Who
Is ACCA
Founded
in 1986, the American Contract Compliance Association
(ACCA) is dedicated to ensuring equitable employment and contracting
practices with public and private sector institutions. Membership
is comprised of public sector contract compliance, historically
underutilized and small business enterprises, affirmative action
and equal employment opportunity professionals from across the
United States. ACCA provides ongoing professional training to
individuals within these disciplines.
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Purpose:
The
purposes of ACCA shall include the following:
To
promote uniform standards in the administration of contract
compliance programs.1
To
promote professionalism in the administration of contract compliance
programs.
To
facilitate networking and exchange of information among members
of ACCA .
To
represent contract compliance professionals and serve as a national
advocacy forum with allied private and governmental groups and
with the public.
To
facilitate the development, availability and dissemination of
information, both technical and otherwise, to members of ACCA
and contractors that will be of aid to these persons and agencies
in furtherance of contract compliance objectives.
To
educate the public on the socio-economic benefits of properly
administered affirmative action, women, small, and historically
under utilized business programs.
To
apply for and receive grants, stipends, and contributions and
to engage in other revenue generating activities to further
the purposes of ACCA.
To
recognize those who further the ends of contract compliance
through awards, commendations, and other forms of recognition.
Such
other functions and purposes as the Board of Directors of ACCA
shall determine in its sole discretion. [Top]
History:
The
American Contract Compliance Association was created in 1986.
It started as the brainchild of members of the Minnesota based
Inter-Governmental Compliance Institute (IGCI). The thought
was to foster a national organization which would provide training,
standardization of practice, networking, and support to the
many affirmative action, contract compliance, equal employment,
and human rights workers across the country.
IGCI
hosted two successful national conferences in St. Paul, Minnesota
which fostered relationships with many, including Luis Molina,
Robert Harrison, Kerry Kirkland, and Leonard Miller. These gentlemen
and others later formed the Atlantic Coast Compliance Association.
In 1986, with the support of the IGCI, the Atlantic Coast Compliance
Association, and a historic conference in Atlantic City, New
Jersey, the American Contract Compliance Association was born.
The first president was the late Luis Molina.
The
young organization grew quickly, fostering a reputation of providing
professional expertise and training in the fields of contract
compliance and employment law. ACCA accepted the need to provide
accreditation for the professional staffs in those areas.
In
1989, under the leadership of President Robert Harrison, Vice
President Kerry Kirkland, and in association with Boston University
School of Social Work, ACCA held the first accredited training
institute in Louisville, Kentucky. The week long conference
gave 4.2 continuing education credits to registrants that passed
each class and test by a score of 85% or more. To accommodate
the requirements, it was necessary to complete forty-two hours
of class study. With breaks, this required that course attendance
might go from 8 o’clock in the morning until 9 o’clock
in the evening. In planning for future training, the attendees
and Board agreed that the requirements were too extensive. Later
the certification of “Compliance Administrator”
was divided into two training sessions of 21 hours each.
The
American Contract Compliance Association continued to grow and
serve. Relationships were developed with Senator Parren J. Mitchell,
Arthur A. Fletcher, the Minority Business Enterprise Legal Defense
and Education Fund (MBELDEF), and the leading attorneys in the
field. The organization adopted a fitting slogan for the times
it faced. It simply said, “Integrity, Courage, and Commitment”.
The subsequent federal and local activities and legal mandates
proved the need for these new change agents.
In
living up to the challenge, a conference and public service
forum was held in Richmond, Virginia following the case of J.
A. Croson vs. City of Richmond (VA). The televised dialogue
provided valuable information and insights into the court ruling
and requirements. Strategic conferences were also held in Alabama,
Texas, Florida, California, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Ohio,
to name a few key locations.
Over
the years, the American Contract Compliance Association has
served the needs of our country and constituents through strong
leaders who were willing to serve. The many contributors and
supporters are too numerous to name here. Over the past twenty
years, the organization has been lead by following seven committed
presidents:
|
ACCA
Presidents |
Luis
Molina (Founding Father):
New Jersey |
Robert
J. Harrison (Founding Father):
New Jersey |
Kerry
L. Kirkland (Founding Father):
Pennsylvania |
Jarvis
L. Patton:
Alabama |
Lenoria
Walker:
Texas |
Marvin
D. Taylor (Founding Member):
Minnesota |
Beverly
Johnson (current):
California |
[Top]
The
Organization
ACCA
was formed in 1986 as a nonprofit national organization dedicated
to ensuring equitable employment and contracting practices within
public and private sector institutions.
ACCA’s
membership consists of public and private sector Affirmative
Action, Contract Compliance, Minority/Women/ Disadvantaged/
Small/Emerging Business Enterprise, Labor Compliance, Economic
Business Development, and Equal Employment Opportunity professionals
from across the nation. ACCA provides ongoing comprehensive
professional training to individuals working within these disciplines.
[Top]
Mission
& Goals
The
purposes of ACCA shall include the following:
(a)
To promote uniform standards in the administration of contract
compliance programs.
(b)
To promote professionalism in the administration of contract
compliance programs.
(c)
To facilitate networking and exchange of information among members
of ACCA.
(d)
To represent contract compliance professionals and serve as
a national advocacy forum with allied private and governmental
groups and with the public.
(e)
To facilitate the development, availability, and dissemination
of information, both technical and otherwise, to members of
ACCA and contractors that will be of aid to these persons and
agencies in furtherance of contract compliance objectives.
(f)
To inform the public on the socio-economic benefits of properly
administered affirmative action, women, small, and socially
and economically disadvantaged business programs.
(g)
To apply for and receive grants, stipends, and contributions
and to engage in other revenue-generating activities to further
the purposes of ACCA.
To support those who further the ends of contract compliance
through awards, commendations, and other forms of recognition.
Such
other functions and purposes as the Board of Directors of ACCA
shall determine. [Top]
Regions
The
5 ACCA Regions and the states within those regions are:
| NORTHEAST
REGION |
Maine
|
Vermont
|
New
Hampshire
|
Rhode
Island |
Massachusetts
|
New
York
|
Pennsylvania
|
New
Jersey |
Delaware
|
Connecticut
|
Ohio
|
|
| MID-ATLANTIC
REGION |
Virginia
|
Maryland
|
District
of Columbia
|
|
W.
Virginia
|
North
Carolina
|
South
Carolina
|
|
| SOUTHERN
REGION |
| Florida |
Alabama |
Georgia |
Mississippi |
| Louisiana |
Tennessee |
Kentucky |
Arkansas |
Puerto
Rico
|
Virgin
Islands
|
|
|
| CENTRAL
REGION |
Minnesota
|
Wisconsin
|
South
Dakota
|
North
Dakota |
Illinois
|
Indiana
|
Michigan
|
Iowa |
Missouri
|
Nebraska
|
Kansas
|
Oklahoma |
Texas
|
|
|
|
| WESTERN
REGION |
Colorado
|
Montana
|
Idaho
|
Wyoming |
| Utah |
New
Mexico |
Arizona |
Nevada |
California
|
Oregon
|
Washington
|
Hawaii |
Alaska
|
|
|
|
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1.
The term “contract compliance programs” means those
programs established by a public or private entity pursuant
to law or otherwise for the purpose of ensuring that contractors
with those entities adhere to wage and hour standards, and affirmative
action or equal opportunity principles in the employment of
minorities and women and in contracting with businesses that
may be considered historically underutilized.
Top