Keynote Speakers
Lead Regional Sales Manager at Seresco Dehumidifiers
Rami Ghader
Rami Ghader is the Lead Regional Sales Manager at Seresco Dehumidifiers, a leading innovator in indoor climate control solutions. Based in Montreal, Canada, and traveling throughout North America, Rami brings over 10 years of specialized HVAC expertise, with a strong focus on natatorium design and dehumidification – one of the most demanding applications in the HVAC industry!
Eric Knight
Founder and Principal of Chloramine Consulting
Eric Knight is a former American Record Holder in swimming who came to the pool industry in 2012 after developing asthma and lung damage from swimming indoors. He has devoted his entire career to improving water and air quality for pools worldwide. Eric was a VP at Orenda Technologies and HASA from 2016-2025, where he led the creation of the Orenda Calculator® and the Orenda app, Orenda Academy®, and created and hosted the Rule Your Pool Podcast®. He served as Executive Director for Watershape University from 2025-2026 before moving to Pool Brain as the Head of Education Technology. Throughout his career in aquatics, Eric has continued to help indoor pools and their design teams fix and prevent air quality issues as the Founder and Principal of Chloramine Consulting.
Billy Austin
Principal Partner of Shultz Engineering Group
George W. “Billy” Austin, Jr. has devoted more than 40 years to the building industry, developing a career that uniquely bridges the perspectives of contractor, engineer, consultant, and business leader. His experience spans the full breadth of disciplines represented within ASHRAE and the broader built environment, including manufacturing design, electrical distribution construction, mechanical contracting, HVAC service and sales, healthcare system design, commissioning, energy auditing, energy modeling, forensic evaluation, and firm ownership. This diverse background provides him with a comprehensive and practical understanding of how building systems perform—from initial concept and design through construction, operation, and long-term performance. Billy is Principal Partner of Shultz Engineering Group (SEG), a North Carolina-based consulting engineering firm founded in 1976. Since becoming Principal in 2007, he has led the firm in delivering mechanical, plumbing, and fire protection engineering services for a wide range of project types, including military and government facilities, higher education campuses, healthcare institutions, K-12 schools, municipal buildings, laboratories, industrial facilities, multifamily developments, and commercial buildings. His work encompasses the full project lifecycle, including design documentation, specifications, commissioning, energy assessments, ASHRAE Level I–III energy audits, energy modeling, cost analysis, and project estimating. Under his leadership, SEG has built a reputation for responsiveness, technical excellence, strong quality control, and practical, client-focused solutions. Billy earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 1986, graduating cum laude. He is a member of Tau Beta Pi and MENSA. He holds professional engineering licenses in 40 states and maintains numerous advanced professional credentials, including all eight ASHRAE certifications (BCxP, BEAP, BEMP, CDP, CHD, HBDP, HFDP, and OPMP), as well as Certified Energy Manager (CEM), Certified Plumbing Designer (CPD), and LEED Accredited Professional (BD+C). He is also a licensed mechanical contractor in North Carolina (H-1, H-2, and H-3 classifications) and holds multiple mechanical journeyman certifications.
Brandon Mays
Commercial Engineering & Market Development Manager - Pool Division, RENOLIT
Brandon Mays leads the Engineering Department for the U.S. Pool division of RENOLIT. He brings more than 25 years of professional experience in design, project management, business development, operations, and company ownership, including more than a decade focused on the commercial aquatic industry. His combination of technical expertise and firsthand understanding of the builder’s perspective allows him to provide practical, solutions-oriented support to designers, builders, and other aquatic industry professionals.
Mark Mariano
Oakhill Engineering LLC
Will Mayo
Nordsprings
Patrick Bates
Weston & Sampson
Patrick Bates, AIA, NCARB, CPO, is the Aquatics Practice Leader at Weston & Sampson with 24 years of experience planning, designing, and managing aquatic facilities across the United States. His work includes community aquatic centers, competition venues, wellness amenities, and pool renovation projects for municipalities, schools, universities, developers, and recreation organizations. Patrick leads multidisciplinary teams through facility assessment, planning, design, and construction, helping clients develop practical solutions that support long-term operational and capital investment goals.
Tac Doran
Project Manager and technology leader at Colorado Time Systems
Tac Doran helps aquatic facilities plan for success long before the first lane line is installed. As a Project Manager and technology leader at Colorado Time Systems, he collaborates with Architects, Consultants, and Facility Operators to integrate timing, scoring, and video display technologies into aquatic venues from the earliest stages of design. With more than 25 years of engineering and leadership experience spanning both the semiconductor and aquatic industries, Tac specializes in helping project teams avoid costly rework, anticipate operational challenges, and create facilities that are competition-ready from day one. In addition to guiding complex aquatic technology projects, Tac leads the development of CTS's LED video display solutions, driving innovations that enhance the athlete, spectator, and operator experience while delivering the durability and reliability demanding aquatic environments require. Passionate about helping facilities leverage technology to create exceptional experiences for athletes, spectators, and communities, Tac is a trusted resource for organizations seeking to build venues that perform today and remain adaptable for the future.
