Pat Henneberry, Keynote Speaker

Best Selling Author | Speaker | Compassionate Leader | Swimmer | Optimist at pathenneberry.com |

Session: My Soul Showed Up

When life throws you into the deep end, you have two choices: sink or swim. Pat Henneberry chose to swim—and then dedicated her life to teaching others how to do the same. An inspirational marketing executive and award-winning diamond industry expert, Pat has spent over three decades transforming challenges into catalysts for extraordinary leadership. Her journey from the diamond mines of South Africa to the boardrooms of global luxury brands has forged an unshakeable belief in the power of compassion and resilience—principles she masterfully weaves into her best-selling book My Soul Showed Up. Throughout her remarkable career, Pat has worked alongside world-class brands including DeBeers, Tiffany, and Forevermark, revolutionizing how the diamond industry connects with hearts and minds.

But Pat’s most profound work happens beyond the corporate stage. As a dedicated coach for a Special Olympics swim team, she witnesses daily what it means to show up despite fear, despite limitations, despite the voice that whispers “you can’t.” In the pool, she sees her own journey reflected in every athlete who refuses to quit. She understands that water can be terrifying, that every splash represents a choice to keep going, and that the courage to show up is what separates us and how we keep moving forward. Through nine spinal surgeries, chronic pain, and countless days when showing up felt impossible, Pat learned that resilience isn’t about bouncing back—it’s about showing up anyway, broken parts and all. Her story, which she brings to stages worldwide and soon to the USSSA Spring Workshop, reminds us that you don’t have to be healed to help others or whole to make a difference. In a world that demands perfection, Pat shows us that our broken places are where the light gets in—and sometimes, showing up broken is exactly what the world needs to see.

Angie Baker, Aqua Pros Swim School

With over 20 years of experience teaching and coaching children of all abilities, Angie Baker is a leader in inclusive aquatics education. She co-founded the SPA (Special Abilities Pedagogy for Aquatics) Conference and ACE (Adaptive Coaching Excellence) to advance training and inclusion across the industry. Angie works with Aqua Pros Swim School and owns Potomac Dive Club, where she leads innovative programs for athletes of all skill levels. A longtime volunteer Special Olympics head coach, Angie’s passion centers on access, excellence, and helping every swimmer reach their full potential.

Andrew Kline has over 19 years of experience in the learn-to-swim industry. After selling his five AquaKids schools to SafeSplash in 2023, he joined the SafeSplash team to lead the Build, Launch, and Growth division. Andrew oversees new school development—from site selection and construction to training and launch—while driving operational excellence and innovation. His team also manages maintenance and capital projects for company-owned schools and supports franchise development and refranchising efforts across the SafeSplash network.

Leighann Day, North Jersey Aquatics Club

Leighann Marcelliano Day is the owner of North Jersey Aquatics, bringing more than 30 years of experience as a swimmer, coach, and educator. A former collegiate athlete at Penn State and the College of Saint Elizabeth, she still holds multiple school records and was a three-time MVP. Leighann has coached at every level—from age-group swimmers to elite athletes—earning recognition as NJ Age Group Coach of the Year nominee in 2009.

She founded North Jersey Aquatics in 2007, growing it into a leading program that has taught more than 14,000 swimmers and spearheaded community water-safety initiatives. A founding board member of the New Jersey Swim Safety Alliance, Leighann is also a certified teacher and passionate advocate for education and small-business leadership. Alongside her husband, she owns Tutor Doctor of Morris County and The Barn at Crash Fields, while remaining deeply involved in her local community and mentoring other business owners.

Alvaro has been a national leader in commercial aquatic systems since 1983, pioneering Service Supported Distribution (SSD®) for mechanical and treatment solutions for pools, spas, and water features. His expertise spans controls, filtration, pumping, chlorination, UV, saline systems, code compliance, and operator education. He co-authored and served on the CDC’s Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC) National Board and is a longtime educator and speaker for organizations including FCAJ, FRPA, FSPA, UPSA, USSSA, and WWA.

As CEO of Aquafinity, Alvaro helped unite CES, AES, ASSi, Knorr Systems Int’l (KSI), and Duffield Aquatics to deliver complete water control nationwide—combining hardware, software, service, training, and remote monitoring. Aquafinity also operates the nation’s largest open-architecture aquatic monitoring center and supports self-funding modernization programs that save facilities significant costs in water, energy, heat, chemicals, labor, and liability.

Body Language Expert & Behavior Analyst
Ranked in the Top 3 Body Language Experts in the World

Alexa Gerk is the Site Director at Jim Montgomery Swim School, where she has spent over eight years fostering a safe, positive environment for young swimmers and their families. With six years of leadership experience, she oversees daily operations, staff development, and program excellence. Known for her hands-on leadership and commitment to team growth, Alexa is passionate about building strong teams and creating meaningful learning experiences in youth-focused environments.

Charlie Houchin is a 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist, World Champion, and former Team USA National Team member. As founder and CEO of Swimmingly, he partners with thousands of aquatic programs to modernize swim meets, boost retention, and inspire the next generation of swimmers. A seasoned keynote speaker, Charlie draws on his Olympic experience and industry expertise to help swim school leaders transform challenges into opportunities. Based in Raleigh, NC, Charlie is a University of Michigan graduate who trained alongside Michael Phelps and one of the sport’s most elite teams.

Sal Ulloa has spent over 12 years in the aquatic recreation industry, growing from swim instructor to multi-site leader. As Regional Manager at Premier Swim Academy, he oversees a network of programs across Southern California. With a background in accounting from Cal State Long Beach, Sal blends operational strategy with a passion for people—developing training systems that empower part-time teams, strengthen leadership, and create sustainable, high-performing swim school operations.

Jacob Siegel is a nationally recognized swim instructor, entrepreneur, and water-safety advocate committed to helping every child become safe and confident in the water. He is the founder of Superhero Swim Academy in Palm Beach County, Florida, where he has taught thousands of swimmers using fun, effective survival-based techniques. Jacob also leads Superhero Swim University, the world’s largest online community for swim school owners and coaches, offering training, certifications, and business support. With over 3 million followers and 2.5 billion views across social media, he educates parents, mentors instructors, and promotes drowning prevention worldwide.

Nick has spent 14 years in the learn-to-swim industry and has worked in nearly every swim school role—from instructor to operator. He began teaching at a local swim school, then launched Swim-2-U, a seasonal program run out of community pools. After earning an Accounting degree from UNC Wilmington, Nick and his mom, Linda, opened Propel Swim Academy in 2017. Today, he serves as Propel’s General Manager, partnering with department leaders across the business.

With more than 20 years of experience, Nick has built and transformed service-based businesses by creating employee-first cultures and delivering exceptional customer experiences. His work focuses on developing clear career pathways, strengthening compensation and training systems, and building operational structure that improves retention, performance, and profitability.

He have founded, acquired, and scaled businesses across wellness, grooming, beauty, and hospitality, and are currently helping elevate the swim instruction industry by reimagining what a career in swim education can look like—through instructor advancement systems, rigorous standards, and a premium service model.

Nick’s mission is simple: prove that investing in people isn’t just good leadership—it’s one of the most profitable strategies in service-based businesses.