Joey has a long aquatics background, starting at an early age as a competitive swimmer as a part of SOCAL Aquatics in Tustin; his events were the 100 and 200 backstroke, the 200 and 400 IM, and the 500 freestyle. In high school he worked his first job as a lifeguard and swim instructor at the Woolett Aquatics Center for the City of Irvine where he developed a love for teaching. Joey continued teaching, supervising, and managing at a handful of other swim schools in the Orange County area, for the city of Irvine, and for the city of Santa Ana developing close to a decade of aquatics experience and becoming a Certified Pool Operator.

Joey has his BA in Theatre with an emphasis in directing from Cal State Fullerton, and has a background in teaching theatre, singing, and improv comedy as well; there is a chance you may have worked with him before if you have taken classes at: McCoy Rigby, Stagelight Performing Arts, Creative Kids Playhouse, Musical Theatre Academy, Mater Dei High School, Diamond Bar High School, or Braver Players where he has either worked as a teacher, substitute teacher, director, musical director, or assistant director.