Leigh-Anne joined CCA as an Accreditation Specialist in May 2023, but that’s only the latest leg of her journey with CCA. Leigh-Anne brings extensive experience as a volunteer Reviewer with CCA before she joined our team, conducting over 20 reviews in both French and English!
Tell us about how you got started as a volunteer Reviewer.
Along with my other duties, I helped the organization where I was working prepare for its accreditation. I found the experience fascinating. After that review, I was one of four staff at the organization to attend CCA’s review training and my volunteer experience took off from there. Some time later, I served as the organization’s full-time accreditation lead for four years and thoroughly enjoyed it.
What kept you coming back for more?
I have developed a deep passion and commitment to the accreditation process and all that it offers the Reviewer, participating organizations and the sector. Over the years, I have had many valuable experiences that have enriched me personally. For example, I used to be quite shy. Now I am very confident meeting new people and speaking in front of groups.
Gaining an in-depth understanding of the nonprofit sector and sharing my knowledge and expertise with others has motivated me to continue volunteering. It has been a comfort to learn that issues that I thought were unique to our organization were in fact shared by sister organizations, opening up possibilities for future collaboration and problem-solving separate from the review process.
During reviews, I discover “nuggets” of innovation and the little successes that have made a big difference for our sectors. Client, board and staff stories are inspiring and add to the wealth of knowledge we are building together.
What advice do you have for fellow Reviewers and people who are considering this volunteer role?
The minimum commitment of one review a year is manageable. Don’t worry about the volume of work required of a reviewer. You will find your rhythm and the approach that works well for you. CCA staff and your fellow Reviewers will provide you the support you need along the way. Approach accreditation as a learning experience.
What insights from your time as a Reviewer have deepened or evolved since joining CCA as staff, and how do they show up in your work today?
My years as a reviewer have deeply shaped and enriched the way I approach my work as an Accreditation Specialist. Having had the good fortune to participate on many review teams, I carry forward a strong reviewer lens which grounds my work in practical, grounded understanding. Since joining CCA as staff, my appreciation for the standards and the accreditation process has continued to evolve. I now see even more clearly how the standards operate not just as requirements, but as tools that support organizational learning, quality improvement, and community impact.
Being on site as a Reviewer was foundational. Listening directly to staff, board members, volunteers, and clients provided insights into organizational culture that can’t be captured in documents alone. Those experiences taught me to pay attention to the “how” as much as the “what”; how organizations live their values, how they navigate challenges, and how they translate intentions into practice. Today, that perspective shows up in the way I support organizations: I strive to understand their context, strengths, and pressures; I look for the story behind the evidence they provide; and I aim to offer guidance that is both grounded in the standards and responsive to the realities of community-based work. Ultimately, my reviewer experience continues to remind me that accreditation is not just a process or a checkbox. It is a relationship, a learning opportunity for everyone involved including myself, and it is a pathway to strengthening services for the people and communities we all care about.