CWA Committees

Explore the CWA's Committees

Industry Practices Committee

Industry Practices Committee

The Industry Practices Committee works on the development and maintenance of guidelines, recommendations, and practices concerning the management and operation of climbing walls CWA Industry Practices are intended to assist owners and operators of climbing facilities in the management and operation of those facilities and in developing sound risk management plans. If you would like more information about the CWA’s Industry Practices Committee, you can find it here:

Email the Industry Practices Committee

  • Wesley Shih

    Wesley Shih

    Sender One Climbing LLC

    Committee Chair

  • Mike St Laurent

    Mike St Laurent

    President & COO, Triangle Rock Club

    Committee Chair

  • Kenneth Cronin

    Kenneth Cronin

    Owner, Crag X Indoor Climbing Centre Inc.

    Committee Member

  • Jon Heshka

    Jon Heshka

    Professor, Thompson Rivers University

    Committee Member

  • Chris Jenkins

    Chris Jenkins

    Chief Strategy Officer, Movement, LLC

    Committee Member

  • Jason Kurten

    Jason Kurten

    Associate Director of Rec Sports, Texas A&M University Outdoor Adventures

    Committee Member

  • Jason Noble

    Jason Noble

    Operations Manager, Vertical Endeavors, Inc.

    Committee Member

  • George Poulton

    George Poulton

    General Counsel, GCMP Law

    Committee Member

  • Lauren Watson

    Lauren Watson

    Ground Up Climbing Centre

    Committee Member

  • Garnet Moore

    Garnet Moore

    Executive Director, Climbing Wall Association

    CWA Staff Liaison

  • Heather Reynolds

    Heather Reynolds

    Climbing Wall Association

    CWA Staff Liaison

Climbing Wall Instructor Committee

The Climbing Wall Association has developed consensus standards for certified climbing wall instructors and climbing wall instructor trainers (providers). The committee responsible for developing and maintaining the CWA Climbing Wall Instructor certification standards is the CWA Climbing Wall Instructor Certification Standards Committee. If you would like more information about CWA’s Certification Standards Committee, you can find it here:

  • Chris Adshade

    Director, Calgary Climbing Centres

    Committee Member

  • Jess Colley

    Jess Colley

    General Manager, Co-Founder, Basin Climbing and Fitness

    Committee Member

  • Jamie Harpster

    Jamie Harpster

    Chief Operations Officer, Gravity Vault - Corporate Locations

    Committee Member

  • Russell Hobart

    Russell Hobart

    University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

    Committee Member

  • Alisha Kortje

    Alisha Kortje

    Bliss Climbing Co

    Committee Member

  • Maxym Langlois

    Maxym Langlois

    Safety and Training Manager, Altitude Gym

    Committee Member

  • Jason Noble

    Jason Noble

    Operations Manager, Vertical Endeavors, Inc.

    Committee Member

  • Brian Sweeney

    Brian Sweeney

    Climbing Wall Instructor Provider, Work at Height Competent Person, LV2 USAC...

    Chief Knowledgearian of Vertical Empowerment, BaseCamp Climbing Gym

    Committee Member

  • Garnet Moore

    Garnet Moore

    Executive Director, Climbing Wall Association

    CWA Staff Liaison

  • Heather Reynolds

    Heather Reynolds

    Climbing Wall Association

    CWA Staff Liaison

Routesetting Committee

  • Jackie Hueftle

    Jackie Hueftle

    Co-Founder Routesetting Institute, Board Member Bolt & Revolt

    COO, Kilter, LLC

    Committee Chair

  • Ward Byrum

    Ward Byrum

    Director of Routesetting - Eastern Region, Movement, LLC

    Committee Member

  • Kyle Dontanville

    Kyle Dontanville

    Sales Account Manager / Routesetter, Vertical Solutions

    Committee Member

  • Alexandra Fox

    Alexandra Fox

    Director of Routesetting, First Ascent LLC

    Committee Member

  • Paul Jung

    Paul Jung

    Director of Routesetting - Northeastern Region, Movement, LLC

    Committee Member

  • Foxman McCarthy-James

    Foxman McCarthy-James

    Routesetter, Alta Climbing

    Committee Member

  • Justin Wright

    Justin Wright

    Director of Routesetting, Edgeworks Climbing, Inc.

    Committee Member

  • Peter Zeidelhack

    Peter Zeidelhack

    Routesetter

    Committee Member

  • Garnet Moore

    Garnet Moore

    Executive Director, Climbing Wall Association

    CWA Staff Liaison

  • Heather Reynolds

    Heather Reynolds

    Climbing Wall Association

    CWA Staff Liaison

Competition Advisory Committee

A joint advisory committee created by USA Climbing and the Climbing Wall Association. The advisory committee will provide advice on creating a sustainable competition climbing infrastructure satisfying the needs of indoor climbing facilities, competitors, volunteers, and the climbing industry at large.

