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ACES Committees

ACES is built by its members. Committees are how members take part in that work.

They support core areas of ACES, including member outreach, training and webcasts, conferences, communications, and professional development. As a committee member, you help plan, review, and deliver these efforts alongside other members and a committee lead.

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What you’ll do

Committee service is open to ACES members in good standing. Work varies by committee, but most contributions fall into a few core areas:

Freelancers building and scaling their practices

Shaping programs and initiatives, including training, events, and professional development

Connect with editors across industries and specialties

Sourcing and engaging contributors such as speakers, writers, or partners

Editors in publishing, corporate, academic, and technical fields _icon_ACES-blue

Evaluating and selecting submissions, candidates, or ideas (sessions, speakers, awards)

Editing processes and evolving workflows

Developing and reviewing content, communications, or member-facing resources

In-house editors expanding their skills and responsibilities

Advising on direction, priorities, and improvements based on member needs and feedback

Committee chairs take on an additional role in leading this work. They set direction for the group, define priorities, ensure alignment with ACES guidelines, coordinate with staff and the board liaison, and communicate progress and needs to leadership.

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Expectations

As a committee member, you’re expected to:

ACES Academy

Stay an active ACES member during your term.

ACES Academy

Follow the ACES Committees Policy and processes.

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Work within the organization’s platforms and tools.

ACES Academy

Maintain confidentiality when required.

ACES Academy

Follow approval processes for any external-facing work.

Advocacy Advisory Committee

The Advocacy Advisory Committee advises ACES leadership and other committees on how to support editors and the field of editing.

Objectives

  • Provide guidance and thought leadership to support editors and the editing industry through ACES communication channels and outreach to members, businesses, and other stakeholders.
  • Share current research, news, and insights on editing with ACES leadership and relevant committees.
  • Advise on how to communicate this information effectively to members.
  • Support and guide ACES research initiatives that advance the field of editing, and help communicate findings to members and the broader industry.

Chair and Board liaison

Constance Brossa

Members

Amanda Adams
Andy Bechtel
Andy Hollandbeck
Amy Frushour Kelly
Sarah Linwick
Mark Allen
Gigi Sutton, staff liaison

Awards Committee

The Awards Committee oversees and evaluates ACES’ awards and contests, including the Robinson Prize, the Glamann Award, the Bill Connolly Rising Star Awards, and the Headline Contest, to best honor the ACES membership and the editing community within ACES’ capabilities.

Objectives

  • Review and refine contest objectives, criteria, and categories to honor editors effectively while keeping workloads realistic and manageable.
  • Increase diversity, inclusivity, and representation within ACES contests and awards.
  • Establish and evaluate judging processes, including selecting judges and judge leaders for each contest.
  • Support the ACES Board of Directors with the Glamann Award selection criteria and process as needed.
  • Work with staff to establish nomination and award timelines.
  • Periodically evaluate ACES contests and awards to determine whether they should be updated, eliminated, or expanded with new awards.

Chair

Emmalee Torisk

Members

Matthew Crowley
Laura Poole
Tanya Boucicaut
Timothy McAdoo
David DeGooyer
Neil Holdway
Jamaal Pittman, Board liaison
Gigi Sutton, staff liaison

Communications and Publications Committee

The Communications and Publications committee’s goals are to increase member engagement across all communications platforms, identify relevant content for members, and help drive communications strategy.

Objectives

  • Communication strategy and planning. 
  • Keeping a pulse on industry knowledge and trends that could be shared with members.
  • Keeping ACES’ mission statement in mind when considering communications and content strategy.
  • Assisting with ACES publications, including newsletters, Tracking Changes quarterly member journal, and ACES news articles

Chair

Milly Vega

Members

Holly Akins
Gerri Berendzen
Anne Checkosky
Catalina Sofia Dansberger Duque
Rachel Fowler
Alison Kranz
Ted Olson
Andy Hollandbeck, Board liaison
Christine Steele, staff liaison

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Advisory Committee

The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Advisory Committee’s functions are to advise ACES leadership on DEIA matters in association strategy and programming and to serve as the voice of the ACES membership in DEIA matters.

Objectives

  • Provide guidance to ensure that ACES offers education, resources, and programs that integrate considerations of relevant cultural needs, preferences, and issues.
  • Communicate current information about diversity, equity, and inclusion from a wide range of perspectives and viewpoints to leadership to inform conversations among the Board and the ACES membership.
  • Advise the Board on an ongoing strategy for addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion for the membership and the editing industry.

Chair and Board liaison

Kristen Clark

Members

Sabrina Ashwell
Kim Daly
Andrea Ordonez
Kate Achelpohl
D. Scott
Mariya Abate
Cat Stewart
Maria Coxwell, staff liaison
Christine Steele, staff liaison

Membership Committee

The Membership Committee cooperates with the ACES Executive Director, staff, and the Board to provide advice and counsel on matters of membership recruitment and retention.

