MEET OUR
STAFF!
Brianna Ruhnke
Brianna has loved the water since before she can remember! With a passion for swimming and a deep understanding of water safety, Brianna is dedicated to creating a fun and safe environment for ALL swimmers. She has years of experience as a competitive swimmer, certified lifeguard, and swim instructor. Brianna absolutely loves working with kids! She has a background in child education and has loved applying that knowledge to the program. Since joining the CSS family in 2022, she has been committed to inspiring the team and the students to reach their full potential in the pool!
Outside of work, Brianna loves nothing more than spending time with her friends and family. She also has a deep love for all animals, enjoys being in nature, gardening, and trying new places to eat.
Emma Martino
Emma has grown up around the water all her life! From beach days, boating activities, to waterparks she has always had a calling to the water. Emma has been teaching swim lessons since 2022 and has enjoyed every moment of it! She is dedicated to making sure every student who walks through has fun and enjoys their experience while learning water safety skills! Emma started with CSS in 2025, since then she has been devoted to motivating the team and students to flourish in and out of the water. Outside of work, Emma loves to go camping with her family, spending time with her pets and foster cats, and being outside as much as possible!
David Navarrete
David Navarrete has worked in the aquatics world for 7 years in various positions from instructor and lifeguard emphasizing safety, to supervisor and management sharing his knowledge and experience. He is the Facilities Leader for Chicago Swim Schools making improvements to both Arlington Heights and Mokena Locations, while simultaneously teaching swim lessons to kids across all levels. Outside of work you can find David spending time with his wife and son and waiting for his daughter to be born in February.
Jillian Burian
Jillian takes pride in supporting team members and creating a positive workplace environment. Joining our team in 2025, she was excited to merge her HR background with her lifelong love of the water and water safety. She’s passionate about helping others and keeping things running smoothly behind the scenes. From competitive swimming, swim coaching, to swim instruction and lifeguarding, she has been able to share her passion and promote a safe, positive environment to help swimmers and employees reach their unique goals. Outside of work, Jillian loves spending time with family and friends. A fitness enthusiast, always training for her next race.