By Blake Podhajsky, ACI President

One of the items of business at this year’s ACI Conference is the election of four new members to the Board of Directors.

The new Board members will succeed Linda DiPiano, Fairley Mahlum, Faith Heaton Jolley and Sarah Southerland. Three of these positions will serve a three-year term (through 2027). One of the positions will serve a one-year term that is currently vacant (Through 2025).

If you’ve been considering getting more involved in ACI, this is your opportunity! Our Policies & Procedures spell out the eligibility requirements for a position on the Board and new board members will be voted in during the ACI Business Meeting at the conference, July 25.

There are also other opportunities to get involved within the organization. ACI has several committees that meet throughout the year, such as the grants committee, awards committee, scholarship committee, auction and fundraising committee, conference committee and communications committee.

If you are interested in getting involved, please reach out to me at blake.podhajsky@odwc.ok.gov. Or if you are at the conference, feel free to talk with any of the ACI board members, officers or committee chairs!

Officers
President: Blake Podhajsky, Oklahoma
Vice President: Aaron Meier, Nevada
Secretary: Joanne Martonik, RBFF
Treasurer: Judy Stokes Weber, Vermont
Immediate Past President: Lance Cherry, CAHSS

Board of Directors
2024
Linda DiPiano, New Jersey
Fairley Mahlum, North Carolina
Faith Heaton Jolley, Utah

2025
Dan Dennison, Hawaii
James Pittman, New Mexico

2026
Brent Drinkut, Indiana
Bobby Jones, Nevada
Beth Quillian, Oregon

Committee Chairs

Patty Allen, AFWA- Communications Committee Chair
Jenifer Wisniewski, National Deer Association- Grants Committee Chair
Jason Harmon, Tennessee- Auction and Fundraising Chair
Beth Quillian, Oregon- Awards Committee Co-Chair
Chris Martin, Wyoming- Awards Committee Co-Chair
Joanne Martonik, RBFF- Scholarship Committee Chair