A2 - Dan Orr
Divers Alert Network, Inc.
Peter B Bennett Center
6 West Colony Place
Durham, NC 27707-5588
919-684-2948 PH
919-493-2942 FX
dorr@dan.duke.edu
www.diversalertnetwork.org
Position Statement
I respectfully request your vote in the upcoming election for a position on the DEMA Board of Directors.
Like you, I work fulltime as a professional in this industry. And, also like you, I have committed my career and my future to
making this industry grow and prosper. This partnership, as industry professionals, is a key element to our future success. As
partners, we recognize the value and strength that is gained by working together for a common purpose. That common purpose
is to identify the challenges we face, develop achievable solutions and put into action strategic initiatives that will help guarantee
the future of our sport, our industry, our lifestyle.
We all recognize that our industry is under a great deal of stress right now. Aggressive competition from other sports, a struggling
economy, business challenges presented by the internet as well as the impact that uncertainties in the global political climate have
on dive travel are all factors influencing our business. I am convinced that working together, harnessing our collective energies
and expertise to develop and implement effective strategic initiatives, we can positively affect our future. My philosophy has
always been to roll up my sleeves and meet challenges head on. Together we will meet those challenges and achieve success for
ourselves, our businesses and our sport.
During my tenure on the DEMA Board, I have been actively involved in all Board activities including: Secretary of the Board,
Nominations Committee (Chair), Membership Committee (current Chair), Finance Committee, Legislative Committee, and Disaster
Relief Committee. Your Board has made great strides in finding ways to serve you, the members, and grow our sport. One great
example is through the exciting and innovative new diver acquisition campaign, Be A Diver (www.BeADiver.com). DEMA and your
Board are also looking at the future through programs such as Deep Ambitions-Aquatic Career Fair that brings the value of careers
involving diving to young people. We have also understood how vitally important effective lines of communication are throughout
our industry. The lines of communication are open and we are listening. With the help of a strong trade association working in
concert with an effective Board of Directors, we will continue to work together and meet the challenges and opportunities the
future has to offer. I am optimistic. In my initial position statement for election to the DEMA Board, I told the story of the little
boy, smiling and whistling as he shoveled horse manure, “. . . with all this manure, there has to be a pony in there somewhere!”. I
want to continue to be a part of our future; to cut through the manure and continue serving you and our industry on the DEMA
Board. While we’ve made great strides in the past few years, there are certainly challenges ahead and, therefore, I pledge to keep
that shovel handy to cut through the manure to find that pony and the success in our future.
I believe that I have demonstrated my ability to help achieve the success we all want from our trade association. If I am reelected to the DEMA Board, I pledge to continue working tirelessly to represent your interests by:
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Continuing to promote the development and implementation of effective efforts to improve diver acquisition and
retention;
Continuing to find ways to improve the DEMA Show so that exhibitors, attendees and the association reap the maximum
benefit;
Finding ways to develop and use effective metrics, through applied market research, to collect and disseminate important
demographic data for use by our association and stakeholders;
Promoting a conservation ethic and responsible use of our natural resources through the promotion of global educational
outreach programs; and
Being ready and prepared to act quickly and decisively to legislative challenges that affect our industry.
Thank you for the opportunity to be considered to continue representing you and your interests on the DEMA Board of Directors!
Sincerely,
Dan Orr
Biography
I have been a certified diver for over 40 years and a dive professional for over 35 years. During that time, I have
been involved in many facets of our industry. Whether it was working and teaching in a retail store, developing and
implementing course curricula in the academic environment, collecting data and supervising research efforts in the
field of science diving or working for various not-for-profit entities within our industry, I have been fortunate to have
had an opportunity to learn and contribute to the sport and the industry that I love.
I am the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Divers Alert Network (DAN). During my nearly 17 years at
DAN, I have helped DAN continue to focus on its mission to help divers in need worldwide while promoting
successful business and administrative practices. As a result, DAN has grown to be one of the most successful
organizations in our industry while living up to the expectations of our members and supporters.
Prior to coming to DAN, I worked at both Florida State and Wright State Universities helping to make diver education
and safety programs at both universities some of the most comprehensive educational experiences available. I have
been involved in diver education for over 40 years as an instructor with many of the training associations including
NAUI, PADI and the YMCA. I have also held positions of responsibility with a number of the training associations
including NAUI (Mid-America Branch Manager) and the YMCA Scuba Program (Scuba Commissioner for the Great
Lakes Region).
During my career in this industry, I have made a commitment to serve through volunteerism with many of the nonprofit organizations in our industry. I have been elected to leadership positions with the Historical Diving Society (as
President and, currently, Chairman of the Board); the Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences (past Chairman of
the Board); the Institute of Diving and Museum of Man-in-the-Sea (past Chairman of the Board); the Our WorldUnderwater Scholarship Society (past Chairman of the Scholar Selection Committee) and National Association for
Cave Diving (past Board Member and Safety Officer).
I have also been fortunate to be honored by my peers as the recipient of many of the industry’s most prestigious
honors including being named a Boston Sea Rover, and receiving awards such as the NOGI Award in
Sports/Education, the Leonard Greenstone Award for Contributions to Diving Safety, the Our World-Underwater
Award and Beneath the Sea’s Diver of the Year.
My wife, Betty and I have been working and diving together for nearly 35 years and my daughter, Julia, son, Ryan
and daughter-in-law, Lindsay all enjoy diving. For us, diving is truly a family sport and lifestyle.