Amy Bailey serves as a program manager at the Safe States Alliance and is located in Austin, TX. Prior to joining Safe States in 2021, Amy served as the branch manager for the Texas Department of State Health Services Office of Injury Prevention. She has more than 14 years of experience in fatality reviews, coalition building and injury and violence prevention at the local and state level. Amy received her bachelor of science degree from the University of Texas in Austin and her master of public health degree from UT Health Science Center in Houston. When not at work, Amy enjoys spending time with her husband and two kids and cheering on the University of Texas Longhorns. Amy manages projects that build capacity for injury and violence prevention programs across the country. Current projects include supporting state-specific gender-based violence prevention efforts, advancing the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS), and improving surveillance for non-fatal boating injuries. She provides staff support to the Partner Sexual Violence Special Interest Group. safestates.org

Jason U. Bartholomew is a retired United States Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer W4 (MSSD) with 26 years of military service, concluding his active duty career in 2018. During his service, he achieved qualifications in machinery, steam, and deck operations as a Master Marine Inspector (MMI). He is also qualified in suspension and revocation proceedings and marine casualty investigations (SMI). Following his retirement from active duty, Bartholomew continued his investigative work with the U.S. Coast Guard. He served as the Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) for Sector Detroit from 2018 to 2021 and for Sector Northern Great Lakes from 2021 to 2024. He is currently serving as an investigating officer at Sector Detroit. atlanticarea.uscg.mil

Scott Berry is the vice president of engineering standards at the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), where he leads the development and oversight of certification programs, technical standards, and compliance initiatives for the recreational marine industry. Since joining NMMA in 2018, he has played a key role in advancing domestic and international standards, supporting manufacturers, and promoting boating safety. Berry brings nearly two decades of experience across engineering, quality, and supply chain management within the marine sector. He is actively involved in industry leadership, serving on the American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) Technical Board, participating in multiple ISO working groups, and contributing to the International Marine Certification Institute (IMCI). nmma.org

Hayle Boyle, PT, DPT, MHA, is an injury prevention coordinator at NYU Langone Hospital—Suffolk, where she leads community-based initiatives to reduce injuries and improve public health outcomes. With over eight years of clinical experience as a physical therapist, she applies evidence-based strategies to advance injury prevention across diverse populations. Hayle leads a grant-funded recreational boating safety initiative in collaboration with Safe States, focused on reducing boating-related injuries and fatalities through education, data-driven strategies, and community outreach. She also serves as the trauma survivors network coordinator and is an active member of the Trauma Center Association of America (TCAA) Injury Prevention Committee. Outside of work, she enjoys running, spending time with her family and golden retriever, and boating on the Great South Bay. nyulangone.org

Ethan Brininger is a Senior Product Owner at the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific (NIWC PAC), where he leads the effort to build modern, intuitive tools for the fleet and other federal agencies. He is currently directing the complete modernization and re-build of the BARD system, shaping its strategic vision by transforming user feedback into a powerful and user-friendly platform. When he isn’t at the office, you’ll find him enjoying the great outdoors, fishing and hunting in the Pennsylvania wilderness. niwcpacific.navy.mil

Grant Brown began his career with Colorado Parks and Wildlife in 2008 as a commissioned park ranger at Cherry Creek State Park. In 2011, he moved to Boyd Lake State Park to serve as the senior ranger. In 2016, he was hired as the statewide boating criminal investigator and boating safety coordinator. In 2017, Grant was appointed as the Colorado Boating Law Administrator. He has served as the president of the Western States Boating Administrator’s Association, served on the National Boating Safety Advisory Committee, a DHS federal advisory committee, and has the current honor of serving as the chair of the NSBC. cpw.state.co.us

#IBWSS26 Emcee Stacey Brown is the Boating Division Director and Boating Law Administrator for the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, where she has served for 17 years. She leads statewide boating safety initiatives, oversees waterways management and boat registration and titling, and represents Virginia at regional and national levels. With more than 25 years in the natural resources field, Stacey has previously worked with Virginia Save Our Streams, the department of environmental quality, and the department of health. She holds degrees from the University of Virginia and Virginia Commonwealth University and is a graduate of CMI, VEI, NASBLA Leadership Academy, DWR’s Leadership Development Program, and the WSFR Project Leaders Course. She is a certified boating safety instructor, a level 2 kayaking instructor, and one of the earliest professionals to earn the Certified Recreational Boating Professional (CRBP) credential. dwr.virginia.gov

