SUMMER 2018
I NSIDE:
CELEBRATING A 50-YEAR CHAMBER CAREER | 07 FROM THE WINNER'S CIRCLE | 10
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SUMMER 2018
CONTENTS
DEPARTMENTS
FEATURES
04 | ACCE News
07 | Celebrating a 50-Year Chamber Career Sybil Topel, MFA, IOM
18 | Faces and Places
COLUMNS 02 | From the Chairman Nancy Keefer
20 | Poised for Success Sheree Anne Kelly
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10 | From the Winner's Circle 13 | Certified Chamber Executives
FROM THE CHAIRMAN Every year I leave ACCE’s Annual Convention energized and inspired by the impact my fellow chamber leaders are having in communities across the country. It is so much fun to learn from leading edge chamber executives, see familiar faces and develop new relationships. I’m proud to be part of this profession, and I’m excited to serve as ACCE Chair for the coming year. While we were in Des Moines, I had the opportunity to meet with the ACCE team to let them know how much their hard work is appreciated by the membership. Our association has meant a great deal to me throughout my career. The relationships that I’ve built and the things that I’ve learned have made me a better leader. It’s an exciting time at ACCE. We just celebrated the one-year anniversary of our new CEO Sheree Anne Kelly. She is a fantastic leader, and I’m proud of the progress we’ve made to develop a new strategic plan. My goal for the next year is to empower the team and get out of the way. We will continue to provide services to help you with the day-to-day of running you chamber, the tactical and practical elements of chamber management. We’ve heard your feedback, and we are working to streamline our resources to make it easier to access programs, information and tools to help you succeed
acce
ACCE’s award-winning journal for and about chambers of commerce
Chairman Nancy Keefer, CCE Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce (Fla.) Chairman Elect David Brown Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce (Neb.) Immediate Past Chair Jay Chesshir, CCE Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce (Ark.)
At the same time, we will continue to build on the success of the Horizon Initiative by helping to analyze trends and keep your chamber ahead of the curve. From economic development and community betterment to diversity and inclusion and policy engagement, we will elevate best practices from across the country to showcase the innovative ways chambers are shaping the futures of their communities.
Treasurer Leonardo McClarty, CCE Howard County Chamber of Commerce (Md.)
Based on your feedback, we are also going to focus more attention on helping chamber executives manage change, with a focus on leading volunteer boards through change. We’ve heard from forward thinking chamber CEOs who have faced challenges when leading transformational change. Identifying ways to get buy-in from volunteer leadership can be a challenge. We will work to share practical advice.
Kelly Fanelli, CCE Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches (Fla.)
Chambers of commerce have diverse and complex needs. Professional development for chamber professionals is more important than ever. I urge you to get more involved in ACCE and to encourage your staff to do the same. Your participation and feedback will help empower the next generation of chamber leaders. Visit www.ACCE.org to take advantage of our resource library and learn more about our peer networks and professional development opportunities. I’m looking forward to the year ahead. – Nancy Keefer, CCE | Chairman, ACCE Board of Directors
Vice Chairs Jay Byers, CCE Greater Des Moines Partnership (Iowa)
Christy Gillenwater, CCE, IOM Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce (Tenn.) Carlos Phillips, CCE Greenville Chamber (S.C.) President & CEO Sheree Anne Kelly Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives V.P., Communications and Networks Will Burns wburns@acce.org Editor-in-Chief/Director, Communications Ben Wills bwills@acce.org Graphic Design Hannah Theiring hannahtheiring@yahoo.com Advertising Sales Chris Mead cmead@acce.org
Chamber Executive, ISSN 0884-8114, is published quarterly by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. Periodicals postage pending at Alexandria, VA 22314 and additional offices. Office of publication: 1330 Braddock Place, Suite 300, Alexandria VA, 22324. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Chamber Executive, 1330 Braddock Place, Suite 300, Alexandria VA, 22314. Visit us online at http://www.acce.org/ce or call 800-394-2223 for information about editorial, advertising or subscriptions.
