ACCT Committees & Affinity Group Information

ACCT committees, work groups, panels, task forces, and affinity groups provide guidance, research, and work product to assist the Association in fulfilling its mission. For information on a specific committee or to contact the committee chair, click on the appropriate link below.

Members who have an interest in serving on a committee or participating in the Association at a higher level are encouraged to complete a volunteer application and submit it to ACCT.

Click Here to Fill Out the ACCT Volunteer Application



Committee: A group of people who serve the association for a specific function as mandated by the Board of Directors.
Terms of Reference: Determined by Board of Directors.
Membership: Outlined in Terms of Reference. Individual Members are appointed by the committee. Committee roster to be recorded and made public.
Leadership: Chair – appointed by Board of Directors, Vice-chair and Secretary, voted on by committee members.
Committee Duration: On-going.
Term limits for members: As outlined in Terms of Reference. Annual election of leadership.
Reporting: Provide reports to the Board of Directors as instructed.

Staff Work Group: A group of people who assist ACCT staff in carrying out the business of the association for a specific function. Work is directed by staff.
Terms of Reference: Determined by staff person.
Membership: Appointed by staff.
Leadership: ACCT Staff.
Work Group Duration: As needed.
Term Limits: None.
Reporting: Through staff reports as needed

Panel: A group of people organized to achieve a specific work product as determined by a sponsoring Committee.
Terms of Reference: Determined by Sponsoring Committee. Approved by the Board of Directors.
Membership: Elected by the Sponsoring Committee. Panel roster to be recorded and made public.
Leadership: Chair approved by Sponsoring Committee, Vice-Chair and Secretary, voted on by panel members.
Panel Duration: Ongoing.
Term Limits: None.
Reporting: Through the Accreditation & Certification Committee and Technical Information, Research, and Education Committee.

    Task Force: A group of people organized to achieve a specific work product as determined by the BOD or a sponsoring Committee.
    Terms of Reference: Determined by BOD or sponsoring Committee / Work Group.
    Membership: As outlined in Terms of Reference.
    Leadership: Chair appointed by BOD or sponsoring Committee / Work Group.
    Task Force Duration: Based on Terms of Reference or completion of task.
    Term Limits: None.
    Reporting: Final Report provided to BOD or sponsoring Committee / Work Group

    • QCP Revision
    • Universal Portfolio
    • Professional Inspector Forum

    Affinity Group: A group of members linked by a common interest or purpose.
    Terms of Reference: Developed by the group. Approved by the BOD.
    Membership: Self-selected.
    Leadership: Chair, Vice-chair, Secretary, elected from within the group.
    Affinity Group Duration: Indefinite.
    Term Limits: None. Leadership to be elected annually.
    Reporting: None required.

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    Volunteer Group Chairs

    • Kristina Riggs

      Kristina Riggs

      Instructor/Director of Experiential Based Learning

      Academy Development Work Group Chair

    • JJ Stapleton

      JJ Stapleton

      Operations Reviewer, Chair of Accredited Operations Affinity Group

      Director of Operations, The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring

      Accredited Operations Affinitry Group Chair

    • Jennifer Ottinger

      Jennifer Ottinger

      Executive Director, High 5 Adventure Learning Center, Inc.

      Finance Committee Chair

    • Micah Henderson

      Micah Henderson

      Vertical Solutions Consulting, LLC.

      Insurance & Risk Management Committee Chair

    • Colin Caines

      Colin Caines

      General Manager, Outdoor Specialist Pte, Ltd.

      International Committee Chair

    • Pavel Gaitan

      Internationa l Affinity Group Chair

    • Andrew Brash

      ACCT Qualified Operation Reviewer, ACCT Level 1 Professional Inspector, ACCT CCM

      Director of Training & Certification, Experiential Systems, Inc.

      Membership Work Group Chair

    • Matt Marcus

      Matt Marcus

      Challenge Design Innovations

      Public Relations & Marketing Work Group Chair

    • Dick Hammond

      Leadership on the Move

      QCP Revision TF Chair

    • Ash Dunn

      Ash Dunn

      Trainer, Bonsai Design, LLC

      Queer Advocacy & Support Affinity Group Chair

    • Michelle Hepler

      Executive Director, Vertical Solutions Consulting, LLC.

      TIRE Chair

    • Melanie Wills

      Melanie Wills

      CCM

      COO, Experiential Systems, Inc.

      Universal Design, Accessibility, & Inclusion Chair

    • Mandy Stewart

      Mandy Stewart

      MFCEO, Experiential Resources, LLC (ERi)

      Women of ACCT Affinity Group Chair