Dan Foley
Aquatic Development Group
Dan is a dedicated sales professional with a mission to bring the thrill of the ocean to your doorstep. As a proud graduate of the University at Albany, Dan earned a degree in Business Administration with concentrations in Finance and Marketing. His journey in sales began with a genuine love for working with people and helping them discover unique experiences. Currently, Dan works in the exciting world of wave generation systems with the Aquatic Development Group. He is the go-to expert for all things aquatic fun, whether creating amazing wave pools, meandering lazy rivers, or the exhilarating CityWave standing wave.
Scot Soucy
National Aquatics Manager, Structures Unlimited
Phil Collins
Sunbelt Pools
Phil Collins is Director of Business Development at Sunbelt Pools Inc., a Dallas-based commercial aquatic construction company. Since joining Sunbelt in January 2010, he has worked across nearly every aspect of the business, assuming leadership of construction operations in 2018. Today, Phil leads business development and estimating for municipal aquatic centers, waterparks, and commercial pool projects throughout Texas and surrounding states. He also co-hosts The Aquatic Perspective, a podcast focused on the commercial aquatics industry.
Phil Schiffarth
AIA, CID, LEED AP, AFO
Brandstetter Carroll Inc.
Mr. Schilffarth is the Principal of BCI’s Recreation Group and has nearly 20 years of experience. His experience includes recreation planning and facility projects for communities nationwide. His background allows him to approach aquatic projects from both a design and recreation perspective, helping create facilities that are functional, inviting, and thoughtfully integrated into the communities they serve. He regularly attends industry conferences, often serving as a presenter, to remain at the forefront of emerging trends, best practices, and professional development.
Drew Ford
Splashtacular
Ben Brandstetter
P.E., LEED GA, Brandstetter Carroll Inc.
Ben Brandstetter serves as President and CEO of Brandstetter Carroll Inc., where he leads a multidisciplinary team of architects, engineers, planners, and aquatic specialists dedicated to creating memorable community destinations. With over 25 years of engineering and leadership experience, Ben understands the role aquatic facilities play as catalysts for recreation, wellness, economic development, and community engagement. His project experience includes a variety of recreation-focused developments, such as Cincinnati’s Ziegler Park, Bitzer and Dogwood Parks in North Canton, Ohio, and extensive bicycle and pedestrian trail systems throughout southwest Ohio. Ben is also a recognized civic leader, having served on the Boone County KY Planning Commission, chaired the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, and currently serves as Vice-Chair of BE NKY.
Dennis Berkshire
Principal, President, Aquatic Design Group
Dennis Berkshire, President and Principal of Aquatic Design Group, has more than 40 years of experience in swimming pool design, construction, operation, and training. His strong background in water chemistry includes involvement in the design of automated filtration, chemical feed, and water chemistry control equipment. He has worked on national swimming pool environmental health codes and chaired the Operator Training Module during development of the Model Aquatic Health Code. Dennis has twice been recognized in Aquatics International’s “Power 25” for his contributions to aquatic health and safety standards. He has served on several industry committees including NSF’s Joint Committee on Recreational Water Facilities, and has chaired the PHTA Commercial Council and the standards-writing committee for public pool and spa operations and maintenance. Dennis has additionally authored dozens of technical articles for national trade publications, has trained hundreds of certified pool operators and instructors, and regularly presents on aquatic design, operations, safety, and sustainability.
Josh Quinn
Bourbon Expert
Josh Quinn is an accomplished tourism and economic development leader with more than three decades of experience in public service, entrepreneurship, destination development, and hospitality. As Product Development Director for meetNKY, he works with public and private partners to advance tourism infrastructure, visitor experiences, riverfront connectivity, sports and convention opportunities, and regional economic growth throughout Northern Kentucky. Josh is also a co-founder and co-owner of Boone County Distilling Company and previously completed a 26-year law-enforcement career that included seven years with the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force. His diverse background gives him a unique understanding of how strategic partnerships, compelling destinations, and quality-of-life investments can create lasting community and economic impact.
Bill Drakeley
Drakeley Pool Company
William Drakeley is an award-winning shotcrete technologist specializing in concrete science and construction, particularly shotcrete applications, techniques and standards, with over thirty years experience in shotcrete installation, water feature and geotech design and construction. Services include consultation and review, training and testing and expert testimony. He's principal and founder of Drakeley Pool Company, a luxury design and build firm based in New England; and, Drakeley Industries, an international consulting firm focusing on shotcrete applications and techniques, notably providing training for the New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority underground tunneling projects. An educator and advocate for high industry standards, Bill has most recently developed and launched Watershape University (WU) with colleague David Peterson, P.E. to provide the highest quality of live instruction of business, design, engineering and construction programs to students of all levels of pool, spa, aquatics and outdoor living sectors. Bill has conducted trainings for the Colorado School of Mines, the American Society of Landscape Architects (CT), World of Concrete, NESPA, and others. His technical writings have been widely published in trade magazines and e-publications.