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ACCE NEWS 2018-19 BOARD OF DIRECTORS ANNOUNCED On July 18, during the annual meeting of the association in Des Moines, Iowa, Immediate Past Chair Jay Chesshir, CCE, presented the newly elected members of the 2018-19 board of directors: Nancy Keefer, CCE, as chairman; David Brown, CCE, as chair-elect; Leonardo McClarty, CCE, as treasurer; Jay Byers, CCE, as vice chair; Kelly Fanelli, CCE, as vice chair; Christy Gillenwater, CCE, as vice chair; and Carlos Phillips, CCE, as vice chair. Meet our full board at www.ACCE.org/BOD. CHAIRMAN’S AWARD PRESENTED AT #ACCE18 At the ACCE Annual Convention in Des Moines, Jay Chesshir, CCE, presented the 2018 Chairman’s Award to the eight-member Transition Task Force. The award is given annually to an individual or group that has made a significant contribution to the betterment of the chamber profession. Chesshir, president and CEO of the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce, commended the task force for its work in supporting ACCE President Sheree Anne Kelly during her first year and helping to ensure a smooth executive transition for the association. The task force, led by Roy Williams, CCE, of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, was represented by the following chamber leaders: Dave Adkisson, CCE (Kentucky Chamber of Commerce); Tom Baldridge, CCE (The Lancaster Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Pa.); Betty Capestany (Bellevue Chamber of Commerce, Wash.); Mark Eagan, CCE (Capital Region Chamber, N.Y.); Tim Sheehy, CCE (Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce); Joe Roman, CCE (Greater Cleveland Partnership); and Nancy Keefer, CCE (Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce). SAVE THE DATE: #ACCE19 IN LONG BEACH Long Beach, California will play host to the 2019 ACCE Annual Convention, July 14–17. Registration will open in early 2019. Stay tuned for more information, including a call for presentations, arriving in your inbox and mailbox later this year. Learn more about our host city by viewing this video presented by Randy Gordon, CCE, president and CEO of the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce: www.ACCE.org/LongBeach. COMPENSATION PUBLICATION COMING SOON On October 29, ACCE will release a comprehensive compensation publication, featuring data gathered from Dynamic Chamber Benchmarking (www.ACCE.org/DCB), the profession’s leading data reporting tool. The Salary Survey Publication includes compensation research on a variety of positions, including president/CEO/executive director, membership sales professionals compensated with commission and data for other professional positions in communications, government rela-
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tions, operations and more. The publication can be accessed online at www.ACCE.org/Store, at no charge for Horizon Investors and members with All ACCEss Pass, and $199 for other members. ACCE FOUNDATION ADOPTS NEW STRATEGIC PLAN The board of the ACCE Foundation, formerly known as the Community Growth Educational Foundation, recently approved a new strategic plan. The road map focuses on key areas, including programming, engagement and fundraising, to further support chambers in their efforts to create positive change in the communities they serve. “The plan will help build on the successes of our program participants and equip even more chamber leaders with the knowledge and resources to support sustainable and inclusive economic growth,” said Roy Williams, CCE, chair-elect of the ACCE Foundation and president and CEO of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. The ACCE Foundation was established to fund programming, peer-to-peer learning opportunities and leadership development for chamber professionals. Its work supports chambers as they seek to improve education and workforce development outcomes, boost quality of life, strengthen community health and promote diversity, equity and inclusion. To learn more about the ACCE Foundation visit www.ACCE.org/Foundation. CHAMBER LEADERS NAMED TO ACCE TALENT FELLOWSHIP Leaders from 20 chambers of commerce, representing communities throughout the United States, have been selected to participate in the ACCE Fellowship for Education and Talent Development. The Fellowship is an immersive professional development program that provides chamber of commerce professionals with education, peer connections, and tools to improve the education and workforce development outcomes in the communities they serve. Throughout the year-long experience, participants develop regional action plans to address specific education attainment or workforce development issues in their communities. Congratulations to this year’s Fellows: Danielle Britton Talent and Education Director Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce (N.Y.) Eric Brown Vice President of Economic Development Salina Area Chamber of Commerce (Kan.)
