Regional Activity Council (RAC) - ACA

About Us

Regional Activity Council (RAC)

The Regional Activity Council (RAC) is a National Activity Council for the ACA, providing a voice for ACA members through their Regional Chairs, State Directors, State Councils, and Paddle America Club members.

The RAC represents ACA’s grassroots membership and helps to promote and support the various areas of ACA’s mission: safety, education and instruction, competition, stewardship and public policy, diversity, equity and inclusion, and recreation. The RAC seeks to enhance communication and volunteer activities that benefit the mission and values of the ACA. In addition, this National Activity Council allows ACA leaders to mentor up-and-coming paddlesports leaders in activities related to community building, public policy and stewardship, and regional partnerships. These local ACA volunteers can:

  • Help paddlers find local instruction or connect with regional instructor certification opportunities
  • Promote competition, training, stewardship and other community-based paddlesports events
  • Build coalitions for paddler advocacy initiatives

The ACA needs your help to support all paddlers accessing America’s waterways in a fun and safe manner. Everything we do is inspired by our passionate and dedicated members.

If you have any questions please contact MacKenzie Holbrook at mholbrook@americancanoe.org.

Contact Your Representatives

Regions:

  • Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont
  • East Coast: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia
  • Southeast: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee
  • Gulf States: Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas
  • Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin
  • Heartland: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota
  • Rocky Mountain: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming
  • Pacific West: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington
  • US Territories (other than DC): American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands
  • International: All non-U.S. locations

Executive Committee

Chair: Andrea White

Vice-Chair: Ryan Pepper

Past Chair: Meredith Waters

Secretary: Bev Cosslett

Affiliate Clubs: BG Smith

Regional Representatives

Northeast: Ann Barry

East Coast: Ashley McEwan

Southeast: Andrea White

Gulf States: Dave Holl

Midwest: Barbara Carmichael

Heartland: Pete Jizba

Rocky Mountain: Moriya Beck

Pacific West: Jamie Eubanks

U.S. Territories: Vacant

International: Stanley Esquivel Mesen

 

Ex-Officio Members:

Board of Directors Liaison: Robert Kauffman

Properties Liaison: Jerry Dunne

SEIC Liaison: John MacDonald

Competition Liaison: Vacant

State Directors

Alabama: Craig Heflin

Alaska: Brian McGorry

Arizona: Sean Tracey

Arkansas: Ellie Wilson

California: Anthea Raymond

Colorado: Kyle Clark

Connecticut: Martin Torresquintero

District of Columbia: Meredith Waters

Delaware: Em McKeever

Florida: Tatiana Lopez

Georgia: Paul Winget

Hawaii: Mark Ling

Idaho: Vacant

Illinois: Marcos Garcia Norris

Indiana: Margaret Jane Easton

Iowa: Vacant

Kansas: Vacant

Kentucky: Vacant

Louisiana: Vacant

Maine: Burc Oral

Maryland: Vacant

Massachusetts: Steve Gellman

Michigan: Debbie Gelderblom

Minnesota: Sam Grubisich

Mississippi: John Ruskey

Missouri: R.J. Forth

Montana: Vacant

Nebraska: Vacant

Nevada: Patti Carothers

New Hampshire: Chris Carragher

New Jersey: Bill Caruso

New Mexico: Vacant

New York: Vacant

North Carolina: William Holman

North Dakota: Vacant

Ohio: Kelly Rudolph

Oklahoma: Judy Fichtl

Oregon: Nicole Smedegaard

Pennsylvania: Jennifer Joseph

Rhode Island: Mark Marosits

South Carolina: Geoffrey Chambers

South Dakota: Vacant

Tennessee: ANDe Demetriou

Texas: Constantin Platon

Utah: John MacDonald

Vermont: Vacant

Virginia: Lila Caldwell

Washington: Robert Nissenbaum

West Virginia: Vacant

Wisconsin: Jeff Mazanec

Wyoming: Vacant

Outstanding State Director Award

The Outstanding State Director Award is presented to one or more State Directors each year for their contributions to enhancing paddlesports in their state.

2024 - Anthea Raymond

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2023 - North Carolina - William Holman

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2020 - Tennessee - Andrea White

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2018 - Arkansas - Tom Burroughs

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2017 - New York - Mike Cavanaugh

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2016 - Florida - Peg Phillips

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2015 - Arizona - Danielle Keil

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2015 - Puerto Rico - Omar Ramos

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