Past Keynote Speakers

Invited Symposium Speakers

CPSWS 2020:

  • Robert Henson: Extreme Weather and Nebraska
  • David Pearson:  The Nebraska Flood Disaster of 2019" 
  • Brian Smith: "Storm Spotter Training Workshop"

CPSWS 2019:

  • Zach Sharpe, Iowa Storm Chasing Network, "Deciphering Weather Information in the complex and ever-changing world of Social Media"
  • Mike  Olbinski, Mike Olbinski Photography, "Capturing Extreme Weather in Photography"
  • Brian Smith Storm Spotter Training Workshop

CPSWS 2018:

  • Walker Ashley, "Tornoades in a Changing World: Recipe for Disaster
  • Ben McMillan, "Twenty Years of Storm Chasing in a Changing Landscape: Stability in Storms and Service"
  • Brian Smith, "Storm Spotter Training Workshop"

CPSWS 2017:

  • Jeremy Bower: Weather in Focus: Photographing Severe Weather on the Plains"
  • Tim Marshall: "The Twirl Project: Tornadic Winds In-Situ and Radar Measurements at Low Levels"
  • Brian Smith: "Storm Spotter Trainning Workshop"

CPSWS 2016:

  • David Pearson, "A Look Back at the Historic and Deadly May 2015 Flooding in Southeast Nebraska"?
  • James Davidsaver and Mark Hosking:"Lancaster COunty Flooding May 2015"
  • Brian Smith: "Storm Spotter Trainning Workshop"

CPSWS 2015:

CPSWS 2014:

  • Robert Henson, "The Record-Breaking Colorado Floods of September 2013"
  • Jeremy Bower, "Separating Fact From Myth: Weather Safety Revisited"
  • Ariel Cohen, "The Moore and El Reno Oklahoma Disasters"
  • Barb Mayes, "A Look Back at The Severe Weather of 2013, and, Looking ahead to 2014"
  • Barb Mayes, NWS Omaha/Valley, "Storm Spotter training 2014"

CPSWS 2013:

  • H. Michael Mogil,  "Extreme Weather on an Extremely Small Scale"
  • Mike Tobias, "Devil Clouds: Nebraska's 1913 Easter Sunday Tornadoes"
  • Jeremy Bower,  "From Storms to Sunsets: The Science and Art of My Photography"
  • Mark Conner,  "Stratospheric Amateur Radio Balloon Launchings at CPSWS 2000-2012"
  • Barb Mayes Boustead, "Storm Spotter Training 2013"
  • Reynolds Davis, "What You Need to Know to Be a Storm Spotter in Lancaster County"

CPSWS 2012:

  • Jenna Blum, "The Accidental Chaser: How a Writer and Weather Weenie Became A Storm chaser, Almost By Accident"
  • Kenneth Harding, National Weather Service, "Tuscaloosa to Joplin: Lessons Learned and the Path Forward"
  • Chris Novy, "Hear Me Now, Believe Me Later: Severe Weather Safety"
  • Barb Mayes Boustead, "A Look Back at The Severe Weather of 2011, and, Looking ahead to 2012"
  • Brian Smith, "Situational Awareness Will Save Your Life During Severe Weather"
  • Reynolds Davis, "What You Need to Know to Be a Storm Spotter in Lancaster County"

CPSWS 2011:

  • Ryan McGinnis, "VORTEX 2 Severe Weather Photos"
  • Jim Reed, "The Future of Weather Photography"
  • Tim Marshall, "Inside VORTEX2"
  • Adam Houston, "The Use of An Unmanned Aircraft System in VORTEX2"
  • Barb Mayes, "Nebraska Severe Weather 2010, and Looking Ahead to 2011 "
  • Brian Smith, "What Not to Do During Severe Weather"
  • Reynolds Davis, "How to Become an Official Storm Spotter"

CPSWS 2010:

  • Scott Blair, "Tornadoes Impacting Interstates: Service and Societal Considerations... stay in your car or head to the ditch?"
  • Greg Carbin, "Top Ten Weather Events of the Past Ten Years"
  • Jack Williams, "The Ultimate Guide to America's Weather"
  • Vince Miller, "Photographing the Weather and Scenery of the Great Plains"
  • Barb Mayes, "Nebraska Severe Weather, 2009 and Looking Ahead to 2010"
  • Brian Smith, "2010: The Year Spotters Make Contact"

CPSWS 2009:

  • Joe Schaefer, Director Storm Prediction Center, Norman, OK.
  • Mike Umscheid, "Under the Meso", Dodge City, KS.
  • Adam Houston, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Department of Geosciences.
  • Randy Cerveny, Arizona State University, author, "Freaks of the Weather, The Strangest True Weather Stories".
  • Barb Mayes, National Weather Service, Omaha/ Valley, Nebraska
  • Brian Smith, National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Omaha/Valley, Nebraska.


CPSWS 2008:

  • Jon Davies, storm chaser and author of "Storm Chasers, On the Trail of Twisters".
  • Mike Mogil of "How the Weatherworks" and author of "Extreme Weather".
  • Mike Umscheid, NWS, Dodge City, KS.
  • Joe Schaefer, Director Storm Prediction Center, Norman, OK.
  • Chris Novy WX CHASE, Oklahoma City, OK.
  • Brian Smith, National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Omaha/ Valley, Nebraska


CPSWS 2007:

  • Bob Henson, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, author "Rough Guide to Climate Change".
  • Paul Kocin, The Weather Channel, author "Northeastern Snowstorms".
  • Roger Edwards, Storm Prediction Center, Norman, OK.
  • Brian Smith, National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Omaha/ Valley, Nebraska.


