Presenters & Speakers

Joel Baechle

Joel Baechle has been involved in pyrotechnics since 1970 when he did his first fireworks display. He started out working at a fireworks stand on the . . . state line and gradually found his way into the proximate pyrotechnics and special effects field, where he continues to innovate today. He tries as best as possible to inspire the creative elements of pyrotechnic progress, the cornerstone of this effort being his 1989 monograph, Pyrocolor Harmony: A Designer’s Guide. The purpose of this is to encourage a vision of pyrotechnics that is more artistic and less mechanical in order to bolster its reputation in the face of increasing regulatory issues. He remains committed to a multi-dimensional, American vision of fireworks presentation, rather than a “DJ” approach of launching imports to music. He has a B.A. degree in Sociology, and maintains a keen interest in the evolution of the arts in society through this season of rapid change, especially through the progress of multimedia entertainment. In other words, pyrotechnics should keep pace with changes in lighting design and entertainment presentation, and not become an artifact of the analog era. His wife Barbara has supported him in this difficult field for over 30 years, and their three sons are all involved in music and art as well. He resides in Northern California


About Joel >>

Monica Blam

has been working firework shows since 2014, has been licensed since 2017, and attending winter blast since 2015. Her interest in art, rock ‘n’ roll, . . . punk, and metal music has given her a sense for appreciating the subtle elegance and refinement in fireworks.


About Monica >>

WPA Board

Sorry, No Biography Provided


About WPA >>

Sam Bruggema

Sam is a Pyro Show Designer for Pyro Spectaculars by Souza and has had the privilege of designing shows for a long time – 2024 will be his 27th Year. . . . Sam started working on displays when he turned 18, right after graduating from high school in 1979. In 1988 he got his CA Basic Public display license #1177-02. In 1987 Sam started working at San Diego Fireworks as a shop technician, prepping all kinds of low level devices, aerial shells, building set pieces and crewing on displays, handling all types of fireworks. That’s where he learned what they’re called and what they do! Over the years he had plenty of mentors including Dick Borgerding, Ron Dixon, Eric Tucker, Ken Nixon, Jim Souza and Jean Star. Since then he had the honor of creating 1000’s of friendships that to this day are what makes his pyro tenure worth it. Sam has done a ton of traveling across the globe to work on or watch some of the best pyrotechnics a person can: China, Hong Kong, Japan, Italy, Malta, Canada and Mexico and oodles of events such as Olympics, Super Bowls, NFL, MLB, NCAA, Soccer, Lacrosse and many theme parks and festivals. The KGB Sky Show in San Diego was a display that had been a long time desire to be able to produce, which he has been able to do brilliantly multiple times now. As a show designer, Sam has found that the few who have this privilege pretty much feel as he does. A display is built with many, many looks from the start to the end. He states “Our work is valuable; Our job is to finesse the pyrotechnics to tell the story while unwrapping and revealing the moods and intensity of the audio track. A successful display is leaving the audience begging for more, appreciating the in-show pyrotechnic offerings.” He dreads hearing: “That was a great finale” The Finale is Just That, The End! – All parts of a Synchronized and Choreographed Display are equally important.


About Sam >>

Tom Calderwood

Tom got hooked on pyro when he was given a (stolen) pack of Black Cats at age 8. He soon discovered Estes and Centuri rockets, and these took priority . . . over ‘crackers, sparklers, and smoke bombs. In the WPA, he found his niche with BP rockets. His involvement with the club led him to be involved as the publications chairman with the BOD for 6 years. Tom is a retired photographer and can regularly be found at fireworks displays with his camera in tow.


About Tom >>

Clara Carstensen

Sorry, No Biography Provided


About Clara >>

Bob Damjanovich

Sorry, No Biography Provided


About Bob >>

Margye Damjanovich

Sorry, No Biography Provided


About Margye >>

Greg Dandurand

Greg has been in pyro clubs since 1999. He started in the Michigan Pyrotechnic Arts Guild (MPAG) and is a current member of the Pyrotechnics Guild . . . International (PGI). He has been a member of WPA since 2002. He wears the hats of President, Safety Chair, and BATFE Liaison for this event. He is a Head Pyro for a company that shoots shows in the Phoenix area


