Nearly 10 years ago I packed up everything I owned and moved over 1,000 miles for a job I had found by pure chance thanks to Google…
In continuation of our mentorship series, highlighting (in their own words) some of the young professionals who we have been working with over the last several months, we are excited about this one! For Mentorship Series (part 4) we opted to highlight one of our very own, Bee Lacy, for a write up highlighting her story and how she found herself where she is today. Read her story here:
“Nearly 10 years ago I packed up everything I owned and moved over 1,000 miles for a job I had found by pure chance thanks to Google. I left Vermont having no idea what it meant to be a zipline tour guide, but I was excited to move to an island in South Carolina to find out. My family lovingly refers to that move as the time I ‘ran away to the circus’ because that’s how it felt then. I had zero high ropes experience, a degree in animal training, and a deep seeded fear of heights. I had gone from Tiger behaviorist, to a microchip quality assurance tech, and now I was going to add Zipline Tour Guide to my resume. I recognize now that for those who cared about me, “worried” didn’t even begin to cover the concern they had for what the heck I was doing with my life.
I was so incredibly proud when I finished the training and quickly found myself promoted from Sweep Guide to Lead Guide. Then I added Adventure Park ranger to my job title. Then Ground (a position that was generally for more seasoned guides who had a good understanding of the operation). I quickly found my feet and realized I was naturally good at whatever this was. I loved it. I wanted to learn more and often pestered my managers to show me how to do things that were way beyond my pay grade.
Finishing out my first season was a harsh reality check. October hit and hours disappeared. I had to get a second and third job to get me through the winter. But I came back the next spring chomping at the bit and ready to work myself silly for a full time role. Things started looking up as winter gave way to spring. I was asked to help with training the new recruits and found that my love for guiding was second only to my love for training.
I finally got to meet our mysterious and scary sounding Professional Inspector as we prepared for the upcoming season. I don’t know why but I expected this person to have a fancy badge and a walk like John Wayne when he moseyed into our little park. What I was not expecting was Rich Klajnscek. I was in awe of him- this was his real, full time job. Instead of badge and bowlegged walk, Rich had some impressive looking gear and a welcoming demeanor. He let me hang out with him as he inspected harness after harness and answered my incessant questions without a second thought. He even invited me in to review the report with the GM of the operation on his last day. I was thrilled.
It wasn’t just that I liked my job. I loved it, and I HAD to learn everything I could. A fire had been lit and suddenly I didn’t want to go get a ‘real’ job. I had to figure out a way to make this stick and to make a living. So I picked up any shift that came open. I spread mulch, pulled vines, worked the tours no one else wanted. I did anything and everything I could think of and it paid off. I was offered a full time role in the fall of my second year in the industry.
I started off as a full time manager and sales person, running around to all of the resorts and hotels on the island in my gear to give out pamphlets to tourists that had attended the sales pitches just for the free breakfast. I filled my time in the winter working on summer camp and created an entire team building and corporate group focused program. I updated our training manual, created gear tracking logs and filled in wherever I could. When the assistant GM left to find a “big kid job” (his words) I took over our training program. When he came for another annual inspection I pestered Rich with even more questions that he answered with unending patience. He told me about Practitioner Certification and my ears perked up. He told me I should look into it and that the ACCT had a website that could be helpful. Then our season began and, as with any tourist based business, we were off to the races with little time to think of anything beyond the next tour slot.
The summer got even crazier when we lost most of the senior leadership in the operation. In the span of a few months, two General Managers came and went and the core team was left to fend for ourselves. I took over operational necessities that had no owner; things like ordering gear, working with our insurance company, creating staffing plans and managing operational budgets.
As my third summer came to a close I realized I knew very little of the big, wide world of Challenge Courses that existed outside of my little bubble. I decided to get my first Certification in the industry and looked for an open enrollment Level 1 Training on the ACCT website. Low and behold there was a training happening in December in Texas.
And that is how I first met Dick Hammond.
