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.

Nicole Hiegl , Equipment Sales, Accounts Payable, & Programs Coordinator
nicole@brlc.org

We are excited to welcome Nicole Hiegl to the organization! Nicole will began working for BRLC  in April 2010, handling all equipment sales, office duties, and accounts payable. As well as getting on our local course to program!

Nicole graduated Appalachian State University in 2002 with a BS in Geography and has lived and worked in the high country ever since. She has ample outdoor education experience with great organization like Trails Wilderness School and SUWS of the Carolinas.

That outdoor education experience led her to work for Western Youth Network, where she has been employed the previous 4 years. Nicole helped implement an outdoor ed based curriculm for middle school age youth in the area, deliver in classroom lessons, and serve as Program Director for the local "Trips for Kids Chapter," a group who works to take kids mountain biking who would otherwise not even have access to a bike. Nicole did a lot of great work for WYN, and we know her friends their will miss her.

Nicole is excited to jump in with both feet at BRLC, taking on new challenges, and learning the "ropes" of the industry. She looks forward to meeting you all either by email, phone, or at the ACCT show in Minneapolis in 2011 (brr) !!

In her free time Nicole enjoys cycling, mountain biking, and rock climbing with her husband Eric.

Ann Perri , Marketing & Online Gear Store Manager
annp@brlc.org

Ann Perri , originally from Massachusetts, has worked in outdoor education for the past 6 years, working with such groups as Outward Bound, Naturalist At Large, and The Chadwick School. Prior to that she worked in the printing industry for Heidelberg USA in Atlanta, Georgia.
Ann has worked with Blue Ridge Learning Centers for over a year now in a variety of roles. She originally managed all aspects of the equipment sales, accounts payable, local programming, and accounts payable.

Currently Ann is heading back to Moab, Utah, but will continue to play an active roll with all of BRLC and Challenge Towers e-marketing, managing the online gear website, website edits, etc.