Sensei Mark has a passion for the community and wants to strengthen the Providence community by offering family-centered Karate instruction, teaching the “Pathway” to God (Nihon Koden Shindo Ryu) through physical discipline, hard work, and strong core values.  In 2016, Sensei Mark, under the guidance of So-Shihan Messina, founded Pathway Karate Academy, where he began teaching students from diverse backgrounds.

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He currently holds the rank of 5th degree Black Belt (Go-Dan)

Arndres has been managing and running businesses for over 15 years.  She has a Bachelor's degree in Financial Management, a Master's in Healthcare Administration, and has certificates in Project Management & Business Analysis. She is a business consultant and strategic partner in the community.  She is the Site Administrator for our Youth Programs, overseeing operations.

Genesis manages the educational and youth staff and is in charge of developing educational plans in support of our curriculum, lesson planning, activity coordination, parent and youth engagement, and community development.  She holds a Bachelors in Education. 

Erica Vazquez is a dedicated Lead Teacher and Assistant Site Coordinator at Pathway Karate Academy, where she combines her passion for education with strong leadership and organizational skills. She holds a Certificate in Early Childhood Education from the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) and is currently pursuing her Associate’s degree at CCRI to expand her expertise in the field further. With a strong foundation in early childhood development and a commitment to creating structured, engaging learning environments, Erica plays a key role in supporting both student success and program operations. Her focus on continuous growth, paired with hands-on experience, reflects her drive to make a lasting impact in educational and youth development settings.

Shauntea Gregory serves as our dedicated office billing manager and lead teacher for our middle school group. She plays a crucial role in ensuring families are smoothly enrolled and actively participates in organizing our community events. Her commitment to our students fosters a welcoming and engaging environment for all. 

Kayla graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2018 with a degree in Writing. As our Office Manager, she keeps everything running smoothly behind the scenes, from schedules and menus to parent communication and helping to manage the online side of our program. While she's not in the dojo every day, Kayla is continually working to make sure families have the information and support they need to have a great experience with our program.