Leveraging over 40 years of successes transforming operations, Steven is an innovative sales and marketing senior executive within boating safety and consumer electronics industries, pioneering niche offerings and fostering a culture of calculated risk-taking for exponential growth. A seasoned west coast boating professional with over 40 years of experience and emphasis on boating safety, Steven is the vice president of sales and marketing, organizing and actively leading boating safety day events in collaboration with the King Harbor Foundation and providing hands-on training for boaters on the use of visual distress signals. Steven produced the only live fire training program on the west coast, conducted with an active duty U.S. Coast Guard Instructor. siriussignal.com

Mustang Survival creates marine apparel and safety products to inspire a love of the water and protect the lives of those who live beyond land. mustangsurvival.com

Admiral Select Compher assumed duties as director of inspections and compliance at the U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters in April 2025. In this position, he develops and maintains policy, standards, and program alignment for all prevention activities associated with the safe operation of vessels and facilities. Admiral Select Compher previously served as the U.S. Coast Guard Chief Traveler, where he led a specialized staff of senior marine inspectors in providing professional commercial vessel knowledge, experience, and training to field commanders and commercial vessel inspectors to ensure safe, consistent application of requirements and to expand technical expertise throughout the prevention program. Admiral Select Compher’s previous staff assignments include marine safety center commanding officer and chief of the office of design and engineering standards. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Master of Science degrees from the University of Michigan in Naval Architecture and Industrial Engineering, and graduate degrees from the Naval War College and Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy. Admiral Select Compher is the recipient of the Defense and U.S. Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medals, U.S. Coast Guard Commendation Medal, Joint Service and U.S. Coast Guard Achievement Medals, and numerous other personal, unit, and service awards. Admiral Select Compher is a native of Fort Worth, Texas. He and his wife Katy live in Maryland with their two children, Luke and Charlie. uscg.mil

Clay Crabtree is the interim vice president of public policy and government relations for the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). He leads the NMMA’s state and federal government relations teams and co-leads the public policy and regulatory affairs team. He coordinates advocacy on issues central to the recreational marine industry including access, infrastructure, boating safety, innovation, international trade and tariffs, tax, and environmental protection. With nearly 15 years of policymaking experience across congress, federal agencies, and industry, he works closely with the industry to maintain a forward-looking advocacy strategy, ensuring consistency between federal, state, and global policies. He represents NMMA in Washington, D.C., California, and internationally on trade and environmental policy. nmma.org

Tom Dardis is the recreational boating safety outreach coordinator for the U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety Division. He previously served as the rescue and survival systems program manager in the U.S. Coast Guard Office of Boat Forces and as an afloat safety specialist in the U.S. Coast Guard Office of Safety and Environmental Health. He has broad experience in lifesaving equipment and is a current member of the UL’s Personal Flotation Devices technical committee. uscgboating.org

Jim Emmons serves as executive director of the Water Sports Foundation (WSF), the nonprofit educational division of the Water Sports Industry Association, where he has led one of the recreational boating industry’s most sustained and measurable safety outreach efforts. Since 2011, Emmons has overseen the execution of 65 U.S. Coast Guard–administered consumer education campaigns, collectively delivering nearly two billion highly targeted boating and paddling safety media impressions and generating millions of video views across digital platforms. Before joining the WSF, Emmons spent 21 years with the Bonnier Corporation as publisher of two prominent marine magazines, operating at the forefront of marine media and marketing. His leadership in the industry also includes four terms as president of the Water Sports Industry Association from 1998 to 2010, where he helped shape the direction of towed water sports and boating advocacy nationwide. At the WSF, Emmons has driven an expansive, multi-channel outreach strategy that spans all categories of recreational boating and paddling. Today, the Foundation’s campaigns are amplified through partnerships with more than 30 niche media outlets and a wide network of social media influencers, ensuring that safety messaging reaches boaters where they consume content. watersportsfoundation.com

Born in Sydney, Richard has always had a passion for all things on, in, or under the water. Being introduced to boating at an early age, Richard has been involved in fishing, SCUBA diving, sea kayaking, powerboating, as well as inshore, offshore, and ocean yacht racing and cruising. After a successful career for 15 years in senior management within the retail sector, Richard turned his sailing hobby into a career and became a full time commercial skipper based in Sydney, Australia on both sail and motor vessels. Eventually he went on to move to the UK and ultimately skippered the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race in 2005/06. In 2010, he joined the ranks of the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) and is now the director of training and qualifications. Richard is responsible for the RYA’s training schemes globally, including the 24,000 RYA qualified instructors who work across a network of 2,400 RYA recognized training centers in 58 countries. He is also responsible for the RYA’s publications business of more than 85 titles across numerous languages, as well as holding the role of chief examiner for the prestigious RYA Yachtmaster scheme. Richard works closely with government both in the UK and abroad as well as other maritime organizations in an effort to improve boating safety and proficiency, as well as working towards broader recognition of RYA qualifications both in the leisure and small commercial vessel sectors. rya.org.uk

