Jim Emmons has been a passionate advocate of boating and boating safety for more than three decades. As the WSF Executive Director since 2010, Jim worked tirelessly to promote a culture of safety among recreational boaters and paddlers. Under Jim’s leadership and in partnership with the United States Coast Guard, the WSF’s consumer outreach campaigns have delivered nearly one billion online impressions.

He served 12 years as president of the Water Sports Industry Association (WSIA), unifying major brands in support of the organization and laying the foundation for its continued success by creating membership benefits tailored to many segments and founding the biggest annual conference of industry leaders. In two decades as a boating media executive, Jim was co-founder and publisher of WakeBoarding magazine and publisher of WaterSki magazine and created the highly successful WakeAwards. Jim is a former Chair of the Coast Guard’s National Boating Safety Advisory Council (NBSAC). He currently chairs the Wakeboarding Hall of Fame and is a member of the NASBLA Paddlesports Committee.

Currently promoting safety through its relationships with 21 consumer media brands and dozens of social media influencers, the WSF’s safety projects cover all types of boating/paddling in both English and Spanish. During Emmons’ tenure, the WSF produced and promoted more than 250 boating and paddling safety video/audio PSAs and hundreds of boating safety articles.

Most recently, Emmons’ outreach efforts have encouraged big box department, sporting goods, and club store retailers – where the majority of entry-level paddle craft are sold – to promote paddlesports safety to new paddlers, the most at-risk group.

A lifelong boater and surfer, Jim lives with his wife in Deland, Florida.