Dbusiness Powered by Women 2022

Annette Tomina, co-owner of an Aqua-Tots Swim Schools franchise, was recognized by Dbusiness as one of the “Powered by Women” class of 2022. It’s a family business, and since they opened their first school in Troy, the family has added outlets in Farmington Hills, Sterling Heights, Novi, Auburn Hills, Canton Township, Woodhaven, and Dearborn. An Aqua-Tots opened in Berkley in August and is scheduled to open in Grand Rapids late this year or early next year. Tomina and her family also have five schools in California and one in Florida.

Tomina came across the Aqua-Tots franchise while on a trip to Arizona. She filled out the franchisee form online and one of the owners called her within 20 minutes. A lunch meeting followed, and Michigan’s first Aqua-Tots Swim School opened in Troy in 2011.

“I came home (from Arizona) and told my siblings, this is what we’re opening,” says Tomina, who owns the local franchise with her brothers Patrick, Brian, and Faraj Tomina, and a cousin, Chris Jaboro.

Aqua-Tots is a swim school for children ages 6 months to 12 years. It’s based in Arizona and has more than 130 locations across the United States and around the world. The pool at Aqua-Tots is always a comfortable 90 degrees, and instructors have 40 hours of classroom and in-pool training based on a proven curriculum.

Although Tomina says the Grand Rapids school likely will be her last Aqua-Tots in Michigan, she expects to expand further in California and Florida. She also has Waxing the City hair removal franchises in Canton Township and West Bloomfield Township, and is opening a Vio Med Spa franchise concept, where customers can get Botox and other appearance treatments, in West Bloomfield Township.