Anthony Edwards Senior Vice President of Talent Development, Attraction and Retention Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce (Texas) Angela Finding Director, Education & Workforce Greater Cleveland Partnership (Ohio) Rod Garvin Vice President of Talent and Workforce Development Charlotte Chamber (N.C.) Theresa Harvey President & CEO North Orange County Chamber (Calif.) Deana Karem Vice President of Regional Economic Growth Greater Louisville Inc. (Ky.)
Adrea Turner Director of Talent and Workforce Solutions Greenville Chamber (S.C.) Kami Welch President Arvada Chamber of Commerce (Colo.) Robin Willis Associate Vice President of Talent Pipeline Strategies Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce (S.C.) Learn more about the Fellowship at www.ACCE.org/Fellowship. ACCE will begin accepting applications for the next cohort of the Fellowship for Education and Talent Development in May 2019.
Stephanie Keinath Director of Public Policy & Economic Development Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce (Ohio) Meg Lindsay Director Education & Workforce/Spokane STEM Greater Spokane Incorporated (Wash.) Sarah Moylan Senior Director of Talent Greater Omaha Chamber (Neb.) Anna Osland Manager, Policy Initiatives One Acadiana (La.) Samantha Perez Director of Education Policy Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce (Tenn.) Beth Rinehart President & CEO Bristol Chamber of Commerce (Tenn./Va.) Paige Sharpe Program Manager Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce (Ore.) Betsy Sikma Vice President, Talent & Economic Inclusion Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce (S.C.) Kwee Lan Teo Vice President of Talent and Workforce Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce (Texas) Melissa Thompson Director of Talent Development Baton Rouge Area Chamber (La.)
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CELEBR ATING A
50-Year CHAMBER C AREER BY SYBIL TOPEL, MFA, IOM
WHEN
Mattie Moran stepped through the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce front door in 1968 she had “no intentions of staying more than a few years.” She’d work, put away some money, and move on. Then, as her work grew in importance and the challenges kept coming, she changed her mind. And now she plans to keep right on working, after pausing a few moments to celebrate 50 years. Her greatest joy? Working with students. Since 2001, she has helped more than 205,000 better understand how to plan their careers and their educational paths – all through Chattanooga Chamber talent development programs. Chamber Executive
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Mattie Moran and Chattanooga Chamber staff engaged more than 1,500 volunteers last year to work with students on career development. Mattie Moran – both classic and classy – illustrates how to develop an earlycareer chamber ‘job’ into a far-reaching, impactful career. She contributes where she can make the most difference, continually identifying new challenges and opportunities.
She tells people considering a Chamber career, “Fasten your seat belts and get ready for the ride! It will be an amazing journey.”
Moran, now Talent and Development and Education Director, worked in:
“Did you ever meet somebody and just know you’re going to like them? That’s Mattie. She inspires people around her. She is so respectful to everyone,” Albritton said. “It doesn’t matter the age – it can be the youngest person, the oldest person. Any place. Any type of employee. Any type of person. She is so respectful.”
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Membership, assistant to area Councils, where she developed the Diplomats program, now the Ambassadors’ program
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Leadership Chattanooga
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Marketing & Communications
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Workforce Development
“And wherever I went I had to take the Diplomats program with me. Until one day, I said, ‘No,’ give someone else a turn,” she said with a careful smile. Because she doesn’t want to give the impression she doesn’t love working with volunteers – nothing could be further from the truth. She simply enjoys giving other team members the chance to further develop skills. “Chambers are exciting places to work, make connections, meet lots of people, and learn about all that’s going on in your community,” Moran said.
Chamber volunteer Shelia Albritton has worked with Moran for more than 18 years.
