Committees & Task Forces



ABCEP has long-used and valued the contributions of its members for collaboration and implementation of mission, strategic initiatives, and outreach. 

Organized as the sole standing committee prescribed in the Academy's bylaws, the Certification Review Board is responsible for conducting the certification process of the Academy. 

While the committee titles may change, generally-speaking, over the ABCEP history and continuing today, there are committees or task force initiatives that provide the following functions:
  • Executive Team
  • Member Services & Engagement
  • Recognition, Marketing, Partnerships/Affiliations
  • Mentorship Program
  • CEP In-Training Panel
  • Communications & Newsletter
As common for volunteer-led organizations, committee and task force member contributions battle for an individual's available time.  ABCEP members are incentivized to contribute to a committee or task force as the volunteer hours are eligible towards annual certification maintenance requirements.  Contributions to  a Task Force enables members to volunteer for often shorter-term efforts.  Volunteers to join committees and task forces are accepted and welcomed throughout the year - contact the Executive Administrator to express interest. 
Committee & Task Force Functions
General descriptions of the typical committees and task force efforts are summarized below and are adjusted by the Chair and contributing members with oversight and incremental endorsement by the Board of Trustees.

Executive Team
Mission:  To provide oversight and to assure efficient functioning of the ABCEP Board of Trustees, its committees, assigned task forces, and the CRB. To assure that ABCEP is financially sound and follows written procedures, its bylaws and ethical practices. 
Vision:  ABCEP is an efficient, fully functioning, accredited organization.
Objectives:
Objective 1 - Financial oversight and financial decisions
Objective 2 - Oversight on the management of the Academy through its procedure and bylaws.
Objective 3 - Advice to the Board President on the Board meetings and procedures.
Membership & Meetings:  The Executive Team is comprised of the Officers (president, president-elect, secretary, and treasurer), Ex-Offico (immediate past president), and the Certification Review Board Chairperson.  The Executive Team meets monthly.

Certification Review Board
The Certification Review Board (CRB) evaluates applications for the CEP within three months, answering questions and assures the applicant is kept appraised of the status of their application. The Certification Review Board (CRB) implements requirements set forth in the ABCEP Procedures Manual.
 
Mission: To implement the certification process of the Academy in accordance with the scope outlined in the Academy bylaws including developing, implementing and improving applicant review procedures used by the Certification Review Board Panel. 
Vision: The CRB processes are upheld to CESB standards and continually improved.
Objectives:
Objective 1 - Efficiently implement Section 3.3 of the Academy bylaws.   
Objective 2 - Regularly review and adjust the Certification Review Board manual, policies and procedures addressing application, maintenance, and grievances.
Objective 3 - Efficiently process applications targeting a three month review duration.
Membership & Meetings: Members are comprised of CEPs in good standing willing and able to participate in peer review of applications.  Annually, the Board of Trustees affirm the CRB members.  An annual meeting is held often coincidental to a Trustee meeting with most participants joining by conference call.  Each application is assigned a separate Panel comprised of a Lead Reviewer and five panelists.  Most of the review effort occurs electronically through online portals with occassional conference calls on an as-needed basis tailored to an individual application or initiative.  With the exception of the CRB Chair, members of the CRB may not concurrently serve as an elected Trustee.

Member Services & Engagement Committee
The Members Services & Engagement Committee supports Environmental Professionals in their professional development, career growth, and networking opportunities within ABCEP.   Task force initiatives performed by this Committee resulted in the Mentoring Program and the CEP-IT Panel as well as the CEP by Eminence credential pathway.
 
Mission: To support ABCEP members by development and implementation of benefits that support their professional development. Support ABCEP through retention and diversification of its membership.  
Vision:  Expand and diversity membership services provided by ABCEP; including professional training and career pathway development for membership.  
Objectives:
Objective 1 -   Provide membership professional development and training. Engage environmental professionals that are interested in becoming a CEP.
Objective 2 -   Provide career development and networking opportunities.
Objective 3 -   Expand, diversify and retain ABCEP's membership. 
Membership & Meetings: Historically, led solely by members of the Board of Trustees, the Member Services & Engagement Committee has been hindered by limited volunteer-leadership available hours.  Volunteers for task force participation are accepted year-round.   
 
Recognition Committee
The Recognition Committee was formed to promote corporate, State and Federal Agency recognition of the CEP and CEP-IT in professional career development and regulatory requirements as well as national standards organizations.
 
Mission:  To increase recognition of the "Certified Environmental Professional" credential in the environmental profession with states, government agencies and the public-at-large through individual participation, corporate affirmation, Agency policy and procedures, and collaboration with like-minded organizations.

History / Future:
The current-day Recognition Committee is an evolution of the Marketing/Development Committee initiated in 2008 that was rebranded as the Partnership / Alliance Committee in 2010, rebranded as the Marketing / Recognition Committee in 2012 and simplified its name to the Recognition Committee in 2013.  In 2014, the committee identified a need to reorganize creating regionally-focused contributors/committee members to improve ABCEP's ability to respond to regulatory reform, interest-group meetings, professional association meetings, continuing education trainings, conferences, and similar activities affecting or involving environmental professionals.  The efforts of the Recognition Committee are in-line with and measured against ABCEP’s Strategic Plan Goals and Objectives.