Kevin Ferrie is a retired U.S. Coast Guard Commander with nearly 20 years of experience in the marine safety field. During his active-duty career, he served as a vessel inspector, ensuring compliance of domestic and international vessels with federal and international safety standards. In his final assignment, he served as a senior leader at the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Center, where he oversaw innovative ship design projects and developed expertise in regulatory equivalencies—helping advance new maritime technologies within existing regulatory frameworks. He currently serves in the U.S. Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety as a product assurance engineer, supporting manufacturers in meeting federal safety regulations for recreational vessels. Mr. Ferrie holds a Bachelor of Science in Marine Environmental Science from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and a Master of Science in Marine Engineering from the University of Michigan. A lifelong boater, he also brings extensive practical experience as an offshore sailor. He spent two years cruising with his wife and four children, logging more than 10,000 offshore miles aboard their 44-foot sailboat. uscgboating.org

Verne Gifford has broad experience in national transportation safety and security policy and strategy formulation and implementation, environmental protection, pollution response, incident and risk management, and information technology project management. Mr. Gifford is a skilled executive leader of multi-disciplinary teams, developing national regulations and policy on vessel and facility inspections and marine casualty investigations used by thousands of field personnel that optimized constrained resources and meet critical organizational goals. He has significant experience in developing and monitoring performance management and measures and in managing organizational change. He is also skilled in building and maintaining vibrant and productive relationships. Mr. Gifford is a recognized expert in incident management response, called upon routinely to present case studies to the U.S. Coast Guard’s new generation of leaders at flag ship courses. uscgboating.org

As the director of standards and compliance at the American Boat and Yacht Council, Brian is responsible for managing the day to day operations of the department and the review and publication of over 80 standards. He also ensures the execution of numerous grants awarded to the standards and compliance department. Additionally, he addresses standards and compliance questions related to standards in the hull, machinery, and product interface divisions. Brian is also an active liaison with other industry groups including NMMA, NASBLA, SAMS®, NAMS, NFPA, and SAE. Prior to assuming role as the director of standards and compliance, he was the technical standards manager at ABYC. In addition to having a dual degree in biology and marine environmental science, Brian has a broad range of marine industry experience including roles as a captain, dockmaster and navigation officer on a hydrographic survey vessel. abycinc.org

National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) Chief Executive Officer, Tom Guess, is an experienced executive with 39 years of boating safety experience. Tom previously worked with the U.S. Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety, where he served as the regulatory development manager and oversaw the National Boating Safety Advisory Committee (NBSAC). He served as the boating law administrator for Virginia for 13 of his 15-plus year career with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (VDWR), where he held multiple leadership positions and directed the agency’s legislative efforts in collaboration with the Virginia General Assembly for many years. Tom retired from active duty with the U.S. Coast Guard in 2008, after a distinguished 21-year career. His final assignment was as the officer in charge of U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Station Milford Haven, Hudgins, VA. He holds BS and MS degrees from Southwestern College, Winfield KS, and a MA from Liberty University and is a graduate of various USCG Command and Leadership Schools, the Virginia Executive Institute, the NASBLA Leadership Academy, VDWR’s Leadership Development Program, and the National Conservation Leadership Institute Fellows Program. He is a Certified Recreational Boating Professional (CRBP). nasbla.org

Peter is currently the chair of the Canadian Safe Boating Council (CSBC). He is the retired officer-in-charge of the York Regional Police Marine Unit in Ontario, Canada. Along with vessel enforcement and search and rescue duties, his team placed an emphasis on interacting with the boating community, local youth, and new Canadians in order to promote the Canadian Safe Boating Council’s key safety messages. Upon retirement, Peter joined the CSBC and became a director. Peter lives with his wife north of Toronto where he has volunteered for the past 25 years with the Canadian Power and Sails Squadrons. He has served in a number of capacities at the squadron level including executive officer, education officer, public relations officer, and squadron commander. He has taught a number of Canadian Power Squadron courses over the years and is currently a radio instructor and examiner. Peter is also a recreational boater. He enjoys power, sail, and paddlesports and has owned several different type pleasure craft over the years. csbc.ca

