SUMMER 2019
UNDER INSIDE 06 | I Am A CCE 16 | Built on a Strong Foundation 24 | Ask the Sales Pros 28 | Convention In Review
SUMMER 2019
CONTENTS
40 Under 40
DEPARTMENTS
FEATURES
04 | ACCE News
06 | I Am A CCE
30 | Faces and Places
08 | 40 Under 40
COLUMNS
16 | Chamber Impact, Built on a Strong Foundation Will Burns
02 | From the Chairman David Brown
32 | Attracting and Retaining Young Talent Sheree Anne Kelly
OFFICIAL CORPORATE SPONSORS
SILVER SPONSORS avalanche
20 | 2019 Chamber of the Year Winners 22 | Meet the Newest Certified Chamber Executives 24 | Ask the Sales Pros 28 | Convention In Review
FROM THE CHAIRMAN
acce
Chambers as Change Agents I know I haven’t met every member, despite my tenure on the board, and I know that all of you couldn’t attend ACCE19. So let me just say that I am very proud and humbled to take on the responsibility of chairman of ACCE for the next year. I have been in the chamber or economic development business for my entire 37-year career, and this is my 30th year as a chamber CEO. While longevity doesn’t equate with wisdom, it does mean I have a lot of experience. Even after decades of work, there are still "aha" moments. One such moment for me came when I could articulate the inherent differences between leading an organization and leading change in a community. You see, I believe that chambers of commerce are the logical place where community leadership and community building begin and endure. History has shown that chambers out-last city/county/regional/state and federal leaders who come and go on the whim of voters. Chambers engage leaders from the business community who are willing to use the power of influence and checkbooks to get things done. Chambers are the place where disparate groups are convened—where goals are set—where collaboration can be planned and executed. Chamber leaders have learned that we always accomplish more working with other organizations. That collaboration is necessary. We MUST work well with others. AFTER ALL, WE HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO DO ANYTHING! We have to convince those with authority to exercise it on our behalf! In the end, I have learned that chambers are the one constant in the community building space . . . and we should take advantage of that. So how do we do that? First, chamber leaders need to be focused on the future. The model of strategic planning where we look back five years, make some changes, rebrand, increase the goals and budgets and then do it all over again in a few years is really not much different from an assessment with tweaks along the way. Instead, chambers should strive to be change agents in their communities. Our strategies should be directed towards intentionally making our communities better places to live, work and play. ACCE has given us a good place to start this work with the Horizon Initiative. These nine influences will impact all of our communities and organizations. You can find the report at www.ACCE.org/Horizon. Study it. See how your chamber can make a difference. When given the choice, I focus on Catalytic Leadership. Chamber executives should look into the future and get comfortable with causing change that will accomplish a long term vision of the future for your community. I much prefer to be the instigator of change than the recipient of change being forced upon me! We are the change agents! To do that you have to look over the next hill and see what disruptions we need to cause to accomplish the future we want. And just as important, we need to identify those disruptions we need to avoid to keep us on track towards our preferred future. I challenge all of you. Be a catalyst for change in your community. Look to the future knowing that ACCE will support you as you cause intentional change. It is going to be a great, but very busy year. Let me know if I can be helpful to any of your chambers. —David G. Brown | Chairman, ACCE Board of Directors
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ACCE’s award-winning journal for and about chambers of commerce
Chairman David G. Brown Greater Omaha Chamber (Neb.) Chairman Elect Jay Byers, CCE, IOM Greater Des Moines Partnership (Iowa) Immediate Past Chair Nancy Keefer, CCE, IOM Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce (Fla.) Treasurer Leonardo McClarty, CCE, IOM Howard County Chamber of Commerce (Md.) Vice Chairs Chip Cherry, CCE Huntsville Madison County Chamber (Ala.) David Pruente, IOM Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce (Mo.) Christy Gillenwater, CCE, IOM Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce (Tenn.) Carlos Phillips Greenville Chamber (S.C.) President & CEO Sheree Anne Kelly Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives V.P., Communications & Networks Will Burns wburns@acce.org Editor-in-Chief Bethany Orban borban@acce.org Graphic Design Blue House Design Company bluehousedc.com Advertising Sales Beth Bronder bbronder@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 22314. 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.
