Staff
Meet our Staff
An experiential program is often only as good as its facilitators. ChallengeWorks is part of a network of experiential facilitators from all over Texas. Depending on your program’s goals and needs, we will hire facilitators from around town and the state that best suit your group. Our facilitators include:
Amanda Laurel
Program Coordinator
Amanda Laurel is the Program Coordinator for ChallengeWorks. A first-generation college graduate, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University (WHOOP!) and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Applied Youth Development at Texas A&M!
With over a decade of experience, Amanda began her career in the ropes/challenge course field in 2015 at ChallengeWorks and now leads the very program where she started. She holds an Advanced Skills Level 2 and Challenge Course Manager certification from the Association for Challenge Course Technology and is a Qualified Course Professional and trainer, actively shaping the challenge course industry.
Outside of work, Amanda enjoys caring for her plants, spending time with her two cats, Maisel and Remus, and finding inspiration in the music of Taylor Swift
Frank Eckles
Facilitator
Hometown: College Station, TX
Fun fact: He may be the only person you meet that has actually been marooned on a deserted island.
Bill Salin
Facilitator
Hometown: Upstate New York
Fun fact: He is retired from TAMU, has a Master’s Degree, and is Class of 1999.
Herb Head
Facilitator
Hometown: LaGrange, KY
Fun fact: Herb has been facilitating and leading leadership, team, and relationship training for the past decade. Herb is passionate about all things outdoors from climbing to trail running and much more. Herb loves pushing his body and mind to the limit and has participated in numerous multi-day adventure races across the US.
Marybeth Henthorne
Facilitator
Hometown: Tomball, TX
Fun fact: She can do the worm.
LaNessa Harrison
Facilitator
Hometown: Houston, TX
Fun fact: LaNessa has a background in Education, Counseling, and Management. She has many years of experience managing, developing, and facilitating programs for school districts and nonprofit organizations. LaNessa is a dedicated wife and mother and enjoys traveling, competitive games and basking in the serenity of nature.
An Trinh
High Tech
Hometown: Dallas, TX
Fun fact: She can play Piano Man by Billy Joel on the harmonica.
Art Ortiz, MA
Facilitator
Hometown: Belton, TX
Fun fact: Art has been in the outdoor industry for 27 years and has been facilitating at ChallengeWorks for 17 years. He enjoys water, air, and land activities.
Chad Nelson
Facilitator
Hometown: Buffalo, TX
Fun fact: He once crossed an ocean with a horse.
Jordan Szura
Facilitator
Hometown: Georgetown, TX
Fun fact: Jordan works as an Assistant Professor for the Physical Education Activity Program at TAMU teaching several different classes including action ball, paintball, spikeball, and pickleball.
Lorenza Phillips Sr.
Facilitator
Lorenza is retired from the Austin Independent School District, where he ran the challenge course program for many years. Lorenza is now a contract facilitator for many challenge courses around the state. He has worked with ChallengeWorks for 15 plus years and loves to travel the world with his wife Pix and their family when he is not working.
Jesse Hillger
Facilitator
Hometown: Tracy, MN
Fun fact: He used to build bombs for the U.S. Air Force.
Sydney Cotton
Student Program Assistant & High Technician
Hometown: Colorado
Fun fact: She loves the power pole element and has a dog named Kenny!
Thank you, Bob Gantt
Former Program Coordinator
Bob was the previous program director of ChallengeWorks and retired at the end of 2020. He has a degree in Recreation and Parks Administration from Texas A&M University, as well as a certificate from Texas A&M as an outdoor education specialist. He is also certified as an experiential therapist, and a wilderness leader.
Bob worked the Challenge Course field beginning in 1990, and has experience facilitating a variety of groups, including corporate clients, teachers, psychiatric patients, and students. Bob began training facilitators in 1994 and was employed as a challenge course builder and inspector for 2 years in Colorado before returning home to Texas A&M.
We thank Bob for paving the way and for his 20+ years of service here at ChallengeWorks!