Our Project Partners

Laser-focused on project success, sustainability, and accountability, PHILAquatics is undertaking a rigorous, data-driven, due diligence process to support a comprehensive strategic approach to the planning and development of the Aquatic Center. This includes retaining professional Project Partners to support analysis and implementation, and extensive research of, and site visits to, similar facilities and potential building locations, as follows:

Aquatics Consultant: Stu Isaac

A nationally recognized aquatics consultant, ISG provides in-depth regional analysis to make the case for private partnerships and operational sustainability, bringing together key stakeholders, engaging the public and building the foundation for long-term sustainability. ISG’s experience spans 28 different states, a full range of public-private partnership models, and providing operational facility management leadership nationwide. The ISSG team brings years of experience in aquatic facility programming, management, and operations, and a strong network of successful best practice facilities across North America. They understand the business side of aquatics to apply best practices and provide creative solutions for efficient, sustainable facilities. ISG works with the client and stakeholders to identify needs, goals and objectives of the project or the organization and develop specific analysis, strategic development, design concepts, financial structure, partnership development, and action plans for the successful execution of the project.

Prior to forming ISG, Founder and President Stu Isaac worked with Speedo for 26 years. He has been involved in all aspects of swimming, as an All-American swimmer at the University of Michigan and USA National Team member, an athlete representative to the AAU (the predecessor to USA Swimming), a regular contributor to Swimming World Magazine, and from 1975–1983, the Head Women’s Swimming Coach at the University of Michigan and a USA National Team Coach in 1979–1983. Stu’s past membership on the Board of Directors and subsequent consulting and work with the International Swimming Hall of Fame also gives him a unique perspective and knowledge of the history of swimming and swimming pools. Stu has long-standing roots in Greater Philadelphia, spending his collegiate off seasons training with and representing Suburban Swim Club and then managing a country club aquatic program in suburban Philadelphia.

Nonprofit Consultant

Dunleavy & Associates is a one-stop, boutique, professional services firm founded by Nancy Dunleavy in 2001, dedicated to helping charitable organizations achieve their fullest potential. With a team of 17 nonprofit professionals, the Dunleavy team collectively brings more than 400 years of practical experience in “building capacity and bottom lines” for organizations. Dunleavy’s services encompass the full range of nonprofit organizational needs, including fundraising, feasibility studies, and campaigns; signature and virtual events; communications and relationship cultivation; organizational assessment, strategic planning, adaptive assessment/scenario planning, and implementation; executive search; succession and transition planning and implementation; contracted interim leadership and line staff; and board/leadership training, facilitation, and coaching.

An innovative and process-oriented collaborator and problem solver, Dunleavy team member, Marta Rubin Kiesling is aNational Standards for Excellence Institute® Licensed Consultant. Marta was an attorney in the large law firm, consulting firm, and financial worlds for 18 years. For the past 22 years, she has served as a founder, executive director, board member, and planning team member across nonprofit sectors, as well as providing grant making and program evaluation services. Marta has a BA in Sociology and American Studies from Dickinson College, and a JD degree from Georgetown University Law Center.

Diane Mallery also is aNational Standards for Excellence Institute® Licensed Consultant and brings over 20 years of fundraising and leadership experience, raising over $200MM between 2008–2019 before joining the Dunleavy team. She also has 13 years of investment and financial planning experience at Merrill Lynch where she worked with high-net-worth clients [with team assets under management of over $ 900MM], specializing in long range and retirement planning. Diane is a member of the Haverford College Corporation [Advisory & Fundraising Committees], serves on the Board of the Lyra Society, and is a member of Singing City Choir, one of Philadelphia’s finest amateur, mission-based choirs. She earned her BA in Music from Haverford College.

Dan Harrigan

Dan Harrigan joined Spillman Farmer Architects in 1983 after receiving his Bachelor of Environmental Design in Architecture from North Carolina State 1979 and Master of Architecture from Pennsylvania State University 1982 and was named a Principal in 1990. His broad design experience encompasses nearly every sector of Spillman Farmer Architects’ practice. As Principal in Charge, Dan directs all aspects of ongoing projects and provide management leadership. Dan’s experience ranges from limited scope streetscape studies to full-scale campus master plans across the country.

Dan leads Spillman Farmer’s Athletic Facilities Studio, and has completed major athletic facilities at East Stroudsburg University, Shippensburg University, Muhlenberg College, and King’s College. A lifelong athlete, Dan was a 16-time Division I All-American and a Top Five NCAA Student-Athlete. While in college, Dan won a bronze medal in the 1976 Olympics and a gold medal at the 1975 Pan American Games.

Pete Tarnapoll

In 1961, near Garda Lake in Italy, Myrtha Pools made its first splash in the aquatics market. Since that time, with a portfolio of patents to our name, our research and development success has helped us transform pool building technology. We continue to push at the edges of our industry to find safer, smarter, lighter, tougher, faster ways to compete. And, perhaps most amazingly, the majority of the world records in swimming were set in Myrtha pools! So, the most amazing thing “About Us,” isn’t even about us, it’s about swimming. And that’s the way we like it.

Pete is a career marketing and sales professional with a lifelong affinity for competitive swimming. In fact, he still competes today, decades after his last collegiate meet. Pete joined Myrtha in 2014, as its regional sales and marketing representative for Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, DC and Delaware. He built his professional career on identifying and solving challenges for his clients and brings that skill to his role at Myrtha. Pete has helped his clients identify, build, refurbish, and/or maintain about a dozen aquatic facilities in Pennsylvania alone, plus for other nationally recognized centers such as The SPIRE Institute (Geneva, OH) and the Mason Aquatic Center (OH).

Pete is also a state board member for United States Masters Swimming, along with being on its national championship committee for more than 10 years, where he helps determine where USMS’s national championship meets will be held. He previously was a USMS All America.

Pete swam competitively at Utica College of Syracuse University in upstate New York, where he was a four-year team MVP. He was also among the first 85 people on the planet to complete the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim. Today, he is a member of New Albany Masters, near his home in Ohio.