ACCE NEWS 2019–20 Board of Directors Announced
Communications Excellence: Best in Show
On July 15, during the annual meeting of the association in Long Beach, California, Immediate Past Chair Nancy Keefer, CCE, IOM, presented the newly elected members of the 2019–20 board of directors: David Brown, chairman; Jay Byers, CCE, IOM, chair-elect; Leonardo McClarty, CCE, IOM, treasurer; Chip Cherry, CCE, vice chair; David Pruente, IOM,vice chair; Christy Gillenwater, CCE, IOM, vice chair; and Carlos Phillips, vice chair. Meet our full board at www.ACCE.org/BOD.
The Awards for Communications Excellence, which celebrate the achievements of outstanding communication initiatives, campaigns and programs, recognized three Best in Show winners at the #ACCEAwards Show in Long Beach. In category one, representing chambers with total annual budgets under $1 million, the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce (Ga.) won for its “When You’re in D-Town” music video. The Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce (Ark.) won the Best in Show award for category two, representing chambers with budgets $1–3 million, for its “BecauseBentonville” campaign. In category three, representing chambers with annual budgets above $3 million, Greater Fort Wayne Inc. (Ind.) took home the honor for its “Electric Works” campaign.
Chairman’s Award Presented at #ACCE19 At the ACCE Annual Convention in Long Beach, Immediate Past Board Chair Nancy Keefer, CCE, IOM, presented the 2019 Chairman’s Award to Jay Chesshir, CCE, president and CEO of the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce. The award is given annually to an individual or group that has made a significant contribution to the betterment of the chamber profession. In Keefer’s remarks, she commended Chesshir for “going beyond the call of duty, not only by leading the association in the very special role of chairman for one year, but [he] took on a second year when our CEO transition occurred . . . ”.
#ACCE19 Resources Now Available Visit the annual convention resources page (www.ACCE.org/ acce19resources) to access a collection of presentations, recordings, photos and more gathered from #ACCE19 in Long Beach, California. Check back regularly as additional resources will be added when they become available.
Save the Date: #ACCE20 in Dallas Dallas, Texas, will host the 2020 ACCE Annual Convention, July 12–15. Registration will open in early 2020. Stay tuned for more information, including a call for presenters, later this year.
Events Training Conference this Fall Join us in Saratoga Springs, New York, October 17–18 for ACCE’s annual Events Training Conference. Event professionals can look forward to a full program of workshops, discussions and networking. A pre-conference kick-off reception hosted by the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce will be held on October 16 at 5 p.m. Save when you register by the September 17 early bird deadline; discounted hotel room rates available through September 16. To register and for more information, visit www.ACCE.org/ETC.
Fall Webinars, Peer Calls ACCE’s events calendar has been updated with webinars, peer calls and other upcoming events scheduled through the end of 2019. Visit www.ACCE.org/events for details and to register. There is no charge to participate in ACCE webinars, and you can earn CCE credit.
Chamber Leaders Named to ACCE Talent Fellowship Leaders from 21 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. Meet the 21 professionals who make up the sixth cohort at www.ACCE.org/ACCEFellowship.
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I AM A CCE
Visit www.ACCE.org/CCE for more information on how you can earn your CCE certification
Norma Ritz Johnson, CCE, IOM ■■ Executive Vice President ■■ Lubbock Chamber of Commerce (Texas)
How has the CCE program helped you grow as a chamber leader? The CCE process better familiarized me with the entire body of knowledge, beyond just my areas of specialty. This helped put both my specialty areas in perspective as well as helped me to see things from a more holistic standpoint. Understanding how all the pieces fit together and then being able to optimize them from an organizational standpoint is important for someone growing their organizational leadership role.
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Books you are reading these days?
What advice would you give to the next generation of professionals?
