2025 Board Candidates

Ben Ream, Navitat Knoxville

Brief Work History:

I was hired as a Sales Director in 2019 at Navitat Knoxville.  I was promoted to General Manager in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and have served in that role since.

ACCT Committee Involvement and Other Volunteer Experience:

While I have not served on an ACCT committee, I have extensive experience in local organizations.  My wife Heather and I formed a volunteer litter cleanup group to serve our community in 2014, I’m a founding board member of the Friends of Downtown Island Airport, I serve on the City of Knoxville Public Property Naming Commission and Better Building Board, and have served as an officer in the Lindbergh Forest Neighborhood Association. I strongly believe that community success is built on the service of those who are able and willing.

Skills or Experience I Bring to the Board:

The experience I bring to the Board is that of the guest.  My first experience with a challenge course was on a middle school trip to a camp in North Georgia.  I was scared out of my mind and quit on the first element.  The impression of that day stayed with me and when I learned that Navitat was coming to Knoxville I was excited to conquer the fear that froze me as a child. I visited dozens of times and mastered all that Navitat had to offer while falling in love with Aerial Adventure.  When I learned that Navitat Knoxville had low attendance, I pitched my skills as a Sales Director to help ensure that this unique enterprise would become an intrinsic part of a visit to my city.  I’ve worked tirelessly to promote not just my company but my industry to visitors and locals alike.  Everyone who is able should go up in trees!!

How do you seek to advance the mission, vision, and values of the Association for Challenge Course Technology?

The ACCT value that is most important to me is inclusion.  Having spent more than a decade on federal disability, I was not someone to whom aerial adventure was traditionally accessible.  Thankfully my health improved to the point where I could not only participate but facilitate.  My tenure as an operator has been informed by both my aforementioned passion and my limitations.  I love the experiences provided by this industry and I want as many people as possible to participate in them.  I try to never lose sight of the fact that what we consider routine, our guests may find to be once-in-a-lifetime! While there are certainly limitations necessitated by the inherent risks in what we do, there are many opportunities to create space for those not normally able to leap, climb, and fly.  At Navitat Knoxville we have found ways to provide access to those with physical disabilities, neurodivergent limitations, and other challenges.  ACCT’s focus on inclusion provides the backdrop necessary to continue opening up challenge courses to people on the margins like myself.

Position Statement:

I am an outsider.  I have not been in this industry for long and as such I don’t have any ideological entrenchments.  I bring the perspective of someone who is passionate about sharing my love of aerial adventure with the world, but who hasn’t been steeped in the culture for decades.  I think both ends of the spectrum are important for a balanced view.  ACCT needs those who are just getting started as much as those who laid the very foundations of the industry.

The world is changing and we must change with it. We are living through a global pandemic, climate change, and turbulent political realities.  Fresh eyes help to navigate the new normal.    

I’ve been privileged to be welcomed by professional veterans and I humbly ask for the opportunity to contribute as a General Membership Board member.  I sincerely thank you for your time and attention.

Jason Ong, Eneres

Brief Work History:

Jason began his career in the outdoors with Outward Bound, where his passion for adventure and safety quickly set him apart. He played a key role in the evolution of the outdoor industry in the region, contributing to the development of various Adventure Camps, Challenge Courses, Zip Lines, and Via Ferrata.

Jason is the author of the Instructor Training Manual and Standard Operating Procedures for Outward Bound Malaysia, along with the Post-Covid Interim Guidelines that helped the organization navigate the challenges of the pandemic.

In addition, he wrote the Water Safety Rescue and Techniques training manuals for Cairns Canyoning in Queensland, Australia. His expertise and dedication continue to shape safety standards and best practices in the outdoor adventure community.

ACCT Committee Involvement and Other Volunteer Experience:

Serving as a Board member for ACCT over the past three years has been an incredible opportunity to contribute to the growth and development of an organization that plays a vital role in the challenge course industry. I’ve been privileged to collaborate with a dedicated team of professionals who share a commitment to governance, safety, education, and the advancement of challenge course worldwide.

During my tenure, I've had the honor as the Board Liaison for the International Committee, a role that has deepened my appreciation for the global reach and influence of ACCT’s mission. Working closely with international members/partners and overseeing initiatives to expand the organization's impact outside the U.S. has provided me with a broader perspective on the diverse ways challenge courses are used to inspire personal growth and community building across cultures. The opportunity to support and help navigate international relationships has been especially fulfilling, as it emphasizes the importance of a global community coming together with shared values and goals.

In addition to my work with the International Committee, my time on the Board has allowed me to gain a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the industry. Whether it’s discussing evolving standards, supporting education and certification programs, or strategizing ways to enhance ACCT’s impact in various regions, every moment has been an enriching experience.

Overall, my involvement with ACCT has been an incredibly rewarding experience, one that has helped me grow both professionally and personally. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the organization’s mission, and I look forward to continuing to support its goals in the future.

