The Northwest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) Trail Technician Program hired Lori Greminger as its inaugural Trail Technician Program Director.
Greminger got her start teaching, building, and maintaining sustainable mountain bike trail construction for the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA). After two years with IMBA, she then managed TrailSpring, a cycling centric non-profit, while also property managing Two Rivers Bike Park, and hosting Singletrack Mind Festival for five years. Upon moving to Northwest Arkansas, Greminger became the Events and Marketing Specialist for Allied Cycle Works. Most recently, she managed the Coler Mountain Bike Preserve for The Peel Compton Foundation. Her skill sets range from managing and maintaining trail, riding, and racing trails, to teaching about the various intricacies behind building entire trail systems from the ground up.
“She believes in the program and is eager to give 100% to the Trails Trade School’s role in the outdoor recreation economic development happening in our region,” said Megan Bolinder, Executive Director, International Trades School for Trail Innovation (ITSTI). “I could not be happier that a woman is leading this program, and I look forward to watching her grow her leadership and the program’s capacity.”
NWACC’s Trail Technician program builds off the college’s Bicycle Assembly and Repair Technician Program, which launched in 2021, by offering certificates in trail technician, management, construction, and community development. It will equip students with the specialized skills and knowledge required to design, build, and maintain trails while ensuring sustainable and enjoyable outdoor experiences for the community. Its curriculum is being developed in partnership with American Trails, the Professional Trail Builders Association (PTBA), the Trail Skills Project, The DIRTT Project, Trail Tools, and IMBA Europe.
NWACC is partnering with local parks, trail systems, and outdoor organizations to provide trail technician students with real-world experience, valuable networking and internship opportunities, and job placement. Graduates will go on to play a vital role in preserving and enhancing the natural beauty of state and national trail systems.
For more information about NWACC’s Trail Technician Program, please contact Wendy Taylor at w3taylor@nwacc.edu or by calling 479-986-6608.
Fall 2024 classes for the Trails Technician Program will begin in September. Learn more about the program by visiting www.nwacc.edu/TrailTech. To enroll in the program, apply here: www.nwacc.edu.