CPSWS 2006:

  • Ron Holle, Meteorologist, consultant to Vaisala Inc.
  • Mike Utley, "struckbylightning.org.
  • Carl Parker, on-air meteorologist at the Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA.
  • Nolan Doesken, Colorado Climate Office.
  • Mike Peregrine, Stormseason.com.
  • Denise Bulling, UNL Public Policy Center.
  • Kevin Coskren, KLKN Channel 8, Lincoln.
  • Chris Novy WX CHASE, , Oklahoma City, OK.
  • Brian Smith, National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Omaha/ Valley, Nebraska.


CPSWS 2006:

  • "Keeping You Safe," Kevin Coskren and Liz Dorland, weathercasters, KLKN TV, Lincoln, NE
  • "Helping you Weather the Storms," Carl Parker, on-air meteorologist at the Weather Channel.
  • "Lightning Kills, Play it Safe," Ron Holle, Meteorologist, consultant to Vaisala Inc., Tucson, Arizona.
  • "Lightning Myths and Lightning Facts," Mike Utley, "struckbylightning.org".
  • "What do Flash Floods, Drought, Snow and Hail Storms have in common?? -- YOU", Nolan Doesken, CO Climate Office.
  • "Storms of 2005," Mike Peregrine, Stormseason.com
  • "The Enhanced Fujita Scale," Brian Smith Warning Coordination Meteorologist, NWS, Valley, Omaha.
  • Spotter Training, Disaster Worker Stress Issues Denise Bulling, UNL Public Policy Center
  • "Storm Spotter Training Part I ," Brian Smith, National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Omaha/ Valley, Nebraska.
  • "Storm Spotter Training Part II - Multimedia Presentations," Chris Novy
  • "Lancaster County Storm Spotter Procedures," Reynolds Davis, Lincoln Amateur Radio Club


CPSWS 2005:

  • Mark Lee, Weather Bug, Washington, D.C.
  • Bill Randby, KETV, Channel 7, Omaha.
  • CT Thongklin, KMTV Channel 3, Omaha.
  • Sarah Walters, KMTV, Channel 3, Omaha.
  • Phil Browder, KLKN Channel 8, Lincoln.
  • Kevin Coskren, KLKN Channel 8, Lincoln.
  • Denise Bulling, UNL Public Policy Center.
  • Tim Samaras, Applied Research Associates, Denver, Colorado.
  • "The Twister Sisters", Peggy Willenberg and Melanie Metz, St. Cloud University.
  • Mark Svenvold, author of the book "Big Weather", Fordham University.
  • Christy Carlson of "evorticity.com"
  • Brian Smith, National Weather Service, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Omaha/ Valley, Nebraska.


CPSWS 2004:

  • Rick McCoy, Emergency Manager, Van Wert, Ohio.
  • Jeff Piotrowski, Twisterchasers.com.
  • Mark Conner, Nebraska Stratospheric Amateur Radio.
  • Kevin Coskren, KLKN, ABC TV.
  • Brian Smith, National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Omaha/ Valley, Nebraska.


CPSWS 2002:

  • Jim Reed Photography, www.jimreedphoto.com .
  • Jeff Piotrowski, Twisterchasers.com.
  • David Stillings, "The Lightning Stalker".
  • Kevin Coskren, KLKN, ABC TV.
  • Mark Conner, Nebraska Stratospheric Amateur Radio


CPSWS 2000:

  • Dr. Mary Ann Cooper, University of Illinois-Chicago.
  • Dr. Chuck Doswell, National Severe Storms Laboratory, Norman, OK.
  • Tim Marshall, Storm Track Magazine and Haag Engineering, Dallas, TX.
  • Jeff Morrow, The Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA.
  • Cathy Zapotocny, Omaha/Valley National Weather Service.
  • Brian Smith, National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Omaha/ Valley, Nebraska.


CPSWS 1999:

  • Alan Moller, National Weather Service, Ft. Worth, TX.
  • Steve Byrd, National Weather Service, Omaha/ Valley, Nebraska.
  • Ken Dewey, Department of Geosciences, UNL.
  • KMTV Channel 3 Meteorologists Craig Koplien and Mark Lee
  • Paul Mc Crone, Air Force Weather Agency, Offutt AFB
  • Herb Stein, Doppler on Wheels.
  • Brian Smith, National Weather Service, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Omaha/ Valley, Nebraska.

CPSWS and Weatherfest locations:

CPSWS AND Weatherfest Locations

  • 2020: (April 4) at Nebraska Innovation Campus Conference Center, Lincoln, NE
  • 2019: (April 6) at Nebraska Innovation Campus Conference Center, Lincoln, NE
  • 2018: (April 7) at Nebraska Innovation Campus Conference Center, Lincoln, NE
  • 2017: (April 1) at Nebraska Innovation Campus Conference Center, Lincoln, NE
  • 2016: (April 16) at Hardin Hall, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
  • 2015: (April 11) at Hardin Hall, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
  • 2014: (April 5) at Hardin Hall, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
  • 2013: (April 6) at Hardin Hall, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
  • 2012: (March 31) at Hardin Hall, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
  • 2011: (April 9) at Hardin Hall, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
  • 2010: (March 27) at Hardin Hall, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
  • 2009: (April 4) at Hardin Hall, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
  • 2008: (March 28) at Hardin Hall, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
  • 2007: (March 24) at Hardin Hall, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
  • 2006: (April 1) at Southwest High School, Lincoln, NE
  • 2005: (March 19) at East High School, Lincoln, NE 
  • 2004: (March 20) at North Star High School, Lincoln, NE
  • 2002: (March 30) in Hardin Hall, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
  • 2000: (October 7) in Hardin Hall, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
  • 1999: (August 28) at the Peter Kiewit Conference Center, Omaha, NE