Meet the ACA Staff

Staff Intros

Beth Spilman - Executive Director

Michelle Flynn - Membership Coordinator

Location: Fredericksburg, VA

ACA Position: As ACA’s Membership Coordinator it is my job to make your membership experience great. If it is a friendly voice on the phone, a speedy response to an email inquiry, or a question through a contact form, I am your gal. I interact with all facets of the ACA, recreational paddlers, athletes, board members, instructors, and competition committee members. I love that part of my job. I feel like it gives me a great perspective on all of the great things the ACA is doing.

Favorite paddling destination: I don’t get to paddle much, but I have really enjoyed the time I have spent paddling our local river the Rappahannock. It has nice calm areas and whitewater as well. My favorite thing is all of the wildlife we see along the river.

Kelsey Bracewell - Director of Education, Insurance and Membership

Location: Fredericksburg, VA

ACA Position: As Director of Education, Insurance, and Membership for the ACA, Kelsey has the privilege of serving paddlers through many different avenues. She uses her academic background and her many years as a certified instructor and staff member to expand the ACA’s reach and effectiveness through grant funded initiatives, outreach campaigns, volunteer coordination, industry partnerships, and organizational excellence.

Favorite paddling destination: Western NC

Kaycee Maas - Communications Manager

Location: Longmont, CO

ACA Position: My role at the ACA includes managing the ACA’s social media accounts, publishing the monthly newsletter, keeping the website updated, and a myriad of other communications related tasks!

Favorite paddling destination: My favorite place to paddle is the first place I ever paddled — the Royal Gorge section of the Arkansas River in Cañon City, Colorado. While working as a raft guide, I took a Swiftwater Rescue Course from a fantastic ACA Instructor which eventually led to my employment with the ACA beginning in 2022!

Tara Fairty - Learning Design Manager

Location: Asheville, NC

ACA Position: As the Learning Design Manager I get to serve in various capacities and have the privilege of working in partnership with incredible volunteers. One of the main functions I serve is supporting curriculum development across the ACA.

Favorite paddling destination: Paddling around the coast of Ireland in County, Donegal is my favorite place. My mom is the genesis of paddling in our family and it’s where she learned to paddle, it’s also where I fell in love with the ocean as a kid. I consider it an immense privilege to get to help lead paddling trips there now. There’s a deep sense of connection when I’m paddling there no matter if it is along the high cliffs, in the sea caves, or cruising the surf beaches, it’s a truly magical place full of peace and wonder.

MacKenzie Holbrook - Volunteer Coordinator

Location: Grand Junction, CO

ACA Position: Volunteer Coordinator. My goal in this role is to create resources to aid in our large volunteer representation. I want to connect our volunteers to resources and other members/committees/events that can help us all to accomplish the ACA mission while making sure that every volunteer feels heard and appreciated!

Favorite paddling destination: Salt River, AZ. But really, anywhere I can get out on a long multi day trip fills my soul. Whether it’s running big whitewater in the Grand or a 2-day flat water stretch, disconnecting and spending time connecting with the river is what I love!

Kristal Pastell - Insurance Coordinator

Location: Fredericksburg, VA

ACA Position: I am the insurance coordinator for the ACA. It is my job to make sure organizations, clubs, instructors, and individuals have liability insurance before getting on the water or holding events on the water. I want to make sure not only do people and organizations have coverage but they understand the coverage they are receiving from the ACA. Insurance is a hard world to understand, I enjoy talking to and educating people.

Favorite paddling destination: Rappahannock River

Jed Hinkley - Competition Director

Location: Asheville, NC

ACA Position: I primarily work with Olympic Paddlesport disciplines but help out in a variety of competition areas when I can.

Favorite paddling destination: Hell’s Canyon or South Fork of the Payette.

Steve Kelly - Manager of Sprint High Performance and Competition

Location: Indianapolis, IN

ACA Position: Manager of Sprint High Performance and Competition

Favorite paddling destination: In Manhattan on the Hudson River

Brett Mayer - Director of Stewardship and Public Policy

Location: Asheville, NC

ACA Position: My official title is the Policy and Stewardship Director. Currently, I spend a lot of time positioning the ACA to communicate on behalf of the paddling community regarding mandatory education, life jackets, and any and all legislation that might require paddlers to pay taxes and/or other fees to access a body of water. In the past year and a half, we have worked toward developing an educational resource for never before recreational paddlers that provides essential information to keep them safe on the water. We hope this resource will be used by a variety of state agencies and ultimately serve as a welcoming entry-point for new paddlers. We believe this work will put the paddling community in a position to respond to potential mandatory education legislation, and help make the case for why we do not need to legislate in the first place.

Favorite Paddling Destination: It is hard to pick my absolute favorite place to paddle, but I have spent the majority of my adult life living up and down the east coast and I have had the pleasure of having called three different rivers home. Great Falls of the Potomac in the mid-Atlantic, the Housatonic River in New England, and currently the Green River in North Carolina. I am so thankful for the bonds forged and memories made on each of these rivers.

Fun Fact: I spent four years conducting a phenomenological study of paddlers and looked into why people paddle. I conducted in-depth interviews and coded participant responses. I ultimately discovered that while people initiate their paddling journeys for a variety of reasons, over time a sense of connection to place and to others grew into a sense of love, appreciation, and desire to steward the waterways that allow for the experiences. I feel lucky to have a job that is so connected to my academic interests, and allows me the opportunity to put my own desire to be a steward into action.