Recreation / Sports Safety Consultants

Richard A. Young, is an Aquatics Safety expert with over 30 years of public, institutional, commercial, water park, and high-end residential pool experience. A California State Contractor, his background includes aquatic facility water treatment planning, design, equipment sales, installation, and troubleshooting.

Certifications and Affiliations

• Certified Pool Operator (National Swimming Pool Foundation)
• Aquatic Facility Operator Instructor (National Recreation and Park Association)
• Technical Adviser for the Professional Pool Operators of America
• Member, National Association of Aquatic Consultants
• Member, National Park and Recreation Association
• Member, California Pool and Spa Association

Mr. Young teaches one of the two national professional pool operators courses, develops problem solving pool mechanical equipment, and speaks at state and national conferences on pool safety and filtration systems. He has published over 30 writings in industry texts and periodicals, and is the managing editor of the 6th edition of the Aquatic Facility Operator's Manual for the National Recreation and Park Association "AFO" course.

Litigation Support - Richard Young is uniquely qualified to provides expert witness services to counsel representing both Plaintiff and Defendant. He has completed mechanical work at over 500+ public, institutional and large commercial aquatic facilities. This work included total mechanical renovations comprised of recirculation, filtration, heating, chemical control and chemical feed systems.

Services Include:

• Pool Design and Construction Review
• Mechanical Water Systems Analysis
• Accident and Drowning Analysis
• Pool Assessments and Reports

Recent Swimming Pool-Related Cases:

• Patron Injuries
• Operator Injuries
• Drowning, Near Drowning
• Pool Related Accidents
• Construction Disputes

Water safety expert Shawn P. DeRosa is committed to helping reduce the drowning rate by training lifeguards, pool operators and beach managers in appropriate risk management strategies and emergency response protocols.

Helping educate pool and beach managers about the risks inherent in aquatic recreation with the ultimate goal of reducing the drowning rate is one of the primary goals of DeRosa Aquatic Consulting. 

Consulting Services	Educational Services	Expert Witness Services
Aquatic Program Audits	Swimming Pool Operator Certification Courses	Legal Orientation
Staff Performance Audits	Lifeguard Pre-Service Training Workshops	Site Inspections
Facility Inspections	Conference Presentations	Report Preparation
Zone Validation	Aquatic Risk Management Workshops	Sworn Testimony

Shawn P. DeRosa brings over 30 years experience in aquatics as a lifeguard, Water Safety and Lifeguarding Instructor Trainer, Certified Pool Operator, and Aquatic Facility Operator Instructor. He is a frequent speaker at industry events including the World Waterpark Association annual conference, the Association of Aquatic Professionals annual conference, as well as regional workshops and training events. For nearly 9 years Shawn worked at The Pennsylvania State University: seven years as the Director of Aquatics and Safety Officer for Intercollegiate Athletics / Associate Director of Campus Recreation, Aquatics and Safety and then nearly two years as the Senior Associate Director of Campus Recreation for Business and Administrative Services. Prior to joining Penn State, Shawn served as the Waterfront Program Coordinator for the Massachusetts State Park system, where he oversaw 66 aquatic facilities including 38 inland beaches, 6 ocean beaches, and 20 swimming pools. He has been instrumental in the development of the American Red Cross Lifeguarding program, having served as a technical consultant with both the 2000 and 2012 program revisions.

The author of numerous articles concerning risk management and aquatic safety, Shawn is also the contributing author to two textbooks: Safer Beaches and The Complete Swimmiing Pool Reference. He also developed two certifications programs used to train pool operators worldwide in the principles and standards for operating aquatic facilities. Shawn has trained pool and waterpark operators across the United States as well as in Canada, Hong Kong, Mexico and the United Arab Emirates. 

Frank J. Smith, owner of Elite Fitness Consulting Services, has over 40 years of practical experience in the Fitness and Sport Equipment industries. Mr. Smith has an unparalelled background in Equipment and Facility Design. He has Worked with engineering and research & development departments to develop new fitness products and improve/modify existing fitness products. Mr. Smith has designed fitness rooms, sauna and steam rooms in over 1000 facilities worldwide. He served on the President's Council on Physical Fitness & Sports for 7 years, developing, organizing, implementing and supervising six national symposiums on "Employee Health & Fitness. Mr. Smith was also invited by the White House to give a presentation to 650 medical doctors during the "Fitness in America - The Medical View" symposium.

