2025 Symposium Presentation Descriptions
Laura Wilkinson is an Olympic gold medalist, World Champion, author, speaker, and mindset coach who helps athletes conquer fear and perform with confidence.
Told she was too old to start diving, Laura began at 15, was kicked off her high school team, and just one year later became a national champion. She made history by winning Olympic gold in 2000 with a broken foot, one of the greatest upsets in Olympic history.
Laura is the only woman to win all three major world titles in platform diving: the Olympics, World Cup, and World Championships. She came out of retirement at 39, made the 2021 Olympic Trials final at 43, and continues to inspire as a homeschooling mother of four, author of Life at 10 Meters, host of the Pursuit of Gold podcast, and creator of the Confident Competitor program.
She now coaches competitive athletes of all levels on mindset and high performance, helping them eliminate anxiety, break through plateaus, and build unshakable confidence.
What Judges See, What They Value, and How You Can Improve
We are honored to welcome Amy Kwan, internationally recognized diving official and U.S. Judge at the 2025 World Championships, as a featured presenter at the 2025 U.S. PDCA Symposium.
Amy brings a wealth of experience at the highest levels of the sport, and she is committed to helping coaches, athletes, and fellow judges understand the judging process from the inside out. She is also the Chair of USA Diving Judges Commission.
Her session will offer a rare behind-the-scenes look at how elite-level judging works, what judges truly look for during competition, and how coaches can better prepare their athletes to succeed — not just through technique, but through presentation, consistency, and strategy.
What You’ll Learn in This Session
Amy will cover critical topics such as:
- What judges are really looking for at different levels of competition
- How small details influence scoring, from entries and takeoffs to presence and poise
- The benefits of neutral judging and how bias, even unconscious, can affect scores
- How coaches can build routines and habits that align with judging expectations
- How to develop your own judging skills and better understand the criteria in real time
- Strategies for helping your athletes understand judging without obsessing over scores
- The importance of communication between judges, meet hosts, and coaches
Amy will also share insights from her experience judging at the World Championships, where consistency, fairness, and pressure reach an entirely different level. Her stories and advice will help demystify the judging process and provide clarity on how athletes and coaches can adapt for success.
Why This Session Is Valuable
Judging is often misunderstood, yet it plays a central role in the sport of diving. Miscommunication between coaches and judges, frustration over scoring, and lack of understanding can create tension and ultimately hold athletes back.
This session helps bridge that gap by:
- Promoting transparency, fairness, and education
- Empowering coaches to better teach and advocate for their athletes
- Encouraging judges to reflect on their own consistency and standards
- Bringing greater collaboration and trust across the diving community
Whether you are a seasoned coach, a developing judge, or someone looking to better support athlete performance, this session will help you view judging through a more informed and productive lens.
Join Amy Kwan for a session that will sharpen your eye, elevate your coaching, and strengthen the integrity of the sport we all love.
Real Scenarios. Real Solutions. Real Growth.
Interactive Workshop Facilitated by Dr. Chelsea Ale
Whether you are coaching at the high school, club, or collegiate level, every coach and program leader will face tough moments. From athlete safety concerns and parental conflicts to internal team dynamics, financial issues, or public relations challenges, how you respond in those moments can define your program and shape your leadership.
That is why the U.S. PDCA Symposium will feature a highly interactive Crisis Management Workshop, led by Dr. Chelsea Ale, designed to help coaches and leaders build practical skills for navigating real-world situations with clarity, empathy, and professionalism.
What to Expect
Participants will be divided into small groups and presented with realistic crisis scenarios that could happen in any diving setting. Examples may include:
- An athlete experiencing a mental health emergency during the season
- A parent posting complaints publicly about coaching decisions
- A safety concern during practice that draws attention from administration or media
- A conflict between teammates that disrupts training and team culture
- A facility issue or budget cut that threatens your program’s operations
Each group will work together to discuss the situation, evaluate options, and determine the best course of action. The goal will be to think critically about the perspectives of everyone involved — including the athlete, parents, coaching staff, organization, and community. Following the small-group discussions, everyone will reconvene to walk through the possible responses, reflect on strengths and weaknesses, and engage in guided conversation about leadership, communication, and values-based decision-making.
