Buffalo Grove Park District Receives Aquatics Award

The Starfish Aquatics Institute (SAI) awarded the Buffalo Grove Park District’s Aquadome Pool, Spray ‘N Play and Willow Stream Pool the prestigious 5-Star Award following a risk management audit.

Past Aquatics Coordinator Tim Beckmann, Facilities Coordinator Rick Missing, Facilities Technician Clint Poynor, Director of Recreation and Facilities Ryan Risinger, and Facilities Foreman Randy Smith accepted the award on behalf of the park district.

“Very few aquatic facilities qualify to receive this honor,” stated Leslie Donavan, president of SAI. “It represents a tremendous commitment to safety and training, and exceptional performance by the lifeguard staff on duty at the time.”

The Buffalo Grove Park District staff has 80 total staff members that contributed to the achievement of the 5-Star award. Only 26 agencies across the United States received this award and 12 were from Illinois. The 5-Star lifeguards involved during the review process the day of the unannounced facility audit were Aly Warren, Brigita Braslauskaite, Alex Shkiler, Krysta Walter, Kari Antman, Jon Mass, Jesse Hall, Matt O’Rourke, Jenna Oliver and Scott Stone.

The 5-Star pool managers were Dani Rogers and Hal Bressler. Dani Rodger also received the Shinning Star Award, an individual award given to those that have the highest professional and risk management standard seen by SAI. Only 12 Shinning Star Awards were given out in 2012. It is the highest individual award a staff person can receive from SAI.

Dani Rogers has been with the Buffalo Grove Park District for more than 10 years at various levels on the pool management staff. “Dani is very committed to aquatic safety; and, the park district is very proud of her for passing that passion down to new staff members each summer,” Beckmann said.

The Buffalo Grove Park District is subject to three to five unaccounted risk management audits a year; no one at the park district knows when or where this will happen. SAI plans these audits around anytime the park district is open to the public.

SAI is one of the largest lifeguard, swim instructor and pool operator certifying agencies in the United States. SAI also provides services on an international level in Europe, Asia, South America, the Middle East, and very soon in Africa. The Institute offers state-of-the-art training courses and also provides risk management services to the aquatic industry.

“We are very proud to have the Buffalo Grove Park District as a member of the SAI family and that they have chosen to train their staff using our programs,” Donavan said. “We also commend them for participating in the StarReview risk management audit program and believe our focus on professionalism and accountability gives our providers the opportunity to lead the industry in effective and safe programming.”

Founded by Jill White, a renowned aquatics expert, SAI uses an integrated experiential approach to learning. All SAI training programs incorporate this innovative technique. The Buffalo Grove Park District uses the StarGuard Lifeguard Certification program.

— Information provided by the Buffalo Grove Park District