Will Hillyer joined the U.S. Coast Guard in January of 1995. During 23 years of active duty, he served as a Boatswain’s Mate in various positions in both law enforcement and aids to navigation and was stationed in New Jersey, Maryland, Louisiana, Florida and Alaska. He spent 10 years in South Florida conducting counter-drug and alien migrant interdiction operations in the Florida Straits, Bahamas, and off the coasts of Cuba and Central America. His last tour landed him at the U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters in the office of auxiliary and boating safety. During this time, he served as the primary point of contact for MIC requests, HIN fraud investigations, and boating accident investigations resulting from recreational vessel defects. Will retired from active duty in February of 2018 and stayed on with the office of auxiliary and boating safety in a civilian position doing much of the same work he did on active duty. uscgboating.org

Jonathan Hsieh is a senior data and research analyst for the National Recreational Boating Safety Program. In this role, he manages the Boating Accident Report Database, the National Recreational Boating Safety Survey, and a research portfolio focused on advancing recreational boating safety. Jonathan has served in data-focused roles with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Maritime Administration, and the U.S. Coast Guard’s Aids to Navigation Program. Across these positions, he has supported decision-making in national level programs. In addition to his civilian role, Jonathan serves as a Commander in the United States Coast Guard Reserve, where he is an emergency management officer. Jonathan holds a Master of Science in Government Analytics from The Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Public Administration from Virginia Tech. He is also a graduate of the California Maritime Academy and holds U.S. Coast Guard mariner credentials as a Master of vessels less than 1,600 gross tons and as a Second Mate, Unlimited. uscgboating.org

Al Johnson of the Vermont State Police-Marine Division is entering his third year in the role of boating law administrator. His 20 years in Vermont state government include work in budget management, granting, contracting, procurement, and financial operations. Al’s time at the Vermont Department of Health also included the position of logistics chief for the statewide Covid-19 response. As a logical extension of his prior work experience, Al is the chair of the NASBLA Finance and Grants Committee. He was also a member of the NASBLA Leadership Academy class of 2025. With more than 15 years of work improving health outcomes, Al is especially interested in NASBLA’s “Public Health Approach” to recreational boating safety. Vermont was recently awarded its’ second round of funding from the Safe State’s Alliance, in partnership with NASBLA and the U.S. Coast Guard to reduce recreational boating injuries in Vermont. The goal of this project is to expand the base of recreational boating injury data to improve boating safety outcomes by identifying patterns of risky behavior and ultimately developing targeted interventions to reduce injuries and deaths on the water. Al is a lifelong boater and surfer who was raised on Cape Cod. These days, in his spare time, he enjoys surfing, snowboarding, and travel to the Canadian Maritimes. He’s an active member of his local boat club where he and his partner Janet explore beautiful waters of Lake Champlain. vsp.vermont.gov

Eric Johnson is an engineer with the U.S. Coast Guard in the Product Assurance Branch of the Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety. In this role, Mr. Johnson evaluates reported safety defects and non-compliances and prepares U.S. Coast Guard action response and correspondence. Additionally, he provides guidance on federal statutes, safety regulations, and U.S. Coast Guard policy regarding recreational boat-building. Mr. Johnson is a member of various standards bodies including ABYC, NFPA, SAE, ISO, and UL. In his free time, Eric is an avid sailboat racer and triathlete. uscg.mil/our-organization/auxiliary

Michelle Johnston is the chair for NASBLA’s VIRT Committee and has 30 years of experience with the Utah Department of Motor Vehicles. Her focus is on collaborating with industry and government partners to develop and enforce regulations, particularly around vessel identification and registration. nasbla.org

Paul Kali is a senior product designer at Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific (NIWC PAC), where he leads UX for complex federal and Department of Defense systems. Prior to joining the BARD modernization effort, Paul designed intelligence platforms used across the joint services. His work focuses on translating complicated workflows and compliance requirements into experiences that actually make people’s jobs easier. Paul’s background spans e-commerce (Urban Outfitters, Wawa, and Abercrombie & Fitch) and media (Comcast), bringing the same design thinking that powers modern consumer apps to government systems that are long overdue for it. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife, Abby. niwcpacific.navy.mil

