Today we’d like to introduce you to Rhett and Jessica Garrard.
It all started over 40 years ago when Lloyd Garrard opened a local PADI Dive Shop. Rhett started working in the dive shop when he was still in diapers! Being a family of scuba divers, it was only fitting that Rhett became the youngest certified scuba diver! With his father being a mentor, Rhett climbed the ranks with getting certified to instruct all levels of scuba diving certification through PADI. (Professional Association of Diving Industries). At 16 he went to military school to later become an Army Ranger, but was medically discharged due to an injury.
Fast forward to January 2014, Garrard Dive Educators came to an end. (The storefront, anyway…) This now has Rhett stuck in a huge life dilemma. What do I do now? I have a wife, a daughter and soon another daughter on the way. After a life changing skateboarding accident, Rhett is stuck in a wheelchair, then crutches for about 5 months. His wife Jessica (which we will hear about later) is fully supporting the whole family.
After dropping their daughter off at school one morning, Jessica see’s a sign outside of a local swim school stating they are hiring for swim coaches. She immediately calls Rhett to tell him. He is not the most excited but he knows he has to do something. He actually goes to the interview still on crutches! He was hired immediately. Rhett is 6’4 and covered in tattoos from neck to feet. He is not the most desirable candidate to be teaching kids how to swim based on his appearance, but they gave him a chance. Rhett excelled. With his experience in the scuba diving business and the obedience and discipline from the army, Rhett has a special something with teaching anyone of any age. Kids flock to him and adults absolutely love his patience with them.
After a 13 year career of medical administration, Jessica decides to take the plunge and change her career. After enrolling back into college, she is soon hired at UFC Gym Smyrna as an Assistant General Manager.
Things seem to be going good for them, but of course, they could always be better. As far as their marriage and family, they maintained 100% at all times.
One day after work Rhett goes to see Jessica at UFC Gym. He told her she better sit down because he has big news.
He informed her that the swim school was closing and he would not have a job in 60 days…
They looked at each other and said it simultaneously, “Let’s take over the swim school.”
After numerous meetings, we finally came to an agreement with the current swim school. They left and Sharkies Swim and Scuba Academy was in!
We had literally 30 days to get our curriculum, get our schedule, hire and train Coaches, get our logo and business plan all while Rhett was still working!! (Stress level at a 10.) But Jessica got her business and management skills to work and they built an amazing business in 30 days.
Opening August 1st, 2016, Sharkies Swim and Scuba Academy is becoming the leaders in swim instruction, water safety and scuba diving certification in our local community.
When you come to Sharkies, you are not a client, you are immediately a part of something bigger, you are a part of a family and the amazing community of Smyrna.
A married couple covered in tattoos, sometimes with purple hair (which the kids love!) and two daughters in tow, Rhett and Jessica are living proof of what taking a risk and always having your spouses back can do for your family.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Smooth Road??
Heck no. We have dealt with money issues, addiction, uncertainty, fear and loss of sleep all throughout our marriage. We always knew we could do something really big but how do we execute it with the fear of the past holding us back?? The answer is knowing that no matter what happens, we have each other and we have gotten through WAY harder things. Even if our family is sleeping in a cardboard box, as long as we know we tried and that God has us, we will be just fine.
During the process of opening the swim school, there were many times of tears (aka FEAR) telling us to RUN, that we can’t do this. But our faith in God and each other got us through those times and we made it!
(Not to say those fears do not creep their ugly head in from time to time, we are only human.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Sharkies Swim and Scuba Academy story. Tell us more about the business.
First and foremost, our relationship with our families at Sharkies is our number one priority. If we do not have their trust, we have nothing. Our personal cell phone numbers are given to families all the time. As a matter of fact, the business line actually rings to Jessica’s cell phone. She has been known to answer the phone and book students while grocery shopping!
Second is our staff. We hire at the “ChickFila” hiring standard. Our Coaches will be certified Padi/SAI Swim Instructors by Rhett. BUT their kindness and gentleness towards our families will weed them out real quick during the interview process. We can train anyone, but we can’t change personalities.
We have FUN at Sharkies, whether it’s scuba diving trip or just a 25-minute swim lesson, we always are having fun! With Reggae music always on deck, the pool creates a relaxing atmosphere for all of our guests.
Birthday Parties at Sharkies are becoming increasingly popular. We have a year round 92-degree pool, kids love it!
Kids get their choice of music, parents get to relax on the deck and the staff at Sharkies takes care of everything else.
And last but not least, we practice safety, safety, safety. Our curriculum has a safety and skill benchmark for each level of our swim school. (Sometimes your child will do their whole lesson fully clothed!)
And don’t forget Aqua Zumba! We have a pool, why not burn some calories while dancing your bootie off!
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
After everything that we have been through, we have finally stopped questioning WHY bad/weird things happened to us We just let changes happen and enjoy life.
Look at where we are now. When you are genuinely good people at heart, genuine good things will happen to you.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1318 Concord Rd Se
Smyrna, Ga 30080 - Website: www.sharkiesswimandscubaacademy.com
- Phone: 678-82-SCUBA
- Email: info@sharkiesswimandscubaacademy.com
- Instagram: @sharkiesswimandscuba
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sharkiesswimandscuba/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sharkies-swim-and-scuba-academy-smyrna
Dusty Wilkins
January 23, 2017 at 9:42 pm
I have known this family for some time now. They are cut from a special type of cloth to say the least. They are a hands on take everything square in the jaw kind of family. They do what it takes and then some for the greater good. I am happy for all of their accomplishments and struggles they have overcome. I am proud to have them both as a friend. Cheers to 2017 Rhett and Jess. Go Pats!!!!
Zeena Hawasli
January 29, 2017 at 8:36 pm
I enjoyed reading this webpage and am proud of Jessica and Rhett’s accomplishments. Its always heartwarming to read success stories and I pray and hope that they will continue going upwards in steps in their journeys. Jessica and Rhett are very nice people worth meeting! Thank you for all the help each one of you and the teachers have done for my 6 1/2 year old son! Thank you!
B. Underwood
January 30, 2017 at 7:08 pm
This school is fantastic and Mr. Rhett has turned around my child. I used to be in tears over his lack of confidence. Mr. Rhett has changed all of that. He loves class, he loves the water and he can’t wait until the next class. It is hard to put into words how much he has changed. Mr. Rhett knows though.