Association for Challenge Course Technology Hires New Executive Director

DEERFIELD, Ill. - May 4, 2016 - PRLog -- CONTACT:

Name: Micah Henderson
Email: micah.henderson@acctinfo.org
Title: Board of Directors Chair
Phone: 928.814.6708

DEERFIELD, Illinois- The Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) Board of Directors is excited to announce the hiring of Shawn Tierney, of Boulder, Colorado as the organization's new Executive Director. Founded in 1993, the ACCT serves the international challenge course, zip line, and aerial adventure park community by publishing standards, providing forums for education and professional development, and advocating for the challenge course and adventure industry.

"Shawn brings a tremendous amount of outdoor industry, non-profit and association management experience to ACCT, having served in a variety of senior level positions with internationally recognized organizations such as the University of California at Berkeley, Outward Bound, the Access Fund and the Association for Experiential Education," said Micah Henderson, ACCT Board of Directors Chair. "Shawn is a growth-minded professional who can collaborate with everyone from government-based regulatory bodies, to professionals in the summer camp industry."

A noted risk management expert, Shawn has conducted external reviews of wilderness programs, camps, adventure centers, college and university programs, and independent schools. Shawn is also a former professional mountain guide with expedition and climbing experience in the Himalaya, Patagonia, Europe, Alaska, and throughout North America.

Beginning as a small trade organization for challenge course builders, ACCT has evolved into the largest representative group for the industry with membership exceeding 2600 people. With comprehensive standards for many facets of the field, from designing, installing, and operating a challenge course or zip line, to certification programs for practitioners and inspectors, to a program currently in development that is planned to accredit courses meeting the ACCT Operation Standard, the ACCT has provided an impressive amount of leadership in a relatively new, but booming industry.

"I'm absolutely thrilled to be joining the organization at such an exciting and pivotal time," says new Executive Director Shawn Tierney. "ACCT has a strong and highly dedicated Board, experienced staff, an amazing group of volunteers, and a membership base that is healthy and growing. I believe the organization is well positioned for exceptional growth and I'm looking forward to leading the organization well into the future."

Shawn will be establishing an office in Boulder, Colorado. Please join us in welcoming Shawn to ACCT! He can be contacted at shawn@acctinfo.org

About ACCT

The Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) is the world's leading and largest American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Accredited Standards Developer focused on the challenge course and aerial adventure course industries.  ACCT is comprised of more than 2600 members worldwide (including the United States, Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, Canada, Japan, Korea and Central America) and represents hundreds of organizations with challenge course, zip line, canopy tour, and aerial adventure course interests.

Association of Challenge Course Technology
P.O. Box 47
Deerfield, IL 60015
www.acctinfo.org