EXECUTIVE STAFF
Carol A. Moneymaker
Executive Director
cmoneymaker@abhes.org
Ms. Moneymaker has held the position of Executive Director of ABHES since April 1995 and has been affiliated with accreditation since 1987. Prior to assuming this position, she served as the Associate Executive Director of the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) from 1987 - 1995.
As the Executive Director, Ms. Moneymaker manages the operations of ABHES, including overseeing accreditation activities and staff. She serves as liaison to state and federal regulatory bodies, including the U.S. Department of Education, and works closely with other national accrediting agencies, as well as credentialing agencies in the health care disciplines. She is the primary liaison to the ABHES Commission and serves as staff liaison to a variety of committees, including the Commissioner Nominating and the Programmatic Accreditation for Surgical Technology. She also oversees the program sessions for the Annual Conference and is primary editor for ABHES’ bi-annual newsletter, The Advantage.
Education:
Master of Educational Administration, American University, Washington, DC
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Mount Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, NY
Christopher J. Eaton
Associate Executive Director
ceaton@abhes.org
Mr. Eaton has been with ABHES since June 1995. His previous experience in accreditation includes serving as a Senior Accreditation Coordinator with the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) from 1989-1992. Prior to entering the higher education arena, Mr. Eaton worked in investment banking with Goldman Sachs and Company in New York and American Security Bank.
As Associate Executive Director, Mr. Eaton’s responsibilities include overseeing the visitation scheduling process, ABHES finances, and review of new campus applications. He also participates in on-site evaluation team visits. Mr. Eaton serves as liaison to the Standards Review Committee and the Committee on Degree Policies and Standards.
Education:
Master’s Degree in Higher Education & Human Development, George Washington University, Washington, DC
Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science, Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT
India Y. Tips
Assistant Executive Director
itips@abhes.org
Ms. Tips has been with ABHES since 1995. As the Assistant Executive Director, Ms. Tips is the primary contact for initial and recycle applicants seeking ABHES accreditation, the coordination and management of the ABHES National Conference on Allied Health Education, and development and scheduling of accreditation workshops where she regularly serves as a presenter. Ms. Tips serves as staff liaison to the Conference Committee and manages the logistical arrangements for Commission meetings. She also oversees on-site evaluation teams on various accreditation visits and overall office administrative activities.
Education:
Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
STAFF
Christy Baily-Byers
Distance Education and Communications Specialist
cbyers@abhes.org
Ms. Baily-Byers began with ABHES in January 2011. Previously, she served as an Accreditation Coordinator for the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) and worked in higher education as a university administrator and faculty member for 20 years.
She is responsible for the oversight of distance education activities, including procurement and training of specialists. Her communications-related activities include oversight of student teach outs, with necessary interaction with federal regulators and state education departments and assisting in the planning and coordination of the annual membership meeting. Ms. Baily-Byers participates in occasional on-site evaluation visits, as staff liaison. She also serves as the staff liaison to the Distance Education Committee and represents ABHES at various meetings of the Association of Specialized Professional Accreditors (ASPA), for which ABHES is a long-standing member.
Education:
Master of Business Administration, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Bachelor of Arts in Communication/Public Relations, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
Kelli Blocher
Accreditation Specialist
kblocher@abhes.org
Ms. Blocher joined the ABHES staff in 2007. As an Accreditation Specialist, Ms. Blocher is responsible for planning and coordinating the evaluation teams for on-site visits and the input and process of visitation reports. She is also responsible evaluator procurement and training and oversees the exhibitor activities for ABHES’ Annual Conference. Ms. Blocher serves as staff liaison to the Programmatic Accreditation Committee for Medical Assisting (PAC-MA) and is responsible for education strategies affecting ABHES.
Education:
Bachelor of Science in Health Promotions, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA
Eileen M. Brennan
Director of Accreditation Development
ebrennan@abhes.org
Ms. Brennan joined the ABHES staff in 2007. Previously, Ms. Brennan was employed at the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) where she served as Associate Director of Quality Assurance and, in earlier years, as an Accreditation Coordinator. She also served for four years as an Education Analyst for the Maryland Higher Education Commission.
As Director of Accreditation Development, Ms. Brennan oversees the review and resolution of grievances regarding accredited institutions and programs as well as the processing of change in ownership or control applications. She also serves as liaison to Preliminary Review Committee and manages the Commission’s application agenda. Ms. Brennan serves as liaison to the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), and the DC Area Accreditors.
Education:
Master of Science in Human Resource Development, Trinity University, Washington, DC
Bachelor of Arts in American Studies, Stonehill College, North Easton, MA
Judy Burke
Office Manager
jburke@abhes.org
Ms. Burke joined ABHES in 2007. For the prior 11 years, she served as the Office Manager of a public relations firm in Washington, D.C. Ms. Burke is responsible for the overall management of the ABHES office. Her duties focus on overseeing all administrative functions, including staff support.