The Arsonist in the Office by Pete Havel
Cultivate a curiosity about everyone and everything that affects the community’s economic well-being, and do not be afraid to ask questions, including those that explain the backstory of how things got to be the way they are.
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
If you had the chance to change something what would it be?
What is your favorite activity to do in your community?
To have more people engaged in public policy AND interested in understanding the different sides of issues. It was Pericles who said, “‘Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you.”
Cheering on the Texas Tech Red Raiders in my own backyard!
UNDER EMERGING LEADERS SHAPING THE CHAMBER INDUSTRY ACCE is dedicated to recognizing and supporting the most talented professionals in the chamber industry. This new annual recognition program showcases 40 of the industry’s best emerging leaders who have demonstrated success in their careers and made significant contributions in the communities they serve. The list includes CEOs and staff professionals from a wide variety of roles and chamber sizes. Their creativity, dedication and commitment to identifying innovative solutions will help shape the future of the chamber profession.
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Juliet Abdel, IOM
President/CEO Westminster Chamber of Commerce (Colo.) Nominated by Chamber Chair Chip Howes, Operations Manager, Aquaserve
When Juliet took over leading the chamber, we were a little over three years old—we had a declining membership, debt our organization had acquired and no substantial relationship with our city and counties. In the first year, Juliet stopped the membership loss and grew new membership over 366 percent. She launched outreach campaigns to our local governments which resulted in them supporting us outwardly and financially. By year two, she had both counties on board and our school districts invested in the chamber. Erin Aylor
Vice President, Marketing Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce (S.C.) Nominated by Bryan Derreberry, IOM, President & CEO, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce
Erin has been a member of the marketing team for five years and is an invaluable asset and a treasure for our community. Many of Erin’s greatest accomplishments are attributable to her passion for making a difference in the region and people’s lives. Corey Atkins
Vice President of Public Policy Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce (N.C.) Nominated by Kit Cramer, CCE, President & CEO, Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce
Corey has brought a fresh and creative energy to our public policy efforts by working at a regional level to build relationships. He uses social media to bring attention to important—and often complex—community issues in a way that our members have found appealing. His “Coffee with Corey” Facebook Live segments have led our chamber's improvements on social media.
Kate Bates
President & CEO Arlington Chamber of Commerce (Va.) Nominated by Chamber Chair Greg Hamilton, President, Publisher & Co-Founder, Arlington Magazine
Under Kate’s leadership, the Arlington Chamber is a more relevant organization than it was before she took the helm. The primary driver of this transformation was the decision to focus on business advocacy. This new core competency has helped the chamber attract and retain major businesses, including Amazon, Nestle, Boeing, AT&T and others, and earn a seat at the table when decisions are being made that affect the business community. Alisha Benson, IOM
Chief Strategy & Business Development Officer Greater Spokane Inc. (Wash.) Nominated by Todd Mielke, CEO, Greater Spokane Inc.
As one of the most tenured employees at GSI, Alisha knows the organization inside and out. Her recent transition to chief strategy & business development officer puts her in an ideal position to lead the implementation of our most important strategic initiatives. She demonstrates amazing leadership in bringing diverse audiences together, identifying common objectives and advancing coalitions and collaborations to accomplish big goals. Beth A. Bowman, CCE, IOM
President & CEO Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce (Texas) Nominated by Chamber Chair Lars E. Rosene, Vice President, Global Communications & Public Affairs, Flowserve Corporation
Beth has a holistic vision for Irving and appreciates Irving’s diverse population and promotes it as a community asset. She is respected by public officials, community and business leaders and organizations. She is passionate about our mission and works collaboratively with diverse interests to make Irving the best that it can be.
Kristin Craig
President Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce (Ind.) Nominated by David D. Haynes, Former President, Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce
Not only is Kristin a dedicated leader, strategic thinker and hard worker in everything she does, but after more than a decade at the chamber—and after I retire from the position this July—she will take over as the first female president of the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce. Ellen Cutter
Vice President of Economic Development Greater Fort Wayne Inc. (Ind.) Nominated by John Urbahns, CEO, Greater Fort Wayne Inc.
