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 Christopher Barnes is the co-founder and Executive Director of the High Mountain Institute (HMI) in Leadville, Colorado. For the last twenty years he has worked in outdoor, wilderness and traditional education. Christopher has been a WRMC presenter since 2002, primarily on the topic of risk management for smaller programs. |
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Jill Baum has worked full time with Student Conservation Association (SCA) Corps programming for over nine years, including living onsite at multiple northeast residential AmeriCorps programs, leading the Mount Rainier Recovery Corps and serving in her current capacity as Assistant National Director overseeing western corps operations from Boise, ID. She additionally worked seasonally for seven summers as an SCA high school crew leader. |
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Karen Benton, ND (Naturopathic Doctor) is a volunteer national outings activities training facilitator for Sierra Club Local Outings leadership and Chair of the Local Outings Support Committee (LOSC) The LOSC is responsible for assessing needs and recommending policies for approximately the Sierra Club's approximate 5,000 local outings leaders, 10,000 outings and 200,000 participants per year. Karen also Chairs the Idaho Chapter and Middle Snake River Group Sierra Club outings programs. |
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Lisa Chaiet recently joined Outward Bound as the Associate Program Director of the Oregon and Idaho program. Previously, she was the Program Director at Passages Northwest in Seattle and before that split her seasons between field instructing with Outward Bound and fueling aircraft in Antarctica. She is dedicated to adventure and learning, loves rock climbing and Bikram Yoga and is committed to making outdoor programs more accessible for all people. |
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Robin Chiles is the Outreach and Admissions Director at Passages Northwest where she delivers workshops on working with girls and diverse youth, among many other responsibilities. She is always looking for new adventures, but the greatest one is being the mother of five children. She is a docent naturalist at Discovery Park in Seattle and rock climber. Robin has made it part of her life's work to re-connect people of color with the natural environment. |
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Tony Clapp is a partner in the law firm of Harris, Karstaedt, Jamison & Powers, P.C. in Colorado. As a trial lawyer, Tony specializes in defending civil claims, including those claims brought against outdoor recreation programmers and providers. Tony is a former fly-fishing and whitewater rafting guide. He also is a volunteer ski instructor at the National Sports Center for the Disabled in Winter Park, Colorado. He is a PSIA certified ski instructor. |
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 Joshua Cole is Program Director for Outward Bound in Washington. The Washington Program serves more than 400 students annually and operates in some of the most technical terrain in the US: the San Juan Islands and North Cascades. Josh has been a field instructor, course director and trainer for Outward Bound, and is a Lead Instructor for the Wilderness Medical Training Center and a backcountry skiing guide for North Cascades Mountain Guides. In addition, Josh has an MSc in geological sciences, with several publications and presentations at national conferences. |
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David Critton is Chief Operating Officer for Site Leadership for the Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) where he provides support and oversight to each of SCC’s regional operations across the southwest. Previously he spent more than a dozen years with the Student Conservation Association (SCA) where he held many positions from Crew Leader to National Director of the Conservation Corps Program. Critton helped develop and manage several corps programs based on various models with different emphases. He has also spent extended periods overseas, living for several years in both Africa and the South Pacific. Although his first degree was in engineering, he later received graduate degrees in both education and forestry. |
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Ed Crothers works for the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) as Climbing Instructor Program Director and Accreditation Director. Along with those duties, he serves on the AMGA Risk Management Committee and developed much of the current AMGA risk management plan. His time in the field as a mountain guide and outdoor educator spans 22 years and includes working for the Colorado Outward Bound School, the American Alpine Institute, and the Colorado Mountain School and Guide Service (CMS.) He is an AMGA Certified Rock Instructor, an American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) Level 1 Instructor, and served as the Director of Avalanche Education for CMS. |
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Sam Duame has been in the insurance industry since 1986 and has worked with educational institutions since 1989. He joined the Fred C. Church Education Team as an Account Executive in January of 2009. His experience includes 21 years as an Account Executive with three insurance brokers assuming various leadership positions including New England Education Practice Leader for Marsh USA. Sam has provided risk management advice and insurance brokerage service to independent schools, colleges and universities of all shapes and sizes as well as several well known outdoor educational institutions. |
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Lloyd Figgins is the Head of Global Field Safety at the Earthwatch Institute with over 15 years experience in the expedition industry. Lloyd has worked as an expedition leader, operations manager and police officer. He has an extensive knowledge of developing realistic and robust Safety Management Systems having travelled to over 50 countries.
