Life Jacket Association
2023 Annual Conference
May 1 – 3, 2023 | Clearwater Beach, Florida
Agenda subject to change.
All times in Eastern Time.
| MONDAY, MAY 1st | |
| 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM | LJA Executive Board Meeting |
| 6:00 – 8:00 PM | Opening Ceremony & Reception |
| TUESDAY, MAY 2nd | |
| 8:00 – 9:00 AM | Breakfast Networking |
| 9:00 – 9:10 AM | Welcome & Opening Remarks, LJA Activity Update, Logistics |
| 9:10 – 10:10 AM | Strategic Plan Review Stefanie Ashley, Facilitation Center Director, Eastern Kentucky University LJA Board of Directors |
| 10:10 – 10:30 AM | Break |
| 10:30 – 11:30 AM | Industry View of the Future of the Boating Public Kevin Williams, Vice President – North American Marketing, National Marine Manufacturers Association |
| 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM | The Human Factor – The Mindset of Boating Without Proper Safety Equipment Matt Majors, Boating Investigator, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency |
| 1:00 – 2:00 PM | Return on Investment: Life Jacket Association Membership Stefanie Ashley, Facilitation Center Director, Eastern Kentucky University |
| 2:00 -2:20 PM | Break |
| 2:20 – 2:40 PM | USCG Lifesaving & Fire Safety Division Update Brandi Baldwin, Chief, USCG Lifesaving & Fire Safety Division Jacqi Yurkovich, USCG Lifesaving & Fire Safety Division |
| 2:40 – 3:00 PM | National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) John Fetterman, Deputy Executive Director, NASBLA |
| 3:00 – 3:30 PM | Roundtable / Open Forum Discussion Opportunities |
| 3:30 – 4:00 PM | Break |
| 4:00 – 5:30 PM | Social / Beach Activity |
| 5:30 – 6:00 PM | Break |
| 6:00 – 8:00 PM | Dinner & Cocktails |
| WEDNESDAY, MAY 3rd | |
| 8:00 – 9:00 AM | Breakfast Networking |
| 9:00 – 9:30 AM | Exciting New Outreach Technique Engages Newcomers like No Other Jim Emmons, Executive Director, Water Sports Foundation |
| 9:30 – 10:00 AM | UL Standards & Engagement (ULSE) Presentation – Staff Updates, status of the current TC 1123 work, and the recent UL rebranding Nicolette Weeks, Standards Specialist / Project Manager, UL Standards & Engagement |
| 10:00 – 10:20 AM | Community Impact of Waves of Hope Peg Phillips, Executive Director, National Safe Boating Council (NSBC) |
| 10:20 – 10:40 AM | Break |
| 10:40 – 11:00 AM | 2023 FAA development update: Rapid changing cover designs enhance user wear-ability Chris Semonelli, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, ESquared |
| 11:00 – 11:20 AM | Life Jacket Enhanced Performance: Pro & Con Trade-off Evaluation Samuel Wehr, Marine Safety Survival Equipment Consultant |
| 11:20 – 11:40 AM | USCG Office of Boating Safety Verne Gifford, Chief, USCG Boating Safety Division (CG-BSX-2) |
| 11:40 AM – 12:00 PM | Life Jacket Label Surcharge Fund Update Steve Keller, Commercial Manager, ITW Nexus Global |
| 12:00 – 1:00 PM | Lunch Networking |
| 1:00 – 1:20 PM | Life Jacket Website John Fetterman, Deputy Executive Director, NASBLA |
| 1:20 – 1:50 PM | Developing a Pathway to Certifying Non-Traditional Life Jackets Gordon Colby, Flotation Certification Manager, Mustang Survival |
| 1:50 – 2:10 PM | Life Jacket Expiration Dates Lee Stanford, President & CEO, Leland Limited Inc. |
| 2:10 – 2:30 PM | Life Jacket Technician Certification Chris Sime, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Takashina USA |
| 2:30 PM | Wrap-Up / Business Meeting Invite |
| 2:30 – 2:45 PM | Break |
| 2:45 – 4:45 PM | Business Meeting |
| 4:45 – 5:00 PM | Closing Ceremonies |
Updated: 03/28/23