Jeff Ludwig has worked for the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) since 2006 and currently serves as the chief of the recreational boating product assurance branch in the U.S. Coast Guard Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety. He is responsible for implementing the Recreational Boat Testing & Compliance Program (RBTCP), which ensures that recreational boat manufacturers comply with U.S. Coast Guard safety standards. Prior to his current position, he was the boating safety division’s regulatory development manager, where he was responsible for the development of all boating safety-related regulations at U.S. Coast Guard headquarters. Before working for the U.S. Coast Guard, he was the regulatory affairs manager for a major recreational boating trade association for five years. Mr. Ludwig grew up boating in Florida and holds a USCG Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels (OUPV) license. He served eight years in the United States Army Infantry, stationed in the U.S. and Germany, and earned a B.S. in Political Science from the University of Maryland. uscg.mil/our-organization/auxiliary

Caroline Mantel is the director of business development at Boat History Report. In her role at Boat History Report, she works closely with a broad range of stakeholders – from state titling and registration offices and the U.S. Coast Guard, to financial institutions and marine businesses to improve transparency and integrity in boat transactions. Caroline holds leadership positions in several national boating organizations, including vice chair for the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA)’s Vessel Identification, Registration, and Titling (VIRT) committee, 2nd vice president for the International Association of Marine Investigators (IAMI), vice president for the National Marine Lenders Association, sitting member of the National Boating Safety Advisory Committee (NBSAC), and the Sea Tow Foundation Boating Safety Advisory Council. In these roles, Caroline has championed efforts to standardize Hull Identification Number (HIN) formats and strengthen vessel documentation processes. She has been a vocal supporter of the Uniform Certificate of Title for Vessels Act (UCOTVA) to promote consistent, fraud-resistant boat titling across states, reflecting her commitment to uniform standards in the industry. Caroline’s dedication and collaborative leadership style have earned her respect across the marine industry. She was honored as one of Boating Industry’s Top 40 Under 40, Women Making Waves, and Bold Moves and received the NASBLA Award for her contributions to boating safety and HIN standardization. She is also a proud mom of two wonderful boys, and a 100-lb golden retriever and enjoys spending time on the water with her family. boathistoryreport.com

​Mike McKiernan is the founder and CEO of DECKEE, a boating safety and decision intelligence platform serving recreational boaters and government waterway agencies. Under Mike’s leadership, DECKEE has partnered with numerous state and local government agencies across the United States and Australia to deliver operational analytics, geospatial activity intelligence, and targeted safety communications at scale. Mike brings a product and technology background to water safety, with a focus on bridging the gap between recreational boating communities and the government agencies responsible for keeping them safe. deckee.com

Pavlo Oborski is the grants management branch chief within the U.S. Coast Guard Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety. He has 28 years of federal grant administration experience with over 16 years with the U.S. Coast Guard. His responsibilities include financial oversight of the state, nonprofit organization, and survey grant programs; ensuring the U.S. Coast Guard is compliant with Department of Homeland Security and Office of Management and Budget grant policies and regulations; and advising U.S. Coast Guard leadership on grant administration. Additional collateral duties include oversight of the recreational boating strategic plan, the divisional budget and outreach functions. Pavlo spent over two years as the grants officer for the Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration providing oversight to their state and nonprofit grant programs. He also spent nearly 10 years with the Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services working in several positions within the grants administration division, grant monitoring division, and the audit liaison division. Pavlo has a master’s degree from Southern CT State University in political science with a concentration in public administration. He also has two Bachelor of Arts Degrees from the University of CT in urban studies and a double major in political science and history. He also has one more bachelor’s degree in sociology and applied social relations from Eastern CT State University. uscgboating.org

The National Safe Boating Council’s Executive Director, Peg Phillips, is an experienced executive, boating instructor trainer, Certified Recreational Boating Professional, and U.S. Coast Guard licensed Captain. She is a certified American Canoe Association L2 Kayak Instructor and NSBC Powerboat Instructor Trainer. Phillips has received awards for her outstanding boating instruction including the American Canoe Association President’s Award and American Canoe Association State Director of the Year. With two decades of senior executive management experience, Phillips is accomplished in strategic planning, staff development, inspiring commitment, managing change, and building coalitions and partnerships. She has successfully provided guidance for over two dozen federally grant-funded programs since she joined the NSBC in 2018. Phillips served on the National Boating Safety Advisory Committee, and currently serves on the National Boating Standards Panel, and the Coast Guard Auxiliary Association Board of Directors. She is a persuasive and enthusiastic leader with a passion for challenging people to think and work creatively. safeboatingcouncil.org

