atlanta Journal Constitution announced Atlanta Swim Academy as a top work place for small buisnesses in the metro Atlanta area for 2018!
East Cobber Magazine April 2017
Check out our article in the April 2017 East Cobber Magazine!
Underwater Tree Party 2016
2016 Underwater tree lighting and canned food drive raised 1,800 cans, beating last year's total! Join the kids in singing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer in the video above.
Canned Food Drive 2015
Our 2015 Canned Food Drive for Marietta's MUST Ministries was a success during this year's Underwater Tree Party! With your help we raised 1,500 cans for Marietta’s MUST Ministries. ASA matched all canned donations, and also received $58 in cash donations. Over 200 families brought canned goods for the charity.
Read more:
East Cobber Article
East Cobb Patch Article
East Cobber Magazine May 2015
May's issue of East Cobber Magazine featured an article about our Swim FIT program and the great past year's season for both Swim FIT and Swim Team!
Canned Food Drive and Underwater Tree Party 2014
East Cobb Patch and East Cobber celebrated our successful Canned Food Drive and Underwater Tree Lighting with us! Dec. 6th 2014, 1,500 canned goods were donated to MUST Ministries while Santa Claus and his Polar Bear helped swimmers decorate a live submerged pine tree with beautiful glow sticks. Count down with us in the video, and join us next year!!
CBS46's Paul Ossmann and ASA's Swim Director Kay
CBS46's Paul Ossmann and ASA's Swim Director Kaye discussed the importance of swimming year round.
Wednesday's Child, Christian
2014 Guinness World Record for the World's Largest Swim Lesson
The 2014 Guinness World Record for the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson™ is 36,564 participants from 22 countries around the globe, and we're part of it! East Cobber Magazine covers our involvement before and after the 6/20/14 11am event that happened simultaneously worldwide, increasing water safety knowledge to prevent drownings. You can read more at WLSL's official page.
Sunshine on a Rainy Day
Atlanta Swim Academy was highlighted on 5/3/14 for Sunshine on a Rainy Day! How cool!
ASA's addition of SwimFIT in the East Cobber Magazine
Hear from ASA's Coach Bob and VP Brad in this issue of East Cobber Magazine (pg 16) as they talk about the exciting addition of ASA's SwimFIT Club and their continuous dedication to the community's needs.
Swim-A-Thon Raised $10,878 for Charity 5/3/14
Our Swim-A-Thon on 5/3/14 raised $10,878 for charity!
-United States Swim School Association Article
-East Cobb Patch Article
-East Cobber blog
Our USA Swimming Sanctioned Swim-A-Thon benefited local charity Sunshine on a Ranney Day, providing room makeovers for children living with long-term disabilities or illness. Makeover recipient, Tashawn, was able to join us to swim!
Claire Donahue Visits ASA
East Cobber published an article on Claire Donahue's recent visit to meet our swim team! Claire met with each level of swim team, speaking about her path to, and experience in, the Olympics. She also did in-water demonstrations for the kids, visit our youtube channel to see highlights!
ASA Finishes 3rd in the 2013 Rays Coaches Invite Meet
At the 2013 Rays "Coaches Invite" meet, ASA finished 3rd overall! ASA was represented by 95 swimmers who together earned 34 New ASA Records, 27 New State Qualifying Times, 4 New Sectional Qualifying Times & 6 New IMX completions.
Check out the article posted at Big Sports Report.com
Wednesday's Child: Sandra & Josh
Conquer your fear of water with Fox 5 Atlanta!
Wednesday's Child: Talking with Nickolus
We are happy to hear Nickolus was adopted! Hooray!
East Cobb Patch Q&A
The Aquatic Industry wants to know how ASA does it!
