Keynote and Featured Speakers

Join us on Wednesday and Thursday for our General Sessions.

Wednesday, October 21, 2026

KEYNOTE SPEAKER:

Charting What’s Next: The Courage to Rethink What’s Possible.

General Session
9:15 a.m – 10:15 a.m.

An inspiring look at challenging assumptions, embracing change and creating the future rather than waiting for it.

keynote speaker

Kyle Scheele

Nationally recognized speaker on creativity and innovation

Kyle Scheele is a nationally recognized speaker on creativity and innovation who has delivered more than 700 keynotes around the world. Fast-paced, funny, and practical, Kyle challenges audiences to think differently about where great ideas come from and how to turn them into action.

FEATURED PANEL:

The Modern Angler: Know Who’s Fishing

General Session
10:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m.

Data, demographics, behavior and the forces reshaping the marketplace.

Understanding your customers is critical to success in a constantly evolving marketplace. This panel will take a data-driven look at who is fishing today and how that audience is changing. Drawing on participation, retail sales, import, and consumer data, our panelists will connect the dots between who today’s anglers are, how they engage with fishing, and what drives their buying decisions. We’ll explore key demographic trends, emerging growth segments, and shifts in participation and spending. We’ll also look at the economic forces affecting anglers and the industry, from tariffs and changing consumer priorities to new ways of discovering and purchasing products.

SPEAKERS

Patrick Finnegan

Outdoor Recreation Lead, Swanson Russell

Stephanie Vatalaro

Stephanie Vatalaro
Founder & Principal Consultant, Wave Maker Strategies

Ben Scuderi

Co-Founder and Principal
Sorini, Samet & Associates

Patrick Finnegan
Outdoor Recreation Lead,
Swanson Russell

Patrick Finnegan is an angler’s angler — and he also happens to lead the planning and strategy for all Swanson Russell fishing accounts. He has over two decades of experience marketing for national and global outdoor brands and drives industry conversations as an American Sport Fishing Association membe

Stephanie Vatalaro
Founder & Principal Consultant
Wave Maker Strategies

Stephanie Vatalaro is Founder & Principal Consultant of Wave Maker Strategies and an award-winning marketing and communications executive with nearly 20 years of experience in the recreational fishing and boating industry. Born into a boating and fishing family, she has spent her career sharing her passion for the outdoors by helping more people discover fishing and boating. Most recently, she served as Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of Marketing & Communications for the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation, where she led the nationally recognized Take Me Fishing™ and Vamos A Pescar™ campaigns. A longtime advocate for conservation and participation in the outdoors, Vatalaro continues to help organizations grow the sport through strategic marketing, communications, and industry leadership.

Ben Scuderi
Lead Economist & Senior Research Analyst
Southwick Associates

Ben Scuderi joined Southwick Associates in 2017 as a Research Analyst before transitioning to our Lead Economist and Senior Research Analyst. Originally from Savannah, GA, he earned his B.S. in Ecology from the Odum School at the University of Georgia. He then attended the University of Maine, where he served as a research assistant while earning his M.S. in Resource Economics & Policy. During this time, Ben became proficient with a variety of analytical software packages and spatial analysis tools, including R, SAS and ArcGIS. At UMaine, his research focused on evaluating the economic impacts of sustainable aquaculture. He currently resides in Colorado, and spends his free time fly-fishing, hunting, hiking and skiing in the Rocky Mountains.

Thursday, October 22, 2026

Navigating the New Washington

General Session
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Beyond the Headline: Understanding the administration, Congress, elections and the shifting dynamics of American politics.

keynote speaker

Chris Stirewalt

One of the country’s most engaging political analysts and commentators

Known for his candid, witty approach, Chris Stirewalt brings more than two decades of experience covering American politics and will offer a timely look at what’s happening in Washington — and what it could mean in the months ahead.

