Summary

CircuiTree is a camp management software platform that was founded by Kanakuk in 2006. It was a significant profit center for Kanakuk prior to it being sold off to a private equity firm for an undisclosed amount of money. Kanakuk used CircuiTree to generate profits at the same time Kanakuk was trying to conceal its own problems with child sexual assaults, including by Pete Newman.

CircuiTree was originally housed in Kanakuk Kamps, Inc., a for-profit, transitioned to Kanakuk Ministries, a nonprofit. Kanakuk Kamps, Inc. hired Jeff Schneider as an IT Director in 1994, and the code and systems for what eventually became CircuiTree was developed during his tenure. Schneider concurrently served as the as the Senior Director of IT for Kanakuk and the Executive Director for CircuiTree from 2006 to 2012; Tom Newberry (a former K Life employee) was employed by CircuiTree during these same years, and eventually took over as President.

CircuiTree Solutions was established as a DBA for Kanakuk Kamps Inc in 2007, and in 2009 that DBA was canceled and another one established for Kanakuk Ministries. It was not until 2016 that a separate LLC for CircuiTree was established (the DBA for Kanakuk Ministries was canceled that same year). Also in 2016, Togetherwork Holdings, LLC acquired CircuiTree. In 2016, Togetherwork was majority owned by Aquiline Financial Services Fund III L.P., a private equity fund, and was later acquired by GI Partners, a private investing firm, in 2018. In 2017, Togetherwork acquired ABC Sports Camps and Bunk1. In 2019, ABC Camps was established as a DBA for CircuiTree LLC and the two entities merged. Bunk1, CircuiTree, and ABC Camps all use Kanakuk’s mailing address of 1353 Lake Shore Dr. Branson, MO 65616.

In 2008, the year before Pete Newman confessed to and was arrested for sexually abusing children, Kanakuk underwent significant restructuring, including financial transitions with for-profit entities owned by the White family, and shifting the Kamps under the ownership of Kanakuk Ministries (not-for-profit entity established in 1998). CircuiTree’s DBA shift from Kanakuk Kamps Inc (for-profit entity) to Kanakuk Ministries occurred the following year. In 2016, the year after Kanakuk received church status from the IRS, CircuiTree’s LLC was created and the Togetherwork acquisition occurred.

Kanakuk Revenue/Expenditures Related to CircuiTree

Kanakuk’s 990s contain self-reported data indicating a total of $7,953,368 in program service revenue for “software licensing” from January 2009 to August 2017. Revenue prior to 2009 is not publicly available due to CircuiTree Solutions being housed in a for-profit (Kanakuk Kamps, Inc.) at that time.

In 2016, the same year that CircuiTree was acquired by Togetherwork, Kanakuk changed its fiscal year from beginning January 1 to beginning on September 1. On Kanakuk’s 990s covering activity from September 2017 to present (with the exception of the most recent filing covering activity from Sept 2021 to Aug 2022), payments to CircuiTree totaling $1,335,281 are reported for “credit card processing.”

Company Timeline

This timeline outlines the evolution of CircuiTree in relation to (italicized) significant dates and developments with Kanakuk’s personnel and history of child sexual abuse.

• 1994 – Don Frank and Jeff Schneider hired
• Pre-2006 – Described as “Information Systems Department” of Kanakuk Kamps, Schneider developing platform and software while employed at Kanakuk
• 2006 – CircuiTree is coined as a Technology Division of Kanakuk Kamps; Tom Newberry hired (now President of CircuiTree)
• 2007 – “CircuiTree Solutions” is filed as a fictitious name for Kanakuk Kamps Inc
• 2008 – Kanakuk restructure (Camps held under Kanakuk Ministries, a new nonprofit entity)
• 2009 – Pete Newman confesses to and is arrested for sexually abusing children while employed at Kanakuk
• 2009 – “CircuiTree Solutions” is filed as a fictitious name for Kanakuk Ministries and the one for Kanakuk Kamps Inc is canceled; Kanakuk begins referencing Jeff Schneider and/or CircuiTree on 990s and recording software licensing revenue
• 2009-14 – Rick Braschler leads risk consulting and workshops affiliated with Kanakuk and CircuiTree/CampHow
• 2015 – IRS designates Kanakuk Ministries as a church (7.24.2015)
• 2016 – CircuiTree Solutions is Canceled as a Fictitious Name of Kanakuk Ministries; LLC is formed, acquired by Togetherwork
• 2017 – Togetherwork acquires Bunk1 and ABC Camps (both affiliates use Kanakuk’s Lakeshore Drive address)
• 2019 – ABC Camps and CircuiTree LLCs merge, ABC Camps registered fictitious name for CircuiTree