With over 25 years of active-duty service in the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), Mr. Rafter held critical leadership roles including executive petty officer, officer in charge, and commanding officer afloat. Operational experience spans Search and Rescue (SAR), Fisheries Enforcement, Aids to Navigation, and Counter Drug and Alien Migrant Interdiction Operations (AMIO). With over three years of experience in the USCG’s Boating Safety Division, Mr. Rafter serves as a safety compliance officer while on active duty and now in a civilian role as a boating safety specialist and program analyst. Mr. Rafter is also a graduate of NASBLA’s Boat Incident Investigator and Leadership courses, a member of NASBLA’s Vessel Identification, Registration and Titling (VIRT) Committee for three years, and is now a member of NASBLA’s Engineering, Reporting & Analysis Committee (ERAC). He is also a certified standards technician with the American Boat and Yacht Council. uscg.mil

The FWC envisions a Florida where fish and wildlife are abundant and thriving in healthy and connected natural landscapes with vital working lands and waterways; where natural resources are valued and safely enjoyed by all; and wherein natural systems support vibrant human communities and a strong economy. myfwc.com

Lieutenant Commander Steven D. Roth is a distinguished public affairs officer who currently serves as the chief of media relations for the U.S. Coast Guard. As the primary spokesperson for the service, he manages worldwide media inquiries and serves as a key communications advisor to U.S. Coast Guard leadership. His career is marked by a unique combination of command at sea, strategic counsel at the highest levels of the U.S. government, and leadership in public affairs. LCDR Roth is a graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy with a bachelor’s degree in government with honors and holds a master’s degree in political communication from American University. He has completed Joint Professional Military Education at the U.S. Naval War College and advanced studies at the Joint Special Operations University. His personal awards include the Legion of Merit, two U.S. Coast Guard Commendation Medals, and three U.S. Coast Guard Achievement Medals. He has earned the permanent Cutterman and Boat Forces insignias. LCDR Roth is a native of Annapolis, MD. He and his wife, Stacy, are the proud parents of three children: Alana, David, and George. uscg.mil

Yoshihiro Sasakawa is the chairman of the Marine Sports Foundation (Japan), a position he has held since 2022. He leads initiatives to promote marine sports, enhance water safety, support environmental conservation, and foster the next generation of leaders, contributing to a sustainable society. maris.or.jp

Amy Schlotthauer, MPH is owner of AES Consulting Firm. She has a master’s degree in public health from the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University and a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from University of Wisconsin-Madison. Amy has over 20 years’ experience in project management, grant writing, program evaluation, qualitative and quantitative research methods and data analysis, group facilitation and consensus building, and using these skills to help clients work collaboratively to answer a pressing public health questions. Amy has worked with Safe States, NASBLA, and the U.S. Coast Guard on the boating injury surveillance projects since 2018 and is an avid boater with her family during summers in Wisconsin. aesconsultingfirm.com

Coming soon. uscg.mil

Wayne Walters has been working in the life jacket industry for over 40 years and has been with Kent Outdoors for the past 23 years, currently as senior director compliance and manufacturing. During his career he has been involved in the design, development, and production of numerous life jacket designs for approval and use throughout the world. He has served on the UL Standards Technical panel since its beginning, working on development and implementation of several of the standards that we use today. Most recently he
chaired the 12402 Task Group. He has served as chairman of the board for the Personal Flotation Device Manufacturers Association and as chair of the board for the Life Jacket Association. kentoutdoors.com

Lindsey Witt-Swanson is a senior research director at NORC’s Public Affairs and Media Research department. With extensive experience in designing and managing projects of varying sizes and complexities, she is an expert in a wide range of data collection methodologies including web, phone, paper, and in-person data collection. Currently, Lindsey is the NORC project manager for the National Recreational Boating Safety Survey, a five-year project with the U.S. Coast Guard aimed at measuring recreational boating aspects at the national and state levels. norc.org

Jacqi Yurkovich is a staff engineer in the U.S. Coast Guard’s Lifesaving and Fire Safety Division in the U.S. Coast Guard Office of Design and Engineering Standards. She leads the U.S. Coast Guard’s approval program for PFDs, participates on national and international standards development, develops related U.S. policy, and coordinates the U.S. Coast Guard’s program for production oversight. In addition to PFDs, Jacqi has experience with a full range of lifesaving equipment approved by the U.S. Coast Guard for use on commercial vessels and recreational boats. uscg.mil