Why This Workshop Matters
Great coaching goes beyond technique and training. It requires leadership, communication, and the ability to respond to adversity with professionalism and care. How you handle challenges will directly impact the success and reputation of your program.
This workshop will help you:
- Strengthen your communication and leadership skills
- Learn from other coaches’ experiences and perspectives
- Anticipate potential challenges and prepare effectively
- Build confidence in your decision-making process
- Develop strategies that are both ethical and practical
Join Dr. Chelsea Ale and fellow coaches for this essential workshop.
Brad Bowen (M.Ed., CSCS, SCCC) is an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at the University of
Alabama, working with the Crimson Tide gymnastics and diving programs. He also
serves as the department’s intern coordinator, mentoring future professionals in the
field.
Bowen earned both his B.S. in Kinesiology (2016) and M.Ed. in Adult Education (2018)
from Auburn University, where he began his career as a strength and conditioning intern
and graduate assistant. During that time, he worked with a variety of sports, including
gymnastics, tennis, and swimming & diving, before spending a year as an assistant
coach at Auburn.
His career spanned the private sector with Godspeed in Birmingham, AL, where he
trained NFL athletes and youth athletes, as well as head strength and conditioning roles
at Birmingham-Southern College and the University of Montevallo, where he built and
directed entire strength programs.
Certified through both the NSCA (CSCS) and CSCCa (SCCC), Bowen is recognized for
his expertise in sport-specific training with a focus on performance, resiliency, and
athlete development, particularly within gymnastics and diving.
Gerry Dunn is the Director of Strategic Initiatives for USA Diving and was previously the Chairman of the National Masters Diving program. Dunn is a certified World Aquatics judge and continues to serve as a diving official for World Aquatics, Big Ten and NCAA Championships. He has also served on the Board of Directors of USA Diving.
Dunn was the coach of record for USA Diving during International Masters events such as the Pan-American Masters Games (2022) and the FINA World Masters Championships (2017, 2019). He is an accomplished Masters diver and at 65 is still competing on the national and international level. He is also a dual citizen of Ireland and became the oldest senior competitor at the Irish Open Diving Championships in 2018.
How to Stand Out and Succeed in Diving and Beyond
We are excited to welcome Nick Gayes, founder of Springboard Creative, as a featured speaker at the 2025 U.S. PDCA Symposium. Nick is a nationally recognized branding expert who has helped organizations, teams, and individuals craft championship-level brands that connect, communicate, and inspire.
In the world of diving and sports more broadly, branding is no longer optional. Whether you are trying to grow your team, attract athletes, gain support from your school or club, build a strong social media presence, or elevate your professional image as a coach, a clear and unified brand is essential.
Nick will lead an insightful and practical session focused on:
- Branding your program so it communicates professionalism, value, and identity
- Branding yourself as a coach and leader with consistency, confidence, and clarity
- Marketing your team through storytelling, visuals, and strategic messaging
- Promoting your program in ways that resonate with athletes, parents, administrators, and sponsors
- Creating a unified visual identity across platforms, uniforms, signage, and materials
- Developing a strategy that reflects your values, vision, and purpose
Nick’s approach combines psychology, market research, creative design, and storytelling to help organizations and individuals “Get Your Bounce” — a concept rooted in building brands that reflect who you truly are while helping you connect more powerfully with your audience.
Why This Session Matters
In today’s competitive landscape, having a successful program is not just about coaching talent. It is also about how your program is perceived.
- Are you clearly communicating your mission and values to your athletes and parents?
- Does your website, logo, and social media reflect the quality and professionalism of your coaching?
