Meet The Team

Lincoln and Darby Walden

Owner

Lincoln and Darby Walden are the proud owners of Goldfish Swim School – Franklin, the first Goldfish Swim School in the state of Tennessee! Originally from Middletown, Ohio, Lincoln attended Southern Methodist University in Texas, where he swam competitively. After graduation, Lincoln moved to Chicago to pursue a career in the stock market, where he eventually met his wife Darby, a Hollins University grad from Clarksville! Together, they have three boys, all of whom attended Goldfish Swim School Roscoe Village in Chicago, and of course now at the Franklin school. After seeing firsthand the unique environment and the extraordinary results their children had at Goldfish, the Walden’s knew right away that they wanted to be a part of the Golden Experience. With Lincoln’s competitive swim background, and Darby’s passion for group fitness, the Walden’s were ready to dive in and decided to bring Goldfish Swim School back to Darby’s homestate! With a shiver-free pool, confidence-building curriculum and small class sizes (max of 4 students to every instructor!), the Walden’s are so excited to bring what they firmly believe is the best kept secret in water safety and swim lessons to Tennessee!

Brandon Broughton

Assistant General Manager

Brandon started his career in aquatics when he was 15, working as a lifeguard for neighborhood pools. In 2021, he joined the Goldfish family as a lifeguard and swim instructor, and quickly found a passion for teaching. After that he joined the team of Deck Supervisors, growing into a leader of the pool deck. He continued to climb the Goldfish ladder by becoming the Pool Operations Manager, then the team’s Swimologist, and eventually earning the title of Assistant General Manager. If you need anything done around the facility from signing up for lessons, fixing a leak in the pump room, or teaching a lesson, he is your guy!

Toni Smithson

Front Desk Manager

Ms. Toni joined the Goldfish Franklin family when we opened in May 2019. She was part of the initial group of employees that went through “fry” training and starting as a Front Desk Associate. From day one, Ms. Toni took on project after project, including becoming our Birthday Party Coordinator, proving her love and commitment to Goldfish. And so, it was an easy decision to promoted her to our Front Desk Supervisor, of which she ROCKS!

Because of her love for children, Toni attended Aquinas College in Nashville studying education while working in the Franklin Special School District. And after raising 3 children of her own, she resigned from the school system to relax. Reading, sewing, walking and cooking were not as fulfilling, so she began seeking the opportunity to work around children again. She also was a swimmer in middle school, and so Goldfish was the perfect fit!

Ms. Toni’s favorite hobby is cooking Italian food for her family and friends. Her family includes her husband, Pete, 3 children, 2 step-children 5 grandchildren, dog (Hercules) and cat (MacNair), and they are the most important thin to this “Nona”.

Ms. Ella B.

Swimologist

Swim Instructor, Front Desk Associate, Deck Supervisor, Lifeguard, Manager on Duty

Ms. Lacey

Swimologist

Swim Instructor, Lifeguard, Deck Supervisor, Front Desk Associate

Mrs. Cecilia

Deck Supervisor

Deck Supervisor, Swim Instructor, and Lifeguard

Mr. Chandler

Deck Supervisor

Deck Supervisor, Swim Instructor, and Lifeguard

Ms. Elyse

Deck Supervisor

Deck Supervisor, Swim Instructor, and Lifeguard

Ms. Harper

Deck Supervisor

Deck Supervisor, Swim Instructor, and Lifeguard

Ms. Jordan

Deck Supervisor

Deck Supervisor, Swim Instructor, and Lifeguard

Ms. Kamalei

Deck Supervisor

Deck Supervisor, Swim Instructor, and Lifeguard

Ms. Payton

Deck Supervisor

Deck Supervisor, Swim Instructor, Lifeguard, Front Desk Associate

Ms. Shelby

Deck Supervisor

Deck Supervisor, Swim Instructor, and Lifeguard

Mr. Zane

Deck Supervisor

Deck Supervisor, Swim Instructor, and Lifeguard

Ms. Erin

Front Desk Associate

Ms. Nina

Front Desk Associate

Ms. Noelia

Front Desk Associate

Front Desk Associate, Swim Instructor, and Lifeguard

Ms. Skyler

Front Desk Associate

Ms. Abbie

Swim Instructor

Ms. Abby

Swim Instructor

Ms. Ali

Swim Instructor

Swim Instructor and Lifeguard

Ms. Alyssa

Swim Instructor

Swim Instructor and Lifeguard

Ms. Anil

Swim Instructor

Ms. Annie

Swim Instructor

Swim Instructor and Lifeguard

Mr. Ben

Swim Instructor

Swim Instructor and Lifeguard

Ms. Brooklyn

Swim Instructor

Swim Instructor and Lifeguard

Mr. Cason

Swim Instructor

Swim Instructor and Lifeguard

Ms. Charlotte B.

Swim Instructor

Mr. Conner

Swim Instructor

Swim Instructor and Lifeguard

Mr. Daniel

Swim Instructor

Ms. Della

Swim Instructor

Swim Instructor and Lifeguard

Ms. Eden

Swim Instructor

Ms. Emily

Swim Instructor

Ms. Grace

Swim Instructor

Ms. Gracie

Swim Instructor

Swim Instructor and Lifeguard

Ms. Emma

Swim Instructor

Ms. Ivy

Swim Instructor

Mr. Jackson G

Swim Instructor

Swim Instructor and Lifeguard

Teacher J

Swim Instructor

Mr. Kai

Swim Instructor

Swim Instructor and Lifeguard

Ms. Lillie

Swim Instructor

Ms. Macy

Swim Instructor

Ms. Molly

Swim Instructor

Ms. Penelope

Swim Instructor

Swim Instructor, Lifeguard, and Front Desk Associate

Ms. Peyton

Swim Instructor

Mr. Preston

Swim Instructor

Swim Instructor and Lifeguard

Ms. Riley

Swim Instructor

Ms. Jenna

Swim Instructor

Ms. Siena

Swim Instructor

Ms. Sloane

Swim Instructor

Ms. Sophie

Swim Instructor

Swim Instructor

Ms. Taylor

Swim Instructor

Swim Instructor and Lifeguard

Mr. Evan

Lifeguard

Mr. Jackson H

Lifeguard

Mr. Kaden

Lifeguard

Mr. Miles

Lifeguard

Mr. Will

Lifeguard

Ms. Charlotte S.

Lifeguard