The author of several books on the subject of Exercise and Fitness, Mr. Smith has facilitated fitness training clinics and workshops on numerous occasions in the US, Australia, Switzerland, Japan, Germany, and many other countries. His Consulting Services are available to Academic Institutions, Insurance Companies, Health Clubs, Corporations and Private Persons.

Areas of Consulting Specialization:

• Exercise Programming
• Personal Trainers
• Fitness Product Safety
• Fitness Equipment Warning Standards
• Free Weight Equipment
• Cardio Equipment
• Fitness Facility Design
• Fitness Equipment Operation
• Fitness Equipment Maintenance
• Sauna's & Steam Rooms

View Frank Smith's Expert Witness Profile.

Your Premier Source of Off-Highway Vehicle Education, Training, Certification & Expert Witness Services

OHV Training™ provides comprehensive, customized training to meet your agency's needs like no other currently available anywhere else in the world. Your agency and employees will reap benefits such as enhanced safety, improved morale, and increased efficiency. 

OHV Training™ offers both Recreational and Government / Corporation Track classes specializing in ATVs, snowmobiles, UTVs, Motorcycle Dirt Bikes, Dual-Sport Street Bikes, and other Off-Road Vehicles. Government / Corporation Track classes are especially appropriate for:

Forest Service Fish and Game Bureau of Land Management State Department of Parks & Recreation Military Law enforcement Search & rescue groups

Utilities Surveyors OHV equipment manufacturers Recreation business and tour guides Telecommunications Construction Anyone using the above vehicles for work or play

Founder, Bill Uhl, has over 50 years of experience with all types of off-highway vehicles (OHVs) and all-terrain vehicles, from snowmobiles to UTVs, motorcycle dirt bikes and ATVs. Mr. Uhl is a Senior Instructor for OHVTraining.org, training OHV users and instructors in agencies as diverse as all branches of Military Special Forces, government agencies, Honda test riders, Quest, T-Mobile, Kinder Morgan Natural Gas Pipeline Company, Power Plants, and many more.

Mr. Uhl has been the co-owner, operator, and lead mechanic of a retail store selling OHVs and street bikes for 26 years. He has been sponsored by OHV companies to represent the U.S. in international competitions, winning 5 gold medals for the U.S. Mr. Uhl has been inducted into the AMA International Hall Of Fame for on and off course expertise. Racing over 150,000 miles in the most rugged terrain around the world, Mr. Uhl has been named "Enduro Rider of the Year" by Motorcycle Magazine and been honored as a "Cross Country Legend" by the AHRMA national organization. He has also been designing, constructing, and maintaining recreational trails for over 20 years.

View Bill Uhl's Expert Witness Profile.

Trevor A. Sherwood, II, Owner of Pool Operation Management (POM), provides consulting services pertaining to all aspects of Swimming Pool Regulations, Maintenance, and Training. Mr. Sherwood offers services for swimming pool marketing and promotion, safety and health issues, general maintenance, pool troubleshooting, and liability and risk management as well as swimming pool problems and pool-related emergencies.

POM has provided professional consulting for more than 5,000 commercial facilities nationwide and as well as a myriad of state-centered advisory committees. They are also winners of the NSPF® Special Achievement and NSPF® Top Instructor awards.

Mr. Sherwood and his team at POM provide consulting, training, and services for pools throughout the entire Northeast, the Southeast, Hawaii, Caribbean and South Pacific. Their clients include engineers, maintenance staff, service technicians, property managers, attorneys, health departments and homeowners in the areas of inspections, plan review, contract review, code interpretation, safety requirements, and management issues.

Selected Achievements:

• Personally trained over 6,500 Certified Pool Operators® as of 2011.
• Lead instructor for the Northeast Spa and Pool Association to the VGB training team to provide training services on compliance with the Pool and Spa Safety Act to health and building code officials in NJ, PA, CT and NY
• Pool seminars for NJAA, PRPS, NJRPA, NJ ALPHI
• Only CPO® certification presenter at the Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show, the largest pool trade show in the pool industry annually

View Expert Witness Profile.

Katherine Starr is an Athlete Welfare and Safe Environment Consultant who works with clients to understand the needs of the organization, review current infrastructure, and make recommendations to address School and Amateur Sport-related, Sexual Abuse, Sexual Assault, and Sexual Harassment.