Over its history, the Recognition Committee has achieved:
  • Opening discussions for Federal Agency recognition with the EPA, USACE, Air Force, Navy, Department of Labor, and Office of Personnel Management.
  • Opening discussions for State Agency recognition with North Carolina, Florida, and Washington.
  • Consortium participation for exploring unified environmental professional credential.
  • Consortium participation on the Task Force for re-issuance of ASTM Standard E1929.
  • Developing symposia proposals to the EPA National Center for Innovation.
  • Preparation of Information Releases, advertisements, and related marketing materials.
  • Preparation of television interview scripts.
  • Orchestrating individualized outreach to national conference attendees.
  • Contributing to workshops conducted by fellow CEPs at NAEP, FAEP, CalAEP conferences.
Evidence-based accomplishments are the among the goals of the Recognition Committee, as example:
  • US Department of Labor O*NET listing of the Certified Environmental Professional credential as well as facilitating individual CEP contributors to the USDOL career development task force for environmental professionals.
  • US Air Force Civil Engineering Center (AFCEC) inclusion in career development opportunities workshop for environmental professionals (military, civil, and contractors).
  • Citation of the CEP as preferred credential in job postings and contractor qualifications by US Navy, NC Forest Service, and more.
  • Career advancement endorsements (by way of individual CEP promotion or receipt of financial bonus upon receipt of the credential) by corporate employers.
  • Inked relationships with the Washington State Coastal Training Program and the Manufacturers' Education Council for continuing education opportunities for CEPs and CEP-ITs.
Membership & Meetings: Members are comprised of CEP, CEP-IT, and CEP Emeritus willing and able to participate in recognition efforts.  Volunteer roles range from research to networking and advocating.  Historically, led solely by members of the Board of Trustees, the Recognition Committee has been hindered by limited volunteer-leadership available hours and a deficiency in being able to stay on top of opportunities across the United States.  Regional contributors are encouraged and welcomed.   

Mentorship Program Committee
The Mentorship Program Committee coordinates mentors and proteges for professionals seeking certification.  Mentors are CEPs or CEP Emeritus.  Proteges are either CEP-ITs or non-members preparing to apply.  
 
Mission: To enhance lifelong professional development in environmental science and planning, scholarship, and service. The mentoring relationships will support collegiality, effective communication, self-evaluation, and environmental science and planning competence, all of which enhance a stimulating and supportive career development in the environmental profession.
Vision: Expand services provided by Mentors to include outreach to professionals interested in becoming a CEP, providing mentorship to CEP candidates, and providing guidance to CEP-ITs.
Membership & Meetings:  About 20 CEPs serve as mentors often on a rotating basis and matched with a protege of similar career interest or concentration.  Mentor and protege meetings are tailored by the pair based upon the protege's initiative and pace.  Mentors and proteges are encouraged to have monthly interaction either by email or telephone.  The formal mentor-protege relationship is intended to have a one year or less duration with its primary objective to facilitate the protege's CEP application.  In some instances, the mentor-protege relationship continues beyond one year developing into a career development and networking resource.  
 
CEP In-Training Panel Committee
The CEP In-Training Panel is led by a Trustee and comprised of CEP-ITs.  The CEP-IT Panel champions engagement of developing environmental professionals through quarterly coaching sessions, webinars, FAQ, and social media outreach. 
 
Mission: To encourage developing environmental professionals to seek and obtain certification, perform work in accordance with ethical standards, and provide networking interface with peer and senior professionals. 
Vision: Expand and diversity CEP-IT membership services provided by ABCEP, provide guidance to CEP-IT, and encourage the transition to CEP status.
Objectives:
Objective 1 -  Outline and adjust the panel's objectives to be contemporary with developing environmental professionals motivators, interest, and communication methods.
Objective 2 -  Interface with and support the Mentor Program.  Routinely interact with the Trustees.
Objective 3 -  Expand, diversify and retain CEP-IT membership as a path to the CEP credential. 
Membership & Meetings: All CEP-IT members are eligible participants.  Three CEP-IT members will be elected to non-voting participation on the Board of Trustees.  Annual and regional social gatherings occur as demand and participation enables otherwise conference calls, web-hosted platforms, social media, or email occur regularly.
 
Communications & Newsletter Committee
Responsible for the publication of the Environmental Professional Newsletter and CEP-In Action webpage, the Communications Committee provides information on what CEPs and CEP-ITs are doing in their respective professions as well as their communities. Through the Newsletter Editor, the Communications Committee coordinates with other ABCEP committees to provide information to assist members in achieving certification, promoting certification maintenance, and engaging the CEP community in the activities of the Board and other related organizations.
 
Mission: The Communications Committee's mission is to establish and promote recognition of Certified Environmental Professionals in their everyday practice as well as through activities in the communities in which they live and work.
Vision:  Communicate effectively with ABCEP members, the professional community, and the public to promote continuing education and stimulate growth in all aspects of the environmental profession.
Objectives:
Objective 1 -   Effectively communicate aspects of ABCEP strategy, initiatives, and activities.
Objective 2 -   Communicate membership and organizational information.
Objective 3 -   Increase CEP identification and participation through valued communications.
Membership & Meetings: The Newsletter Editor serves as the Chair of the Communications Committee and is a Trustee.  Contributing authors are sought by the editor, executive administrator, Trustees, and the CEP-IT Panel.  Ad-hoc meetings are held by conference call to discuss news content.  All ABCEP members are encouraged to contribute year-long. 
 
Task Forces
Organized to address a specific objective and timeline, task forces may be organized by the Executive Team or any of the Committee Chairs.  In the absence of sufficient volunteers to a committee, the Executive Team or the Trustees may form a Task Force to address the time-critical initiatives typically handled through a Committee.  Rolling membership to task forces occur year-round.