Susan Vosik Pekala, MS
Founder
Trainer and Instructor
Susan brings over 25 years of training experience to meet your every need. She began her teaching journey at a local YMCA while still in High School, working both as a lifeguard and tswim instructor. She served in an Aquatic Director role for many years as well as working for the PA Fish and Boat Commission. In that role, she enjoyed delivering instruction for the Safe Boater Certification Course for hundreds of new boat and personal watercraft operators. Wanting to expand her teaching credentials she quickly became a Lifeguard Instructor Trainer and Water Safety Instructor Trainer. She works part time as an Aquatic Examiner for the American Red Cross visiting aquatic facilities up and down the East Coast. Acknowledging there is an important medical component to these teaching roles, she also is certified as a PA EMT. Susan has an infectious and vibrant passion for teaching and enjoys working personally with each of her clients. She believes in giving her clients the tools they can use to recognize and respond to emergencies. Whether it is working with a group of new lifeguards or seasoned health care providers she always brings a smile to her classes.
Michele Kuna
Trainer and Instructor
Michele grew up in Scranton, graduated in 1972 and headed to East Stroudsburg University. She graduated in 1977 with a BS degree in Health and Physical Education with a concentration in Aquatics. Michele has been a Red Cross instructor in Lifeguarding since 1975 and an Instructor Trainer since 1990. Her professional career with the National Park Service began in 1982 and I retired in 2016. She started her career with the NPS as a lifeguard in the Delaware River at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Eventually ending her career as Concession Management Specialist. During her tenure I stayed involved with the NPS lifeguard program.
She always stayed close to the Pocono Family YMCA. She worked part-time in various aquatic positions while in college and all through her adult life. She came out of retirement and took the Aquatics Director position for a year. Eventually she realized she did not want to work full time. She continues to teach swim lessons, assistant coach with the Pocono Piranhas, instruct lifeguard courses and lifeguard Instructor course.
“Chlorine is her perfume”