Co-Founders, Eric Amundson and Joclynn Benjamin
Eric has dedicated his life to service. Born in Honduras, and raised in Central and West Africa, Eric developed an appreciation for a wide variety of cultures. Ever since he was a small child, Eric was uniquely sensitive to the needs of others. He was the first to help and was always motivated to make a difference. Throughout his early life, Eric continued to travel around the world, and made it a mission to promote a lifestyle of healthy living.
Eric graduated from Southern University with a B.A. in biology. He has been active in a variety of competitive sports starting at a young age, focusing primarily on Acro-Gymnastics. As team captain for the Andrews University Gymnics, Eric grew passionate about the sport. After graduation in 1998, he went on to coach numerous youth sports teams and continued performing worldwide for Cirque Productions.
Eric arrived in Los Angeles in 2001, and began coaching children with special needs. It was soon apparent that Eric had found his calling. He was quickly promoted to program director and helped expand the company throughout Southern California and Arizona. Eric was also a crucial part of the team that developed the training programs which continued to support his strong convictions about health and well being. He believes that a healthy mind and body are imperative to having a well-rounded lifestyle.
Eric is a man who continues to challenge his clients by helping them look “beyond the boundaries.” He says, “Creating Leaps…n…Boundz has given me the opportunity to give back and pass along the wonderful, imaginative and active experiences I benefitted from.”
Together with partner Joclynn Benjamin, Leaps…n…Boundz, is successfully creating programs that empower children to work beyond their boundaries.
Joclynn Benjamin
Some people sit on the sidelines and watch. Other people get in the game and play. Joclynn Benjamin not only gets in the game, she coaches the team.
She cares about “special” children whose needs require more than just the standard education. And, she understands that their families need more than just the annual “Parent’s Night.” They need a connection to help their children attain the skills and self confidence that will help them grow.
Joclynn also knew that in order to achieve the goals that she and Eric Amundson had set forth, that she needed a “dream team.” Assembling such a team would take a unique person who not only had experience, but who also had the skills to select people who would understand that Leaps…n…Boundz was a “lifestyle” and not just a job.
Her first love is working on the floor, seeing those smiling faces achieve unbelievable goals.
Joclynn’s education and experience had prepared her to make a difference in the lives of the famlies she works with. She has a B.A. in Family and Consumer Science from California State University and has spent the last 13 years working in gymnastics and adaptive services. She has worked with “special needs children” whose diagnoses include Autism, ADHA, Downs Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Blind, Deaf and Aspergers. Her clients ranged in age from 12 months through adulthood.
After six years at an LA based Recrational Gymnastics company, Joclynn had developed and implemented new programs, hired, trained and supervised staffs in nineteen facilities in California and Arizona. These are the skills that would help she and Eric Amundson make Leaps…n…Boundz more than a dream.
In 2007 that dream became a reality.