- Are you positioning your team for growth, funding, and long-term sustainability?
Nick will give you the tools and knowledge to answer those questions with confidence and action.
Join us for this one-of-a-kind session and learn how to brand with purpose, lead with clarity, and stand out with authenticity.
Jacqueline Marie Gonzalez, M.S., LAT, ATC, is the associate athletic trainer for softball at University of Texas at San Antonio. She previously worked with the swim and dive team at the University of Alabama from 2023 to 2025. During this time, she worked closely with the dive team and head diving coach Beau Bunn. Her time with this team helped her grow as a professional and taught her to think outside the box when it comes to care and prevention for athletes. In 2025, she transitioned to assistant athletic trainer for her alma mater, Texas A&M at San Antonio, and serves 6 athletic teams with the head athletic trainer. She graduated from UTSA in 2020 with a Bachelor’s in Kinesiology and earned her Master’s in Athletic Training from Texas A&M University in 2023.
Turning Diving into a Sustainable, Exciting, and Profitable Business
We are thrilled to welcome Aaron Hintz, Head Coach and Program Director of Carolina Diving Academy, as a featured speaker at the 2025 U.S. PDCA Symposium. Aaron is not only a highly respected coach but also a visionary program builder and event creator who has discovered how to make a diving program sustainable, exciting, and financially successful.
Aaron has built Carolina Diving Academy into a standout example of how to run a diving club as a true business — one that supports its athletes, engages the community, and builds lasting success. Even more impressive is what he has done with the Carolina Big Dive Invitational, an event that is quickly becoming one of the most unique and talked-about meets in the country.
What Makes the Carolina Big Dive So Special?
In a sport where meets can often feel long, underwhelming, and financially draining, Aaron has created something that feels like a show and operates like a well-run business.
His meet includes:
- Cash prizes for athletes who make the podium, which is rarely seen in youth diving
- Event sponsors that help cover costs and generate revenue
- High-quality promotion and production, including livestreams on YouTube and highlight videos
- A professional announcer who keeps the audience informed and entertained
- A fun and fast-paced format that keeps divers and spectators engaged
- A clear and efficient budget strategy that allows the event to be profitable
This isn’t just about making meets fun. It’s about redefining what a diving event can be — competitive, energetic, sustainable, and community-oriented. Aaron will explain how he brought this vision to life, the steps he took to make it successful, and why more meets like this should exist across the country.
What You’ll Learn in This Session
Aaron will share:
- How to structure your diving program as a business, including pricing, staffing, planning, and communication
- How to build a brand and team culture that attracts and retains athletes
- How to run a diving invitational that is profitable, engaging, and respected
- Ways to improve how we engage with parents, athletes, sponsors, and fans
- How creativity and innovation can bring new energy and sustainability to diving
Why This Session Is a Must-Attend
Many diving programs struggle to stay financially viable. Many meets are losing money and enthusiasm. Aaron Hintz is proving there is a better way — and he is ready to share how.
Whether you are a coach, meet director, administrator, or club leader, this session will give you real tools, ideas, and inspiration to:
- Grow your program
- Improve your events
- Engage your audience
- Create a stronger, more stable future for diving
Join us for this exciting session and learn how to build something better — for your team, your events, and the sport of diving.
Dr. Jason Kostrna is an award-winning, nationally recognized leader in the field of mental performance. He holds a Ph.D. in Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology from Florida State University and is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant® (CMPC) through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). Dr. Kostrna is an Associate Professor of Sport and Exercise Psychology at Florida International University, where he integrates cutting-edge research on motivation, attention, and decision-making with real-world consulting across all levels of sport — from youth athletes to Olympians.
For over a decade, Dr. Kostrna has worked closely with divers, serving as a mental performance consultant at the youth, collegiate, and Olympic levels. He has been a member of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee’s Mental Health and Performance Directory, an approved CMPC® mentor, and currently chairs AASP’s national certification exam development committee.
