Michelle Rance is the senior manager for instructional design at ACAMS, where she leads a group that partners with cross-functional teams and subject-matter experts (SMEs) to develop engaging compliance learning experiences, including the Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) certification.
Rance served as an airborne cryptologic linguist specialist in the U.S. Air Force for five-and-a-half years. During that time, she flew 95 combat missions in support of Operations Southern Watch and Provide Promise. She also served as an intelligence analyst and a training manager during her time in the Air Force. The military introduced her to instructional design and helped her develop those skills.
Rance was an adjunct faculty member for the National Cryptologic School, where she developed and taught five Middle Eastern politics and religion courses. She was also an instructional designer at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University prior to joining ACAMS. She has a master’s degree in instructional technology, and four children, two of whom are active-duty military. She is currently pursuing her Master of Business Administration degree in cybersecurity.
Rance’s desire to serve extended beyond her military career―a motivating factor for why she joined ACAMS. She earned her CAMS in 2018.
ACAMS Today (AT): What drew you to want to work at ACAMS?
Michelle Rance (MR): The mission was my primary draw. As a veteran, the opportunity to serve again, but in a different way, really made me want to be part of this. I love that I help prevent criminals from legitimizing their ill-gotten gains. And truthfully, the opportunity to be remote was also a motivating factor.
AT: Could you describe a typical day’s activities in your role at ACAMS?
MR: A typical day is juggling multiple projects and priorities. We are recruiting and managing a global cohort of SMEs, creating innovative content, training team members on new processes―and always within a tight deadline. It is hugely exciting to deliver a product that the company and our members love.
AT: How important is partnership and collaboration in your role as senior manager for instructional design at ACAMS? Could you provide an example or two?
MR: Partnership is extremely important, both internally and externally. We are currently building CAMS 7. We are partnering internally with the product managers and thought leadership and externally with at least four contractors and over 45 SMEs to plan the course outlines, write the materials and exam questions, as well as delivering new eLearning and a new virtual classroom experience. The members will get the core global knowledge that CAMS has always provided and the new ability to customize their learning by sector and jurisdiction.
AT: What are some important life lessons that you learned during your time with the Air Force?
MR: Timeliness, discipline and teamwork. If you are early, you are on time, and if you are on time, you are late. Discipline in all things: appearance, working out/health, interactions with others and teamwork. When you are all pulling in the same direction, supporting each other to ensure mission success, the work doesn’t seem so hard. You create strong bonds and your team is successful.
AT: What do you like to do in your spare time?
MR: I love to travel and read. I especially enjoy family trips with my four adult children and parents. We are meeting in Tacoma, Washington, in July for a weeklong getaway. My husband and I will spend a month on the Dalmatian Coast in the fall! I also enjoy scuba diving, experimenting with new recipes and driving nice cars fast. I have driven at many high-speed driving events in Florida, including at Daytona International Speedway.
Interviewed by: ACAMS Today editorial, ACAMS, editor@acams.org