Consulting Areas:

• Work with Schools, National Governing Bodies (NGB’s) and Athletic Departments to implement comprehensive policies addressing all forms of abuse, bullying and harassment.
• Develop customized programs and policies for collegiate athletic departments. 
• Educated leadership with a comprehensive program addressing sexual abuse, bullying and harassment.
• Consult on national cases involving coach-athlete relationships.
• Developed sexual abuse, harassment and bullying policies for all types of environment with a predominate focus in sports. 
• Train and/or oversee investigations involving issues of sexual abuse and bullying.
• Mediate issue involved with sexual abuse, bullying in harassment in the workplace or sports programs.
• Train & educate parents, coaches and athletes on such topics as sexual harassment, abuse and bullying for sports, religious and corporate environments.
• Lead group education program with a focus on sexual harassment and bullying for coaches, minors and parents.
• Develop “Code of Conduct” policies for coaches, trainers, doctors and all participants engaged with athletes.
• Develop customized complaint response and monitoring systems for sport and school related environments to reduce abuse, bullying and harassment issues in the sports program or workplace.

View Katherine Starr's Expert Witness Profile.

Douglas Baumgarten, M.S., offers consulting and expert witness services related to Fitness, Health Clubs, Exercise Equipment, Personal Training and Sports. Mr. Baumgarten is a graduate of Harvard University and California University of Penna. (M.S. Exercise Science). He is a certified Health/Fitness Director (Amer. Coll. of Sports Medicine), Performance Enhancement Specialist, Medical Exercise Specialist, Bike Fitter, cycling coach, and baseball/softball official.

Mr. Baumgarten has 35+ years in the fitness industry, as personal trainer, manager, consultant, equipment dealer, President of a large fitness company, and owner of SportFit Consulting. He has over 12 years' experience as a legal expert, on cases from equipment accidents to health club employee conduct. He works with both plaintiffs and defendants, and has testified in civil and criminal courts.

Mr. Baumgarten has contributed to Fitness Management magazine, Boardroom magazine, Club Management magazine, and other publications. His expertise also includes facility design and layout, as well as exercise equipment safety and efficacy.

Swenson Consulting offers Snow Removal Expert Witness Services to legal professionals needing assistance with snow and ice removal slip and fall cases. He is a Snow Expert in black ice, sleet, freezing rain, and slick conditions. He is very familiar with the snow and ice removal industry standard operations and practices across the country and will help determine how this relates to the snow removal agreement or operations in a slip and fall incident or snow-related accident.

Principal, Jeremy Swenson, CSP, has satisfied requirements by SIMA (largest nationally recognized snow and ice trade organization-Snow and Ice Management Association) to become a Certified Snow Professional. There are less than 250 CSP’s in the United States Of America. He works with attorneys on defense and plaintiff sides with regards to snow removal, ice treatment, and snow removal best practices issues. He works nationwide and will travel. Swenson Consulting also offers detailed Weather Analysis services and reports for situations surrounding a slip and fall event or accident and will offer detailed weather expert witness consultation regarding the weather surrounding the slip and fall accident

Mr. Swenson currently owns and operates Snowmen, one of the largest snow and ice management companies in North America. He has Security Clearance and is trained for onsite snow operations at the IRS Regional Headquarters, FBI Headquarters, Department Of Treasury Buildings, and many types of Airport, Railroad, Organ Transplant Centers, and Medical facilities. He stays current with the modern methods and systems used today in snow and ice removal operations, procedures, equipment, contracts, and is very familiar with the types of de-icers used in the snow removal industry today. He has successfully navigated hundreds of slip and fall accidents and snow removal-related incidents. After overseeing thousands of commercial accounts over the years, he has worked through almost every issue that is relevant to a snow removal operation in the industry.

View Jeremy Swenson's Expert Witness Profile.

The Camp Doctor Inc. is a team of experienced consultants who will bring commitment, competence and the highest standards of ethics to your organization's Camping and Outdoor Programs. The company provides consulting services and creative solutions for:

Governance Administration Enrollment Programming

Leadership Structure Food Service Reputation Risk Assessment

Principal, Robert E. (Bob) Preston has a proven record of providing successful Camp Operations since 1993. His experience is in Fund Raising, Growth, Marketing, and Innovative Programming for Camps in the Mid-Atlantic states and internationally.

Mr. Preston has directed 8 Scout Camps and 11 National Camping Schools, planned new camp facilities, developed, directed and marketed the Adirondack National High Adventure Area, and obtained the necessary monies for camp expansions while serving as a Council Executive and Area Director in the Northeast Region, BSA.

View Bob Preston's Expert Witness Profile.