RAPID CITY, SD (August 25, 2025) –National Bowhunter Education Foundation (NBEF) Executive Director Marilyn Bentz was recently elected to the Tree Stand Safety Awareness Foundation Board (TSSA). TSSA is an organization of outdoor industry leaders dedicated to enhancing the focus on tree stand safety.
“I’m honored to join this group of experienced industry professionals and help advance awareness of tree stand safety,” said Marilyn Bentz, Executive Director of the National Bowhunter Education Foundation. “Working together, tree stand industry leaders, government officials and hunter ed instructors, can help reduce tree stand falls and injuries.”
A two-term board member of the Archery Trade Association, Bentz now leads the National Bowhunter Education Foundation as Executive Director. This global nonprofit is dedicated to bowhunter safety and education through standardized curriculum. She has served on the NBEF Board of Directors since 1996. In recognition of her contributions to the archery and hunting community, Bentz has received the prestigious Fred Bear Achievement Award. In 2005,Bentz was inducted into The Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame. She began her career in the outdoor industry through a professional connection with renowned entrepreneur Chuck Saunders. Bentz advanced through key leadership roles in top archery and hunting companies, including National Sales Manager and Director of Marketing at Saunders Archery, followed by senior positions such as Director of Sales and Marketing and Vice President of National Sales at McKenzie Targets, Knight & Hale/Code Blue–PRADCO, and Golden Eagle/Satellite Archery/Bear Archery/North American Archery.
NBEF helps bowhunters learn to be safe, successful and stewards of the sport. NBEF offers bowhunting instructional items, books, videos, 3-D models, apparel and more at nbef.org.
About NBEF
The National Bowhunter Education Foundation offers instructional content and tools for bowhunter education and hunter education. Helping bowhunters become safe and successful hunters and stewards of the sport are important NBEF missions. NBEF provides the bowhunter certification curriculum and class content that some states and certain circumstances require to bow hunt. NBEF provides instructor training and certification.
NBEF oversees the International Bowhunter Education Program and works with the International Hunter Education Association and state agencies to coordinate a unified program. States may have additional requirements. Europe and other countries offer full reciprocity for the NBEF (IBEP) certification and conduct classes.
NBEF also oversees the International Crossbow Education Program and works with state agencies responsible for crossbow education to develop comprehensive online crossbow safety courses that teach students important laws and regulations, game identification, and safe, responsible handling of crossbow equipment.
NBEF is a 501(c)3 corporation that isn’t a membership-based organization. Tax-deductible donations to support this non-profit are welcome.
Learn more at nbef.org.
About TSSA
Formally organized in 2016, a group of outdoor industry leaders dedicated to enhancing the focus on tree stand safety worked collaboratively to form the Tree Stand Safety Awareness Foundation (TSSA), a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization. Hunting from a manufactured tree stand is a safe way to hunt provided the hunter follows the tree stand manufacturer’s guidelines.
However, tree stand-related falls continue to be one of the top causes of injury and death to our deer hunters. Our focus is to ensure that every hunter that uses a tree stand does so in a safe manner so that he or she comes home safely to their family and friends. Our Vision is to serve as a national resource on tree stand safety awareness. Promote research surrounding tree stand safety. Facilitate dialog among tree stand industry leaders, governmental officials, hunter education instructors, public, and other stake holders. Act as a resource in the development of marketing and educational strategies for safe tree stand use. The mission of the Tree Stand Safety Awareness Foundation is to significantly reduce tree stand incidents through promotion, education, and best practices. Our Goal is to significantly reduce the estimated number of tree stand falls resulting in an emergency department visit.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Kim Emery, Firefly Publicity, kim@fireflypublicity.com
