Affiliate Leaders

Board of Directors

President: Amanda Selm (Louisville, KY)
First Vice President: Matt Selm (Louisville, KY)
Second Vice President: Melanie Sinohui (Phoenix, AZ)
Secretary: Kristen Kelling (Grand Rapids, MI)
Treasurer: Maria Kristic (Albany, NY)


Director: Michael Babcock (OR)
Director: Amber Grant (TN)
Director: Lindsey LaVere (North Street, MI)
Director: Vika Trussell (Sharpsburg, GA)
Director: Hindley Williams (Parkville, MD)

OFFICER BIOS

Amanda Selm – President

Amanda is from Louisville, KY. When she is not handling ACB Next Generation business, her full-time job is being a wife and a mom of two girls. She is an active member and a founder of KCB Next Generation and an active member of the Kentucky Council of the Blind. One of Amanda’s newest favorite areas of interest is advocacy. She enjoys spending time with family, from attending gatherings to going on vacation. Her other interests include knitting, photography, event planning, and yoga. “ACB Next Generation has something for everyone, and my hope is that you find your place within our family,” Amanda says.


Matt Selm – 1st Vice President

Matt lives in Louisville, Kentucky with his wife Amanda and two children. He has a Bachelors in Psychology and a Master of Education from the University of Louisville and is employed at Humana. He is the President of the Kentucky Council of the Blind and serves on several ACB committees including the Berl Colley Leadership Institute. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, cheering on the Cincinnati Reds and Louisville Cardinals, and anything related to history.


Melanie Sinohui – 2nd Vice President

Melanie has been involved in ACB since the mid-1990s in Texas, West Virginia and California, elected as a Director for ACB Texas at 19, and was the 2005 DKM First-Timer – West. She resides in Phoenix, chairs our Convention Committee, is 1st Vice President of Arizona’s Central Chapter, and a Director on the AzCB board. Melanie holds a B.A. in Journalism – PR and an M.S. in Project Management. She has worked for a telecommunications company for the last 13 years and is a Customer Experience project manager. Melanie and her husband enjoy cooking, traveling, wine tasting in California, and spending time with “framily”.


Kristen Kelling – Secretary

Kristen currently resides in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social work. She works as an Independent Living Specialist with Disability Advocates of Kent County as well as a Community Connector with the Kent County Health Department. She currently serves as the chair of the convention and membership committees for Michigan Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired (MCBVI.) She is the chair of the Programs committee for ACB Next Generation.


Maria Kristic – Treasurer

Maria works as a financial analyst for a New York state public authority. She holds a JD in Finance Transactions and an MBA in Finance. She joined ACB in 2016 and has held leadership positions in several of its affiliates and committees since then. Maria has been a member of ACB Next Generation since its founding. She serves as its Treasurer, chair of its Budget and Finance Committee, and is a member of its Constitution, Bylaws, and Resolutions Committee and Fundraising Committee. Maria lives in upstate New York with her Chocolate Lab guide dog.


DIRECTOR BIOS

Michael Babcock – Director

As an expert in audio and customer service, Michael’s career is built on a passion for technology and helping others understand its uses. As a co-founder of Unmute Presents, a live technology Q&A on ACB Community every Tuesday, he is committed to making technology approachable and user-friendly. He believes in empowering individuals to confidently navigate the digital world, simplifying the complexities of technology to enhance learning and exploration.


Amber Grant – Director

Amber Grant resides in the Nashville, TN area but is originally from New Jersey. She has been a member since 2020 and has served on the Publications Committee since 2023. She loves to read and write and enjoys serving on the committee so she can share her unique experiences with others. Amber works for the Department of Children and Families where she assists people with their Medicaid and Food Stamp benefits. Prior to her current role, she worked in a call center and has been a website accessibility tester. In her spare time, she loves to hang out with friends and family, listen to music, attend concerts, and travel (she has been to almost every U.S. state).


Lindsey LaVere – Director

Lindsey LaVere lives in North Street, Michigan. iIn December, she was elected for another term as a Board of Director of Next Generation. She serves on the Programs, Membership, and Fundraising Committees. Prior, to joining Next Generation, she served as Secretary for her local chapter, Blue Water League of the Blind, within the Michigan affiliate. Outside of her involvement in Next Generation and Michigan, she teaches an adaptive dance class at her local dance studio. Dance has been an important part of her life, before and after my vision loss.


Vika Trussell – Director

Vika, residing in Sharpsburg, Georgia, thrives as the co-chair of the Public Relations Committee and a member of the Programs Committee. Passionate about shaping the future for young blind and visually impaired leaders, Vika embraces her role in the Next Generation affiliate. Beyond her community involvement, she finds joy in reading, spending time  with family and friends, and listening  to music. Vika is a dynamic individual, weaving together her volunteer commitments with a rich tapestry of personal interests and connections.


Hindley Williams – Director

Hindley became a member of ACB in 2022, and she has served on the ACB Next Generation Board of Directors since 2023. She is an enthusiastic member of both the Publications and Convention committees. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Villanova University, and she is employed as a program analyst for the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Residing in Maryland, she shares her home with her devoted retired guide dog and three playful cats. In her free time, she reads voraciously and loves to cook all different types of cuisine.

COMMITTEE CHAIRS, CO-CHAIRS, AND VICE-CHAIRS

Adovacy/Legislative Committee – Aaron Espinoza, Chair

Budget/Finance Committee – Maria Kristic, Chair

Constitution and Bylaws/Resolutions Committee – Matt Selm, Chair

Convention Committee – Melanie Sinohui and Cassie Trosper, Co-Chairs

Fundraising Committee – Moe Carpenter and Lindsey LaVere, Co-Chairs

Membership Committee – Matt Selm and Shane Aguilera, Co-Chairs

Programs Committee – Kristen Kelling,  Chair

Public Relations and eCommunications Committee – DJ McIntyre and Vika Trussell, Co-Chairs

Publications Committee – Greg Lindberg, Chair

Website Committee – Michael Babcock, Chair

 

Last updated: February 16, 2024

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