Our Team

Aaron became the President and Chief Operating Officer of Chance Rides in the summer of 2017. Prior to Chance Rides, he served as General Manager of companies in the aerospace and machining industry. Before these he held Operations and Engineering management roles in various companies including multi-national and multi-site responsibilities.

Aaron graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1999 with a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering. He also holds an MBA from Sullivan University. He holds lean manufacturing and six-sigma black belt certifications and also attended several executive style programs and courses.

Jeremy McClanahan began his career with Chance Rides as an engineering intern in 1998. From there he served in production control and as an assistant production manager. In 2009 Jeremy’s experience was harnessed to be responsible for all of manufacturing as the Production Manager. Jeremy graduated from Wichita State University in 1999 with B.S. in Industrial Engineering.

Brian spent much of his career in the aerospace and defense industry, holding accounting positions with increasing levels of responsibility. He joined Chance Rides as an analyst in 2019 and was promoted to controller in 2021.

Brian earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Business Administration and Accounting from the University of Kansas in 1999.

Kyle Penner joined Chance Rides in 2023, bringing more than 25 years of engineering and leadership experience across research and development, product design and engineering management. His career spans industries from mass-market consumer products to large-scale industrial material handling systems and equipment.

With a strong foundation in core engineering principles and a practical, problem-solving mindset, Kyle provides clear direction and leadership to the Chance Rides engineering team. He holds bachelor’s degrees in Physics and Mechanical Engineering, along with an MBA.

Travis joined Chance Rides in 2025 following 15 years in the aerospace industry, where he held positions in Engineering, Supply Chain, and Program Management.

Travis has a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Wichita State University and an MBA from Newman University.

Jeff Roth has been the Vice President of Administration and General Counsel since 1994. He supports Chance Rides in product quality, corporate, and contract administration capacities. Prior to joining the company Mr. Roth consulted with Chance Rides while working in private practice.

He graduated from The University of Kansas in 1979 with a J.D. degree.

Erin has 10 years of automation experience across a variety of manufacturing industries. At Chance Rides, he applies his expertise in large-scale manufacturing, robotics and safety systems to the design and implementation of advanced ride-control systems.

Erin holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and an associate degree in electronic engineering technology. He also holds a Qualified MTR certification from UL.

Sherri joined Chance Rides in 2025, bringing more than 25 years of technical leadership experience in research and development, new product design, manufacturing, quality systems and engineering and project management. She has led product development and engineering teams driving new products from concept through development to full manufacturing readiness, with prior experience leading global product development programs at a Fortune 500 company.

Sherri holds an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology and an MBA from Southwestern College. She is a board-licensed Professional Engineer and a Six-Sigma Black Belt, with multiple awards and patents for design and product innovation.

Derek Schrag has been serving Chance Rides since 1998 in various roles related to production and delivery of our superior products. In 2016 he assumed the role of project manager, ensuring the smooth delivery of all projects from order to installation.

He holds an A.A. degree in automotive repair and has completed Project Management courses through American Management Association.

Michelle brings extensive project management expertise to the Chance Rides team, with a strong background in leading cross-functional projects from initiation through closing. She has experience managing complex timelines, budgets and stakeholder expectations across information technology and manufacturing environments. Michelle is known for her organized, detail-oriented approach and her ability to keep teams aligned and projects moving forward. Her focus on communication, accountability and continuous improvement supports successful project outcomes and helps deliver exceptional results for customers.

Michelle has a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science Information Systems. She is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Scrum Master (CSM).

Erin has 10 years of automation experience across a variety of manufacturing industries. At Chance Rides, he applies his expertise in large-scale manufacturing, robotics and safety systems to the design and implementation of advanced ride-control systems.

Erin holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and an associate degree in electronic engineering technology. He also holds a Qualified MTR certification from UL.

Heidi joined Chance Rides in 2022, bringing more than 30 years of experience in marketing, communications and event strategy. In her role, she supports brand visibility and customer engagement by developing marketing materials, coordinating campaigns and helping share the Chance Rides story across multiple channels. Heidi also leads the planning and execution for the trade shows where Chance exhibits, managing logistics, booth planning, collateral and on-site details to ensure a seamless, high-impact presence. She holds a B.B.A. in Marketing from Pittsburg State University and is known for her organized, hands-on approach and ability to keep projects moving while aligning details with larger business goals.

Ifrita joined Chance Rides in 2025, bringing a strong foundation in marketing and digital strategy. She supports the Sales team with marketing tools and initiatives that strengthen customer engagement, while also managing and evolving the company’s digital presence across key channels. With experience in both the real estate and human resources industries, Ifrita brings a well-rounded perspective and a thoughtful, detail-driven approach to promoting brands and connecting with audiences.

A 2024 graduate of Wichita State University, Ifrita earned her bachelor’s degree in Marketing and is passionate about using data-informed insights and creative execution to help tell the Chance Rides story and support continued growth.