2011 - 2012

Laurel Zimmerman Adams - Chief Operations Officer

Head Competitive Coach

Director of Dance

Ms. Laurel Zimmerman Adams, our head gymnastics coach and director of dance, has been associated with Huff ‘n Puff from its beginning in 1980.  She began taking dance and gymnastics at age three and became a serious student of dance and gymnastics at age ten with the opening of Huff ‘n Puff.   Ms. Laurel began assisting Huff ‘n Puff dance instructors at a very young age and as a young teenager, she began teaching ballet and tap to young students and jazz and tap to adults.   Her background in dance comes from many years of study with well-known Arkansas instructors, through studio classes, college courses and private lessons.  She also began teaching gymnastics at Huff ‘n Puff at age 14.  

Several years ago, Ms. Laurel and her family returned to Arkansas so she could once again be a part of the business.   She is a member of the professional USA Gymnastics Federation and is our head gymnastics and competitive team coach and director of both dance and gymnastics.  Ms. Laurel is safety certified by USAG and is a USAG Skill Evaluator; she has also been a USAG Junior Olympic Judge.  She has completed her Kinder Accreditation, a preschool gymnastics certification. She teaches advanced gymnastics and prepares the more advanced students for competitions.  Twelve years ago, she began the Jacksonville Gymnastics Competitive Team with eleven Level Four members.  This fall, our competitive team--Levels Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine and Ten--with the acquisition of JAX Gym in NLR, now numbers over 100 competitors. 

Laurel also oversees the dance programs.  We all have so much confidence in our instructors; they are fantastic and they know what is expected (having grown up in the business) and they accomplish it.  Laurel formed the Jacksonville Dance Company eight years ago and it continues to grow and succeed.

While managing Huff ‘n Puff, Laurel earned her second associate degree in 2003.  Her first associate degree from the Art Institute of Dallas was in interior design and her second was in Business Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management, in which she graduated magna cum laude.  She is the mother of seventeen-year-old Tori and thirteen-year old Madi.  Both girls are active in Huff 'n Puff classes - Madi on competitive team and Tori on JAX competitive cheer squad.  Tori will also be a third-year cheerleader as a Senior at Cabot High School.

Madi and Tori - Laurel's daughters - 2011 Recital (thus competition makeup

Laurel, Tori and Madi at TOP Nationals, Branson, July, 2010

Laurel, Lindsey, Lois and Sara at TOP Nationals, Branson, July, 2010

AFTER RECITAL 2009

2009 - 2010 Jacksonville Dance Company Instructors - taken after Aug 8 auditions.

Spring, 2008

Ms. Laurel and daughters, Tori and Madi - Christmas 07

Ms. Laurel and some of the Dance Instructors - 2008 JDC Audition Day from left to right are   Ms. Emily, Ms. Laurel, Ms. Lindsey, Ms. Lois and Ms. Sara

Coach Laurel Spears, Head Team Coach

Coach Laurel at the Gym

 Some of the 2010 - 2011 Coaches and instructors at 2011 Skills Revue

Kristi, Christy, Erin, Laurel, Stacy, Jackie and Kristen

 2010 - 2011Team Coaches

Stacy, Kristi, Laurel, Christy and Erin

 2009 - 2010 Team Coaches

Lois, Lindsey, Christy, Laurel and Erin

Our Jacksonville Gymnastics USAG Junior Olympic Competitive Team Coaches -

Ms. Lois, Ms. Lindsey, Ms. Laurel, Ms. Erin and Ms. Christy - 2008!