Meet Jesse – Water Babies Founder & Swim Teacher

Jesse Paer grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii, where life in and around the water was second nature. From an early age, he developed a deep love for the ocean – and an equally strong respect for water safety. Surfing has been a lifelong passion, and one of Jesse’s greatest joys is introducing others to the water, helping more than 50 friends stand up on a surfboard for the very first time. 

After graduating from Punahou High School, Jesse moved to New Hampshire to study at Dartmouth College, where he played varsity tennis (eventually becoming Co‑Captain of the team) and majored in Pure Mathematics. He remains actively involved in youth sport and community initiatives and currently serves on the Executive Board of Legacy Youth Tennis and Education (formerly Arthur Ashe Young Tennis and Education Center), a nonprofit foundation to support children across the Philadelphia area. 

Jesse began his professional career at Moody’s Analytics in New York, where he spent nearly two decades working across technology, client services, and sales. In 2025, driven by a desire to run his own business and make a meaningful impact locally, Jesse chose to become a Water Babies franchisee. For him, Water Babies represents the perfect blend of entrepreneurship and purpose – giving back to the community while helping children develop confidence in the water and learn vital, lifesaving skills from the very beginning. 

Jesse and his wife, Sudeshna, now live in Montgomery County with their three sons. While Hawaii will always have his heart, Jesse proudly calls the Philadelphia area home and is excited to help local families give their children the safest possible start in the water.