About the ACM

Who we are

The Americas Conference of Mayors (ACM), operates as a recognized nonprofit association incorporated in the State of New Mexico, United States, that works both as a regional and intercontinental platform.

We are an institutional, non-governmental, non-partisan organization open to cities of any size from any country in the Americas — encompassing North America, Central America, and South America. Each municipality is represented by its current Chief Elected Official, most often the mayor or a city councilor.

Mission

To provide a united platform for municipal leaders across the hemisphere to exchange knowledge, advance policies, and strengthen communities through international cooperation.

Vision

To be the leading hemispheric forum where municipal leadership drives innovation, collaboration, and sustainable development, shaping stronger, more connected cities across the Americas.

Leadership Structure: Governing Board

The Governing Board will be elected on November 2026, and it will serve for the period of December 2026- December 2027.

The Governing Board, integrated with mayors, will be composed of 30 members, as stipulated in Article 9 of the Conference Bylaws, as follows:

Man in suit sitting at head of modern conference table with city view

President

Vice President

Treasurer

Vice Presidencies

In addition to the above, 27 vice presidencies are included in the Governing Board, of which 15 will be territorial, according to the following distribution:

3 (Co-Vice Presidents) members will be from the United States of America;
1 member from Canada;
2 (Co-Vice Presidents) from Mexico; and
9 (Co-Vice Presidents) from Latin America.

In the Governing Board, 12 of the 27 vice presidencies will be organized according to the substantive tasks of the municipalities, as stipulated in their bylaws:

Migration and International Affairs;
Metropolitan Affairs;
Public Finance;
Utilities and Energy;
Security;
Education;
Social Development;
Urban Development;
Governance and Citizen Participation;
Infrastructure;
Equipment;
Tourism;

Bylaws

Executive Board

Juan de Dios Pineda

President & CEO

Gilbert Carreras

Chief Communications Officer

Laura Bassein

Executive Director

Canada & the United States

Matt Shelder

Conference Logistic Coordinator

Jeremy Perls

Chief Government

Affairs Officer

George Pratts

Chief of Staff

Corporate and Philantropic Council

The President and CEO of the Americas Conference of Mayors Executive Committee will appoint the Corporate and Philanthropic Council, considering that a core principle of the founding and mission of ACM is to foster partnerships between member municipalities and business and industry, a Corporate and Philanthropic Council of 13 members is established as an ongoing Advisory Group.

Members will serve a 3-year term. Members shall be eligible to be recommended for additional terms by the President & CEO of the Conference.

The procedure for selecting and approving members of the ACM Corporate and Philanthropic Council is:

The Chair of the Corporate and Philanthropic Council and the President & CEO of the Conference will jointly develop a slate of names and present the closed slate to the Governing Board for a simple yes/no ratification at any regular ACM Governing Board Meeting; the President & CEO of the Conference will appoint the first Chair of the Corporate and Philanthropic Council for three years.

Committees, Task Forces & Institutional Leadership

The Americas Conference of Mayors (ACM) and the Americas Conference of City Councilors (ACCC) were established to foster collaboration, economic growth, and policy innovation among cities and communities throughout the Americas.

Through joint initiatives, the organizations promote sustainable development, cultural exchange, and practical solutions to shared challenges—providing a vital platform where public officials, entrepreneurs, and community leaders work toward common goals.

Policy & Best Practices Development

Mayors and city councilors advance the work of the ACM and ACCC through standing committees, special committees, and task forces. These bodies develop policy positions and best practice recommendations on critical issues, including but not limited to:

Economic Development
Human Rights & Democracy
Poverty Reduction
Sustainable Urban Planning
Public Safety & Resilience

Committee recommendations are presented at the Annual Conference or Summit, where all member cities have the opportunity to debate and vote. Each municipality, represented by its mayor or councilors, casts one vote—ensuring equal representation and a democratic decision-making process.

Collective Efforts

As part of this mission, leadership within the ACM & ACCC is strengthened through Annual Committees and Task Forces. At the Americas Conference of Mayors Inauguration Summit 2025, the Governing Board and participating mayors will appoint members to serve from December 2025 through December 2026.

Participation in these committees represents a meaningful opportunity to contribute to a growing international institution in an increasingly interconnected world. We extend our gratitude to our members whose dedication and collaboration continue to advance the vision of the ACM & ACCC.