Richard A. Carroll
Richard A. Carroll, or better known as RAC, is the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Ellis & Associates, Inc. RAC manages the day-to-day operations of the consulting and risk management programs for the firm’s 600 plus clients. RAC also provides oversight of the company’s legal and insurance needs/partnerships. He is active in CMAHC, World Waterpark Association and IAAPA where he currently serves on the Board of Directors.
Starting in 2001, RAC served as the Director of Water Parks and Vice President of Client Management. He also served as the Director of Operations, when he joined the Splish Splash Water Park in Long Island, NY, where he was responsible for the facility operations and management of 500+ staff, along with an annual attendance of 500,000 attendees during a 90-day summer season. Over the years, he has spoke at many seminars around the world, including the IAPPA Safety Institute and has used his platform to showcase his support of the aquatic safety industry and has been involved in the opening of multiple international water parks and resorts. This has elevated the fostering of E&A’s international client growth that currently spans out to more than 12 international countries and to 10 of the Top 20 waterparks worldwide and 17 of the Top 20 waterparks in the United States.
Rac received his Bachelor of Science degree from Shippensburg University. He was the recipient of the Al Turner Commitment to Excellence Award from WWA in 2008.
Rac and his wife Julianne recently relocated to Wilmington, NC. He has two children and enjoys spending his time with family at the beach or on the water.
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Joe Stefanyak
Joe Stefanyak is a Director with Jeff Ellis & Associates, Inc., where he brings over 30 years of aquatic industry experience. In his current role, Joe is responsible for client relationships, which includes 600 municipalities, corporate and private waterparks, and water resorts throughout the United States and in various countries abroad. He works with each to continue the evaluation and implementation of the standard operating procedure in relation to the Comprehensive Aquatic Risk Management Program.
In addition to his Director role, Joe also serves as the Director of the Ron Rhinehart International Aquatic Safety School and contributes to the International Lifeguard Training Program course curriculum.
His previous responsibilities within the firm, include the lead development of vanguard, an aquatic supervisor training program, as well, Joe has helped oversee the firm’s learning initiatives and is an active participant in various state and regional committees and is a current member of the CMAHC Technical Review Committee. He has contributed many articles to textbooks published by Jeff Ellis & Associates, Inc and other leading industry publications.
In 2014, he was the recipient of the World Waterpark Association’s Kelly Ogle Memorial Safety Award. Joe has been married to his wife Robyn for 24 years and is a proud father of his twins, Joey and Becky.
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Larry Newell
Dr. Larry Newell is Vice President of Education Services. Larry has 30 years of experience in aquatics, emergency care, program development, publishing, and business management. He most recently came from Jones and Bartlett Learning/Ascend Learning, where he served as the Executive Vice President and National Executive Director or the Emergency Care & Safety Institute.
Larry continues to pave the way for new development in education services provided by Ellis & Associates Inc. and Jeff Ellis Management, LLC. He is responsible for the global education strategy including the growth and delivery of traditional classroom-based learning, as well as, e-learning. Larry earned his Bachelor of Science in education at the University of Pittsburgh, Master of Science in education at Baylor University, and his Doctoral Degree in education from Texas A&M University.
Larry currently resides in Ashburn, VA. He enjoys many outdoor activities. He also remains actively involved in the emergency responder sector, with 27 years as a National Registry Paramedic and Critical Care Transport Paramedic.
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Juan Richards
Juan Richards is the West Coast Client Manager for Jeff Ellis & Associates, Inc. Juan has over 20 years of experience in the Theme Park/Waterpark industry. Juan works closely with over 250 municipalities, corporate and private waterparks, and water resorts throughout the United States and in various countries abroad. He also provides oversight of E&A’s auditing program, instructor training, and the Annual Ron Rhinehart International Aquatic Safety program.
Juan continues to be instrumental in the delivery of numerous International Lifeguard Training Program courses over the past 15 years. He has also contributed a variety of articles for industry publications. He is an active participant in IAAPA and WWA. His previous roles include operational oversight at Walt Disney World’s Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, and Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.
Juan has a Bachelor of Science in business management from the University of Phoenix. In 1999, Juan was the recipient of the Disney Partners in Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award, which is the most prestigious employee honor. He has a plethora of various certifications including his ILTP Instructor and Certified Pool Operator certification. Juan currently resides in Sacramento, California. He is an avid skier, winter sports enthusiast and enjoys domestic and international traveling.
