Conference Schedule
All times Eastern
12–2 PM
Safety Expo setup for exhibitors
2–3 PM
Tour of South Beach & EMILY Rescue Device Demo
David Figueredo & Chief Adam DeBoer
Guided tour of South Beach and a demonstration of the EMILY robotic rescue device.
South Beach Demos & Clinics
3–4 PM
Argonaut Demonstrations
Drew Ferguson & Jason Brothers
Jet ski, rescue equipment, and technology demonstrations.
4–5 PM
SHAES Rescue Drone & Dive Team Demo
Owen Ridley & Zachary Kenreich
South Haven Area Emergency Services demonstrates rescue drone operations and dive team capabilities.
5–6 PM
GLSRP Beach Clinic: Before, During, and After
Dave Benjamin, GLSRP
Hands-on clinic covering how to prepare for, respond to, and recover from a beach emergency. Topics include low-cost rescue stations, reading conditions, recognizing distress, effecting a safer rescue, and drowning-victim CPR.
6:30–8:30 PM
Safe Harbor Social – The Silo at Lake Arvesta. Free apps, cash bar, dinner available.
All times Eastern
7–8 AM
Networking Breakfast
8–8:30 AM
Welcome and Orientation
Pam Ford, Drew Ferguson & Jamie Racklyeft
Conference goals, 90-day plan overview, follow-up webinars, and how to get the most from the conference.
8:30–9:30 AM
Keynote: Safe Horizons – The Lifeguard Program That Redefined Our Shores
Chief Adam DeBoer & Head Lifeguard David Figueredo, South Haven
The history of the South Haven Beach and their new lifeguarding program: setup, best practices, and lessons learned.
9:30–9:45 AM
Networking Break
9:45–11:15 AM
Panel: Community Investments in Water Safety
Moderators: Bob Pratt & Drew Ferguson. Panelists: Trevor Pinkalla, Nate MacIntyre, Scott Ruddle, Sean Malloy, Rhonda Nordstrom & Phillip Kiley
Panel members from lifeguarding, beach ambassadors, law enforcement, and other water safety programs share best practices, lessons learned, and operational insights. Prepares attendees for deeper breakout discussions.
11:15–11:30 AM
Break & Transition to Breakouts
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM · Choose one track
1A
Community Investments – Panel Networking
Panelists at individual tables for roundtable discussion
Each panel member sits at a different table. Choose which panelist to network with based on your program interests. Led by Bob Pratt and Drew Ferguson.
1B
Observations & Forecasts
Bob Dukesherer (NWS) & Connor Brooks (GLOS)
11:30–12:00 – NWS Great Lakes Beach Forecasts: how they're made and how to interpret them. Bob Dukesherer, NWS Grand Rapids.
12:00–12:30 – GLOS Seagull Coast App Showcase: the newly launched mobile app connecting users to buoy and beach weather data. Connor Brooks, GLOS.
12:00–12:30 – GLOS Seagull Coast App Showcase: the newly launched mobile app connecting users to buoy and beach weather data. Connor Brooks, GLOS.
1C
Beach Clinics & Boating Safety
Mary Ann Best, Dan Metcalf & Ella Skrocki. Mod: Dan Metcalf
11:30–11:50 – Blue Flow Great Lakes Corp Beach Clinics (ages 6–14). Mary Ann Best.
11:50–12:10 – Boating Safety best practices. Dan Metcalf, Essex-Windsor EMS.
12:10–12:30 – Junior Waterman Camp: open-water awareness and safety skills. Ella Skrocki, Sleeping Bear Surf and Kayak.
11:50–12:10 – Boating Safety best practices. Dan Metcalf, Essex-Windsor EMS.
12:10–12:30 – Junior Waterman Camp: open-water awareness and safety skills. Ella Skrocki, Sleeping Bear Surf and Kayak.
12:30–1:30 PM
Networking Lunch & Safety Expo
Plenary: Water Safety Legislative Efforts
1:45–2:10 PM
Water Safety Legislation: Indiana SB 123 & Michigan HB 4477
Sen. Mark Spencer (IN) & Rep. Donni Steele (MI, video)
1:45–2:05 – Indiana Senate Bill 123: requiring water safety education in public schools K–12. Sen. Mark Spencer, District 3.
2:05–2:10 – Michigan HB 4477: water safety education requirement (video presentation). Rep. Donni Steele, 54th District.
