Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrey Geva.
Andrey, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I have started Alliance Fencing Academy in 2004 by renting a small yoga room at the Post Oak YMCA in Houston. Year later I have leased a 4,300 SF warehouse at 4141 Directors Row. I was also doing after school fencing programs at few private and public schools in Houston. On top of this I was giving lessons and running fencing classes in The Woodlands for about two years until I leased a 2,500 SF dance studio on Robinson Road. Couple years later I have moved to a bigger space next door. My business was growing and about two years ago, I was able to buy my own 10,000 SF fencing facility on 1212A Cedar Post Ln near I-10 and Blalock. Today Alliance is the largest and one of the most successful epee clubs in nation. I work about 12 hours daily. I have 9 coaches and assistant coaches working with me. Our epee teams have won 14 national titles. Alliance coaching staff has produced 34 national champions, two World champions, and over twenty World Cup champions and medalists. I was the US Fencing Association’s 2006 Developmental Coach of the Year, as well as Team USA Rio Olympics coach. I am a personal coach of two London Olympics bronze medalists and the senior world Cup gold medalist. Currently, I serve as women’s epee national coach for Team USA. My primary responsibility is to prepare the women’s epee national team for 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
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?
First two years after we leased our new space on 4141 Directors Row, we had lots of debts and expenses but not enough students to support it. New clients were not coming to our new facility. I kept working hard though running after school fencing programs and summer/winter camps, doing fencing birthday parties, giving lessons at private houses, etc. Finally, my club started growing. Our fencers started showing good results on regional and national levels. The other challenge was to find good professional coaches who would share and support my vision. During the first couple years I have let few coaches go until I find those who fit our program. I also asked few promising athletes and their parents leave the club in order to preserve the unique team atmosphere that our club known for.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Alliance Fencing Academy story. Tell us more about the business.
I specialize in the sport of fencing. I am the head coach and owner of Alliance Fencing Academy that has two locations: in Houston and in The Woodlands. We have about 350 members. We are the largest and one of the most successful epee clubs in nation. For the past 9 consecutive years our students have represented Team USA at various international competitions including World Championships and Olympic Games. Lots of our students got athletic scholarships and was excepted into the NCAA varsity teams at Stanford, UPenn, Columbia, Princeton, Duke, Notre Dame, Air Force Academy, NYU, Pen State, etc.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I believe that only time tells us if it was bad or good luck. For example, when I was a fencer back in the Soviet Union I lost one very important bout during the national championships only by one touch. Because of that “unlucky” touch I didn’t make the national team that year. Couple years later, I left the Soviet Union starting my successful coaching career in Israel and the US later on. Here is another example: in the beginning of my coaching career in the US I felt a little bit unlucky working with some recreational adults and homeschool kids. Coming from the very competitive environment I wanted to teach potential champions. However, luckily, I loved the sport of fencing more than my ambitions for making champions. Couple years later many of my recreational fencers and their parents have played essential role in building my own fencing facility providing their professional, legal, and financial supports.
Contact Info:
- Address: Houston: 1212A Cedar Post Ln., Houston, TX 77055
The Woodlands: 27326 Robinson Rd., Suite 110, Conroe, TX 77385 - Website: www.alliance-fencing-academy.com
- Phone: 713-410-6655
- Email: inform@alliance-fencing-academy.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Alliance-Fencing-Academy-215674405143293/?ref=ts
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