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Luke Martinez
Luke Martinez is a Client Manager for Ellis & Associates, Inc. In his role, Luke provides oversight in services delivered to nearly 100 E&A client organizations in the mountain and central region of the United States, along with 50+ authorized provider facilities located throughout the U.S. He also provides oversight of the International Lifeguard Training Program Instructor Training courses, which take place around the world each year.
He assists with the design, creation, and/or maintenance of program presentations, instructional talks, statistical information, proposals, media, artwork, documents and other E&A intellectual properties. Luke has been a key researcher, editor and writer/contributor of the various E&A course textbooks. He provides a supporting role in all E&A activities, both domestic and internationally.
With 27 years of industry experience, Luke has worked in the aquatics/recreational field for several facilities located in Colorado. Luke has a Bachelor of Science in business administration and an Associate’s degree in management. He holds certifications in adult learning and eLearning creation and has attended many professional enrichment workshops and training over the years to further bolster his professional development. He is the recipient of E&A Senior Associate award in 2007 the E&A Legacy award in 2017.
Luke resides in Denver, Colorado with his wife and two young children. His interests include outdoor activities, national parks, and museums all around the country, as well, is a homebrewing and craft beer enthusiast and enjoys reading, science fiction, and pop culture.
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Melissa Timmons
As the Director for Ellis & Associates, Melissa Timmons provides support, communications and consultation to a growing client base of 100 E&A client facilities including resorts, corporate and private waterparks, municipalities and private facilities. Melissa has conducted numerous Aquatic Safety Audits and has spent thousands of contact hours with clients of Jeff Ellis & Associates and is a key contributor to the ongoing development and enhancement of the ILTP course curriculum.
Melissa provides primary oversight for E&A’s Aquatic Safety Auditing Program and is active in Instructor Training Programs and International Aquatic Safety School.
With 21 years of industry experience, Melissa held previous leadership roles including her role as the Senior Aquatic Supervisor at Nashville Shores Waterpark.
Melissa received a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Middle Tennessee State University. She currently resides in Nashville, TN and is married with 1 child, her daughter Jaylynne. She enjoys swimming, reading and spending time with her family.
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Jem Hughes
In her new role as Jeff Ellis Swimming Program Manager, Jem Hughes has direct oversight of all programming conducted by both Ellis and Associates, Inc., as well, Jeff Ellis Management, LLC. Previously, Jem was the Illinois Program Manager, where she had operational oversight of 6 clients. She lead the development for a new client implementation of the Jeff Ellis Swimming program at Mickey’s Retreat in 2015.
She has been with JEM for 10 years, where she has served in various leadership roles, including her role as an Operations Manager at a large indoor client facility, which hosted 100 staff including management team members, programming staff, lifeguards, and cashiers. Her passion for programming and enhancing the Jeff Ellis Swimming division has been unequivocal. She continues to aid in the overall policies and procedures and is innovative with her out of the box thinking and ability to connect with the client and staff she is working with.
She attended Waubonsee Community College and Robert Morris College, where she specialized in Culinary Arts. She has been the recipient of the Jeff Ellis Management Academy diploma in 2014 and currently holds a Jeff Ellis Swimming National Trainer certification. Jem enjoys spending her free time with her daughter, Layla, as well, she has a love for DIY projects and takes delight in cooking her favorite recipes for family and friends.
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Steve Miller
As a director for Ellis & Associates, Inc., Steve Miller oversees the southeast region of the United States working with clients ranging from small municipalities to large waterpark resorts, as well, several corporate client groups. With 23 years of experience, Steve brings a well-verse 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,
International Lifeguard Training Program Instructor Resource Manual, as well, assisting with the development of the firm’s curriculum for Train the Trainer, vanguard Aquatic Leadership, and Waterslide Dispatch Operator Training programs.
Steve is an active member of the CDC’s Council for the Model Aquatic Health and is a member of the CMACHC Technical Support Committee for Lifeguard Bather Supervisor. He also provides assistance in oversight of the operational aquatic safety audit program. He also is responsible for supervision and training of auditor staff and coordination of audit travel.
In his most recent role, Steve served as the Director of Aquatics for Great Wolf Lodge in Wisconsin Dells, WI. From 1995-2005, Steve worked at the Schlitterbahn Waterpark as an operations manager. He returned to the Schlitterbahn Waterpark located in South Padre, TX, where he served as the Director of Operations.
Steve received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Southwest Texas State University. He currently resides in New Braunfels, TX with his wife Toni and daughter Brynnleigh, along with his beloved pets. Steve plays guitar and is active in sports, especially soccer, where he coaches the Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School middle school soccer team.
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