Moran advises Chamber professionals at all stages to take advantage of every educational opportunity offered and knows that other chambers are always willing to share their successes and pitfalls. “Enjoy all the opportunities to make a difference in someone’s life,” Moran said. Sybil Topel, MFA, IOM, serves as vice president of marketing and communications with the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce. Connect with Sybil at stopel@chattanoogachamber.com.
“If you think something could work a little better, or in a different way, she listens to you.” And, Moran connects well with students. “She’s so gentle and kind, and people respond well to gentle and kind. She speaks quietly, but you know she means business,” Albritton said. While Moran always focuses on the positive, clearly the dramatic events of 1968 made life tougher for many. But Moran worked through that and many more – and she stayed for her students and her colleagues. Longtime associate Cathy Humble put it best: “Mattie embodies her middle name – Jewel.”
"ENJOY ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE I N S O M E O N E ’ S L I F E ." – MAT TIE MORAN
Steve Baas, CCE, IOM Senior Vice President, Government Affairs Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Congratulations to the Newest Certified Chamber Executives Eleven chamber of commerce leaders from eight states have recently joined an elite roster of professionals who have earned the Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) designation. Since the first CCE designation was conferred some 40 years ago, more than 500 chamber professionals have become certified. More than 250 people have an active certification today. ACCE celebrated this year’s Certified Chamber Executives — Steve Baas, Marvin Bond, Lisa Hermes, Tony Howard, Jamee Jolly, Christine Kennedy, Sandra Lombana Lindquist, Roy Nascimento, Lynn Olberding, Jodie Perry, and Erin Williams — in the heart of downtown Des Moines at the ACCE Awards Show Wednesday, July 18. The Certified Chamber Executive designation represents the highest achievement in the chamber management profession. These professionals exemplify commitment to the work of chambers, dedication to managerial and leadership excellence; and leadership in state, regional, and national associations. Becoming a Certified Chamber Executive is no easy task. Interested chamber professionals must have 175 or more professional development points accrued at the time of application submission. CCE-eligible points can be earned through education, professional development, professional contributions, leadership, and awards or certifications. For example, a chamber professional can earn up to 15 points authoring stories for Chamber Executive or ACCE’s blog, and can earn up to an additional 15 points for presenting workshops at ACCE conventions or gatherings. Applications for the next CCE class are due January 7, 2019. More information about ACCE’s Certified Chamber Executive designation, including the application form, can be found by visiting www.ACCE.org/CCE. 10
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Marvin Bond, CCE, IOM Vice President, Investor Relations Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce Irving, Texas Lisa Hermes, CCE, IOM President McKinney Chamber of Commerce McKinney, Texas Tony Howard, CCE, IOM President & CEO Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce Lansdowne, Virginia Jamee Jolly, CCE, CAE President/CEO Plano Chamber of Commerce Plano, Texas Christine Kennedy, CCE, IOM, CPC, ELI-MP COO & Executive Vice President Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance Lynchburg, Virginia Sandra Lombana Lindquist, CCE Executive Vice President & COO New Orleans Chamber of Commerce New Orleans, Louisiana Roy M. Nascimento, CCE, IOM President & CEO North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce Fitchburg, Massachusetts Lynn Olberding, CCE, IOM Executive Director Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce Marshalltown, Iowa Jodie A. Perry, CCE, IOM, CCEO-AP President/CEO Richland Area Chamber of Commerce Mansfield, Ohio Erin Williams, CCE, IOM President & CEO O’Fallon Chamber of Commerce & Industries O’Fallon, Missouri
Steve Baas
Marvin Bond
Lisa Hermes
Tony Howard
Jamee Jolly
Christine Kennedy
Sandra Lombana Lindquist
Roy Nascimento
Lynn Olberding
Jodie A. Perry
Erin Williams
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CATEGORY 1
DES MOINES DOWNTOWN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
FROM THE
WINNER'S CIRCLE
Unmatched in its grandeur, the Chamber of the Year awards have been the highlight of the year for the profession for more than a decade. Presented to just one chamber of commerce in each size category, the award recognizes excellence in operations, member services and community leadership. Sponsored by MemberClicks, Chamber of the Year is the most prestigious and competitive award presented by ACCE and is the only globally recognized industry award that honors top chambers of commerce for exemplary work. Nearly 1,000 chamber leaders gathered in the heart of downtown Des Moines in mid-July to celebrate the 13 Chamber of the Year finalists, and anxiously await the announcement of this year’s winners.
