Carly Markesich – Founder and Executive Director
President and Owner – Discover Gymnastics
Houston, Texas | 713.680.0045 | www.DiscoverGymnastics.com
Carly Markesich earned her B.A. in International Studies at the University of St. Thomas and is a graduate of Rice University’s Leadership Institute for Nonprofit Executives. Carly has been working in the gymnastics industry since 1979, as a coach and administrator. She is a USAG Pro Member, holds a USAG Meet Director’s Certification and currently serves on the Texas State Administrative Committee for USAG. Over the years, Carly and Discover have received numerous awards including the Gymnastics Association of Texas’ Distinguished Service Award for outstanding service to the development of gymnastics and gymnastics programs in Texas, and Discover was named one of Fortune’s Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) 100 Fastest Growing Companies. Discover is now preparing for a second facility and program expansion.
Carly is the CEO of Discover Gymnastics, Houston’s premier gymnastics facility, serving over 2000 students each week, ages 6 months – 18 years, including all levels of gymnastics, both competitive and non-competitive, in a 22,000sf state-of-the-art facility. Classes include gymnastics, tumbling, trampoline, children’s fitness, special needs programming, summer and holiday day camps, and a competitive team program for both boys and girls. Discover also offers ancillary activities including birthday parties, a retail pro shop, and hosts three USAG sanctioned gymnastics competitions each year – The Texas Classic Meet, The Svetlana Boguinskaia Invitational and the Reindeer Games, plus one Special Olympics meet each year.
Carly attributes Discover’s success to her approach to employee training and professional development. Discover, on average, employs over 60 coaches, hiring dynamic instructors and investing time and energy in their professional development. This approach has created recognition in the community of consumers for quality of programming and services. The financial success has allowed Discover Gymnastics to offer attractive salaries and to attract and retain motivated and professional employees.
Over the years of operating Discover Gymnastics, Carly has witnessed the under-served fitness needs of children in the community. As preparation for the next stage in her career, in 2008, Carly returned to school at Rice University to create a charitable arm of her company. In 2010, with the assistance of the founding Board of Directors, Carly began the Discover Fitness Foundation (DFF). The DFF mission is to create a continuum of services for children with special needs, children fighting obesity, and talented athletes that inspires youth to participate in recreational and competitive level gymnastics. DFF promises to nurture potential, promote dignity, and support bold steps by all.
The vision of the DFF is to continue to expand affiliated locations throughout the City of Houston and the State of Texas. By 2020 we will have created a nationwide network of gymnastics clubs and local fundraising chapters to have eligible children enrolled in fitness and gymnastics programs across the United States.
The DFF is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, created to generate and provide funding for athletic scholarships and act as a liaison organization to match eligible candidates with a qualified gymnastics facility near their home. The DFF currently provides funding for gymnastics instruction to over 200 children in 9 different gymnastics facilities.
Carly’s hobbies include traveling, reading and she is an activist championing the rights of children, women, and the environment.