Expert Details
Zip Line Accidents, Aerial Adventure Park Accidents, Adventure Activity Operations, Tour Operator Risk Management
ID: 738319
Michigan, USA
Expert holds degrees in Wilderness Leadership from Prescott College (1998) and a master's in training and development from Oakland University (2004). He has worked with numerous Fortune 500 companies as a business consultant, authored and published climbing guides, worked as a field instructor for the Outward Bound School, and is regularly retained as a zip line and adventure park expert witness.
Expert currently serves on the Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) and previously served in the following roles: ACCT Board Member, and the ACCT Accreditation and Certification Committee. He is a participating member of the ASTM F24.61 sub-committee, which oversees the development and maintenance of ASTM F2959 Standard Practice for Special Requirements for Aerial Adventure Courses. He is certified as an ACCT Level II Inspector, NAARSO Level II Inspector, ACCT Approved Operation Reviewer, and Ontario TSSA Zip Line Mechanic.
While Expert's work conducting inspections, training staff, and consulting have taken him to almost every U.S. state and abroad, he has been retained to investigate accidents and opine on matters in Alaska, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 1998 | Degree: BA: Wilderness Leadership | Subject: Rock Alpine Mountaineering, Backcountry Skiing, Rescue, Whitewater Padding, Outdoor Recreation | Institution: Prescott College |
| Year: 2004 | Degree: MTD: Master of Training and Development | Subject: Program Design and Evaluation, Organizational Development, Leadership Development, Outdoor Experience-Based Training and Development | Institution: Oakland University |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2010 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: President / Founder | Department: Adventure Tour Operations |
Responsibilities:• Control all business operations, including training and supervision of up to 35 seasonal employees and 6 to 9 full-time, year-round employees• Responsible for strategic planning and brand growth through product systemization, research and development, standardization, and partner relations • Deliver aerial adventure course and zip line canopy tour experiences |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2000 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: President / Founder | Department: Aerial Adventure Park and Zip line Management & Consulting |
Responsibilities:• Control all business operations, including supervision of employees and subcontractors• Provide business-to-business services to established and prospective aerial adventure park and canopy tour operators, including business planning, site feasibility, market research, operations management, course design and layout, curriculum and program design, course inspections, operation reviews, and guide training • Engage in expert witness and loss control consulting projects • Developed and moderate Zipline Nirvana, a community resource for zip line canopy tour and aerial adventure park enthusiasts • Researched, authored, and published a 114-page route guide providing technical information and photo topographs of adventure climbing routes in the local area |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1994 to 2009 | Employer: S.T.E.P.S., Inc. | Title: Director of Projects | Department: Consulting and Program Services |
Responsibilities:Director of Projects, Marketing and Installation Standards & Compliance2000 – August 2009 • Commercialized and marketed internal management and training systems to create an external consulting business focused on the needs of challenge courses and zip line canopy tours • Initiated and directed the transformation of the company from a local, single-site challenge course management company of limited services to a nationally recognized provider of challenge course services ranging from adventure programming to challenge course design and installation, staff training, and business development consulting • Co-authored a customizable ropes course facilitation manual, and the first comprehensive manual aimed at managing canopy tour operations in the United States • Developed the Joe Dumars' Team and Leadership Center and consulted on the development of numerous other experiential education programs and zip line canopy tours throughout the United States and Mexico, providing business consulting, program design, and staff development services • Conducted external review of operations for dozens of experiential training and canopy tour operations, assessing risk management strategies, training systems, and program effectiveness • Designed and implemented a web marketing strategy on a limited budget that was responsible for increasing challenge course construction sales by more than 1200% in the first year Director of Corporate Training 1998 – September 2006 • Project management and program coordination for the delivery of one-day and multi-day experiential education programs that consistently achieved repeat business and high ratings • Negotiated long-term and short-term training contracts with local and national corporations, including General Motors, DaimlerChrysler, KPMG, Ernst & Young, and Kmart Challenge Course Facilitator/Trainer 1994 – May 2008 • Instructed adventure-based team workshops for more than eight hundred professional groups, school groups, and community organizations • Designed and delivered custom teacher education workshops focused on incorporating adventure education and experiential education into school curriculums • Led multi-day challenge course and zip line canopy tour training programs focused on risk management, technical skill development, group dynamics, industry standards, and accepted practices |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1994 to 2004 | Employer: Outward Bound | Title: Field Instructor / Chief Field Instructor | Department: Pacific Crest Outward Bound School, Outward Bound West, Northwest Outward Bound School |
Responsibilities:Field Instructor/Chief Instructor• Responsible for the design and delivery of 14- to 30-day whitewater rafting, mountaineering, and backpacking trips in Oregon and Washington aimed at fostering an appreciation for the natural world, leadership, and character development. Student demographics ranged from age 14 and up to adult professionals • Managed course progress and instructor development through on-going mentoring and in-field coaching sessions • Provided site and risk management for high-impact adventure activities including Class IV paddling in whitewater rafts, oar rigs and paddle cats, rapid swims, rock jumps, alpine and rock climbing (fixed-line, top rope and lead techniques on rock, snow, and ice), rappelling, peak ascents, cave descents, student solos, and night navigation exercises. |
