Innovating, advocating, and elevating the aquatics industry through service.
To stay at the forefront of aquatics advancements, E&A team members hold certifications and ongoing designations that require frequent professional development and continuing education. Members of the team contribute to the aquatic industry’s bank of science-based, technically-driven resources by serving on industry committees and volunteering their expertise by presenting at various industry conferences.
Most importantly, E&A shares the collective experience not only of the E&A team but hundreds of E&A Clients and Associates around the globe.
E&A Team
Richard "RAC" CarrollICAE Senior Vice President &
Chief Operating Officer
Richard A. Carroll, better known as RAC, is the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Ellis & Associates. RAC manages the day-to-day operations of all aquatic safety and risk management consulting services for E&A’s 850+ clients. RAC’s extensive experience in water park design, construction, development, and operations support aquatic facilities, large and small, including many of the world’s top water parks.
RAC also provides oversight of the company’s litigation support, expert witness, and insurance partnerships. His industry leadership includes more than five decades volunteering in numerous leadership positions with Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code (CMAHC), ASTM F-24, World Waterpark Association (WWA), and the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) where he served on the Board of Directors. RAC is a member of the World Waterpark Association Hall of Fame and is an IAAPA Certified Attractions Executive.
Jennifer BarberClient Manager
Jennifer Barber is a Client Manager for Ellis and Associates. In her role, she provides support to the Client Director team and assists in daily client needs. Jennifer has more than 18 years of aquatics experience in theme parks, hotel water parks, and YMCA facilities. In her most recent roles, she has served as the Director of Aquatics for Great Wolf Lodge – Traverse City and for the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA. Jenny was also part of the E&A auditor team in 2012.
Debbie EvansMarketing Executive &
Crisis Communications Counsel
In addition to executing marketing communications strategy for Ellis & Associates, Debbie leads E&A’s new crisis communications training and consulting practice. As a former Corporate Director of Communications for Six Flags Entertainment, Debbie managed both proactive and reactive communications for Six Flags’ portfolio of 39 parks worldwide. Debbie has worked with dozens of leisure industry resorts, parks, associations, management firms, events, attractions, and suppliers, and currently provides both training and on-call crisis incident counsel for the amusement industry.
Debbie leverages her wide breadth of expertise in crisis management to deliver custom training, education, and counsel to both aquatic and non-aquatic facilities. She shares her experience with numerous leisure industry organizations including the International Association of Fairs & Expositions (IAFE), IAAPA, and AIMS International.
Keith FontenotClient Director
Keith is an Ellis & Associates ILTP Instructor Trainer and Senior Associate, and served as an Advisory Board member prior to joining the E&A Team. Beginning his career as a lifeguard in 1994, Fontenot worked with Schlitterbahn Waterparks, one of E&A's earliest clients, for 27 seasons. Fontenot is a certified EMT, Past Chair of the International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions Water Park Committee, serves on the WWW Government Relations Committee, serves on the Education Committee for AIMS and is an AIMS Certified Ride Inspector, is a NAARSO Certified Amusement Ride Safety Inspector Level II, and member of the ASTM F24 Committee.
Steve MillerClient Director
As a Client Director with Ellis & Associates, Steve oversees the southeast region of the United States working with clients ranging from small municipalities to large waterpark resorts, as well as several corporate client groups. With 23 years of experience, Steve brings a wide breadth of training expertise with programs offered by E&A and assists with the review of textbook content including the current and past editions of the International Lifeguard Training Program.
Adrienne NewmanClient Manager
Client Manager Adrianne Newman began her aquatics career in 2000 as a 15-year-old slide attendant at Great Wolf Lodge Wisconsin Dells and became an E&A certified lifeguard the following year. After working in aquatics through high school and college, and becoming an E&A Instructor, Adrianne was offered a full time job at Great Wolf Lodge.
After 17 years of service with the “wolf pack”, Adrianne moved to Galveston Island, TX to work for Schlitterbahn as the Director of Operations. In 2018 she became an E&A Instructor Trainer. During her career, she also worked for the corporate office of Goldfish Swim School as an Operations Consultant and for Commercial Aquatics as the Corporate Director of Safety.
In her free time, Adrianne enjoys going to sporting events, spending time with her friends and family, going to concerts, and running marathons.
Shelly RucinskiClient Manager
Client Manager Shelly Rucinski supports E&A Clients on a daily basis. Shelly began her aquatics industry career in 1990 after working as an intern at Noah’s Ark Waterpark in the Wisconsin Dells. Her work at the iconic water park included recruiting, training, supervising and mentoring nearly 8,000 lifeguards during her tenure. Shelly’s strategic planning and efficiency helped maintain Noah’s Ark’s stellar reputation as America’s Largest Waterpark.
Sarhece SernaClient Manager
Sarhece joined Ellis & Associates in 2024, transitioning from a lengthy career at Schlitterbahn where she gained high-impact experience in aquatics, risk management and leadership. Transitioning from a lifeguard, to International Lifeguard Training Program Instructor and esteemed member of the International Aquatic Safety School (IASS) faculty, and then to E&A Client Manager, Sarhece continues to dedicate her time and expertise to the aquatics industry. Her work has impacted thousands of lifeguards both at Schlitterbahn and at E&A aquatic facility partners around the world.
Darlene Reese-SittigOperations Education Manager
Darlene Reese-Sittig serves as the Education and Operations Manager for Ellis Aquatic Innovations and Ellis & Associates. She has more than 35 years of amusement and water park industry experience where she has held numerous leadership positions within Six Flags. Notably she advised the company’s operations and aquatics standards committees and piloted corporate brand extension initiatives. As a consultant, Darlene played a key role in helping AIMS International launch their digital learning platforms and supported E&A by helping to design and develop educational programming achieving the company’s IACET accreditation. Today, Darlene serves on a development team creating E&A’s advanced education courses and innovative training programs in multiple languages used by clients all over the world.
Joe StefanyakVice President Education
A greatly respected leader in aquatics who volunteers countless hours to numerous industry associations, Joe currently serves as Ellis & Associates’ Vice President of Ellis Education. In this role, he oversees all Ellis Education content and team members, manages Ellis Aquatic Innovations client relationships and leads training and new installations for the Ellis Aquatics Vigilance System.
Joe’s career has been dedicated to safety, operations, maintenance and leadership since his early days with Kennywood Entertainment. Since joining E&A in 2009, Joe has contributed his vast knowledge to the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, US National Water Safety Action Plan Committee, Children’s Drowning Prevention Council, World Aquatic Health Conference, AOAP, WWA, IAAPA, CMAHC, WWA and dozens more.
Joe is a recipient of both the Kelly Ogle Memorial Safety Award and Al Turner Memorial Safety Award and was named to the POWER 10 by Aquatics International Magazine.