For some people, franchise ownership starts with research and spreadsheets. For Alex Tyler, it started in the pool.

Long before he became a multi-unit owner, Alex was in the water teaching swim lessons. As a swimmer himself, he instantly clicked with our brand’s mission: helping kids stay safer in and around the water, build confidence, and develop life-saving skills. What began as a swim instructor role turned into the career he calls “a dream come true.”

Alex Tyler Interview

Diving In — Right Out of College

Most college grads celebrate with a cap toss and a job search. Alex celebrated by opening a swim school.

Instead of polishing his resume, he signed a lease. Instead of interviewing, he hired. And while many of his peers were stepping into Corporate America, Alex was stepping into entrepreneurship.

He opened his first location straight out of college, and he’ll be the first to admit it wasn’t glamorous. For the first 18 months, he worked nearly 120 hours a week, doing anything and everything that needed to be done around his school. Operations, staffing, and lesson quality, he learned every corner of the business.

“I traded suits for t-shirts and swim trunks,” he says. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Growing Through People

When Alex started thinking about opening his second school, he had a realization: growth isn’t about buildings, it’s about people.

He knew that expanding meant stepping out of the day-to-day and stepping into leadership development. So that’s where he focused his energy.

With the systems, training, and support provided by Goldfish Swim School, Alex built a leadership team he could trust. He put the right people in the right seats and empowered them to own their roles.

Today, Alex operates in multiple states, with 5 schools in his portfolio. He manages his schools remotely, visiting each one monthly and staying closely connected with his teams virtually.

“I love developing people,” Alex says. “Watching someone step into leadership and grow into their potential is one of the most rewarding parts of this job.”

Some of his team members have been with him for more than a decade, a testament to the culture he’s built and the leaders he’s helped shape.

Still Poolside at Heart

No matter how many schools he opens, Alex always comes back to the same place: the pool.

Growth, expansion, multi-state operations — those milestones matter. But what drew him to Goldfish Swim School in the first place was the swim lessons.

As a swimmer himself, quality isn’t negotiable. Alex is deeply committed to making sure every child receives a Golden Experience in the water. And whenever his schedule allows, he still puts on his rash guard and jumps in.

Building More Than a Business

Franchise ownership didn’t just give Alex professional growth; it gave him the ability to travel, the flexibility to manage from wherever he wants to live with his growing family, and the ability to build something meaningful without being boxed into a traditional corporate path.

“This has been a dream come true,” Alex says. “I get to do something I love every day — and build a business around it.”

His journey hasn’t been effortless — from 120-hour workweeks to overseeing multiple schools across state lines, every phase required grit. But it’s also proof that when passion meets the right opportunity, growth can look different than the traditional climb.

For Alex, success isn’t just about expansion. It’s about building a life he’s proud of.

And it all started in the pool!