2:05–2:10 – Michigan HB 4477: water safety education requirement (video presentation). Rep. Donni Steele, 54th District.
2:30–2:45 PM
Break & Transition to Breakouts
2:45 – 3:30 PM · Choose one track
2A
Community Collaboration
Jacob Soter & Briar McCaw
2:45–3:05 – A High Stakes Game of Telephone: analyzing the flow of emergency response from 911 to scene. Jacob Soter, SwimSmart.
3:05–3:30 – Bringing People Together: community collaboration, coalition-building, and lifejacket loaner programs. Briar McCaw, Elgin County Drowning Prevention Coalition.
3:05–3:30 – Bringing People Together: community collaboration, coalition-building, and lifejacket loaner programs. Briar McCaw, Elgin County Drowning Prevention Coalition.
2B
Risk Assessment & Lifeguard Operations
Stephané Rebeck & Sean Malloy
2:45–3:10 – Creating National Standards for Open-Water Events. Stephané Rebeck.
3:10–3:30 – Integrating Fire Department and Seasonal Lifeguard Operations: how Evanston unifies 150 lifeguards under a shared command structure. Sean Malloy, Evanston Fire Dept.
3:10–3:30 – Integrating Fire Department and Seasonal Lifeguard Operations: how Evanston unifies 150 lifeguards under a shared command structure. Sean Malloy, Evanston Fire Dept.
2C
Water Safety Education & Outreach
Nate MacIntyre & Pam Ford
2:45–3:15 – Making Waves: The RiP – grassroots advocacy driving Ontario water safety. Nate MacIntyre.
3:15–3:30 – WaSaBI pop-up educational outreach events. Pam Ford, GLWSC.
3:15–3:30 – WaSaBI pop-up educational outreach events. Pam Ford, GLWSC.
3:30–4:00 PM
Networking Break & Safety Expo
Plenary: Beach Hazards & Layers of Protection
4:00–4:15 PM
Beach Hazards: Waves, Currents & More
Megan Dodson, GLWSC
Overview of basic Great Lakes beach hazards, terminology, and common misnomers.
4:15–4:45 PM
Beyond the Red Flag: Designing Safer Beaches Through Layers of Protection
Dr. Chris Houser, University of Waterloo
How layered safety measures – access design, signage, flags, swim zones, lifeguards, and communication – can address drowning hazards while accounting for beachgoers' intentions and risk perception.
4:45–5:45 PM
Protect Your Beach – Group Activity
Megan Dodson, Dr. Chris Houser & Jacob Soter
Apply what you've learned: small groups analyze a specific beach, identify hazards, and design layers of protection including signs, flag systems, swim zones, and access points. Groups present their solutions.
5:45–6:15 PM
Networking Break & Safety Expo
6:15–7:30 PM
Welcome Dinner & Screening: “Can’t Float”
Short film by David Schilling, followed by video discussion
A 30-something Black man named Dave decides to conquer his fear of drowning. The discussion explores accessibility, self-esteem, self-belief, and systemic barriers to swimming.
7:30–8:00 PM
Networking Break & Safety Expo
All times Eastern
7–8 AM
Networking Breakfast
8:05–8:50 AM
Keynote: Safe, Secure, and Silly – Using Cartoonversation™ to Connect with Kids
Tim Wheeler
Tim Wheeler's Cartoonversation™ uses 50+ books, cartoons, comic books, and games to teach water safety through humor and disguised learning – including his bilingual water safety series developed with the GLWSC.
Plenary: Great Lakes Drowning Incident Data
8:50–10:00 AM
Drowning Data: Statistics, Analysis, and Display
Moderated by Laura Rowan, MDHHS. Presenters: Dr. Greg Field, Dylan Steigerwald, Ali Bianco, Maddi Johnson & Megan Dodson
8:50–9:05 – Understanding and Preventing Drowning Project: CDC Foundation efforts across 10 U.S. pilot states. Dr. Greg Field.
9:05–9:20 – The Burden & Circumstances of Drowning in Michigan: epidemiologic trends, at-risk populations, and seasonal patterns. Dylan Steigerwald, CDC Foundation.
9:20–9:35 – Data to Action: Michigan's injury data dashboard for drowning prevention. Ali Bianco, MDHHS.
9:35–9:50 – NWS Great Lakes Current Incident Database. Maddi Johnson, NWS Northern Indiana.