I traveled to Tarleton State University for my very first ACCT Level 1 Training with Leadership on the Move. Dick immediately took me under his wing and, along with Beth Chambers, answered every question I incessantly lobbed at him. He stayed hours after training days to talk about standards and to give me context to happenings in the industry. He helped me envision a path forward that involved more certifications and ways to gain industry knowledge. He also guided me in helping me sign up to be a member of ACCT and got me my very first copy of the standards.
Even after that training ended, Dick continued to be my industry contact and ACCT guru. I’m pretty sure I sent him weekly emails with questions and requests during that first year or so. He was unfailingly kind and steady as he guided and advised me on how to apply the standards and what they actually meant.
Dick continued to cheer me on even after the training ended. He pointed me in the right direction when I wasn’t sure which way to turn and provided resources I may not have found on my own. He became a reference for me as I began to move in the industry and was always a friendly face at conferences when I didn’t know many folks. He became a dear friend as well as someone that I look up to. Dick still to this day is one of the many people that I look forward to seeing at the conference each year. He still cheers me on and still tells me how proud he is of the path I have made for myself. I would not be where I am today without his gentle guidance and mentorship in those formative years of my career.
Eventually I began to want something more. I was desperate to see what else the industry had to offer. I made up my mind to go on the job hunt at the conference. That is how I met Leslie Sohl in Dallas and wound up interviewing for a trainer role with Bonsai Design. I immediately looked up to Leslie and knew that she was going to be someone that I could learn an immense amount from. I couldn’t wait to work with her.
The Dallas conference also brought Leigh Carruth into my life. To be perfectly honest, I am not sure what initially brought us together. I really have no idea when the first time I actually talked to Leigh was. That is the magic of Leigh though, and for me it was insta-friendship. Within a day or less I felt like Leigh was one of my oldest pals and I sought her out at every opportunity during that conference and the ones following. We had similar senses of humor and I loved (still do) getting to be around her because her joy and light is infectious. When I didn’t know anyone in the room Leigh was always quick to come and hang out with me or just offer a smile and a word of encouragement. It made all the difference in the world and gave me the confidence to keep networking and making friends.
During my first year with Bonsai the learning curve felt more akin to being launched off an Olympic ski jump with rockets strapped to my heels. I learned A LOT in a very short period and had my eyes opened to the vastness of the industry. I met a host of people that were akin to industry celebrities for me, made new friends, and found willing and incredible mentors in Leslie, Marissa Angellatta, Connor James, Jamison Llyod and so many others.
During that year I was sent out for the first time to a newly built course. When we got there I learned that John Turman would be doing the acceptance inspection. I had heard JT’s name mentioned enough in professional settings and from clients to know that he was well respected and knowledgeable in the industry. I wanted to someday get into inspecting so I was desperate to make a good first impression. I was so nervous and had to work up the courage to actually go over and meet him. When I finally went to say hello he was on a rather heated phone call and had just thrown a wrench into the ground in frustration. As soon as I walked up to introduce myself though, he muted his mic and gave me a welcoming “great to meet you!” before jumping back into the fray. I didn’t get to work with JT much after that quick trip but was hopeful that we would cross paths again in the future.
As that year passed I couldn’t stand the thought of missing the Denver conference so, despite not being on the official company invite list, I begged and borrowed my way in by being a yellow hat, paying my own way, renting my own car, and sharing a room. I felt like I was on the cusp of my career and I knew that I had to keep fighting for the momentum I knew I needed to keep gaining ground in the industry. That is when I finally got to meet Micah Henderson.
Micah immediately struck me as someone I wanted to know. On top of being breathtakingly smart and having a depth of knowledge that leaves me in awe; she is also honest, empathetic and funny. Within 5 minutes of meeting her she had me in stitches and I was determined to know her better. We got to socialize a bit at the company Airbnb one evening and all I could think was “I’ve got to be friends with her”. Despite me desperately wanting to exchange metaphorical friendship bracelets then and there, Micah moved on from the company and once again resided just outside of my small network. I held out hope that maybe one day I would get to know her better.