The Modern Angler: Reaching Who’s Next

General Session
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Turning insight into strategies for recruitment, engagement and retention

The sportfishing industry is competing for customers in an increasingly crowded and rapidly changing marketplace. Anglers are changing, the ways they discover and engage with fishing are evolving, and attracting new participants is only part of the challenge. Keeping them engaged is just as important. To grow participation and strengthen connections with both new and existing customers, sportfishing businesses need to think differently about how they reach people, build relationships and create lasting connections to the sport.

Recognizing these trends and the state of fishing in America, this panel session aims to shed light on marketing and outreach concepts that can help ASA members reach new customers and maintain connections with our core customer base. Panelists will bring a dynamic and forward-thinking approach to engagement and provide personalized recommendations for sportfishing businesses to succeed not just today but well into the future.

FACILITATOR

Mary Beth Long

Vice President of Communications
American Sportfishing Association

PANELISTS

Bruce Stanton

Vice President and General Manager
PRADCO Outdoor Brands

Shamarria Morrison – Thornton

Founder/ Agent/ Talent Manager
[esem] talent

Easton Colvin

PR Manager
Alabama’s Beaches

Jack McKinney

Director of Sales and Business Development
Fishbrain

Mary Beth Long
Vice President of Communications & Strategy
American Sportfishing Association

Mary Beth Long serves as Vice President of Communications for the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), the nation’s leading trade association representing the sportfishing industry. Since joining ASA in 2021, Long has led the association’s strategic communications efforts by supporting and advancing its core initiatives including member relations, fisheries conservation, the FishAmerica Foundation, ASA’s angler-focused advocacy campaign Keep America Fishing, and ICAST—the sportfishing industry’s premier trade show.

With more than 25 years of experience in public affairs, marketing, communications, and government relations, Long brings a wealth of leadership and expertise to ASA’s outreach and engagement strategies. Prior to joining ASA, she served as Vice President of Marketing and Workforce Development at the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), where she oversaw member engagement, branding, social media, publications, advertising, and workforce programs. She also co-managed AAPA’s annual convention and led the launch of a $6 million U.S. Department of Labor grant aimed at developing the maritime workforce.

A passionate advocate for outdoor recreation, Long enjoys leading ASA’s Inspiring Women in Angling group, spending time on the water, and continuing to learn more about fishing!

Bruce Stanton
Vice President and General Manager
PRADCO Outdoor Brands

Bruce joined PRADCO Fishing in Fort Smith, Arkansas in 1996 and became General Manager in 2002. Under his leadership, PRADCO has launched several successful organic brands, including YUM and BOOYAH, and several acquisitions, including Lindy, Bandit, Bobby Garland, Gene Larew, War Eagle and Norman Lures. Bruce also serves on ASA’s Board of Directors and Co-Chairs ASA’s Sustainability Committee.

Shamarria Morrison-Thornton
Founder/ Agent/ Talent Manager
[esem] talent

Shamarria “Shay” Morrison is the founder of [esem] talent, a boutique talent management company representing creators across outdoor, fishing, military and lifestyle spaces. A former journalist, she now works across both sides of influencer marketing, representing talent in national brand partnerships and helping brands think more strategically about creators, audiences and where influencer marketing fits within their larger communications efforts.

Easton Colvin
PR Manager
Alabama’s Beaches

For the last five years, Easton has sat on the leading edge of tourism publicity, bringing expertise from sports, events and Las Vegas hospitality entertainment to South Alabama’s recreational fishing scene. Easton began the work of developing Alabama’s Beaches into a domestic fishing destination through traditional media, content creators, television and more. He brings 10 years of public relations experience to the decision-making table and views every opportunity through a unique and creative lens.

Jack McKinney
Director of Sales and Business Development
Fishbrain

Jack McKinney built his career where the fishing industry meets the boardroom. A Montana fishing guide for seven years, he moved into sales and business development leadership roles at outdoor tech companies and currently serves as the director of business development at Fishbrain, where he partners with leading outdoor brands across the world. From his home in Lolo, Montana, Jack and his team at Fishbrain are endlessly curious about what makes anglers tick and driven to providing the best tools to succeed on the water.