About Us

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Eric Dinnel is an award winning educator with over 24 years experience in the field. He is an internationally recognized education visionary, global education catalyst, entrepreneur and speaker. Dinnel has received awards in each of his educational experiences as a superintendent, principal, assistant principal/athletic director, teacher and football coach. Dinnel has school leadership experience in all grade levels, urban and rural schools, traditional, private, online, turnaround, charter and international schools.  He also has an extensive background in homeschool programs. His schools have been recognized on local, regional, national and international levels. Dinnel has directed an international student exchange program, international student council, and international educator/administrator cultural exchanges. He has trained school leaders and educators around the globe and is passionate about their growth and success.  He has led and directed several new school and start up projects. Dinnel has conducted extensive work and trainings with school boards in Colorado, Arizona, California, Minnesota and Ohio. He is enthusiastic and dedicated to quality school governance, financial responsibility, academics and operations. Dinnel’s education network provides insight and perspective on best practices around the globe.  In 2020, he received the Global Education and Learning Forum’s Top 100 Leaders in Education award.

His prior education work experiences include being a licensed financial representative for the Vanguard Group and an extensive internship with a law enforcement special operations team.  Dinnel holds a B.A. from Colorado State University and a M.A in Education/Administration and Supervision from the University of Phoenix.  Eric and his wife Tracey, live in Colorado Springs and have 3 children.  He enjoys outdoor adventures and spending time with his family.

Mark Carlson is an educator, veteran, coach, father, and husband who lives in Colorado Springs. Over the past 15 years, Mark has been coaching, teaching, leading, and mentoring within education in a number of different roles. 

Mark attended the United States Air Force Academy and Prep School from 2001-2006 and played football for the Falcons. After graduating, he was a communication officer at Barksdale Air Force Base (Shreveport, LA). After leaving active duty, Mark attended the University of Phoenix and received his Masters in Secondary Education. In 2021, Mark attended the University of Colorado - Colorado Springs, and received his Educational Leadership Principal License. 

Since 2008, Mark has held positions in K-12 education at all grade levels and various content areas. He has coached basketball, football, track and field, and weightlifting in California and Colorado. In 2019, Mark exited the classroom and sports field and became the Dean of Students at Banning Lewis Ranch Academy.  

Mark has a passion for supporting families, teachers, and students within education. His areas of concentration consist of school wide systems of support, safety and security, behavioral support, community engagement, fundraising, extracurricular activities, teacher mentorship, compliance, human resources, and staffing. 

In 2021, Mark Carlson was awarded the Community Essential Worker Award from the Mayor of Colorado Springs, John Suthers. Coordinated by NorthEast U.S. Army Recruiting and the City of Colorado Springs, the award pays tribute to those in the Colorado Springs community who have gone above and beyond to serve during challenging times.

Mark has lived in Colorado Springs with his wife Emmalee and his three kids Rosie, Porter, and Ruby since 2016. He enjoys watching Chicago Cubs baseball, golfing, and spending time with his family and friends. 

Jay Zarr shares real experiences that bring to life concepts of team and leadership during his training sessions. Jay lives and leads by example. His authenticity and sincerity come through in      everything from his message to his one-on-one interactions. Jay meets people where they are and works to propel them to the next level, asking them to check their choices along the way. Jay brings experiences and stories from over 30 years of outdoor expeditions and connects them back to everyday life. From kayaking among whales to summiting mountain peaks, Jay possesses a unique ability to harness and translate those experiences      and bring them indoors. He offers an unparalleled viewpoint of the value of self-knowledge, the collaborative nature of leadership, and the role of leader as servant. Jay designs training experiences that allow participants to use the skills they have, all while building new ones. There is always a takeaway moment from Jay’s programs. Jay has taken on a unique project of blending an online curriculum with meaningful experiential learning. He is primarily working with      high-risk high school and community college students. The courses range      from art to international service-learning travels. He is co-owner of Storyteller Travels, leading civilized adventure to exotic places—from Alaska to Peru.