His research, funded by over $1 million in competitive grants, explores decision-making under stress, mindfulness interventions in sport, and the role of structured routines in enhancing performance, learning, and recovery. A scientist-practitioner, Dr. Kostrna regularly publishes peer-reviewed studies evaluating the effectiveness of his interventions and remains committed to advancing the science of mental performance while delivering practical tools to athletes and coaches alike.
Preparation, Protection, and Professionalism in a Changing Landscape
Interactive Panel Led by Courtney Gills, Bill Walker, and Kathy Bonuchi
In today’s world, legal awareness is essential for coaches, club directors, and meet organizers. As diving professionals, we are responsible not only for athlete development and safety but also for navigating a complex landscape of legal obligations, liabilities, and potential risks.
That is why the U.S. PDCA Symposium will feature a critical panel discussion on legal issues in diving, bringing together experts with experience in sport law, insurance, athlete safety, and crisis response.
What This Panel Will Cover
This session will focus on what every coach, director, and administrator needs to know before, during, and after a legal situation arises. Topics will include:
- What to do if a legal issue arises in your program or at your event
- How to protect yourself and your staff through contracts, waivers, and proper documentation
- Best practices for risk management and liability coverage
- How to handle parent complaints, injuries, insurance claims, or allegations with professionalism and care
- Policies you should have in place such as social media guidelines, communication protocols, and reporting procedures
- How to prepare in advance so you are not scrambling when something happens
- What to say and what not to say if a crisis or claim arises
- The importance of documentation, transparency, and having a plan
The panel will feature legal experts, coaches who have navigated difficult situations, and professionals with experience managing risk in youth and collegiate sports.
Why This Session Is Important
Most coaches do not receive formal training on legal or liability issues. However, a single incident can affect your career, your athletes, and the future of your program. Knowing how to protect yourself and your athletes ahead of time is not just smart — it is essential.
This session will provide real-world examples, practical tools, and expert insight to help you:
- Stay proactive and compliant
- Avoid common mistakes that lead to legal problems
- Understand your rights and responsibilities
- Build a safer, more secure program for your athletes and staff
Who Should Attend
This session is designed for:
- Coaches at all levels
- Club directors and administrators
- Meet hosts and event organizers
- Board members and volunteers working with youth or high school programs
- Anyone involved with minors in a sport setting
This session may not be the flashiest, but it could be one of the most important. Being prepared legally helps you protect your athletes, your career, and the future of diving.
Interactive Panel Led by Amy Cozad Magaña with Laura Wilkinson, Julia Vincent, and Kyndal Knight
Amy Cozad Magaña
2016 Olympian in synchronized platform and 10x US National Champion, she was also the recipient of the 2016 Sagamore of the Wabash Award and 2013 Big Ten Medal of Honor (Indiana University). Amy began diving at age 12 in Indianapolis where she finished her career 18 years later.
She is currently the Staff Accountant for USA Diving Inc. overseeing all of the accounting and financial matters for the organization.
Amy and her husband Alex have a one year old son, Felix.
Julia Vincent
The native of South Africa came to the US where she competed collegiately for South Carolina. She was a 3x NCAA All-American as well as a 3x Olympian for South Africa, making the 3m finals in 2024. She also competed in multiple World Championships and World Cup events. She retired from diving after the 2024 Games.
Julia currently lives in Lexington, KY with her spouse Briggs and coaches at Kentucky Dive Club and Translyvania University.
Kyndal Knight
A native of North Carolina, Kyndal graduated from the University of Kentucky as a 10x NCAA All-American. She was 3rd in 3m synchro and 8th in 3m at the 2024 US Olympic Trials. Kyndal is a member of the USA Diving Tier Team and competes for the USA and just recently finished 7th in mixed 3m synchro at the 2025 World Championships in Singapore.
She currently lives and trains in Lexington, KY while working on her Masters in marketing.