In his spare time, Lloyd loves being in the outdoors and in December 2011 he aims to fulfil a long term goal to row across the Atlantic Ocean.
Lloyd is based in Oxford, UK and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. |
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 Lee Gault has been with the Montana Conservation Corps (MCC) since 1995, the last 13 years as Program Director. Previously, Lee spent 10 years with Outward Bound as an instructor, course director and program director. He has experience as a classroom teacher and counselor working with various special populations. He holds Masters Degrees in Experiential Education and Counseling. |
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 Lewis Glenn has worked in the adventure education field for over three decades. He served as Vice President - Safety for Outward Bound USA for 19 years, and continues to serve Outward Bound as an advisor. He is currently a managing partner at Adventure Analytics, a safety and risk management consulting firm. |
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John Gookin is the NOLS Curriculum and Research Manager. He authored the peer reviewed paper "Backcountry Lightning Risk Management" published in the proceedings of the 2010 International Lightning Meteorology Conference. He is lead author for the upcoming brochure "Outdoor Lightning Safety Tips" for the National Weather Service. |
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Aaron Gorban is the Director of Outdoor Leadership Training for the Appalachian Mountain Club. Aaron coordinates AMC’s risk management polices and training procedures related to approximately 8,000 programs led by volunteer and professional staff annually. Additional responsibilities include providing training opportunities for approximately 900 staff and volunteer leaders annually, conducting internal safety reviews, chairing the AMC's Risk Management Team and serving as the lone staff member on the AMC's Outdoor Leadership Development Committee. |
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Wilma J. Gray is a civil trial attorney in California, specializing in recreation law. She is a partner in a mid-size defense law firm in the San Francisco Bay Area. After receiving a B.A. from Queen’s University she worked for the Canadian government in Ottawa before moving to California. When not in trial or deposition, Wilma loves to get outdoors. Born in rural Ontario, Canada, much of her youth was spent canoeing, hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and as a counselor for outdoor youth programs. |
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 Reb Gregg is a practicing attorney in Houston, Texas, specializing in outdoor adventure and education law. He is a member of the Wilderness Risk Managers Committee and the Accreditation Council of the Association for Experiential Education. He serves as counsel to a number of programs, including summer camps, secondary school and college outdoor programs, challenge courses and outfitters. He is a frequent speaker and writer on subjects important to the industry, and co-authors the Outdoor Ed Adventure and Recreation Law Center with Catherine Hansen-Stamp. |
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Amberleigh Hammond has been with Outward Bound for 6 years as a Medical Screener, Senior Screener and currently the National Senior Screener for OBUSA. She has worked over the years with Dr. Johnson to edit and update the WMA screening guidelines and recently worked with Billy Roos in a major update of Outward Bound screening policies and guidelines. |
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 Catherine Hansen-Stamp is an attorney in Golden, Colorado. She advises recreation and adventure providers on law, liability and risk management issues. She speaks and writes on these issues both regionally and nationally, and has presented at the WRMC since its inception in 1994. Cathy provides legal counsel to a variety of organizations, including recreation, adventure and sport program providers, camps, schools, outfitters and guides. She is a member of the Wyoming and Colorado Bar Associations, and co-authors the Outdoor Ed Adventure and Recreation Law Center with Reb Gregg. |
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Shannon Hartwig loves the excitement of starting new things. Most recently she created and implemented a program partnering the philosophies and principles of Outward Bound with a national residential treatment program serving youth with addictions. She is currently completing her graduate studies at Prescott College, with a focus on the therapeutic applications of adventure. Shannon seeks to challenge youth at risk to overcome barriers of family challenges, substance abuse, and low confidence through outdoor adventures. |
