Natural Contest Promoter Profiles
Featuring the those individuals who work so hard promoting Natural Bodybuilding, Figure and Fitness competitions and who share our enthusiasm and dedication to drug-free bodybuilding and fitness.

Ken Arsenault

Promoter Name

Ken Arsenault

Shows Promoted

2010 OCB Old Man on the Mountain, May 29th, Durham, NH
2010 OCB Bay State Natural - June 26, Northampton, MA / IFPA Women's Physique Pro Bowl
2010 OCB Never Surrender - 1st Saturday of August, Enfield, MA

Which Organizations have you promoted with?

OCB / IFPA


Why do you choose to work with this organization?

The OCB / IFPA is like a family. From my fellow promoters, the competitors, and the president of the Organization... It's a great organization all around


How do you feel about the number of shows and different organizations that currently make up Natural Bodybuilding? Do you ever see a day when all of the major organizations will work together? Do you think the variety of organizations is good or bad for the athletes?

I feel there are plenty of shows available to competitors... which I think is a good thing. I'm ok with the number or organizations... but, would like to see less ambiguity in drug testing policies within some of the orgs. I don't think we'll ever see all the major natural organizations working together. I'm not completely convinced that's a bad thing though. It's what separates the orgs and gives competitors more choices.
I like the variety of orgs for competitors.

What is your background in Bodybuilding and Fitness?

I have been a natural competitive bodybuilder since 1987. I have competed in over 25 Natural events through the years. I'm currently a head judge and promoter in the OCB/IFPA as well as a competitor


How did you get started in promoting shows? What made you decide to become a promoter?

I was always looking to progress into another area of natural bodybuilding. I wanted to find a new challenge. My first experience in working behind the scenes of a show was at the 2006 OCB Spirit of America... it was then that I knew one day I would be a promoter.

Tell us a little bit about the history of your shows.

I started promoting in 2009. I co-promoted the OCB Bay State Natural in Northampton, MA with a great friend of mine Rick Marquis. The show had close to 40 competitors and was probably the most satisfying event in all of my natural bodybuilding career.


Who were your mentor(s), if any when you started promoting shows and how did they help you?

Sean (Sully) Sullivan and James Carron

I consider Sully to be my closest friend in the OCB / IFPA ,and is the main reason I'm promoting today.Jame Carron is by far the most giving, selfless person I know in our organization. He makes all of our shows better. I don't want to leave out the fact that both Sully and James are top level competitors in the IFPA and other orgs as well.


What are some of the challenges you have had to deal with as a promoter?

I think the single biggest challenge is contracting venues. I believe there's still a stigma that follows bodybuilding shows that causes a lot of venues to now want to allow us to host shows. You have to go out of your way to emphasize what Natural means and how we enforce it.


What makes your shows different from the others and why should competitors choose your shows?

Having been involved with so many shows as a judge and competitor... I think what separates any show I promote from many others is that I put the competitors first. I consider my shows promoted by a competitor... for competitors.

Having said that... I learned these things from working with people like Sully and James. This is how they promote... and you won't find a better promoted show than what these guys promote. I only hope some day that people will look at my shows and feel the same way as they do about theirs.


What are some of the most memorable moments from your show(s)?

In the first year of the Bay State we gave out two special awards.
We presented Sean (Sully) Sullivan with an appreciation award
and James Carron with a special contribution award for all he does
for his fellow promoters.

What are some of the funniest moments from your shows?

In our first Bay State show... the person responsible for opening the venue never showed up. We ended up getting the doors opened a little over an hour late.
The funny part was watching Rick and I run around with our heads cut off trying to make up for lost time


If you could do it all over again...what, if anything, would you do differently? What do you wish that you knew then that you know now?

The only thing I would do differently is our check-in process. We learned allot from our first show and will use that experience to improve all my shows this season.

How do you drug test at your show? Polygraph or urinalysis? All competitors, class winners or random.

At this point... all of my shows are new. So... since they are not Pro Qualifiers yet , I am not required to do any kind of urinalysis of the winners. A polygraph is all that is required to enter the show. That being said... I have changed my policy for 2010. In addition to the polygraph... I WILL drug screen each of our overall winners through urinalysis, and will reserve the right to randomly test any competitor in the show. I believe I will be the first to do this. From the first day I decided to be a promoter... I promised myself it would never be about money. The biggest reason not to do a urinalysis at a non pro qualifier is the expense. I personally believe that in fairness to all competitors... I HAVE to do everything at my disposal to make sure they are competing fairly. Any competitor caught cheating at any of my shows will be banned for life from any show I promote, and will be punished under the orgs rules as well.

Is your show judged by weight class or by height class. Why did you choose the method you use?

Currently, all my shows are done by height/weight. Height being the main factor... and weight only being used to help even out the classes. I chose this method because I have received allot of feedback from competitors that they prefer height over weight. It's always been my preference as a competitor as well.

How do you select your judging panel? What qualifies someone to be a judge at your show?

Only OCB / IFPA qualified judges are allowed to judge my events. Those judges are selected from a list given to me by the president of the org. I always start with judges I know personally and who I trust to be the best judges available. At the Bay State last year I had 3 out of the 4 qualified head judges in New England on our panel. The 4th qualifed head judge in New England is myself. I felt we had one of the best judging panels ever to be assembled at any show, forget the fact that this was a first year show.

What advice do you have for competitors getting ready for the show, on the day of the show and after the show is over?

The day of the show... look for your expediters as soon as you enter the venue. At my shows, they wear special shirts that clearly identify themselves as expediters.
They will be the ones who will help you the entire day to take care of any of your needs. Next, RELAX! It's YOUR day.

After the show... relax, spend some time getting to know your family again. lol

What the your contact info and website for your show?

I can always be contacted the following ways:

Phone: 623-670-7899
Email: kgarsen@nrcexam.com

All of my event websites have online registration. I run the Natural Bodybuilding Competition Forum (my second passion). Not just my show information can be found on the site.. many others can be found as well. The url for the site is: www.naturalbodybuildingcompetitionforum.com

What new ideas do you have for your upcoming shows?

Each show I promote will have unique overall awards. The Bay State is know by the 36" Dragon Sword. We are working very hard to come up with very unique award for
my other two shows this year as well. My other passion is to bring my shows live on the internet during the show. I hope to make this happen in 2010

When is your next show?

May 29th in Durham, NH (The Old Man on the Mountain). This will be the first OCB New Hampshire show ever held.

Who are the folks you would like to thank for supporting your show?

Matt Shepley, Sean (Sully) Sullivan, James Carron and Jerry Marsella... and all the people who selflessly give up their time to support the show.