Our Staff

College: University of Nebraska
Degree: Masters in Business Administration

Certifications: CPR/AED, USAG Safe Sport Certified, AAU Professional Coaching Alliance

Bio: Neil was introduced to tumbling at the age of three under the tutelage of his father, Len Palmer. He began gymnastics in Addison, IL at the age of six. Neil went on to win the Junior Olympic National Horizontal Bar Championship and became a three-time member of the United States Junior National Team, while training at the American Academy of Gymnastics. He competed for Addison Trail High School, gathering three team state championships, the parallel bar title and the National High School All-Around championship.

Neil earned a full gymnastics scholarship to the University of Nebraska. As a Cornhusker, he became an NCAA All-American and a member of the United States National Team. Some top accomplishments include: Competing in the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Trials and winning the A.A. Championship at the 1987 United States Olympic Festival.

Neil has been coaching developmental through team-level boys and girls gymnastics since the age of 15. He has developed Palmer’s boys and girls into medal winning national-level competitors, as a stepping stone to producing collegiate scholarship winners.

He lives in Bloomingdale with his wife Debbie (Palmer’s Co-Owner) and their son, Brady

College: University of Akron (Undergraduate), Baldwin Wallace (Graduate)
Degree: Bachelor Degree in Business Communication, Masters of Arts Degree in Education
Certifications: CPR/AED and First Aid, Certified Elementary Education and Reading Specialist,
USAG Safety and Professional Member, K.A.T certified, Skill Evaluator, Meet Director,
and PDP levels I and II accreditations, USAG Safe Sport Certified, AAU Professional Coaching Alliance

Bio: Debbie moved to Illinois from Medina, Ohio in 1997 to join the Palmer’s coaching staff. Debbie’s coaching background includes coaching developmental gymnasts through level 10 National Team members. At the age of 5, Debbie began gymnastics at Fegley’s Gymnastics School in New Jersey. After her family moved to Ohio, she continued her gymnastics career at Gymnastics World, advancing to the Class I level.

In her spare time, Debbie enjoys traveling, skiing, swimming, listening to music and spending time with her husband, Neil, and her son, Brady. Although she loves all sports, her heart belongs to gymnastics.

College: Marquette University

Degree: Clinical Laboratory Science

Certifications: CPR, AED, USAG Safe Sport Certified

Bio: Helen is a mom of 6 and a clinical laboratory scientist at the Hines VA. In her youth she was a Palmer’s recreational gymnast and later competed for Glenbard West High School. She went on to become a cheerleader for Marquette University and then the Milwaukee Bucks, “4^th Street Flyers” tumbling stunt team. At the same time, Helen still participated in adult gymnastics recreationally.

After her cheerleading career came to an end, she became a cheerleading coach for the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE). She is excited to be back at Palmer’s, her old stomping grounds, with her own children now. The sport of gymnastics allows kids to have fun and develop priceless life long skills that will benefit them throughout the years.  Helen can’t wait to help all the kids in our community to have fun, keep active and fall in love with the sport of gymnastics just like her! 

College: Ohio State University

Degree: Sociology

 Certifications: USAG Safe Sport Certified

Bio: Mike attended Addison Trail High School from 1978 to 1982, where he competed on the varsity gymnastics team all four years under coach, Fred Dennis.  He also attended American Academy and took Len Palmer’s tumbling class with Coach Neil. His high school teams won the state championship competition 3 out of his 4 years. He then attended Ohio State University, where he was a member of two Big Ten Championship Teams. He loves the sport of gymnastics and he is very happy to be coaching at Palmer’s allowing him to stay connected to this great sport.

 He also enjoys running, bicycling, swimming and attending live music venues.

College: North Central College
Degree: Bachelor of Art in Psychology and Sociology
Certifications: CPR/AED, AAU Professional Coaching Alliance, USAG Safe Sport Certified

Bio: Melissa started her dance career at the age of 5 with Moves Dance Theater. By the age of 10, Melissa was competing nationally with Moves Dance Studio and winning various top scores and scholarships. Also as a child, Melissa performed in various galas and charity events hosted by Sesame Street’s Bob McGrath at Navy Pier. Her T.V. and film credits include Baby’s Day Out, The Untouchables and a True Value Hardware commercial.

Melissa has also performed with many local theater groups. When Melissa was 14 she was chosen to tour with the national production of The Tap Dance Kid. She was CHRP scholarship recipient 3 years in a row and had the opportunity to perform for and tap on stage with legends Savion Glover and Gregory Hines.

Throughout her years in high school, Melissa continued to compete with Perseverance Dance Company. Fresh out of high school Melissa began teaching, choreographing and instructing master classes throughout the Chicagoland area. After teaching ballet for the gymnasts here at Palmers, Melissa was trained to coach tot gymnastics.