Assured that their little chamber was on the right track after hearing an early presentation of the Horizon Initiative, the Des Moines Downtown Chamber of Commerce was well on the way to creating a new, unique membership experience for the still-young chamber. The Des Moines Downtown Chamber, with an inspired board of directors, set out to define the organization’s future with a new strategic plan in 2015. It used Horizon as a foundation, focusing heavily on Belonging and Gathering and Catalytic Leadership. The result was a plan with five key priorities: branding and differentiation; sustainable and diverse revenue; be a source of community information; be a source of open discussion about downtown development; increase member engagement and build social capital. The plan has already led to success: in 2017, membership retention was 88 percent, and 93 percent for new member accounts—a record high for the chamber. Success is tied to a detailed onboarding and engagement strategy, which includes a member outreach survey, committee flyer, and a “quiz” that helps members determine which committee is best for them.
FAST FACTS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Jennifer Chittenden
Please join us in congratulating the five chambers of commerce that have been recognized as 2018 Chamber of the Year winners. To learn how your chamber can apply to earn this coveted distinction, visit www.ACCE.org/CoY.
STAFF SIZE: 2
Meet the winners, and view entry synopses, on the ACCE blog at www.ACCE.org/blog.
DUES REVENUE: $83,500
BOARD SIZE: 14 ANNUAL BUDGET: $159,100
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CATEGORY 2
CATEGORY 3
ROUND ROCK CHAMBER
PLANO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Nearly unprecedented economic growth over the past half-decade has led to expected challenges, like record-low unemployment and excessive traffic congestion, for Round Rock, Texas.
Identifying four of the eight original Horizon influences as highimpact priorities, the Plano Chamber launched a three-year strategic plan in 2017 with an objective to build a culture of innovation.
Hearing the concerns of the business community, the Round Rock Chamber set out to build a new strategic plan in 2014 that addressed the challenges created by its growth. The chamber identified a new mission: to be the economic-generation leader for Round Rock; and a new set of priorities centered on eight pillars of economic generation. The eight pillars – business retention and expansion, business attraction, economic data, business climate, entrepreneurship, infrastructure, talent development, and chamber enrichment – provide guidance for short- and long-term goals. The pillars provide a framework for meaningful, measurable results, while preventing “mission creep.”
FAST FACTS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Mike Odom STAFF SIZE: 11 BOARD SIZE: 48 ANNUAL BUDGET: $1,631,000 DUES REVENUE: $483,000
Maximizing the use of technology for member engagement, the chamber offers customized experiences based on member needs and interests. The goal is to guide members through a maze of new technology by being innovative in program and service delivery. In addition to the proactive use of technology, the Plano Chamber has plans to launch a “Plano 2030” steering committee that will assess issues impacting the community and engage leaders in important conversations. It will also engage elected officials with “priorities statements” and a voting scorecard. To more effectively communicate the chamber’s work, a new marketing and communications director position was added to the staff. By centralizing outreach, the chamber could be more succinct in its messaging and increase frequency and reach by using social media platforms, for example. Reflecting the community’s evolving demographics, the chamber has built a diversity strategy to make both the organization and business community more inclusive. One effort, for example, is the Plano Culture & Inclusion Alliance, launched in 2016, which provides support to inclusion initiatives within the business sector.
