Executive Director’s Message

I am excited to introduce myself as the new executive director of ABGC, Heather Rich, MPA, ICE-CCP. It is an honor to be here and to offer my experience in certification program innovation. I know that together we can continue the standard of excellence upheld by ABGC, while making improvements that will only increase our organization’s ability to serve Diplomates, the genetic counseling community and the people we support.

With over 15 years of experience in certification covering over 21 different exams, I have worked with various high-stakes testing programs across industries. Most recently, I have spent seven years in the certification executive suite.

A little more about me: I am passionate about advancing certification programs and ensuring their effectiveness and relevance in today’s rapidly evolving world. Even though change is never a walk in the park, working through all aspects of certification, governance and accreditation standards is my specialty — and I truly enjoy being involved on the journey of re-accreditation. In fact, I’ve led the re-accreditation process for five organizations and 10 separate programs.

All of the fresh ideas at ABGC are giving me a positive perspective on the future, and I am eager to explore new possibilities for our organization. Moving to a new management company has given ABGC an open road to understand automation, which will lead to more efficient and effective processes for Diplomates, including some recent updates to the recertification application process.

I am committed to working closely with all of you and ensuring that ABGC continues to evolve and meet the needs of the genetic counseling community. Thank you for your support, and I look forward to collaborating with you very soon.

-Heather Rich, MPA, ICE-CCP