Melissa continues to be a recognized at competitions with choreography awards, high scores and other special awards. Melissa has a wonderful husband named Brian and two beautiful kids, Skyler and Brody.  She is extremely excited to share her love of dance and gymnastics with the kids at Palmer's and work up front in the office!

College: University of Illinois

Degree: Major in Kinesiology

Certifications: CPR/AED, K-12 Teaching Certification, AAU Professional Coaching Alliance, USAG Safe Sport Certified

Bio: Jake attended Lake Park High School where he competed on the Varsity Boys Gymnastics Team for four years. He attended college at the University of Illinois where he competed for the Flippin’ Illini Club Gymnastics team.

Since graduating college, Jake has coached gymnastics as the assistant boys team coach at the Champaign YMCA and the assistant girls gymnastics coach at Glenbard West High School. Jake currently is the head girls gymnastics coach at Lake Park High School. When he is not coaching, Jake teaches Health in Addison School District 4. Jake brings with him a true knowledge of gymnastics, as well as a love of the sport.

College: University of Wisconsin-Platteville

Degree: Elementary Education

Bio: Sarah was a gymnast at Palmer’s from the age of 5-18 and has gained many memories in the gym as well as traveling for competitions. During her high school years she competed on Conant’s High School Varsity team. 

After her gymnastics career she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and is currently a 3rd grade teacher. She loves working with elementary aged children to help them learn and grow both in education and gymnastics! 

Sarah is a dog mom to her sweet pup named Willow and just got married to her husband Zach in July 2023! In her free time she loves spending time outdoors with Willow, friends, and family. 

College: Northern Illinois University

Major: Kinesiology and Athletic Training

Certifications: USAG safety certified, AFPA youth nutrition specialist

Bio: Jocelyn grew up a competitive gymnast at Palmer’s gymnastics under the coaching of Yvonne and Len Palmer, where she developed her love for the sport of gymnastics. She went on to college to study Kinesiology and Exercise Science with a focus in Athletic Training/Rehabilitation. Jocelyn has been coaching developmental women’s gymnastics levels 2-10 for the past 25 years. Jocelyn loves breaking down gymnastics’ skills into their basic components to be able to teach quality technique to young gymnasts. Her passion lies with teaching young gymnasts about the power of self-confidence, discipline and hard work. She is also passionate about promoting a healthy lifestyle through good nutrition and home cooking. Jocelyn is married with 3 children and enjoys exercise, reading, cooking and taking beach vacations with her family.

College: Lewis University

Degree: Criminal Justice & Sociology

Certifications: Safe Sport

Bio: Being a former gymnast, Pam is proud to now be a part of the Palmer’s Family, with two of her three kids on the Palmers Team. Will competes on the Boys USAG Team and Lilah is on USAG Xcel! Her family spend A LOT of time at Palmer’s Gym! When not at Palmer’s, Pam works in high school administration at Leyden High School district.

College: St. Joseph’s College

Degree: Major in Mathematics, Minor in Computer Science

Certificates: USAG Safe Sport Certified

Bio: Debbie worked for a small company doing general office work and customer service prior to having her three daughters. Debbie is the fourth oldest out of nine children and has many nephews and nieces. She is originally from South Bend, Indiana, and the only one who lives out of state so there are many road trips to Indiana for her and her family. Debbie is married and currently lives in Carol Stream with her husband, children and grandchildren.

College: College of Dupage and Northern Illinois University
Degree: Associate in Arts
Certifications: USAG Safe Sport Certified, AAU Professional Coaching Alliance

Bio:  Justin started gymnastics at the age of 5 and has been a part of Palmer’s Gymnastics since the age of 7. He was coached by Neil Palmer much of his gymnastics career. He had worked his way through USA Gymnastics competing in all state and regional competitions from Class 5 to Class 1. He had ambitions of competing at the collegiate level and beyond.

In 2001 he qualified for the Junior Olympic National Championships but a week prior to the competition he was involved in a car accident on his way home from practice, which left him paralyzed. Determined to stick with the sport he grew up with and loved, Justin changed roles from athlete to coach. After a couple of months of tough rehabilitation, Justin continued with school not missing any time and graduated with his class in 2002 from Lake Park High School.

Justin has been coaching at Palmers since 2002 and has loved every minute of it!

He believes the sport of gymnastics is one of the most difficult and rewarding sports out there. Gymnastics can teach kids so many different life lessons, such as never giving up and that if you put your mind and effort into something you can accomplish anything! Gymnastics is one of the rare sports where all these little experiences of falling and getting back up, and doing a skill even though you might be afraid of it, can really be applied to so many situations throughout your life!

Justin also enjoys music and going to concerts. He has many favorite bands. He is also a huge Chicago Cubs, Blackhawks, Bears & Nebraska Husker Fan. He lives in Roselle with his family and new puppy, Bindi.