Entities Overview

• Togetherwork – software and payment processing company, CEO Neil Platt
  • CircuiTree – camp management software spun off from Kanakuk, President Tom Newberry (Kanakuk’s Lakeshore Drive address)
    • ABC Camps – sports camp management software, subsidiary of CircuiTree / owned by Togetherwork (Kanakuk’s address)
    • Ackercamps.com DBA Bunk1 – camp photography software, subsidiary of CircuiTree, founded by Ari Ackerman / owned by Togetherwork (Kanakuk’s Lakeshore Drive address)
    • CampHow – described in 2016 as an “educational resource built specifically for camp and conference professionals…developed by CircuiTree Solutions, the not-for-profit technology arm of Kanakuk Kamps;” used Kanakuk logo on their site and reference team members including Rick Braschler
    • Gathr Outdoors, Inc. – a partner of CircuiTree and Bunk1; CircuiTree and Bunk1 software provides users access to discounted camping items to be purchased from Gathr Outdoor’s “family of brands”
  • Kanakuk Kamps Inc. For-profit entity established in 1965 (merged with Kanakuk Heritage Inc. in 2005), receives funds from Kanakuk Ministries and until 2008 owned and operated the summer camps
    • Housed CircuiTree from 1994-2009
  • Kanakuk Ministries – Kanakuk’s not-for-profit entity established in 1998 (various DBAs), designated as a church in 2015, leases land and receives funding from various for-profit entities owned by the White family
    • Housed CircuiTree from 2009-2016

Camps that have been featured users of CircuiTree:

• Hume Lake Christian Camp
• T Bar M Camps
• Camp Woodward
• Mount Hermon

University Sports Camps that Use ABC Sports Camps (powered by CircuiTree) include:

• TCU Basketball Camps
• University of Houston Basketball and Baseball
• Jacksonville University Softball
• University of Connecticut Softball
• Lafayette College Lacrosse
• Murray State University Soccer
• SUNY Geneseo Lacrosse
• Nazareth College Soccer
• Bemidji State University Soccer
• Cal State Soccer
• Centre College Soccer
• College of Charleston Soccer
• University of North Alabama Soccer
• Roberts Wesleyan University Soccer
• Lee University Soccer
• Florida Gulf Coast University Swimming
• University of Washington Softball
• Ole Miss Athletics Department (e.g. Women’s Basketball)

Records for CircuiTree:

• 2007 – CircuiTree Solutions registered as fictitious name/DBA for Kanakuk Kamps, Inc (signed by Chris Stange 2.26.07)
• 2009 – CircuiTree Solutions registered as fictitious name/DBA for Kanakuk Ministries (signed by Doug Goodwin 11.24.09)
• 2009 – canceled CircuiTree Solutions DBA/fictitious name with Kanakuk Kamps Inc. (signed by Doug Goodwin 12.15.09) (return to Don Frank Kanakuk address)
• 2014 – CircuiTree Solutions renewed as fictitious name/DBA for Kanakuk Ministries (signed by Doug Goodwin 11.17.14)
• 2016 – CircuiTree, LLC established (DE) 7.27.16 (signed by Neil Platt 12.20.16) (registered agent CSC Lawyers) (12.22.16 registered in MO)
• 2016 – canceled CircuiTree Solutions for Kanakuk Ministries (signed by Bruce Koerber 8.25.16) (return to Lauren Hawkin Springfield attorney address)
• 2018 – update to registered agent 9.17.18 (Jeff City Filing)
• 2019 – ABC Camps registered fictitious name/DBA for CircuiTree LLC (3.4.19) (Neil Platt) – active, expires 3/4/24
• 2019 – merge ABC Camps LLC into CircuiTree LLC (3.4.19/3.7.19)
• 2023 – update registered agent back to CSC Lawyers (11.27.23)