Board Secretary
Leighann Day is the owner of North Jersey Aquatics, a premier swim school with six locations in New Providence, Parsippany, Denville, Morristown, Randolph, and Clinton…
Board Member
Chuck Warner is the owner of the Little Dolphins Swim Academy and ARETE Aquatic…
Board Member
John is a dedicated professional with over 30 years of experience in public education and water park operations…
Board Member
David is the Founder and President of National Safety Training Center and its predecessor companies – Elite Tactical Academy and Mine Brook Search & Rescue, Inc…
Board Member
Doreen is President of the NJ Pool Managers Association, an organization of which she has been a part of for has been a part of that organization for 25 years…
Board Member
Dr. Angela K. Beale is an Associate Professor, and Program Coordinator of the Health/Physical Education, Teacher Education (HPETE) Program, in…
Board Member
David Eggert is the proud Owner and Founder of Eggert Aquatics. He has been teaching people of all ages and abilities to swim for over a decade…
Board Member
Robin started her career in swimming as an instructor, coach, and volunteer for special…
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Cait Waxler has been a change agent within the non-profit sector for over a decade. For the past five years, she has been an aquatics and public safety specialist, serving the Philadelphia Metro Area and New Jersey for the American Red Cross.
Highlights of her tenure at the Red Cross include serving as the liaison between Diversity in Aquatics and the American Red Cross, and lead for Recognition Events for top Aquatics Providers.
Prior to being at the Red Cross, Cait worked at numerous non-profits specializing in aquatics safety, training, development, and implementation of programming for individuals with extra needs.
Cait is a graduate of Penn State and while not working enjoys serving on the board of a YMCA in North Philadelphia, going to the beach, and spending time with her spoiled dog.
Nancy Curtis, known to most as Coach Nancy, is a lifelong swimmer and has been coaching swimming for over 30 years.
Coach Nancy started as a tri-county coach in 1981 and has continued coaching in summer league, high school, and USA Swimming ever since. As an integral part of the South Jersey Swimming Community, Coach Nancy has experience on all levels of swimming, including 7 years as the MA Zone Coach.
She has been running inclusion swim teams for over 20 years. Nancy is the owner of Tide Water Aquatics Club, a swim team and swim lesson program emphasizing inclusion.
Coach Nancy earned a bachelor’s degree in Physical and Health Education from West Chester University, and a Master of Science in Nutrition from Immaculata University.
She currently teaches Nutrition at Rowan College of South Jersey. Nancy also lends her expertise to the board of TideWater Adaptive Aquatics Center.
Leighann Day is the owner of North Jersey Aquatics, a premier swim school with six locations in New Providence, Parsippany, Denville, Morristown, Randolph, and Clinton. The school provides swim lessons for infants to adults, private technique analysis, competitive clinics, and lifeguard courses. NJAC is also a satellite swim team of the Jersey Aquatic Center. Recently appointed as the CEO of the Jersey Aquatic Center in New Providence, Leighann now oversees the club swim team, swim lessons, masters swimming, and all other aquatic programming in the building.
Furthermore, Leighann is one of the three owners of Powerhouse 3 Consulting, a women-owned small business consulting company that supports small businesses. In this role, she specializes in operations, staff management and training, and scaling. Leighann is a certified K-8 teacher and previously held positions in Kindergarten, 4th grade, middle school, elementary computers, gifted and talented, and basic skills. She was also an Assistant Athletic Director for the Morristown Beard School
Leighann’s connection to swimming and education in New Jersey spans her entire life. She started as a YMCA and club swimmer and transitioned to YMCA and club coaching 25 years ago. . Before incorporating North Jersey Aquatics, she served as a head age group coach in NJ, where her focus shifted to water safety instruction and education.
Chuck Warner is the owner of the Little Dolphins Swim Academy and ARETE Aquatic Services. He was head coach of Rutgers Men and Women’s Swimming and Diving from 1997 to 2010.
He was three-times named a USA National Team coach and has served as President of the 11,000 member American Swimming Coaches Association.
Coach Warner served on the Executive Board for the International Swimming Hall of Fame and has authored three highly acclaimed books on swimming.
Joe is the Founder and Owner of Njswim (New Jersey Swim Schools, Inc) the largest privately owned swim school in New Jersey. At 18 he was introduced to Pierre Gruneberg of France, whose innovative swim breath training and fear-reducing techniques provided a new approach for swim instruction.
By incorporating these techniques into his own style, he was able to create an innovative instruction which allows students to overcome their fear of water and attain personal liberation.
In addition to the NJSSA, Mr. Oehme is on the Board of Directors of the non-profit Stop Drowning Now, a global nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to save lives through water safety education.
He is an active member of the United States Swim School Association, and an advocate for the National Drowning Prevention Alliance. Recently, he has been working with Assemblyman Sean T. Kean to provide insight on a Water Safety curriculum to be introduced in NJ public schools.
Joe enjoys sharing his methods with others while enjoying his time in and around the water with his family.
Judith Leblein Josephs is President of JLJ Enterprises, a New Jersey based aquatic consulting firm serving private, public, and commercial aquatic venues.
