Annie Turek is a professional working for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources' Coastal Management Program. She is based in Chicago, Illinois, and is involved with the Illinois International Port District, also known as the Port of Chicago. Turek's work focuses on revitalizing the port and reconnecting it with the community. She is interested in creating outdoor recreation opportunities and enhancing the port's appeal to both the local community and tourists.

Working for a non-regulatory group, the Michigan Office of the Great Lakes in Lansing, MI, Matthew Preisser does statewide and regional planning work to protect and restore the Great Lakes and the communities that depend on them. He discusses his work to create a network of Great Lake island communities to elevate the voices of islanders.

Adam Mistler is a dedicated professional in the field of ocean conservation, currently serving as the National Outreach Manager for Ocean Conservancy in Washington, D.C. He holds a degree in political science from Boston College and initially moved to D.C. to pursue a career in politics. His early career included an internship with Senator Bill Nelson of Florida, where he was introduced to various environmental issues, including the importance of red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico and the South Atlantic.

Meaghan Gass, an extension educator with Michigan Sea Grant based out of Bay City, MI, speaks about her projects on extreme floods and her passion for place-based stewardship education. She highlights the United States’ dependence on the Great Lakes and the interconnectedness of waterfronts. Her work currently includes projects such as reef restoration, invasive species removal, fisheries, and water quality in the Saganon Bay region of Michigan.

Andrew Dorr is a dedicated public servant hailing from Vinalhaven, Maine, a coastal town located in the mid-coast region of Maine and Penobscot Bay. As the town manager, Dorr's responsibilities are multifaceted and extensive, varying from town to town based on the resources and staffing available. His roles include serving as the treasurer, tax collector, road commissioner, planner, and financial manager for the community. Vinalhaven is a vibrant, year-round island community with a population of approximately twelve to thirteen hundred people.

From initially moving to Traverse City, MI to open a dive shop, Mike Wills has worked in a variety of waterfront related jobs from working on boats, operating two marinas, opening a community sailing program, and developing three waterfront real estates in downtown Traverse City. He is now the chair of the Discovery Center Great Lakes. As a city that is economically-dependent on the waterfront, Mike describes the current fundraising efforts to help the city develop its waterfront.

Bill Needelman is a professional deeply rooted in the waterfront community of Portland, Maine. He serves as the Waterfront Coordinator for the city of Portland, working within the Department of Economic Development. His role involves policy and development related to the preservation of the working waterfront and the industries that rely on it. His constituents include property owners, their tenants, and the city itself, which owns significant port-related properties and the city's fish pier.

Nicole Faghin, a coastal management specialist with Washington Sea Grant based in Seattle, WA, describes her work in the Puget Sound region of Washington and the challenges of the waterfront having a large industry, land-use conflicts, maritime-related issues, environmental issues, an aging population, and the need to encourage younger generations to work on waterfronts.

Brandon Schroeder is an Extension Educator with the Michigan Sea Grant college program, a collaborative effort between the University of Michigan and Michigan State University. He is employed through Michigan State University Extension, which forms the other half of Michigan Sea Grant. Schroeder lives and works in Lincoln, Michigan, Alcona County, serving the northern coastal communities of northern Lake Huron. His work primarily involves fisheries, working with commercial fishermen, charter boat fishermen, and the recreational community.

Peter Huston, a filmmaker from South Bass Island, OH, attended the symposium as part of the coalition of island communities. He discusses the history of waterfront use in Put-in-Bay, OH, from industry to wine making and currently to transportation. He addresses challenges around the high water level negatively impacting the transportation economy and the difficulty of keeping access points open. Huston’s vision is for the sustainable growth of the waterfront.