FAST FACTS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Jamee Jolly, CAE STAFF SIZE: 9 BOARD SIZE: 24 ANNUAL BUDGET: $1,425,000 DUES REVENUE: $833,600
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CATEGORY 4
STATE/PROVINCE
CHARLESTON METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAWAII
One Region – the Charleston region’s shared, multi-organization, five-year, global competitiveness strategy – influences the Charleston Metro Region’s annual business priorities. Much of the chamber’s work is aligned with one of four values outlined in the regional strategy. For example, a top goal for the chamber is to build a sustainable pipeline of “homegrown” workers, which aligns with the value of “attainable opportunities for all residents to live, learn and earn” outlined in One Region. The long-term plan allows the Charleston Metro Chamber to evaluate progress frequently and adjust its business plan annually, to meet the demands of the regional economy. Internally, the senior team at the chamber meets monthly – offsite – to collectively evaluate organizational performance based on 35 key performance metrics. The result is individual and shared ownership of organizational performance. The team carefully analyzes gaps and adjusts timelines as needed. To ensure its board and staff represent the diversity of the community at-large, the chamber has transformed its approach to board nominations, built leader engagement pathways, adjusted HR practices, and embraced title diversity—that is, it embraces all regional leaders, rather than focus on CEOs, to provide a pipeline for a broader mix of board members.
FAST FACTS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Bryan Derreberry STAFF SIZE: 34 BOARD SIZE: 68 ANNUAL BUDGET: $5,200,000 DUES REVENUE: $2,059,000
Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, recognizing an opportunity to build a more healthy and vibrant community, has engaged more than 30 partners statewide to improve quality of life for all. Still in its infancy, the plan will address issues such as homelessness, housing affordability, and cost of living. With staff changes and opportunity to align its structure for current and future priorities, the chamber has reimagined its org chart and created new positions, including a director of sector partnerships and workforce development. This addition reflects the chamber’s role as a grant recipient, and its growing role in education initiatives. Today, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii is respected as an organization that brings together leaders in education, business, and community to collectively address challenges and seize opportunities. Other staff changes – like the promotion of its vice president of communications and marketing to the position of COO, and a move that outsourced the controller function – have allowed the chamber to streamline operations and focus on core competencies. The chamber’s diverse team – representing a mix of genders, ages, sexual orientations, races and ethnicities – is a point of pride. In an effort to promote better understanding and to get to know one another, each staff member shares a quote and poses a question to colleagues at weekly staff meetings.
FAST FACTS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Sherry Menor-McNamara STAFF SIZE: 13 BOARD SIZE: 31 ANNUAL BUDGET: $2,440,000 DUES REVENUE: $1,202,000
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Chamber Executive
FACES AND PLACES The North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce (Texas) promoted Cristina Aldrete to president and CEO. She previously served as the chamber’s executive vice president of business development and government affairs.
Steve Millard, CCE, was named president and CEO of the Greater Akron Chamber (Ohio). Millard was previously executive vice president of the Greater Cleveland Partnership and executive director of its Council of Smaller Enterprises.
The Coastal Alabama Business Chamber announced Greg Alexander as its new president and CEO. He was previously director of public policy and small business at the Hilton Head IslandBluffton Chamber of Commerce (S.C.) and president and CEO of the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce (S.C.).
Rebecca Motley, an economic development consultant to Rantoul, Illinois, for the past three years, was named the first executive director of the Greater Freeport Partnership. The Partnership was formed earlier this year when the boards of these four organizations voted to consolidate: Northwest Illinois Development Alliance, Freeport/ Stephenson County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Freeport Area Chamber of Commerce and Freeport Downtown Development Foundation.
Michael Bittel was named president and CEO of the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce (N.Y.). The Athens Area Chamber of Commerce (Ga.) named David Bradley as CEO. Bradley previously led chambers in Greater Statesville and Mount Airy, North Carolina. The Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce (Fl.) named Jeb Conrad president and CEO. Dr. Josh Duplantis was named executive director of the Southwest Alabama Workforce Development Council. The Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce (Mich.) named Veronica Horn, IOM, as president and CEO. Horn has worked for the chamber for 16 years, most recently serving as senior director of government relations. Brent Howard was named the Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce's (Md.) new president and CEO. Howard had been the chamber's director of membership.
