At VLA, we inspire creativity by combining multidisciplinary enviroments to pROMOTE learning and innovation. We want to be part of the change and we enDEAVOR to encourage children to be the future Heroes that the world needs.
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MEET OUR TEAM & INSTRUCTORS
Nicole C
Programs Director
Nicole is originally from the beautiful city of La Paz, Bolivia. She studied Engineering in Electronic Technologies at Tecnológico of Monterrey, Mexico with a focus on Analog & Digital Hardware, Innovation in Technology and Entrepreneurship with Social Impact. After graduation, she came to the US for an internship at the Bolivian Embassy. She was set to continue her studies in Barcelona when she met and married her soulmate (also named Nic) and decided to complete her Masters Degree through the University of Barcelona in Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurship. She followed that up with an Associates degree in Computer Science in Virginia (just for fun!).
She is taking a leap of faith and following her dream of combining Digital Fabrication, STEM learning and physical activity through Ninja Warrior Training and creativity applied to design and engineer obstacles and make learning fun! Nicole enjoys a challenge and strongly believes that innovation comes from creating multidisciplinary environments where ideas can come together and inspire others for a better tomorrow. She has been working in STEAM and TRAINING for eight years, but her passion is in teaching/mentoring children. She has been training kids for WNL, UNAA and ANW competitions for the last years.
She is an avid outdoor rock climber, traveler, ninja, trainer and consultant, and is fluent in Spanish, Portuguese and English.
She is taking a leap of faith and following her dream of combining Digital Fabrication, STEM learning and physical activity through Ninja Warrior Training and creativity applied to design and engineer obstacles and make learning fun! Nicole enjoys a challenge and strongly believes that innovation comes from creating multidisciplinary environments where ideas can come together and inspire others for a better tomorrow. She has been working in STEAM and TRAINING for eight years, but her passion is in teaching/mentoring children. She has been training kids for WNL, UNAA and ANW competitions for the last years.
She is an avid outdoor rock climber, traveler, ninja, trainer and consultant, and is fluent in Spanish, Portuguese and English.
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Nicholas Cahill
Head of Techonology
Nic, an active duty Air Force veteran himself, grew up in a military family spending his formative years living in Okinawa, Japan. He enjoys travel and new adventures, which is probably a characteristic he developed from moving around a lot.
Nic has always had a passion and natural acuity for technology taking apart and modifying his first video game at the age of 10. The Air Force taught him the skills he needed in electronics and technical applications to take his talents to the next level! He is currently a IT Specialist at George Mason University - College of Science. In his spare time he enjoys building custom PC builds and updating his media server. He particularly enjoys building for gamers and installing some of the latest technologies for the best possible performance. He was an early adapter to the virtual reality world and loves to introduce its possibilities to people of all ages!
When he is not working he enjoys reading, loves Sci-Fi, anime, climbing, Ninja Warrior Training, and of course GAMING!
Nic has always had a passion and natural acuity for technology taking apart and modifying his first video game at the age of 10. The Air Force taught him the skills he needed in electronics and technical applications to take his talents to the next level! He is currently a IT Specialist at George Mason University - College of Science. In his spare time he enjoys building custom PC builds and updating his media server. He particularly enjoys building for gamers and installing some of the latest technologies for the best possible performance. He was an early adapter to the virtual reality world and loves to introduce its possibilities to people of all ages!
When he is not working he enjoys reading, loves Sci-Fi, anime, climbing, Ninja Warrior Training, and of course GAMING!
Alex Centeno
Head of Design
Alex grew up in the South Bronx and graduated with a Bachelors of Architecture from the Bernard Anne Spitzer School of Architecture at the City College of New York. His direct and personal observations of the city fueled his passion for architecture and health.
He seeks to refine his definition of the role of the architect as an educator, community builder, an observer of the natural processes of that is terrestrial and astronomical & inevitably an artist of an unlimited palette of materials.
Since a teenager, he had experienced the importance of a community oriented towards fitness and calisthenics has since been a significant pillar of personal health and the utilization of physicality for a better mind body connection.
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Vitalli Odnoiko
Ninja Warrior Head Coach
Vitalii grew up in Ukraine until he move to Poland to study Fitness and Nutrition. He is a very dynamic, detail-oriented, multi-lingual (English/Russian/Polish/Ukrainian)with broad experience in trainingkids and adults for personal andphysical development.
He has being a ninja, climber and swimming coach for the last 5 years, responsible for training all age groups (5-60 yr. old) helping them participate in obstacle course competitions.
He train the Northern Virginia competition kids for UNAA, NNL, ANWcompetitions, as well as he participate as a competitor in different ninja leagues. He is a highly technical skilled ninja and he will help you achieve your ninja goals.
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Mark Spicer
Clients relations & PE programs
Mark Spicer graduated GMU with a bachelor degree in Health and Physical Education in 2015. During his time in college he worked for ICanBike, a non-profit that teaches kids with disabilities how to ride a two wheel bike.
He currently is in his 8th year of teaching Health & PE with Fairfax County Public Schools. Mark has created a physical education Youtube channel playing a character known as "The PE Chef." His videos have had millions of views all over the world!
He is co-owner of Capitol Snow, the best natural fruit snow cones in the area of Northern Virginia and DC.
PARTNERS
We love working with our partners to collaborate, connect and innovate in our programs!
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