Education:
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, St. Francis College, Loretto, PA
Thomas J. Cornacchia
Director of Curriculum and Policy Development
tcornacchia@abhes.org
Mr. Cornacchia joined ABHES in 2011. Prior to that time, he served for six years as Director of Accreditation for the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) and for 11 years with the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS). With more than 18 years of accreditation experience, Mr. Cornacchia is primarily responsible for program standards development and consideration of new and revised program applications. He also assists in the development of policy agendas for the Commission and serves as staff liaison to program advisory committees and the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE), and is co-staff liaison to the Distance Education Committee.
Education:
Bachelor of Science in Management / English Literature Minor, St. Francis College, Loretto, PA
Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration, American University, Washington, DC
Pete Etchells
Accreditation Coordinator
petchells@abhes.org
Mr. Etchells joined ABHES in 2011 and serves as an Accreditation Coordinator. His primary responsibility is planning on-site evaluation visits and coordinating these visits through travel with the teams. He also serves as a staff liaison to the Financial Review Committee, Conference Planning Committee with a focus on sponsorship activities, and the Association of Specialized Allied Health Professionals (ASAHP). His other responsibilities include processing change of name and change in location applications and confirming accreditation status.
Education:
Bachelor of Arts in American Studies (Literature), University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom
Trish Laughlin
Senior Accreditation Coordinator
plaughlin@abhes.org
Ms. Laughlin joined ABHES in 2010. Ms. Laughlin is responsible for planning and coordinating the evaluation teams for on-site visits and the input and processing of visitation reports. She manages the evaluator database and ABHES surveying, including proposed standards for comment and membership satisfaction. Ms. Laughlin serves as staff liaison to the Programmatic Accreditation Committee for Medical Laboratory Technology (PAC-MLT).
Education:
Bachelor of Science in Health Enhancement, University of Montana, Missoula, MT
Amanda Ludwa
Accreditation Coordinator
aludwa@abhes.org
Ms. Ludwa joined ABHES in 2011 and serves as an accreditation coordinator. Her primary responsibility is planning on-site evaluation visits and coordinating these visits through travel with the teams.
Education:
Bachelor of Arts, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, IL
Amy Rowe
Director of Compliance and Reporting
arowe@abhes.org
Ms. Rowe has worked with ABHES since 2003. As Director of Compliance and Reporting, Ms. Rowe is responsible for maintenance of the ABHES website, development of the Accreditation Manual, coordination and analysis of biennial survey on standards, and oversees the activities of institutional and programmatic annual reporting. She is also responsible for planning and coordinating the evaluation teams for on-site visits and the input and processing of visitation reports. Ms. Rowe serves as staff liaison to the Annual Report Committee and the Standards Review Committee (SRC).
Education:
Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
Laura Tache
Senior Accreditation Coordinator
ltache@abhes.org
Ms. Tache joined ABHES in 2008. As a Senior Accreditation Coordinator, Ms. Tache is responsible for planning and coordinating the evaluation teams for on-site visits and the input and processing of visitation reports. She also oversees the collection, initial review and processing of institutional financial statements and review and institutional financial reporting and analysis. Ms. Tache reviews change in status applications (e.g., programmatic to institutional accreditation) and assists in the review of grievances regarding member institutions and programs. She serves as staff liaison to the Financial Review Committee (FRC).
Education:
Bachelor of Science in Management, Potomac College, Washington, DC
Michael D. White
Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs
mwhite@abhes.org
Mr. White has been on the ABHES staff since 2008. As an attorney, Mr. White was senior counsel for one of the largest Fortune Five Hundred companies in the United States and worked routinely with state and federal regulators. For 10 years prior to joining ABHES, Mr. White was the Director of Education responsible for all accreditation and state licensing for an ABHES-accredited private postsecondary college with campuses in several states.
As Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs, Mr. White advises the Commission on both internal issues regarding its accreditation standards and bylaws and external compliance with laws and regulations impacting its operations as a recognized accrediting agency. Mr. White is active in leading efforts to establish and maintain ABHES accreditation as a sufficient verification of educational quality to allow graduates of ABHES- accredited programs to work and to credential across the country. He also is responsible for review of contractual agreements presented by ABHES accredited institutions and programs and serves as staff liaison to the Officer Nominating Committee.
Education:
Doctor of Law, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
Master of Science, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
Bachelor of Science, Purdue University, Ft. Wayne, IN
Holly Viar
Executive Operations Coordinator
hviar@abhes.org
Ms. Viar has been with ABHES since 2010. Prior to joining ABHES, Ms. Viar worked at The Merit School in Woodbridge, Virginia.
She provides administrative support to the ABHES staff, is primary contact for incoming inquiries (phone, info@abhes.org), and assists in the preparation of the annual conference, meetings and workshops. She serves as co-staff liaison to the Annual Report Committee.
Education:
Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance, Strayer University, Woodbridge, VA