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Mitsu Iwasaki joined BCM with 15 years of experience in the Outdoor Programming industry in multiple capacities as an an instructor and program manger. Having earned degrees in Environmental Engineering and in Non-Profit Management he feels he has been exceptionally fortunate to have had opportunities to combine his studies, passions, and values and beliefs into roles that he sees as doing “good” and affecting real and useful change. |
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 Jeff Jackson is an award winning educator who brings a business management perspective that spans adventure tourism, economic development, health care and education. Jeff is a professor and coordinator of Algonquin College's Outdoor Adventure professional guide training diploma, where he oversees 18,000 student field days per year and teaches courses in Leadership, Ethics, Marketing, Risk Management and Business Planning. He is the author of Managing Risk: Systems Planning for Outdoor Adventure Programs. |
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 Leigh Jackson-Magennis is the REI Outdoor School Market Supervisor-New England. Leigh has an extensive background in Outdoor Education. For the ten years prior to coming to REI, she used her M.Ed. in Outdoor Education Administration to manage outdoor program positions in colleges and universities in the Southeast. Leigh served for two years as the Risk Management Chair for the Georgia Tech Campus Recreation Department and is currently servings as Co-Chair for REI's Outdoor Programs and Outreach Risk Management Committee. Leigh is a Wilderness First Responder, a certified Sea Kayak Instructor with the American Canoe Association, and has 20 years of field experience. She has led extensive expeditions around the world and has a passion for introducing beginners to the outdoors. |
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David Johnson has been a medical educator and practitioner for 30 years. He has presented on medical screening and medical topics at nearly every WRMC since its inception. He is uniquely qualified to discuss a wide range of topics and brings years of experience as a backcountry traveler and patient caregiver. |
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Tracey L. Knutson is a licensed attorney in Anchorage, Alaska whose primary practice involves working with recreation and adventure sports commercial operators, public land administrators and recreation oriented educational groups. An experienced trial lawyer, Tracey defends recreation companies and sports groups from liability claims, often negotiating pretrial conclusions that minimize time and expense. In addition, she provides risk management and training services. |
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 Alex Kosseff is the Director of the Outdoor Safety Institute and author of the AMC Guide to Outdoor Leadership. He has helped over fifty outdoor education, recreation & conservation programs improve their risk management practices. As the former Leadership and Volunteer Relations Director for the Appalachian Mountain Club, Alex developed risk management systems for 9,000 annual professionally and volunteer led outdoor programs. He instructs outdoor leadership and climbing programs and enjoys exploring the greater Yellowstone ecosystem and beyond. |
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 Drew Leemon, NOLS Director of Risk Management, began his career in outdoor education in 1979 and has held his current position since 1996. He is a past chairman of the Wilderness Risk Managers Committee and is on the steering committee for the Wilderness Risk Management Conference. He has published papers on wilderness injury and incident data and is co-editor of the Manual of Accreditation Standards for Adventure Programming and co-authored Risk Management for Outdoor Leaders. |
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Mike Lucas has over 25 years in the insurance industry working as a risk management consultant and insurance broker for clients in manufacturing, contracting, public and independent schools and experiential education. He and his team at Fred C. Church Insurance have gained in depth experience in the world of experiential education working with current clients that range from Aerie Backcountry Medicine to Project Adventure, SCA and Outward Bound. Mike also brings his invaluable experience on the job as a fire protection engineer, an industrial engineer and a textile worker. |
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Michael Lindsey is currently a consultant in outdoor recreation safety management. He is the former Vice President of Safety at Outward Bound USA, Inc. (OBUSA). He began his career in outdoor education in 1979 as an Outward Bound instructor in Colorado. He worked as an instructor in the United States and abroad before becoming Program Director for Colorado Outward Bound School in 1984. He was the Rocky Mountain branch Director at the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) in the early 1990s, and served as Operations Director for six years until leaving in 2002. Michael has conducted a numerous investigations of outdoor accidents, and fatalities, both as an internal staff investigator and as an outside consultant. |
