Susie recently joined the ACA Team to support the organic community by working closely with Gayle on member support and behind-the-scenes magic at ACA. 

Raised in a farming family and with early experience raising cattle, Susie has long felt a connection to agriculture, nature, and the outdoors. Her career has taken her across several industries, tied together by a love of systems, processes, and problem-solving.

Before shifting gears in 2020, she spent twenty years as a professional pilot and aircraft manager. Since then, she’s brought her project management and operational expertise to a wide range of roles.

Outside of work, you’ll likely find her off the beaten path— whitewater rafting, backcountry camping, scuba diving or hiking into parts unknown. She’s excited to contribute to the ACA’s mission and support the people driving organic forward.

One of the many benefits of ACA membership is the option to participate in working groups. Working groups shape ACA best practices and help to create consistency across certifiers. Below is a list of new and continuing working groups. Email susie@accreditedcertifiers.org to sign up to participate today!

New Working Groups

• Pet & Mushroom - facilitated by Marni Karlin
• Producer/Grower Groups - facilitated by Anna Schaab
• Technology in Inspection/Certification - facilitated by Ashley Madea and Lexi Spoor
• Risk-Based Certification - facilitated by Marni Karlin
• Complex Operations - facilitated by Marni Karlin

Ongoing Working Groups

• Materials - facilitated by Doug Currier and Matt Begley - meets every other Monday at 1:30pm ET
• Residue - facilitated by Adam Maxwell and Kris Olson - meets every other Thursday at 11am ET
• Livestock Office Hours - facilitated by Kelly Korman - meets once a month on Monday at noon ET (will pause for the summer after June meeting)

Can't make the meeting? Ask to be added to the listserv for the working group to comment and stay abreast of group discussions and documents.

Updates from the ACA Board – Ashley Madea, Vice Chair

Welcoming New Board Members

The ACA Board was pleased to welcome our newly elected members, Eric Hanson and Anna Schaab, at the April board meeting. Since joining, they’ve hit the ground running—participating actively in discussions and bringing fresh perspectives to board priorities. We’re excited about their contributions and the continued strength of our board in representing the diversity of the organic certification community.

Focus on Organic Import Verification Act (OIVA)

The Board has been closely engaged in conversations around the Organic Import Verification Act (OIVA), particularly regarding how new testing and oversight measures can most effectively protect the integrity of the organic supply chain. As part of this effort, we've been representing the voice of certifiers to ensure implementation reflects on-the-ground realities.

We recognize this is an evolving and significant topic. If you're interested in adding your perspective, we encourage your participation in the upcoming June Lunch and Learn Sharing Our Perspectives sessions, where OIVA will be a discussion group.

acaDEMY Launch Supports Training Flexibility

The ACA Board is also excited about the ACA’s launch and continued development of the acaDEMY platform. This new training tool was created in direct response to certifier feedback about the need for more accessible, on-demand training resources. Rather than relying solely on annual in-person training events or limited current offerings, acaDEMY provides a more agile, scalable way to meet ongoing staff development needs.

We look forward to seeing how members use this tool to support their teams and meet training requirements with greater flexibility.

Board service remains essential in shaping ACA’s strategic direction and ensuring certifier voices are heard as the regulatory landscape evolves. We appreciate your continued engagement with ACA and encourage you to connect with me or any board member to share your ideas on how we can better support the work of organic certifiers.