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

Amanda Laurel

Program Coordinator

Amanda is the current Program Coordinator of ChallengeWorks. She is a first-generation college graduate and received her Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University, WHOOP! Amanda holds an ACCT Level 2 and Challenge Course Manager (CCM) certification. She is very involved with the challenge course industry and is a Qualified Course Professional (QCP) and trainer. Amanda is also certified in Wilderness First Aid.

Hometown: San Antonio, TX
Fun fact: She enjoys reading and playing with her cat, Maisel the Friend, and she loves Taylor Swift.

Frank Eckles

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

Bill Salin

Facilitator

Hometown: Upstate New York
Fun fact: He is retired from TAMU, has a Master’s Degree, and is Class of 1999.

Cassidy Baysinger

Cassidy Baysinger

High Tech

Hometown: College Station, TX
Fun fact: Cassidy has a twin sister who goes to A&M and her favorite place to hike is Yosemite National Park.

Herb Head

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

Marybeth Henthorne

Facilitator

Hometown: Tomball, TX
Fun fact: She can do the worm.

Mia Weathersby

Mia Weathersby

High Tech

Hometown: Dallas, TX
Fun fact: She plays the piano by ear.

Kendyl Wilke

Kendyl Wilke

High Tech

Hometown: Lumberton, TX
Fun fact: She once biked through Grand Teton National Park.

Art Ortiz, MA

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

Chad Nelson

Facilitator

Hometown: Buffalo, TX
Fun fact: He once crossed an ocean with a horse.

Jordan Szura

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.

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.

LaNessa Harrison

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.

Jesse Hillger

Jesse Hillger

Facilitator

Hometown: Tracy, MN
Fun fact: He used to build bombs for the U.S. Air Force.

An Trinh

An Trinh

High Tech

Hometown: Dallas, TX
Fun fact: She can play Piano Man by Billy Joel on the harmonica.

Thank you, Bob Gantt

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!