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Melanie MacInnis currently serves as the Sierra Club's Local & Inner City Outings Manager. She enjoys working with outings chairs and leaders, and training folks to lead fun and safe outdoor trips. Mel first was introduced to the Sierra Club as a participant on an Inner City Outings rafting trip in 1993. Since then Mel trained as an ICO leader and has led hundreds of participants on ICO day hikes, backpacks and river rafting trips. She served as the West Regional Representative on the national ICO steering committee, trained leaders with the Outings Activity Training Program and Mel volunteered on the Outings Activity Training committee as a member and chair. She's an open water swimmer, biker and a whitewater guide instructor as well as a first aid and CPR instructor. |
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Brendan Madden is the Director of Hulbert Outdoor Center in Vermont, overseeing both residential and expedition-based outdoor ed programs. He spent 11 years at the National Outdoor Leadership School, as senior instructor, Rocky Mountain Program Director, Yukon Program Supervisor, and Assistant Director of Professional Training. Prior to NOLS he was a senior instructor at Outward Bound Canada. Brendan occasionally works as a risk management trainer and presenter for NOLS. |
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 Doug Mahon has been working in the experiential, wilderness and character education field for over thirty years. With Rob Chatfield, Doug was a co-Presenter at WRMC Emergency Action Response Workshop in 2004 & 2005. He has worked for Outward Bound for the past 27 years and is currently the Outdoor Program Director for CU Boulder. Doug has delivered trainings to for-profit and not-for-profit organizations on topics such as Leading Change and Transition, Effectively Managing the Conflict of Change, The Heroic Journey, Effective Communication, The Wonder of Adolescents, Servant Leadership, and Site Management. |
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 Will Marling earned his undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate degrees in a variety of disciplines. In 2000 he was trained by the National Organization for Victim Assistance© (NOVA) and added to his skill set and experience base in responding to people in crisis. His praxis has been informed as a responder to a variety of national and international events from violent crimes to natural disasters. Marling was appointed as Executive Director for NOVA in July 2007. |
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Michael May is the National Park Service's Occupational Safety and Health lead, responsible for developing policy and providing oversight to over 25,000 National Park Service employees. He is a Certified Safety Professional, certified by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals. He holds a bachelor's degree in Environmental Management, a Master's degree in Occupational Safety and Health, and is currently pursuing an Executive Master's of Business Administration. |
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Vanessa Mendillo is currently the Director of New Center Development for Outward Bound supporting urban center start-up and operations across the country and developing urban policies, procedures and strategic plans. For the last eight years she has worked across the country and abroad for Outward Bound in roles varying from instructor to project manager and beyond (though she is happiest kayaking.) Vanessa continues to work in this industry, inspired by those around her, blending new challenge and adventure whenever possible. |
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 Frances Mock is an attorney specializing in advising wilderness and experiential education programs. She is counsel to Outward Bound, NOLS, and other clients providing advice about responding to serious incidents, claims, and lawsuits, as well as other matters such as ADA compliance, liability release forms, contracts, and general risk management. Frances worked as a Class V whitewater rafting guide, cross country skiing instructor for special needs populations, and in other adventure-based industries for ten years before becoming an attorney. |
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 Dr. Sara Newman serves as the Public Risk Management Program Director for the National Park Service where she manages a national injury prevention program to support park efforts to prevent visitor injuries at 394 parks nationwide. Dr. Newman designs and implements injury research and evaluation, creates visitor safety policy, carries out prevention education and communication programs, and designs and implements safety training for staff. |
