An Experienced Team of Professionals

SwimSafe’s success can be attributed directly to the commitment and dedication of its staff of experienced pool management professionals.

Shane Wiggins

President

Responsibilities: Shane oversees our team of regional managers and supervisors that operate all lifeguarded SwimSafe facilities.

Education: Covington Catholic High School, University of Kentucky, Certified Pool Operator (CPO)

Experience: Shane has managed Swimsafe facilities for over a decade.   His previous experience includes managing Summit Hills Country Club for three years, supervising Northern Kentucky for four years, and directing the Eastern and Southern Division for two years.

Personal: Shane’s interests include reading, bouldering, racquetball, backpacking, travel, motorcycles, progressive rock and his dog, Eugene.  Shane swam competitively with the Beechwood Barracudas, Northern Kentucky Clippers, and Covington Catholic Aqua Colonels.

John (J.P.) Hader

Vice President & General Manager- SwimSafe Dayton Division

Education: Roger Bacon High School, Northern Kentucky University

Experience: J.P. started at SwimSafe in 2010. His prior experience includes lifeguarding at Clinton Hills Swim Club, and as Assistant Manager at Clinton Hills Swim Club and Clifton Meadows Swim Club. He is  CPO certified as well as an NSPF Instructor.  He was recently promoted from a Regional Director to the General Manager-SwimSafe’s Dayton Division.

Personal: J.P. has been married to his wife, Allison, for seven years and they have three children, Miles five-years old, Griffin three-years old, and Quinn, their newborn that take up the majority of his time outside of work. He is an avid Cincinnati sports fan, attending Bengals and Bearcats games in his spare time.

Jacob Hooker

General Manager, Columbus Division

Responsibilities: Jacob oversees our team of regional managers and supervisors that operate all lifeguarded SwimSafe facilities in the greater Columbus area.

Education: Hilliard Darby High School, Ohio University BS Recreational Management, CPO, SGI

Experience: Jacob started with SwimSafe in 2016. His prior experience includes lifeguarding and managing at the Hilliard Family Aquatic Center, supervising the Ohio University Aquatic Center, and over a decade as a lifeguard trainer.

Personal: Jacob’s interests include ultra-marathon running, fishing, camping, hiking, lacrosse, reading, podcasts, and his pets, Oliver & Tilley. Jacob enjoys visiting state and national parks in his spare time.

Ben Hoop

General Manager, Construction & Repair

Education: Peebles High School, Hobart Institute of Welding Technology, CPO

Experience: Ben has 18 years experience in mechanical construction and maintenance. Ben has managed mechanical projects including, fabrication and repair of pressure vessels, high pressure piping, sanitary piping, rigging, boiler installation, and various other projects in industrial settings.

Personal:  Outside of work Ben enjoys Scuba diving, fourwheeling, being outdoors and spending time with his wife of 9 years Paige and 5 year old son Renley.

Jason Schneider

General Manager, Service Division

Education: Ohio University BS & MS in Sports Management, CPO

Experience: Jason started with SwimSafe in 2020 as a Regional Manager overseeing multiple pool facilities.  Jason also has prior experience was a General Manager for over 10 years at a Sports, Fitness and Aquatic facility.

Personal: A majority of Jason’s time involves hanging out with his wife and 4 kids, ranging in age from 3-14 years old.  He enjoys coaching his kids basketball & softball teams and attending and watching sporting events

Seth Jansen

Operations Manager, Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky

Education: Holy Cross High School, University of Louisville BS and MAT Middle and Secondary Education, ASCA Level 2 Certified Swim Coach

Experience: Seth started with SwimSafe in 2013 as a Regional Manager.  Seth has previous experience as the Aquatics Director for the Kenton County School District and managing Bluegrass Swim Club.

Personal: Seth has served as the Holy Cross High School swim coach since 2012. He spends his free time with his wife Megan, and two young daughters. He resides in Union.

Karl Weidner

Business Development

Education: University of Cincinnati, BS in Management

Experience: Karl joined SwimSafe in 2013 as director of business development for lifeguarded pools, playing a key role in SwimSafe’s rapid growth in the management of swim and tennis club, country club, and municipal pools.

Karl’s extensive business experience spans 31 years at Cincinnati Bell and Cincinnati Bell Wireless including being the first General Manager of the Wireless Division. Prior to that, Karl had significant purchasing, real estate management, operations, and sales management responsibilities with Cincinnati Bell. After leaving Bell in 2004, Karl founded a successful commercial real estate firm specializing in tenant and buyer representation.

Personal: A Cincinnati native, Karl resides in Kenwood with his wife, Gail. They spend time with their children and grandchildren both in Cincinnati and in Denver. Karl is an active networker, enjoys photography and riding his bike.

Kristen Bailey

Human Resources Manager

Education: Loveland High School, University of Cincinnati, B.A.

Experience: Kristen has been working for SwimSafe since 2015. She was first a Lifeguard at two of our pools in Mason, OH. She became a Manager for one of our pools in Landen, OH in 2018, and she managed there for three summers. In May 2021 she graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in Organizational Leadership HR and Business Administration, and started working full-time with our Human Resources Department as an Administrator.

Professional Affiliations:

• StarGuard Instructor (SGI)
• Certified Pool Operator (CPO) 

Personal: In her spare time, Kristen enjoys playing sand volleyball at Grand Sands in Loveland, OH, walking on the Loveland Bike Trail, and being with her friends and family.

Ellie Wessinger

Aquatics Safety Director

Experience: Ellie’s experience in aquatics began in her first lifeguard class in 2011 and achieving her first lifeguard instructor certification in 2012. Her employment with SwimSafe began in 2013 as a lifeguard at the Mason Community Center. She went on to manage Losantiville Country Club, Mason Community Center, Kenwood Swim Club, and Harper’s Point Swim Club. Ellie has been part of the safety team since obtaining a StarGuard ELITE Instructor certification in 2015. Since then she has certified hundreds of lifeguards every year and worked to ensure all facilities comply with industry safety standards.

Professional Affiliations:

• StarGuard ELITE Instructor Trainer
• American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor
• YMCA Lifeguard Instructor
• Certified Pool Operator

Personal: Ellie spends most of her spare time reading, crocheting, cooking, and taking care of her 120+ houseplants. She also enjoys spending time with her dog and boyfriend while completing DIY home renovations.

Cary Belyea

Founder

Education: University of Cincinnati, BS in Management, Men’s Varsity Swim Team

Experience: Cary has over 30 years of experience in aquatics and management including as a lifeguard, pool manager, swimming coach, instructor and President/General Manager of a national pool management company.

Professional Affiliations:

• Certified Pool Operator (CPO)
• Certified Pool Operator Instructor (CPOI)
• Aquatic Facility Technician (AFT)
• Speaker at CAI swimming pool education program
• American Red Cross safety committee
• Center for Creative Leadership Graduate
• Special Olympics Swimming coach
• Member Professional Pool Operators of America
• Member Cincinnati Regional Chamber of Commerce
• Board Member Queen City Water Polo

Personal: Cary lives in West Chester with his wife Patricia and three children, Paul, Daniel and Maggie. He is an active runner, enjoys backpacking, reading and volunteer coaching for the Special Olympics.