Skills or Experience I Bring to the Board:

My passion for both the ACCT and the industry as a whole has never been stronger. As I seek re-election for a second term on the Board of Directors, I am eager to continue my commitment to advancing ACCT’s mission and to fulfill my roles and responsibilities with the same dedication and commitment that I have demonstrated during my first term.

How do you seek to advance the mission, vision, and values of the Association for Challenge Course Technology?

As a board member, I would continue to focus on helping ACCT expand its influence, improve its offerings, and foster a stronger sense of community within the industry globally by pursuing the following key areas:

1. Promoting and Upholding the Standard of Practice

I will actively engage in industry development by maintaining regular communication with industry experts and operators to gather feedback. This will ensure that ACCT’s standards remain practical and relevant to emerging challenges and innovations. I am consistently advocating for the adoption of ACCT’s standards as the benchmark for safety and best practices, internationally.

2. Expanding ACCT’s Offerings to Emerging Areas

I will continue to focus on expanding ACCT’s offerings into emerging areas of the industry while ensuring these offerings are accessible to all levels of participants. Maintaining high standards of quality in these new areas will be key to upholding ACCT’s credibility and reputation as a leader in the industry.

3. Fostering a Collaborative Community

Creating a strong, inclusive community will be my continuous priority. I have and will continue to advocate for increased opportunities for members to network, share knowledge, and collaborate. I am committed to ensuring that ACCT’s initiatives embrace diversity, provide equal opportunities for underrepresented groups, and promote an inclusive environment across all events and training offerings.

4. Increasing Membership Engagements and Strategic Partnerships

I will continue my work to increase membership engagement through strategic partnerships with key stakeholders and organizations in the industry globally to drive continuous growth and retention of ACCT’s membership base.

5. Strengthening ACCT’s Capacity through Operational Improvements

I will contribute to strengthening ACCT’s operational capacity by focusing on efficiencies and sustainability in our processes including implementing improvements that support long-term growth while ensuring we remain responsive to the needs of our members and the wider industry.

By focusing on these areas, I am confident that ACCT will continue to be a leader in promoting high standards of safety, inclusivity, and growth, ensuring its continued relevance and success in the years to come.

Position Statement:

The challenge course industry is evolving rapidly, with various pressing issues and hot topics that require attention and action from organizations like ours. Here are some key issues that could be prioritized for industry development:

1. Safety Standards and Risk Management

Increased Scrutiny on Safety Protocols - As more people engage in challenge courses, ensuring consistent, high-quality safety standards is critical. The industry must address emerging safety concerns, such as risk mitigation for new technologies and the use of AI in safety monitoring.

2. Sustainability and Environmental Impact

Eco-friendly Course Construction - As environmental awareness grows, more challenge courses are considering sustainable practices, such as using recyclable materials, minimizing land disturbance, and offsetting carbon footprints.

Green Certifications - Courses and operators may seek sustainability certifications to attract eco-conscious consumers, but there is a need for clearer guidelines and standards regarding “green” certifications in the industry.

Climate Change & Weather Considerations - More extreme weather patterns may affect outdoor courses, leading to more frequent closures or the need for new designs to withstand environmental challenges.

3. Inclusion and Accessibility

Diversity in Participation and Leadership - Promoting diversity in the industry, especially in leadership roles, is a critical issue. There’s also the need for more inclusive courses designed for diverse groups.

Course Accessibility for People with Disabilities - Expanding accessible challenge courses and ensuring that activities are truly inclusive for individuals with physical or cognitive disabilities is a growing priority.

Cultural Sensitivity - As the global market for challenge courses grows, operators must be more attuned to the cultural differences that may impact how courses are designed and how people engage with them.

4. Training and Certification

Quality and Consistency of Training Programs - As the challenge course industry grows, ensuring that training programs are of high quality, universally recognized, and provide practical knowledge is crucial. This includes standardized certification for facilitators, course designers, and maintenance personnel.

Virtual and Hybrid Training Models - With the rise of online learning, there is growing demand for virtual training programs and blended learning options. This shift needs to be carefully managed to maintain hands-on, experiential training that is essential for challenge course professionals.

Continual Professional Development - The need for ongoing professional development to keep up with evolving standards, technology, and trends is growing.

5. Economic Sustainability

Cost of Operation - With the rising costs of equipment, maintenance, and insurance, many smaller operators are struggling to stay competitive. Larger operators may benefit from economies of scale, but small and community-based courses could face closures without support or new business models.

6. Industry Growth and Global Expansion

Global Standardization - As the challenge course industry expands globally, there is increasing pressure to develop unified standards that ensure safety and quality across different regions. This is especially critical in countries where the challenge course industry is emerging or has different safety regulations.

Expansion into New Markets - The challenge course industry is seeing growth in new international markets, particularly in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Understanding the unique needs of these regions, adapting designs to local cultures and climates, and creating partnerships with local organizations will be essential for successful expansion.