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 Steve Neal is Risk Management Officer for Outward Bound USA, responsible for all loss-control programs, process and initiatives. This includes procurement of insurance, contract development and review, and management of any claims and litigation within a self-insured retention. He works closely with the Safety Team to address day-to-day operational issues, manage critical incidents, and other organizational risks. He has been in the profession for 30 years with a focus on outdoor recreation. After an early career as a paramedic, he developed a keen understanding of the importance of proactive loss prevention. His career includes 9 yrs as the City of Portland’s (ME) Risk Manager, 15 yrs in Ski Industry Safety and Risk Management, and 6 yrs as an insurance claim representative and Account Executive with a focus on the resort and recreation industry. |
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Anne Ogilvie is the International Director of Field Management at Earthwatch Institute, where she oversees operations and risk management for international scientific research expeditions for volunteer participants. Anne has an MS in adult and organizational learning and is a professional facilitator in addition to her role at Earthwatch. Previously, Anne has worked for the Sea Education Association, the New England Aquarium, Shoals Marine Lab, and Catalina Island Marine Institute. |
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 Matt Osgood is the Summer Program Coordinator at Summer Search, a leadership and youth development program for low-income high school students that provides year-round mentoring and scholarships for experiential education trips during the summer, such as Outward Bound, NOLS, and SCA. Matt has also worked for several international community development programs and he taught English in South Korean public schools. He holds a BA from Hanover College and joined Summer Search in 2008. |
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Nancy Oswald is the Assistant Director of Field Operations for SCA's Community Programs. SCA engages over 2,000 youth annually in year-round programming in 20 metropolitan areas throughout the country. The program provides one day, ongoing and progressive opportunities for youth to develop conservation and outdoor leadership skills while building an ethic of community and environmental stewardship. |
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 Nate Ostis is a Rescue 3 Swiftwater Rescue Instructor and a Level 5: Advanced Swiftwater Rescue Instructor Trainer for the American Canoe Association. He is a Firefighter WEMT-B, a NSDS Open Water Diver and an Ice Rescue Technician. Additionally Nate instructs for NOLS, WMI, and the Department of Emergency programs at University of Utah. He is the author of River Rescue: Essential Skills for Boaters. He founded Wilderness Rescue International in 2002. |
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 Bruce Palmer is NOLS’ admission and marketing director, a position he has held since 1990. During Palmer’s tenure NOLS enrollment has grown from 2,500 to more than 15,000 students annually. As NOLS’ primary media coordinator and spokesperson, Palmer has handled communications with written, radio and television press on positive stories and in times of crisis. Web, blog and social media are all employed by NOLS as part of its crisis communications arsenal. |
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 Sascha Paris is the Sierra Club’s Outdoor Activities Training Manager. Since 2003, Sascha has trained hundreds of Sierra Club volunteer trip leaders and program managers who lead thousands of outings for 200,000 members annually across the country. Sascha brings both institutional program management and educational experience from his work as an instructor and course director for Outward Bound, program director for the University of California, San Diego and instructor for the Wilderness Medicine Institute. |
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 Kathleen Pelto has 10 years of experience in wilderness leadership; adult, youth and youth at risk programs. Her specific experience includes Aspen Achievement Academy, Adventure Treks, NOLS, and Outward Bound expeditions with sea kayaking, backpacking, climbing, canyoneering, and river elements across the Western United States, Canada, and Mexico. Kathleen recently served as the Associate Program Director for the Outward Bound base camp in Moab, UT. She has been recognized for conducting highly effective expedition and site-based trainings, providing grounded and consistent perspectives in risk management analysis, and fostering strong mentor relationships among staff and peers. Kathleen presently works as a Senior Field Instructor for NOLS, NOLS Professional Training, and Outward Bound. |