My second year with Bonsai passed much like the first. Getting to see amazing new places, meet new people and grow my knowledge base with each site visited. I continued to rely on the little network I had built and realized that I had found my feet again. I felt at home training and was pumped that I got to do it professionally for half the year.
When the Raleigh conference rolled around I finally felt like a ‘big kid’ when I was able to attend as a member of the Bonsai team. I felt like I knew enough to participate in the conversations that I had only listened in on before. I met Dave Meeker in a session and agreed to start writing for Adventure Park Insider. I got to know JT a bit better and realized that he knew somebody for everything and could connect you with just about anyone in the industry. During that conference I also realized that volunteering for the Association was going to be the best way to keep my forward momentum. With JT’s help, I snagged a spot on the ICE Prep task force and began working closely with Heather Brooks. I still held out hope that maybe one day I would have enough inspections under my belt to sit the test and this felt like an opportunity that was taking me in that direction.
I think we can all agree that 2020 was a weird year. After the turmoil of covid I found myself once again looking for more. I needed a more stable income in my life and a full time seasonal role just wasn’t cutting it. During the summer of 2020, I was sent to work on a new gargantuan build just outside of Chicago for nearly a month. At that time the Forge team was in desperate need of a Ropes Course Manager for their behemoth park. I told them I would fill in for the time being and just like that I found my next step forward. I signed on for what I thought was a temporary gig with The Forge: Lemont Quarries as the Ropes Course Manager.
Another steep learning curve and one cross country move later, I found myself in a permanent role with the Forge. It was a challenge but I reveled in creating new systems and managing the logistics of an operation that saw anywhere from 500-700 people a day. I continued to pursue further professional growth in any way I could. I was able to take training in adaptive programming with Melanie Wills and Carla Hacker. I got an ACCT CCM certification from AdventureWorks! as well as my SPRAT Level 1 with Elevated Safety. During this time I also decided to take on a vice chair role with the Women of ACCT Affinity group.
The 2022 Cleveland conference was when I decided I wanted to kick it up a notch in my volunteer game and applied to join the Accreditation and Certification Committee. When I started attending meetings after the conference had wrapped up, I was overwhelmed with the amount of information coming my way. Lo and behold, my maybe someday forever friend, Micah, was on the committee as well. Micah took me under her wing and, with the help of Ryan Olson, convinced me to take over as Chair in 2023. Micah continued to mentor me throughout her time on the ACC. This was a dream come true because not only was I getting to know Micah, but I was also getting an even deeper look into the industry itself.
In 2023 at the Portland conference I gave my first solo presentation and stepped into my ACC chair role with the guidance of Kennerly DeForest, Lori Stover, and Ryan Olson. I got to be a part of circles I had only previously dreamed of and was surprised at just how many people I now knew. I had my conference buddies, Annika Spriggs and Connor James, by my side who continuously pumped me up and made sure I had support in the rooms where I needed it. I got to see all my favorite people, and I left with my heart full.
Just a few short months after returning to Chicago from Portland I saw the Facebook post that changed my whole career trajectory. Lighting up the sky with a metaphorical bat signal, Micah was asking for guides to help out during spring break at a Texas operation. I quickly decided that it was a unique opportunity to not only hang with Micah and other amazing people, but to also get back to my zip tour roots and take a brain break for a week. Then I heard JT would be there. And Leigh. And Michelle Hepler (who I didn’t know yet but was on my “wow she’s fantastic and I wanna hang out with her” list).
Pure magic happened that week. I landed in Austin, and with little warning, wound up piled into a truck with strangers from another operation Micah worked with in West Virginia. When we got to our accommodation Micah introduced me to Michelle Hepler, and along with Leigh Carruth and JT, we all became the ‘adults’ for our little crew. While that may be stretching the term to it’s breaking point, we were the ones marshaling the troops and leading the charge each with important roles to play.