9:50–10:00 – GLWSC Consolidated Drowning Database Project. Megan Dodson.
9:05–9:20 – The Burden & Circumstances of Drowning in Michigan: epidemiologic trends, at-risk populations, and seasonal patterns. Dylan Steigerwald, CDC Foundation.
9:20–9:35 – Data to Action: Michigan's injury data dashboard for drowning prevention. Ali Bianco, MDHHS.
9:35–9:50 – NWS Great Lakes Current Incident Database. Maddi Johnson, NWS Northern Indiana.
9:50–10:00 – GLWSC Consolidated Drowning Database Project. Megan Dodson.
10:00–10:15 AM
Break & Networking, Safety Expo
Plenary: Water Safety Initiatives in Wisconsin
10:15–11:15 AM
Water Safety in Milwaukee & Racine
Deidre Peroff, Rhonda Nordstrom, Lt. Trevor Pinkalla & Phillip Kiley
10:15–10:35 – Milwaukee Beach Ambassador Program: face-to-face water safety outreach reaching 7,500+ people. Deidre Peroff (WI Sea Grant) & Rhonda Nordstrom (Milwaukee Water Commons).
10:35–10:55 – Milwaukee Fire Dept Waterfront Safety: rescue ring buoys, swim lesson access, and next-generation lifeguard development. Lt. Trevor Pinkalla.
10:55–11:15 – City of Racine Lifeguard Program: operations, funding, staffing, and partnerships. Phillip Kiley, City of Racine Parks & Rec.
10:35–10:55 – Milwaukee Fire Dept Waterfront Safety: rescue ring buoys, swim lesson access, and next-generation lifeguard development. Lt. Trevor Pinkalla.
10:55–11:15 – City of Racine Lifeguard Program: operations, funding, staffing, and partnerships. Phillip Kiley, City of Racine Parks & Rec.
11:15–11:30 AM
Break & Networking, Safety Expo
11:30 AM–12:20 PM
Reverse Panel: Community Challenge Clinic
Attendee-driven feedback on pre-submitted case studies
Pre-chosen case studies are presented to conference attendees, who then share feedback, advice, and solutions.
12:20–1:20 PM
Networking & Awards Luncheon
Awards (12:50–1:20): Caty Simcek, Jamie Racklyeft & Drew Ferguson
Superhero of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, and the Wayne & Toni Brown Lifetime Achievement Award.
1:20–1:35 PM
Break & Transition to Breakouts
1:35 – 2:25 PM · Choose one track
3A
USLA Great Lakes Region Roundtable
Stephané Rebeck, USLA
Learn about USLA lifeguard curriculum, networking opportunities, equipment discounts, and regional resources. Meet Great Lakes region officers and trainers.
3B
Risk Assessment & Mitigation
Doug Wiebe & Dr. Greg Field
1:35–2:00 – Assessing and Enhancing Water Safety Readiness Across Michigan’s Camps, Beaches, and Pools: a proposed NIH study with the GLWSC as practitioner partner. Doug Wiebe, U-M Injury Prevention Center.
2:00–2:25 – The State of Water Safety in the Great Lakes State. Dr. Greg Field.
2:00–2:25 – The State of Water Safety in the Great Lakes State. Dr. Greg Field.
3C
Swimming Lessons
Lynn Clarke & Amy Gruber
1:35–2:05 – SWIM Central: adapting a Miami-Dade program to serve children on the autism spectrum and individuals with diverse abilities. Lynn Clarke, City of Wyoming Parks & Rec.
2:05–2:25 – Beyond the Pool: teaching kids the basics and the difference between pool skills and open water. Amy Gruber, South Haven Public Schools.
2:05–2:25 – Beyond the Pool: teaching kids the basics and the difference between pool skills and open water. Amy Gruber, South Haven Public Schools.
2:25–2:40 PM
Break & Networking, Safety Expo
Survivor Impact Stories
2:40–3:15 PM
Rescue & Survivor Stories
Brett Koslow, Crown Point, IN · Second speaker TBD
Stories of healing, changes in the wake of water incidents, and actionable takeaways.
3:15–4:00 PM
Closing Plenary
90-day plan, post-conference webinars, key takeaways
Share lessons learned and actionable improvements for your local area. Discussion of follow-up cadence with 90-day plans and post-conference webinars.
4:00–4:45 PM
Conference take-down. Vacate venue by 4:45 PM.