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Steve Prysunka is the Director of AICS Alaska Crossings and has spent the past 30 years working with children outside. As a guide in the early 90’s he was forced to carry a satellite phone. The only problem-the phone came in a suitcase and weighed 40 pounds. Despite this, Steve has pioneered the use of sensible technology in the wilderness behavioral health industry. As the Director of AICS Alaska Crossings he continues to push for innovation that creates efficiencies and improves emergency response. |
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Kurt Rausch leads the NPS Commercial Services Contract Management Team. He manages operational standards, risk management, insurance and environmental programs for these commercial operators. He leads NPS training on Commercial Services Risk Management Programs and is on the NPS Environmental Safeguards All Hazard Emergency Plan Team. He has 20 years of experience as an environmental, health and safety consultant for federal land management agencies including the NPS, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs and others. |
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 Gates Richards is a senior instructor for the Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS. Gates has been involved in outdoor education and EMS since the early 90's. Over the years he's worked outdoor programming throughout the Rocky Mountains, Pacific Northwest and Alaska. He's worked urban EMS in Washington, DC; Seattle, WA; Gunnison County, CO; and is an Intermediate EMT in Lander, WY. Gates began teaching for WMI in 1998 and now bears the title of WMI Special Programs Manager. He oversees WMI's WEMT and Instructor Training programs and is a Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine. |
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 Billy Roos has been actively involved in outdoor education and guiding with Outward Bound and other outfitters since 1973 as a Guide, Instructor, Course Director, Medical Screener, and Facilities Manager. He has worked in the Outward Bound Safety Department since 2004 and is presently the Director of Safety, based in Golden, CO. He is also responsible for overseeing Outward Bound Medical Screeners and co-authored the current edition of the OB/WMA Screening Guidelines with the OB Senior Medical Screener, Amberleigh Hammond, and Dr. David Johnson of Wilderness Medical Associates. |
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David Ropeik is an Instructor at Harvard University, an author, and a consultant on risk perception, risk communication and risk management. He is also the creator and director of the training program program for journalists, “Improving Media Coverage of Risk”, has taught journalism at Boston University, Tufts University, and MIT, and was a television reporter for WCVB-TV in Boston from 1978 – 2000, where he specialized in reporting on environment and science issues. He has twice won the DuPont-Columbia Award, and has won seven regional EMMY awards for his work. |
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 Jay A. Satz is the Northwest Regional Vice President at SCA, where he serves as a senior risk management advisor. He joined SCA 25 years ago leading a conservation crew of teens and recent immigrants to the Seattle area. He has served as program manager, traditional skills instructor and Vice President of Program and Safety for SCA. As a member of the WRMC committee since 1995, Jay is committed to building a community of dedicated professionals to support each other in our important work. |
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Tod Schimelpfenig has been a NOLS Instructor since 1973, a volunteer SAR WEMT, he is also the Curriculum Director of WMI of NOLS. He has served as the NOLS Risk Management Director for 8 years, NOLS Rocky Mountain School Director for 6 years, and 3 years on the board of the Wilderness Medical Society. He is the founder of the Wilderness Risk Manager’s Committee, the author of NOLS Wilderness Medicine and co-author of Risk Management for Outdoor Leaders. He was the recipient of the 2010 Charles (Reb) Gregg Wilderness Risk Manager Award |
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 Brianna Sharpe is currently the Wilderness Coordinator for Enviros Wilderness School in Alberta, Canada, where she oversees the therapeutic wilderness programming for several treatment centres. She has held many roles with Outward Bound Canada since 2003, ranging from Instructor to Course Director to Educational Contracts Manager. Strong coffee, good ideas and a sincere belief in both the wilderness and its transformative power fuel her career in the outdoor industry. |
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 Steve Smith has greatly enjoyed (and grown from) his association with all three of the WRMC’s sponsoring organizations. A two-time NOLS alumnus, he served Outward Bound by leading programs, hiring, and training staff for 13 years, and now directs risk management for the Student Conservation Association. Since 2008, he has also operated a Seattle-based risk management consulting company, Experiential Consulting. He embraces the inherent risks of extreme caffeination. |