About Greg >>

Mark Devon

Mark Devon graduated from University of Michigan BSEE ’78 and MSEE ’80. He has worked as a HW/RF engineer at many of the Silicon Valley companies . . . during this time such as Intel, Apple, Microsoft, Broadcom as well as various startups and consulting jobs. He began with wired data such as Ethernet and token ring moving on to wireless devices following the popularization of frequency hoppers in the 90s and then Wifi in the 2000s. One start up in particular, Silverspring Networks, shipped 25 million devices (the dreaded PG&E smartmeter) with his design in North America and Australia using the 900MHz frequency hopper. He has 10 patents (he thinks). Pyrotechnically, Mr Devon joined the PGI in 1991 and the WPA in 1992. He began shooting shows with San Diego fireworks in the Bay Area and went on doing shows with Pyro Spectaculars for the next 25 years including SF Giants, Oakland A’s, SJ Giants and various birthday parties and weddings. Due to some wine tasting episodes gone wrong at some of the early WPA he became the poet laureate of the WPA and threatens to publish more if you won’t buy his firing system.


About Mark >>

Lewis Dirks

Lewis Dirks was born and raised in Nebraska and moved to Sioux South Dakota in 1986. have been self employed since then. Was a member of 1st . . . Special Forces and serviced in Vietnam as combat engineer.( Demo Man). My family has always liked fireworks and as my children got older we started to shoot more stuff. In the early 2000’s we started to put on a class C show for the 4th of July for ourselves and a few friends. Along with other people we are still putting on a fireworks show for our family and friends. Joined PGI in 2010 and have been to all conventions except for 2023. I am also a member of the Iowa Pyrotesticles Association and am proud to be invited to attend and participate in Ozfest. This will be my third trip to Winter Blast. Since 2017, I have been on a quest to make falling leaves. I have attempted so many different methods of making them that I have lost count. Overheard a guy talking about finding a small tube from a falling leaf shell. Have worked for the last three years to get a falling leaf made in a lance tube. The method will be shown to you a Winter Blast 2024.


About Lewis >>

Darrell Fiss

Darrell Fiss gained most of his Safety knowledge by accident. At age 6 he experimented with fire in the family garage where the fire turned out good . . . and the Volunteer Fire Department responded quickly. When Darrell was about 10 he and a few friends experimented with homemade cannons. They used ½” pipe with an end cap for the barrel, a charge came from a “Blockbuster” firecracker, and marbles or ball bearings were the projectiles. Their test range was a sandbox in the local playground and the target was the wooden shutters on the local Curling Rink across the 2 lane street. Imagine the excitement as they tried to extinguish the lit fuse!


About Darrell >>

Mike Garrett

Mike has been intrigued by the beauty and ephemeral nature of fireworks for as long as he can remember. However, until 2009 it never occurred to him . . . that anyone could legally make their own fireworks as a hobby. At that time, he discovered two fireworks clubs that changed everything about the way he viewed fireworks and began his journey as a fireworks maker. Those clubs were the Western Pyrotechnic Association (WPA) and Pyrotechnic Guild International (PGI). Mike uses his background in physics and engineering as a foundation to make traditional and not-so-traditional fireworks. He thinks fireworks is the perfect blend of science, technology, engineering, art, and math to express his creative visions. He strongly believes that education will preserve the art of fireworks and make it safer for the hobbyist to participate. You will often find Mike teaching or facilitating educational seminars and workshops related to fireworks at club events. Don’t get him talking about fireworks unless you have an hour to burn.


About Mike >>

Mike Gerson

Mike Gerson started his fireworks career as a part time crew member before obtaining his operators’ license about 10 years ago. Since then he has . . . shot shows all over California as a licensed operator. At some point during that time he met a guy named Tommy who invited Mike to build shells at a WPA event called Do-It. Mike was immediately hooked on manufacturing and joined the WPA to build fireworks at every event he could attend. A few years later Mike caught wind of the fact Harry Gilliam of Skylighter was closing up shop and liquidating the inventory. Would all that wonderful free information about projects and all those handy charts and tables be lost forever? Since Mike had not had a real job in about 10 years (and being basically unemployable) it occurred to him that “Maybe I could be the guy to carry the Skylighter torch for Harry.” After a flurry of emails and texts they struck a deal and now it’s Mike’s problem. Since that time he has updated the Skylighter website and restocked the popular kits and chemicals. Regarding the fireworking community in general, Mike is certain that he has found his people and now owning Skylighter he is “living the dream.”


About Mike >>

Monty Gill

Monty crewed his first public display Independence Day 2006 and has not looked back since. He joined the WPA a few years later. When not working as a . . . professional bio writer, he is doing mature adult things. Definitely not reading comic books, playing video games, watching cartoons, going to heavy metal shows, watching horror movies, shooting stuff, or playing with fireworks.


About Monty >>

Patrice Guy

Sorry, No Biography Provided


About Patrice >>

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