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Need help with your account or have another general question? Browse our support center using the button below. If you cannot find what you need, please click the button that says, “Submit a request” to be connected to a staff member.

P.O. Box 7996
Fredericksburg, VA 22404-7996
(540) 907-4460

Meet the ACA Staff!

Beth Spilman - Executive Director

Emma Walther - Finance Director

Location: Fredericksburg, VA

ACA Position: As ACA’s Finance Director, Emma oversees all financial operations to ensure the organization’s resources are managed with transparency and accountability. She leads budgeting, reporting, and strategic financial planning to support ACA’s mission and long-term sustainability. Emma’s careful stewardship helps strengthen the organization’s capacity to serve paddlers and partners nationwide.

Favorite Paddling Destination: Coastal and tidal waterways around Wrightsville, NC.

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!

MacKenzie Holbrook - Community Engagement Manager

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

Ben Morton - Education and Outreach Manager

Location: Moretown, Vermont

ACA Position: As the ACA Education and Outreach Manager, Ben works closely with both the ACA’s Education and Competition programs to support a variety of projects and initiatives. Ben utilizes his experience as a multi-discipline ACA Instructor, IT, and ITE, in addition to his background in program development to support the ACA’s mission and membership.

Favorite paddling destination: Autumn on the Youghigheny River

Michele Eray - Sprint High Performance Director

Location: Carson, WA (The Columbia River Gorge)

ACA Position: As the Sprint High Performance Director, I will lead the development and execution of the high-performance program, cultivate emerging talent for LA2028 and beyond, and drive strategic initiatives to enhance the competitive success of Team USA on the international stage.

Favorite Paddling Destination: The Gorge is amazing (I am bias of course)! I know it’s a whitewater hotspot, but it is also great for Downwinds (surfski and outrigger)! The combination of river flow coming up against consistent and strong winds make for ocean-like conditions, plus lots of easy put-in and take-out options will keep you surfing for hours. And my other favorite is my hometown of Plettenberg Bay in South Africa – it’s a beautiful bay with varied conditions and incredible wildlife.

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.