Access Fund, the national advocacy organization that protects America’s climbing, announced Abby Dione, Tom Adams, Julie Reed, and Justin Brown to its board of directors, which is responsible for establishing organizational policy and ensuring that the mission and vision are fulfilled. The board is composed of volunteers who are committed to protecting America’s climbing areas.
“We are so excited to have such a passionate and experienced group to help lead Access Fund into the future,” says executive director Chris Winter. “We all have an important role to play in taking care of the places we love, and these folks live this day in and day out.”
Dione joins the board from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where she is also the owner of Coral Cliffs Rock Climbing, an indoor gym. Dione is an AMGA-certified climber and USA climbing coach, who teaches clinics at outdoors climbing festivals like Color the Crag and the Women’s Climbing Festival, and regularly speaks at events like Outdoor Retailer.
Adams, the chief operating officer for Petzl America, was appointed in 2015 to lead Utah’s Office of Outdoor Recreation. Under his leadership, Utah led recreation infrastructure funding, hosted the nation’s largest outdoor recreation summit, and helped 23 states create their own offices of outdoor recreation.
Reed, an environmental attorney in Chattanooga, Tenn., has served as both a board member and president of the Southeastern Climbers Coalition (SCC), and she remains an active advocate and steward in the Southeast climbing community. She has logged thousands of volunteer hours at trail days and fundraising events, and offers pro bono legal services to SCC.
A Navy veteran and native Utahn who has worked in and around Congress for the past 15 years, Brown founded both the HillVets Foundation, to assist America’s veterans in their continued service of our nation, and The Nimitz Group, a government relations firm.
These incoming board members join a board of directors with representation across the country.
Officers
President – Jonah Harrison (Washington)
Vice President – Rob Price (Washington)
Treasurer – Hilary Harris (Colorado)
Secretary – Alex Kutches (Montana)
Board of Directors
Tom Adams (Utah)
Justin Brown (Virginia)
Jeff Buhl (Colorado)
Peter Croft (California)
Abby Dione (Florida)
Josh Friedman (Oregon)
Kenji Haroutunian (California)
Shelma Jun (New York)
Bethany Lebewitz (Colorado)
Julie Reed (Tennessee)
Ed Shapiro (New York)
Nikki Smith (Utah)
John Winsor (Colorado)