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 Shana Tarter is the Assistant Director for the Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS. In addition to two decades of experience in wilderness medicine and outdoor education, she chaired the Wilderness Risk Management Conference Steering Committee for 5 years |
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 Liz Tuohy has worked at the National Outdoor Leadership School for 16 years, serving as field instructor, admissions officer, and program director for NOLS Rocky Mountain, overseeing risk management, staff performance, student outcomes and curriculum. She currently leads NOLS Risk Management Services, which offers consulting and training to organizations internationally. |
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Gilles Valade is Chair of Adventure Studies at Thompson Rivers University, and a partner in a risk management and insurance consulting firm. He instructs in adventure business development, legal liability, risk management, adventure programming and insurance. He has written numerous publications and reports on adventure insurance, has worked for government, co-owned an insurance firm and was a commercial insurance underwriter. |
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 Mark Vermeal is Vice President of Safety for Outward Bound, USA. He is responsible for developing and implementing strategies that enhance a culture and climate for risk management for thousands of participants and staff nationwide. Mark has over fifteen years experience at the director level and managing staff at organizations like the Student Conservation Association and White Mountain School. Mark has been a W-EMT, wilderness medicine instructor, classroom teacher, is a certified AMGA Rock Instructor and has presented at the WRMC since 2007. |
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 Will White is the co-founder and Clinical Supervisor of Summit Achievement. Summit is a licensed adolescent residential treatment program with a wilderness component located in Stow, ME. Will is a licensed clinical social worker and recently completed his doctoral degree. His dissertation traced the evolution of wilderness therapy through critical leaders and incidents. Will is a frequent speaker and writer on the topic of wilderness/adventure therapy. |
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Jed Williamson, M.Ed. is the Immediate Past President of Sterling College in VT. He is co-author of the AEE Accreditation Standards for Adventure Programs, editor of Accidents in North American Mountaineering, and co-designer of the "Live, Learn, and Teach" graduate program in experiential education at UNH. He has conducted over 60 risk management reviews and accident investigations for adventure programs. |
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Erik Wortman is the Assistant Director of Logistics and Risk Management at AICS, Alaska Crossings. Masked as a Head Guide and lead trainer in the Crossings organization, he secretly develops and manages databases. His previous experience includes teaching conservation science and organizing you youth trail crews for the USFS. Erik received a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science from the Colorado College. |
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Dave Yacubian consults independently in the San Francisco Bay Area and for NOLS Professional Training. From 2005-2010, he was the Risk Management Director for NatureBridge. He is certified as a W-EMT and instructs for WMI of NOLS. Since 2006, Dave has volunteered and served on the board of directors of ETC, an organization that provides outdoor adventures for disabled participants. He lives in San Francisco with his wife and two daughters. |
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 Janet Zeller is the National Accessibility Program Manager for the U.S. Forest Service and is responsible for the development and implementation of legally compliant policies and operating procedures that both manage risk and ensure equal opportunity for all people, including people with disabilities. These actions take place within the 175 National Forest and Grasslands across the U. S. as well as through the over 5,000 outfitters and guides and 95% of the major ski areas all operating on the 193 million acres of National Forest System lands across he U.S. Janet also works with U.S. and local attorneys as well as providing the training at a wide range of venues. Janet instructs the development of essential eligibility criteria (EEC) at forums across the U.S. |
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 Lester Zook is the director of the Outdoor Ministry and Adventure Leadership program at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. His doctorate is from the University of Virginia (1995). In 2004, he started WILD GUYde Adventures, providing adventure guiding and staff training for summer camps, groups, and families in the various back-country areas of Virginia and West Virginia. |
