Ken Jacquot, President of Blue Ridge Learning Centers
ken@brlc.org

Ken is the owner and operator of Blue Ridge Learning Centers (BRLC) overseeing the operations of both Challenge Towers and Blue Ridge Quest Programming.  He has been in the industry for over 20 years including having served on the Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) Board of Directors, Chair of the Government Relations Committee and has served on the Universal/Accessible Committee.  Ken designs new and innovative challenge courses and program elements as well as program outlines and activities.

Prior to founding BRLC, Ken worked as a Ranger for the National Park Service.  During his years there, he researched and developed programs, provided security and emergency medicine, led groups and provided maintenance of the structures on Alcatraz Island as well as the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.  While Ken was a Traveling Team Leader with Pecos River Learning Centers, he worked around the country providing program facilitation, course setups, course repairs and also trained staff.  Ken gained experience leading youth-at-risk expedition programs on the Appalachian Trail for the Morgan School.  With the school, he also taught experiential based climbing wall programs that engaged students in design, construction and management of their indoor climbing wall, and managed adventure-based programs including canoeing and rock climbing.

Ken has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Education from Ohio State University.  He is involved in various environmental conservation projects including being the President of the Todd Community Preservation Organization.  Ken lives by a mountain stream near Boone, NC, with his wife, Beth, son, Beckham, and daughter, Mairin.  He enjoys cycling and playing with his family.

Clint Stevens, Assistant Director of Blue Ridge Learning
clints@brlc.org

Since joining the Blue Ridge Learning Centers, Inc. over six months ago, Clint's' primary duties have been generating and executing corporate programs and marketing for BRLC programs. Prior to joining Blue Ridge Learning Centers, Inc., Clint was the Adventure and Safety Coordinator for Joy Outdoor Education Center, and served as the Assistant Leadership Director at YMCA's Camp Kern. After his 2003 graduation from Wright State University with a B.S. in Management, Clint Worked as the Sales Director of Dayton, OH for Dale Carnegie Training.

Lloyd ‘Dingo’ Brown, Director of Blue Ridge Mountain Quest
dingo@brlc.org

Lloyd ‘Dingo’ Brown, originally from Australia has worked as an educator for over 20 years, in both formal and informal situations. He has been fortunate to have lived in Australia, England, Tanzania, Macau, China and now currently in the United States, as well as visiting many other countries around the Globe.
As the Scholastic Programme director for Blue Ridge Learning Centers in Boone, NC, Lloyd works on Outdoor experiential education, including environmental education, Rites of Passage, "Council", adventure programming and challenge course/team building programmes.
His passion is researching the connection between the environment our Spiritual life and the wisdom of indigenous peoples, as well as helping people reconnect to the earth in deeper ways.
He is married to a wonderful wife, Lisa (an American) and has two adorable boys Benjamin and Daniel.

Byron "Doc" Carroll, Sales Director
byronc@challengetowers.com

Byron Carroll won his first of two North Carolina State Public Speaking tournaments by developing his talent to motivate, and communicating a message of hope, encouragement and professional development which led him to many more public speaking tournaments in Toast Masters before beginning his Professional Speaking Career.

Byron also served as a Medic in the 82nd Airborne Infantry.   During that time he studied business at Central Texas University and Big Ben University, graduating from CTU with a 3.9 GPA.

His father, Lynn Carroll, exposed Byron to experiential education at an early age. Byron observed his father utilizing ropes courses in his role as a psychologist in the 1980s. Byron went on to serve as a facilitator in the Charter Class of trainers at the East Carolina Ropes Course.

Much of Byron's own personal development was fostered in the Junior Chamber.   Leadership, organization, team-building, and community service were emphasized. His achievements include:   receiving the All Star of the Year Award, given to the top state wide Vice President, in 2003; serving on the Board of Directors in the Hickory, NC chapter for seven years; and receiving the Lincoln County Chambers New Member of the Year award. Byron's dedication to the environment and community were also apparent while he served the City of Hickory as the Chairman of the Community Appearance Coordinator. He currently services on the Conway Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Myrtle Beach Legislative & Political Committee, Conway Chamber Board of Regency, and serves as President of the Grand Strand Professional Club.   He also is a member of the Myrtle Beach Rotary Club. Byron was given Congressional Recognition by the State of South Carolina in 2007, for his "outstanding, invaluable service to the community" by the SC Congress.

The accomplishment he is most proud of is of his marriage to his beautiful wife, Christine and the blessing of their three daughters, Ava, Naomi, and Jacquelyn.   They currently reside in North Myrtle Beach, SC.

Sabrina Crawford, Business Manager
sabrina@brlc.org

Sabrina joined Blue Ridge Learning Centers, Inc. during the summer of 2007.  Her main role to date has been that of Office/Business Manager.  In the future she will expand her role into the development and expansion of educational programming. 

Sabrina brings a 16 year background in the field of education, during which time she taught grades K-12 in both public and private schools in the United States and internationally.  During the past 7 years, Sabrina and her husband started a middle/high school in St. John, US Virgin Islands.  It was during this time she cemented her love of and connection with experiential education, demonstrated by the curriculum structure of the school and the focus on a variety of weeklong, curriculum driven off-island field trips.  Sabrina was also the business manager for the school throughout its development.

Sabrina currently lives in Todd, NC with her husband, Scott, and her cat.  Sabrina enjoys hiking, camping, working on her house, and doing masonry work.