  • Andrew Hou

    Owner, Uplift Climbing

    Committee Member

  • David Hudson

    David Hudson

    Petzl PPE Qualified, Petzl WaH Qualified

    Operating Director, Head Coach, First Ascent LLC

    Committee Member

  • Alice Kao

    Co-Founder, CEO, Sender One Climbing LLC

    Committee Member

  • Michael Lary

    Michael Lary

    Source Climbing Center

    Committee Member

  • Connie Lightner

    Connie Lightner

    Climbing For Change

    Committee Member

  • Ian McIntosh

    CEO, Mesa Rim Climbing Center

    Committee Member

  • John Muse

    John Muse

    USA Climbing

    Committee Member

  • Marc Norman

    USA Climbing

    Committee Member

  • Garnet Moore

    Garnet Moore

    Executive Director, Climbing Wall Association

    CWA Staff Liaison

  • Drew Sloss

    Drew Sloss

    Owner, Climb Nashville, LLC

    Committee Chair

  • Mike St Laurent

    Mike St Laurent

    President & COO, Triangle Rock Club

    Board Chair

Government Affairs Committee

The CWA is the principal advocate for and defender of the indoor climbing industry in North America. Each year, we monitor and attend dozens of hearings in states and provinces across the continent. The CWA’s public policy agenda involves educating our members on policy matters that may have an impact on their programs and businesses; promoting positive regulatory and business conditions for the industry; and promoting sound public policy regarding health, physical education and recreation. 

  • Garnet Moore

    Garnet Moore

    Executive Director, Climbing Wall Association

    CWA Staff Liaison

Board of Directors

The Climbing Wall Association, as a 501c6 non-profit organization, is governed by a Board of Directors. The Board directs the overall strategy of the CWA alongside the organization's Executive Director, who is the chief officer among the paid staff of the organization. While the Executive Director oversees all staff, the Board is the body that oversees the Executive Director. In addition to this role and their strategic guidance, the Board also serves as liason to the many Committees of the organization. 

Get to know the current members of the CWA's Board of Directors.

  • Wesley Shih

    Wesley Shih

    Sender One Climbing LLC

    Board Chair

  • Michele Lang

    Michele Lang

    CEO, Insight Climbing and Movement

    Board Vice Chair

  • Jason Noble

    Jason Noble

    Operations Manager, Vertical Endeavors, Inc.

    Board Treasurer

  • Kenneth Cronin

    Kenneth Cronin

    Owner, Crag X Indoor Climbing Centre Inc.

    Board Secretary

  • Jackie Hueftle

    Jackie Hueftle

    Co-Founder Routesetting Institute, Board Member Bolt & Revolt

    COO, Kilter, LLC

    Board Member

  • George Poulton

    George Poulton

    General Counsel, GCMP Law

    Board Member

  • Mardi Roberts

    Mardi Roberts

    CEO, 5.Life

    Board Member

  • Mike St Laurent

    Mike St Laurent

    President & COO, Triangle Rock Club

    Board Member

  • Walson Tai

    Walson Tai

    Calgary Climbing Centres

    Board Member

Work at Height (WAH) Committee

The Climbing Wall Association has developed consensus standards for climbing wall workers and work-at-height certification trainers (providers). The committee responsible for developing and maintaining the CWA climbing wall worker certification standard, and assessment criteria, is the CWA Work-at-Height Certification Standards Committee. If you would like more information about this, you can find it here:

  • Dean Pflaumer

    Dean Pflaumer

    Co-Owner, Redline Access and Rescue Solutions

    Committee Chair

  • Kenneth Cronin

    Kenneth Cronin

    Owner, Crag X Indoor Climbing Centre Inc.

    Committee Member

  • Drake Linscott

    Drake Linscott

    Marin Gravity Vault

    Committee Member

  • Foxman McCarthy-James

    Foxman McCarthy-James

    Routesetter, Alta Climbing

    Committee Member

  • Steve Schwortz

    Steve Schwortz

    Consultant / Routesetter / Instructor

    Committee Member

  • Eddie Stevens

    Eddie Stevens

    PTI Technician , Petzl America, Inc.

    Committee Member

  • Justin Wright

    Justin Wright

    Director of Routesetting, Edgeworks Climbing, Inc.

    Committee Member

  • Peter Zeidelhack

    Peter Zeidelhack

    Routesetter

    Committee Member

  • Garnet Moore

    Garnet Moore

    Executive Director, Climbing Wall Association

    CWA Staff Liaison

  • Heather Reynolds

    Heather Reynolds

    Climbing Wall Association

    CWA Staff Liaison