7. Social Responsibility and Community Engagement

Programs for At-risk Youth - More challenge courses are developing programs targeted at underserved youth populations, with a focus on social-emotional learning, leadership, and team-building. This market can be expanded with more research and development in the area of outcomes and effectiveness.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) - Corporate groups are increasingly using challenge courses for team-building and corporate retreats. Operators may need to refine programs to meet CSR goals while aligning with broader organizational values.

By addressing these pressing issues, the challenge course industry can ensure its continued relevance, safety, and growth in the face of new challenges and opportunities

Michael Richardson, Momentum Engineering

Brief Work History:

Builder of a 600 foot tall x 3500 feet long zipline in 2002 that remains accident-feet.

Now I have researched over 200 aerial adventure incidents and I have the emperical data that follows what the insurance companies are verifying.

ACCT Committee Involvement and Other Volunteer Experience:

PRCA Board Member 2016-2017

Skills or Experience I Bring to the Board:

35-years building aerial adventure rides

How do you seek to advance the mission, vision, and values of the Association for Challenge Course Technology?

Sharing my emperical data, experience, engineering, and technical writing to improve the standards and help the industry become safer.

Position Statement:

I have investigated zipline and challenge course accidents that some PVMs or Board Members built. Some board members have testified about, and inspected these courses and found them satisfactory; yet my expert reports found the courses in violation of the standards.

Austin Oates, Phoenix Experiential Designs

Brief Work History:

With over fifteen years of experience in the challenge course world, my focus has been on designing and constructing courses that exceed the highest industry standards. This journey has involved close collaboration with numerous companies to create, nature-based experiences, provide thrilling, impactful challenges that engage and inspire people, fostering personal growth.

ACCT Committee Involvement and Other Volunteer Experience:

As a first-time father, I volunteer at my daughter’s preschool, actively participating in her early educational experience.  Following Helene I contributed to the cleanup efforts, helping to rebuild and restore the community. These experiences have rekindled my commitment to service at home and within our industry.

Skills or Experience I Bring to the Board:

My experiences have provided me with a unique perspective, offering a glimpse into nearly every aspect of the challenge course industry. Growing up within the ACCT has allowed me to deeply understand its roots and core values, while also keeping an eye on future. This combination of hands-on experience and industry insight has shaped my approach, ensuring that I honor the tradition of the field while embracing the evolving needs.

How do you seek to advance the mission, vision, and values of the Association for Challenge Course Technology?

Solidifying trust at every opportunity is essential to maintaining a lasting tradition of providing people with safe, transformative experiences. By consistently prioritizing safety, transparency, and integrity, Individuals and organizations feel confident in the experiences we create. This trust upholds the core values of the industry, allowing more people to experience the growth, excitement, and connection that this Association is dedicated to.  

Position Statement:

To ensure the safety of every individual enjoying the experiences we create

Erik Marter, Synergo

Brief Work History:

I have been working in the industry as the owner of Synergo for 30 years designing, installing, training and operating challenge courses, commercial zipline tours and adventure parks.  
I started my career in 1980 working at a camp that serves youth and adults who live with disabilities and I am still involved with that camp.

ACCT Committee Involvement and Other Volunteer Experience:

I have served on the ACCT board for the past three years as the treasurer. I also served for 6 years 2005-2011 (4 of which as chair)  
I have served on several other committees over the years and have remained a dedicated volunteer helping the association move forward where I can.

Skills or Experience I Bring to the Board:

22 years as a PVM
9 years as a board member
I operate 3 commercial facilities
I founded Synergo and work full time there
I am open to new ideas and share my time and energy for this industry freely

How do you seek to advance the mission, vision, and values of the Association for Challenge Course Technology?

I am keenly aware of the budget at this time.  I am working with staff, committees, and other volunteers to take look at the long term direction of our associate from financial perspective.  
I am focused on reworking how our standards get to the approval process how we adjust, change, add and subtract standards at a speed that better aligns with the needs of the industry and the members of the association

Position Statement:

Our industry continues to change. We as venders needed to adjust to those changes. ACCT as an association will be required to refocus our direction and energy to support vendors, operators, and constituents over the coming years.
I work on the board with an eye towards the long-term health and relevance of our association. I believe our staff are doing an amazing job with short-term needs and our volunteer groups are guiding and supporting the staff as needed.  In my opinion the Board needs to continue to be watchful through the 2, 4, and 6 year plan to help guide our association towards a healthy and prosperous future.  

Romain AUBRUN, KANOPEO GmbH 

Brief Work History:

I am working in the ropes courses industrie for more than 15 years. Always involved in the safety equipement and PPE development.

I am passionnated by the industry. I have a large experience worlwide.

ACCT Committee Involvement and Other Volunteer Experience:

Exhibitor at the ACCT for 15 years now

Skills or Experience I Bring to the Board:

worldwide experience in the ropes courses industry. Attending more than 15 tradeshows per years.

How do you seek to advance the mission, vision, and values of the Association for Challenge Course Technology?

I am motivated to maintain and develop interest in the organization among the operators and future business owner of tomorrow.

Position Statement:

Keeping safety requirement at the higest standards.
Promote the industry to as many people as possible.