Objectives

  • Identify the needs of members and recommend the development of services to meet those needs.
  • Recommend means for increasing ACES membership base and retaining membership.
  • Keep membership informed of relevant, helpful, and pertinent information.
  • Recommend to the ACES Executive Director, Board, other ACES committees, and related association practices in which to make prospective and current members aware of the resources, services, and membership benefits of ACES.
  • Conduct welcoming activities throughout the year.
  • Assess ACES membership benefits and value of membership annually.
  • Annually review membership dues in alignment with the budget.
  • Identify nonmember needs and perceptions.
  • Gather information on and analyze nonmembers’ needs and perceptions of ACES and recommend ways in which to meet these needs in order to attract nonmembers to join ACES.

Chair

Jess DiDonato

Members

Jaime Brockway
Jonathan Fusfield
Tiana Garrett
Brendan Dabkowski
Jamie Elmer
Connie Mayse
Cassie LaJeunesse
Matthew Zabel
Marjorie Moise
Camille Fink
Rumit Pancholi, Board liaison
Christine Steele, staff liaison

 

Governance Advisory Committee

The Governance Advisory Committee acts as a nominations committee. The committee focuses on identifying, recruiting, and developing qualified individuals to serve in leadership positions within ACES, ensuring a diverse and well-qualified pool of candidates.

Objectives

  • Serve as the primary body responsible for identifying suitable candidates for leadership positions within the professional editing association.
  • Aim to enhance diversity, inclusivity, and representation among the ACES’s leadership.
  • Support development by providing guidance and resources for candidates, including leadership development programs, workshops, or mentorship opportunities.
  • Encourage leadership development within ACES to cultivate future candidates.
  • Maintain strict confidentiality regarding candidate discussions and evaluations.

Chair and Board liaison

Maisha Maurant

Members

Neil Holdway
Kristen Clark
Dilane Mitchell
Samantha Enslen
Heather E. Saunders
Gigi Sutton, staff liaison

Training Committee

The Training Committee promotes the continuing education and professional development of ACES members. It focuses on outreach that supports opportunities to engage members with a diverse set of professional groups for both technical and personal growth. The committee works closely with the Professional Development Manager.

Chair
Robin Wilkinson

Members

Jeanette Fast Redmond
Anna Dore
Deb Ring
Katie Chambers
Dar Henderson
Rachel Holloway
Stacey Zoller
Michelle Lowery
Katie Jentzsch
Lisa LaPaglia
Patricia Mae Estenoso
Rebecca Hominski
Jennifer Abella
Barbie Halaby, Board liaison
Maria Coxwell, staff liaison

ACES Research Task Force

Chair and Board liaison
Mark Allen

Members

Alysha Love
Gerri Berendzen
Alex Cruden
Corinne Jorgenson
Merrill Perlman
Gigi Sutton, staff liaison
Christine Steele, staff liaison

Conference Program Committee

Chair
Carolina VonKampen

Members

Gerri Berendzen
Raquel Brown
Jill Campbell
Sandra Dimas
Dave Nelsen
Lori Paximadis
Laura Poole
Deb Ring
Mary Hannah Gabriel
Jonathan Fusfield
Sumita Mukherji
Shannon Roman
Ayesha Chari
Nicole Wayland, Board liaison
Maria Coxwell, staff liaison

Crisis Management Task Force

Chair and Board liaison
Dilane Mitchell

Members

Mark Allen
Constance Brossa
Samantha Enslen
Heather E. Saunders
Gigi Sutton, staff liaison

Goal 1 - Increase Engagement and Awareness

Board Goal Team Lead
Samantha Enslen

Task Force Member

Jessica Kozloff
Farah Simonett
Catalina Sofia Dansberger Duque
CaTyra Polland
Christine Steele, staff liaison (w/ marketing firm support)

Goal 2 – Membership Review

Board Goal Team Lead
Lauren Filippini

Task Force Member

Kezia Buxton
Deb Ring
Alison Dowdell
Moira Kelley
Apryl Motley
Gigi Sutton, staff liaison (w/ support from Christine Steele, staff)

Goal 3 – Connection

Board Goal Team Lead
Kristen Clark

Task Force Member

Candace Akins
Louis Baer
Alex Benazar
Heather Brautman
Kaylin Brian
Collin Caroland
Rebecca Goldberg
Valerie Killeen
Chelsey Stone
Steph Thompson
Maria Coxwell, staff liaison

Goal 4 – ACES as an Advocate

Board Goal Team Lead
Heather E. Saunders

Task Force Member

Erin Brenner
Andy Hollandbeck
Amy Frushour Kelly
Harold Fritts
Tonya Johnson
Angela Malone
Diane Shamis
Gigi Sutton, staff liaison (w/ marketing firm support)