Jay recently joined force with another seasoned professional and Co-founded the” The Experience Collaborative” The Experience Collaborative | Experiential Learning Consultants

He is an adjunct professor at Colorado State University-Pueblo, an instructor for the Wilderness Education Association, and Past President of the Nature and Wildlife Discovery Center of Pueblo, CO. With his groundbreaking work, Jay helped to define and develop the field of Experiential Education. Since then, he has spent more than 40 years working in the areas of outdoor education, leadership development, recreation, student programming, intramurals, and teaching. He envisioned and founded two experiential learning centers at Western State College of Colorado and at Colorado State University-Pueblo, where he was also the Director for 13 years. Jay’s professional experiences include serving as Assistant Professor of Outdoor Education at Colorado Mountain College and coordinator of Wilderness Management for the United States Forest Service. Jay served as Director of the College Center and Student Life at Pueblo Community College.  He received his bachelor’s degree in Recreation and Biology from Colorado State University—Pueblo, his master’s degree in Experiential Education from Minnesota State University—Mankato and studied leadership and innovation at the University of Colorado—Denver. He is an active member of the Association for Experiential Education and is currently serving as the President Elect. He’s been listed three times with “Who’s Who in American Educators.” Kansas Wesleyan University has established the “Jay Zarr Award” which is given to the outstanding outdoor recreation/education student of the year. Without a doubt, Jay is one of the nation’s leading experts in experiential education. Jay stands out due to his ability to transfer his experiential skills and education into teachable moments for groups of all types and sizes. Jay is inspirational in both his leadership and lifestyle. He teaches by example and encourages self-reflection. He paints a picture encouraging involvement and advises his participants to “be prepared to move, be prepared to think, and be prepared to feel.”  

Dr. Albert Wiggins has been involved in the educational environment for 20+ years. He grew up as a military dependent and has had the experience to live, work, and educate youth around the world.  Dr. Wiggins completed his undergraduate studies at Fort Valley State University (Fort Valley, GA); graduate studies at The University of Nothern Iowa (Cedar Falls, IA), and doctoral studies from Capella University (Minneapolis, MN). Dr. Wiggins is married to Candance Wiggins, who is also an educator, and they have four children Elijah, Albert, Kayden, and Aubrielle.

Dr.  Wiggins currently serves as the High School principal of Discovery High School and the EDI (equity, diversity, and inclusion) coordinator for Widefield School District 3 in Colorado Springs, CO. Previously Dr. Wiggins has served in roles as a school administrator (6-12), athletic director, STEM coordinator, advisor on the Governor's STEM advisory council,  collegiate instructor, and presenter/ provided professional development regarding EDI in the PK-12, higher educations, and business settings.

Efrain has 12 years of experience teaching at the elementary level in core content areas, 2 years of experience as an ELL administrator, 3 years as Educational Technology teacher, and 1 year as an online school administrator. Efrain earned his Bachelor's Degree in K-6 Education at Colorado State University- Pueblo, a Masters Degree in Cultural & Linguistic Diversity at Colorado State University- Pueblo, and is also a graduate at WGU in the area of Educational Leadership. In addition, he is Google Certified Level I & II (teacher), is an Apple Certified Teacher, Raspberry Pi Certified (teacher), and has extensive training/experience in instructional technology tools and concepts. Mr. Efrain Tapia is endorsed by CDE as a K-12 Principal, K-12 ELL Specialist, and as a K-6 Professional Teacher. His hobbies include tinkering with technology tools, teaching, studying best-practices in education, spending time with his wife and kids, and problem-solving.  

Heather Zambrano Raisanen is a seasoned professional with over eight years of experience in the financial industry, specializing in operations, management, business relations, and associate development. Her expertise extends to marketing and sales cycle, business operation management, and collaborative strategic partnerships, with over thirteen years of experience in these areas. Additionally, Heather has demonstrated a strong commitment to civic engagement and volunteerism with over 15 years of dedicated service in various organizations and leadership roles.

Heather provides valuable guidance to schools and companies in operations process building, branding, marketing, strategic planning, human capital acquisition, formulating policies, managing administrative operations, and promoting active participation. She also spearheads public relations programs and coordinates legislative efforts to further her client’s objectives. Her roles involve collaborating with stakeholders to evaluate needs, deliver project results, and provide workable solutions for business challenges.

With a wealth of experience in communication and marketing, Heather has led, planned, and implemented marketing strategies, coordinated advertising and public relations, and ensured brand and messaging quality and consistency. 

In addition to her professional endeavors, Heather has been actively involved in various organizations and leadership roles. Her commitment to community service and leadership development is evident through her involvement in numerous boards, committees, and volunteer activities.

Heather holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and completed the Elementary Teacher Education Program from Fort Lewis College and a Masters in Educational Leadership from Liberty University.