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The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce (S.C.) named Karen Riordan as president and CEO. She was most recently president and CEO of the Greater Williamsburg Chamber & Tourism Alliance (Va.). Jamie Seiner was named CEO of the Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce (S.D.). The Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce (Mass.) named Dougan Sherwood as president and CEO. The Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce (Ariz.) named Mark Stanton as president and CEO. The Burke County Chamber of Commerce (N.C.) named Tonia Stephenson, CCE, IOM, president and CEO. Stephenson had served as president/CEO of the Laurinburg/Scotland County Area Chamber in North Carolina. She also served as vice president of the High Point Area Chamber (N.C).
Shelly Stuart, IOM, was named president and CEO of the Portland Chamber of Commerce (Texas). Shelly spent the last 15 years at the Rockport-Fulton Chamber of Commerce (Texas) where she started as the membership coordinator then was promoted to office manager in 2007 then vice president of operations in 2011. The Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce (Neb.) named Denise Wilkinson president and CEO. Wilkinson comes to Norfolk after leading the Cheyenne County Chamber of Commerce.
Aldrete
Alexander
Duplantis
Horn
Riordan
Seiner
Stuart
Bittel
Bradley
Conrad
Howard
Millard
Motley
Sherwood
Stanton
Stephenson
Wilkinson
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A NOTE FROM SHEREE ANNE 2. Successful Chambers are Solutions Oriented Sustainable chamber value propositions come from determining the greatest challenges in communities – now and in the future – and seeking viable solutions. What are the lynchpins of these successes?
Is your chamber poised for success?
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They often involve partnerships and collaborations, sometimes with uncommon bedfellows. Pairing up with unions, nonprofits, religious groups, governmental entities, and other stakeholders delivers power in numbers, and strength in diversity of voice.
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Issues often veer from traditional priorities and draw connections between unconventional areas and their societal or economic impacts. For example, linking smart justice reform to a stronger talent pipeline. Or viewing holistic community health as a gateway to workforce recruitment and retention.
This edition of Chamber Executive is dedicated to award-winning work. In the year I’ve been on the job I’ve seen aweinspiring chamber stories. What drew me to this job and inspires me daily is watching catalytic chamber leadership in action. Chambers shape, improve, and advance communities in large and small ways.
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Two themes have emerged that are core to great chamber success stories. 1. Leading Chambers are Strategic
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In an era of political division, smart chambers seize the opportunity to lead by being the voice of reason. When competing voices often scream to get heard, thoughtful chambers stake a position as convener – a platform for disparate voices – and serve as a consensus builder.
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Cities and regions of the future will look different. Proactively focusing on inclusion, equity, and diversity means the chamber is a welcoming and useful resource now and for years to come.
It’s a word often thrown around without definition. The most succinct description I’ve seen for strategic thinking is to view your work in three dimensions: •
Think high: Look at the organization holistically and constantly asking why we do what we do.
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Think wide: What external factors should we consider? Political, economic, social, demographic, or other impacts of note. What is our competition doing?
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Think far: What does the future look like for our community, members, and chambers?
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Creative, calculated risks are worth pursuing. Whether it’s a merger or developing a new membership model, new approaches can deliver greater value to all stakeholders.
Chambers strategically solving community problems aren’t worried about their value proposition. They ARE the value proposition.
Resources to Help Want to hear examples of above-stated success stories or connect with other forward-thinking chamber executives? We’re happy to help. Contact our team anytime. ACCE developed the Horizon Initiative to address strategic challenges and opportunities for chambers. You can access it online at www.ACCE.org/ Horizon. A great new book on strategic management is “Making Remarkable,” by former chamber executive Adam Legge (www.ACCE.org/Remarkable). Another resource on changing centers of power and building broad-based solutions is “New Power,” by Jeremy Heimans and Henry Timms (www.ACCE.org/NewPower).
I'd love to hear your success stories or talk through challenges. Reach out to me any time. EMAIL
skelly@acce.org PHONE
703-998-3540 LINKEDIN
LinkedIn.com/in/ShereeAnne
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photo: Ken Toney
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