Steve Smith (he/him/his) is the founder of Experiential Consulting, LLC, specializing in risk management for outdoor programs and the author/editor of Beneficial Risks: The Evolution of Risk Management for Outdoor and Experiential Education Programs. After taking a NOLS course in 1991, he has worked in the outdoor industry for over thirty years in the field, in the office, and in the boardroom. His career has included leadership roles with national organizations including Outward Bound and The Student Conservation Association. Steve served as Chair of the Wilderness Risk Management Conference for three years (2014 - 2016). He served two terms as a board member for the Northwest Outward Bound School, where he continues to serve on the school's Board of Directors Safety Committee. He has a master's degree in teaching English, along with years of university-level teaching experience, and earned a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification from the Society for Human Resources Management, all of which help him view outdoor education through a variety of educational and administrative lenses. Steve lives in Seattle and loves to explore and photograph the wildlife, mountains, and coastlines of the Pacific Northwest and beyond.