JT was our roadside assistance when something needed repairing or wasn’t acting right, Michelle was the kid whisperer and mood lifter, and Leigh became mom to all – caring for each of us in the ways we needed most during those long, hot days. All the while, Micah was the ring leader of our rag-tag troop. She organized us, paired us up based on who needed who the most or who was the best compliment to each other, found dinner spots, planned outings and just generally was the conductor of our chaos orchestra. Watching her wrangle us was truly an impressive site to behold.
We daydreamed about what it would be like to start something that could make this once in a lifetime phenomenon last. One night, after talking about how amazing this experience had been for the thousandth time, Micah burst out with “starting a business is not that hard guys!” and then looked at us all expectantly with an implied “let’s stop talking and start doing!”. So we all decided that we would start a business and get matching tattoos.
While in Texas, Micah also learned that I was missing my family in the Carolinas and was looking for a way home. She told me about how she had been working with the YMCA of Greater Charlotte and that they just happened to be looking for someone who would be able to come in and help refresh and revamp their programming across multiple sites. When I asked her outright, she told me she thought it would be an all around great fit. Michelle fully sold it for me when she mentioned that she lived just outside of Charlotte and could show me around.
I applied and was offered the role of Challenge Course Manager at the Y of Greater Charlotte shortly after returning home from Texas. On top of it being a wonderful opportunity, it also meant that I got to spend even more time under Micah’s and JT’s tutelage as they had previously been contracted to help revamp the challenge course program. Since my start in May of 2023 I have gained what feels like years worth of knowledge. Both Micah and JT have been there to answer every question, give advice and show me the ropes (pun intended) when I encountered situations I was unfamiliar with.
They have connected me to their vast network within the industry, providing me the opportunity to rub elbows with folks I might not have otherwise encountered. It has been an exciting and life changing whirlwind being under their wings.
Micah has become a touchstone for me. Whenever things seemed to be spiraling I would call Micah and she would calmly say things like “well, then, let’s find another way” or “its fine, everything is fine” or my very favorite “you don’t have to live like this” (in reference to a hellish element that was stupid hard for no reason other than bad design). She is someone that I know will always tell me the truth, even when it’s something I don’t want to hear, but she’ll do it with love and kindness. She is forever searching out opportunities to help grow and guide folks and takes immense joy in making the way easier for others.
The 2024 OKC conference ushered in a whole other level of excitement as we began beta testing the Adventure Careers app and told everyone our vision for what the platform could be. I got to once again reunite with some of my favorite humans in the whole world and finally worked up the nerve to take the Operational Reviewer course thanks to Micah’s encouragement.
At the conference JT and I discussed in depth the fact that I still held aspirations of being a professional inspector someday. He helped me review my portfolio and came up with a plan to get me to shadow a stint of inspections he was doing in West Virginia in the spring of this year. For 14 days straight we inspected gear, courses, rock walls, devices, trees, braking systems and everything in between. He talked me through, not only the techniques and standards, but the context and history surrounding why the rules are the way they are and tips and tricks to make life easier. We spent our evenings pouring over practice tests, standards, white papers, and conversion charts. JT never made me feel as if my questions were silly or that I should already know the information. He included me in conversations with his clients and allowed me to gain the confidence that I had needed in order to believe I had what it took to be a professional inspector. With him and the Women of ACCT ICE Study Group cheering me on, I was able to put the cherry on top of a decade in the industry but getting my Pro Level II Inspector certificate in April.
And that friends brings us to today. I have had the privilege of being mentored by some of the best. Without people like Dick, Micah, JT, and so many others I am not sure my fight to stay afloat in this industry as a young professional would have been a successful one.
Without mentorship and the connections that it brings, we will see more and more talent leave our industry seeking clearer paths to success. I truly believe that our job as professionals is to help the person behind us and to make the path just a little easier than it was when we had to walk it.
There are so many more folks that influenced and encouraged me that I did not get the chance to mention. I am so thankful for every person that has given me that helping hand. I wouldn’t have gotten to where I am without them. I cannot wait to see where this industry takes me and I look forward to a future filled with my favorite people.“