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Career Accomplishments
| Associations / Societies |
|---|
| • The Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT), Business-to-Client Member (since 2004) - ACCT Accreditation and Certification Committee (10/2019 to present) - ACCT Board Member • Professional Ropes Course Association (PRCA), Individual Member • ASTM International, Member - ASTM F24.61(Adventure Attractions) Subcommittee Participant • National Association of Amusement Ride Safety Officials (NAARSO) • International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) • Vermont Outdoor Guide Association (VOGA) • Stowe Area Association - Board of Trustees Member (2019 to present) - Business Member (2010 to present) |
| Licenses / Certifications |
|---|
| • Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) Level II Professional Inspector Certification – exp. 3/1/2023 • National Association of Amusement Ride Safety Officials (NAARSO) Level II (advance) Certification – exp. 3/31/2023 • Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) Qualified Operation Reviewer – completed 2/26/2021, 3/21/2023 • Ontario TSSA ADM-AR – Limited Scope – Zip Line Mechanic – exp. 11/2022 |
| Awards / Recognition |
|---|
| Tour Operations • 10Best "10 great things to do outdoors in New England this fall", USA Today • 10Best Readers' Choice Award for "Best Aerial Adventure Park", USA Today (2 years) • listed as One of the "10 Best Zipline Courses in the USA", USA Today (3 years) • One of the "World's Coolest Zip Lines", Travel + Leisure2012 Editor's Choice for Best of New England, Yankee Magazine • "One of the Coolest Places to Go Zip Lining in the World", FoxNews.com • "One of the Best Wilderness Zip Line Tours in the U.S.", Outside Magazine's Adventure Advisor Blog • "10 Thrilling Zip Lines Around the World", The Weather Channel • Five-star user rating for twelve consecutive years, TripAdvisor • Excellence in Tourism Promotion, Upper Cumberland Business Journal |
| Publications and Patents Summary |
|---|
| Publications: 8 |
Additional Experience
| Expert Witness Experience |
|---|
| Adventure Park and zip line expert witness consults and engagements have included a range of topics including but not limited to: • zip line - fall from heights • zip line - brake system failure • zip line - patron collision with other patron • zip line - patron collision with inanimate object • zip line - design incompatible with brake system • zip line - canopy tour business valuation • mobile zip line - rider impact with inanimate object • mobile zip line - rider fall from heights • aerial adventure park - fall from heights • aerial adventure park - jump system failure • aerial adventure park - failure to follow operating procedures • challenge course swing element - rider impact with patron • challenge course - fall from heights/failure to supervise • climbing wall - design failure/incompatible life safety system component • backyard zipline - failure to supervise minor • backyard zipline - anchor failure/fall from heights • backyard zipline - design incompatible with brake system • vendor/operator contract dispute (21 cases (52% retained by defense). |
| Training / Seminars |
|---|
| Workshops Delivered • "Guide Training Models." Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) Conference. Cleveland, OH. 2022. • "Training Competency Models for Commercial Operations." Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) Conference. Denver, CO. 2019. • "Preparing for Program Accreditation." Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) Conference. Lost Pines, TX. 2016. • "Panel Discussion on Aerial Adventure Parks and Zip Lines." S ki Area Management Summer Ops Conference. Camelback Mountain Resort, PA. 2015. • "Consolidate This." Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) Conference. Orlando, FL. 2014. • "Riding the Wave of Adventure." Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) Conference. Las Vegas, NV. 2013. • "Physics of Zip Lines." Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) Conference. Boston, MA. 2012. • "Current Trends and Statistics: Zip Line Canopy Tour and Aerial Adventure Parks." Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) Conference. Boston, MA. 2012. • "Trends and Statistics: Zip Line Canopy Tour and Aerial Adventure Parks." Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) Conference. Minneapolis, MN. 2011. • "Staff-based Competency Models for Challenge Course Operators." Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) Conference. Portland, OR. 2008. • "Canopy Tour Task Force." Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) Conference. Portland, OR. 2008. • "Marketing 101 for Adventure Educators." Association for Experiential Education (AEE) Heartland Regional Conference. Illinois. 2005. • "Low Prop / No Prop Group Initiatives and Adventure Games." Association for Experiential Education (AEE) Heartland Regional Conference. Illinois. 2005. • "Low Prop / No Prop Group Initiatives and Adventure Games." Association for Experiential Education (AEE) Heartland Regional Conference. Missouri. 2004. • "Adventure-based Consulting – An Approach to Developing Personnel during a Shift to a Lean Manufacturing Environment." Oakland University School of Business/Pauley Institute. Rochester Hills, MI April 2004. • "Games Trainers Play." Training and Development, Oakland University. Rochester Hills, MI 2004. • "Low Prop and No Prop Adventure Games for Socials Workers." Michigan Social Workers Conference (MASSW). Grand Rapids, MI. October 17, 2003 Workshops/Conferences Attended Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) 2002-present National Association for Challenge Course Technology (NAARSO) 2022, 2020, 2019 |
| Marketing Experience |
|---|
| 28 years of experience marketing outdoor adventure programs and tour operators, as well as, experience working with corporate businesses seeking to grow their online brand. • Production of technical manuals • Publication design and layout • Graphic design and illustration • Web design and development |
| Other Relevant Experience |
|---|
| • Production of technical manuals • Publication design and layout • Graphic design and illustration • Web design and development |