She is an award-winning speaker, author, and trainer. Her work has been recognized internationally as a member of the World Waterpark Hall of Fame and Aquatics International’s Power 25. In 2025, Judith received the New Jersey Recreation and Parks Association’s highest award, the Fredrick Sutro Lifetime Achievement Award.
Judith’s 40 year career in the leisure services industry has included a passionate commitment to drowning prevention and equity in aquatics.
John Famiano is a dedicated professional with over 30 years of experience in public education and water park operations. He taught high school health and physical education for 18 years and focused on fostering an engaging, inclusive environment. He has dedicated over two decades to the hospitality industry at Morey’s Piers Beachfront Waterparks, where he currently serves as the Assistant Water Park Operations Manager managing the day-to-day operations of two beachfront water parks, ensuring the safety and satisfaction of over 300,000 annual guests and leading a staff of more than 275. His commitment to safety, training, and team development has been recognized through numerous accolades, including the prestigious Vera Solis Leadership Award in 2024 from Jeff Ellis & Associates. John brings his priorities of effective communication and passion for education and hospitality to help the New Jersey Swim Safety Alliance create inroads for water safety awareness in both industries.
David is the Founder and President of National Safety Training Center and its predecessor companies – Elite Tactical Academy and Mine Brook Search & Rescue, Inc. He is a seasoned business leader and public safety education expert. He currently focuses on running this large training center and keeps active teaching both provider level classes and many instructor level classes.
He holds numerous certifications including:
David has previously worked as a Red Cross employee in 2 roles:
David lives in the Martinsville section of Bridgewater NJ with his family who are also active in the Public Safety Training / Medical training business. He is a local volunteer Firefighter / EMT, something he has been doing since 1984! David also serves as a volunteer in the US Coast Guard on a specialized deployable communications team.
Doreen is President of the NJ Pool Managers Association (NJPMA), an organization of which she has been a part of for 25 years. Throughout her time with NJPMA, she has been responsible for running a professional nonprofit volunteer association dedicated to the enhancement and education of aquatic management and programs within its member facilities. Doreen’s passion for swim and swim safety started in 1977 as a physical education teacher teaching Learn-to-Swim, Lifeguarding, CPR, First Aid, Oxygen Admin., AED, and Preventing Disease Transmission. Not to mention coaching men and women’s varsity swim teams. In addition, she ran the summer swim program for the Jersey City Department of Recreation for 17 years. Her ultimate objective is to serve on the Board of the New Jersey Swim Safely Alliance and bring her aquatic experiences to the organization to help unify the many aquatic communities in the state of New Jersey.
Dr. Angela K. Beale is an Associate Professor, and Program Coordinator of the Health/Physical Education, Teacher Education (HPETE) Program, in the Department of Content Area Teacher Education (CATE), in the College of Education, at Rowan University. Dr. Beale Tawfeeq’s belief as an educator and researcher are grounded in her mission of “building bridges to break down barriers” in communities, a trend that was established during her developmental years, via personal, educational, and physical activity experiences. Dr. Beale Tawfeeq specializes in youth development through aquatic physical activity, curriculum development in health and physical education, and water safety and drowning prevention education in K-12 schools, and community-based organizations. Her recent professional include co-authoring of the most recent National Health Education Standards for the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE America, 2024), a contributor and expert reviewer to the United States National Water Safety Action Plan (2024). She currently serves as a board member and director of education and research for Diversity In Aquatics (DIA), a non-profit 501 4c organization, whose mission is to educate, promote, and support water safety and healthy aquatic activities for vulnerable populations, member of American Red Cross, Scientific Advisory Council, Aquatic Sub Council; board member of the Habitheque Blue and Green Fund, which was formed to promote and further societal awareness of emerging technologies and techniques for water conservation, ecosystem restoration and renewable energy, while also providing a vision for scaling these advancements for global impact.
David Eggert is the proud Owner and Founder of Eggert Aquatics. He has been teaching people of all ages and abilities to swim for over a decade. David is a certified Water Safety Instructor-Trainer with the American Red Cross, meaning he teaches other people how to be passionate and highly-effective instructors. David is also a Special Education Teacher and is passionate about teaching people of all ages and ability to swim and enjoy water SAFELY! David is an avid runner, traveler, and loves spending time with family and friends. David is excited to serve as a board member for the New Jersey Safe Swim Alliance and promote positive interactions in, on, and around the water!
Robin started her career in swimming as an instructor, coach, and volunteer for special needs swimmers at what is now the Ocean County YMCA.
In 2000, she set out to build an aquatic center and opened the Brigantine Aquatic Center in 2001.
Since opening, the BAC has taught more than 5000 children how to swim and has an established swim team, Special Olympics swim team, and a Master’s Team.
In 2017 she started the non-profit, Green Whales INC, whose fundraising efforts, through the nonprofit, fund the Whelan’s Whales, a swim and water safety program for the underserved youth and special needs community in Atlantic County.
Robin feels lucky to work with her husband, her daughter, and her niece!