Our organization and our business community has never had more momentum, and Ellen Cutter is a key reason why. She has been instrumental in our community’s growth, is a joy to work with and is one of the brightest young leaders I have encountered in more than two decades of community development. Sarah Davasher-Wisdom
Chief of Staff & Chief Operating Officer Greater Louisville Inc. Nominated by Kent Oyler, President & CEO, Greater Louisville Inc.
Sarah’s leadership has helped us grow our revenue, improve our brand and staff satisfaction and develop into a much stronger organization. I have witnessed her tremendous growth and development and believe she is truly an exceptional rising leader, business woman and individual.
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Erin Erkins
Joshua Gunn
Erin has single handedly turned our Young Professional program into one of the most admired in the country. For ten years we have seen steady growth in membership and in the richness and variety of our YP programing. Chambers from across the nation seek out Erin’s advice on how to make their YP program an important talent retention program for their business community.
J. Gunn has brought a renewed sense of engagement to the Durham community. In him, they see the next iteration of Durham, not just the chamber, and they want to be part of it. He represents both the business of Durham and the culture of Durham in an authentic and seamless way.
Senior Manager, Leadership Development & Communications Boise Metro Chamber (Idaho) Nominated by Bill Connors, President & CEO, Boise Metro Chamber
Mark Fisher
Chief Policy Officer Indy Chamber (Ind.) Nominated by Michael Huber, President and CEO, Indy Chamber
Mark’s work has been critical in making the Indy Chamber a more impactful organization and in helping the Indianapolis region achieve economic growth. He personifies the kind of leadership that chambers of commerce need in 2019: always challenging himself and stakeholders, taking a non-partisan and pragmatic approach and driven by data and business principles. Tim Giuliani, CCE
President & CEO Orlando Economic Partnership Nominated by Chamber Board Chair Yolanda Londoño, Vice President Global Social Responsibility, Tupperware Brands Corporation
Under Tim’s leadership, the OEP retired the legacy organizations, hired executives with the professional acumen to deliver immediate wins and convened stakeholders to create an ambitious but doable vision for the region utilizing strategic foresight and forward thinking. Tim now leads a region-wide effort to bring economic prosperity for all with buy-in from all sectors of the community.
Vice President Membership Investment Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce (N.C.) Nominated by Casey Steinbacher, CCE, Founder, Casey’s Company
Lindsay Henderson
Chief Revenue Officer Conway Area Chamber of Commerce (Ark.) Nominated by Brad Lacy, CCE, President & CEO, Conway Area Chamber of Commerce
Lindsay has been a change agent for our chamber. We created a new chief revenue officer position to formally bring all revenue generation activities together. I chose Lindsay for the position because of the strategic importance to the chamber and our sister organization. The results have been incredible, with overall revenue increasing 69 percent from 2015 to 2018. Lisa Hermes, CCE, IOM
President McKinney Chamber of Commerce (Texas) Nominated by Chamber Chair Joe Minissale, President, Methodist McKinney Hospital
In 2017, with Lisa’s leadership, the chamber earned its first five-star accreditation through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and chamber membership has grown from 1,200 members to almost 1,400 members. She has also empowered her staff through investing in training programs, and last year earned her Certified Chamber Executive designation.
Andy Johnston, IOM
Vice President of Government Affairs Grand Rapids Chamber (Mich.) Nominated by Rick Baker, President & CEO, Grand Rapids Chamber
Andy is a visionary and creative leader within our organization and the communities in which he engages. He is a highly respected advisor and is considered one of the most influential policy makers in the state of Michigan. Andy is committed to high ethics and is intentionally authentic with his advocacy work. Andy’s commitment to serve the business community has contributed tremendously to the positive reputation of the Grand Rapids Chamber membership. Lindsay M. Keisler, IOM, CCEC
President/CEO Catawba County Chamber of Commerce (N.C.) Nominated by Chamber Chair Gar Archison, CEO, Frye Regional Medical Center
Lindsay’s impact driven leadership style has impacted our community by executing collaborative economic and community develoment initiatives. She has focused her efforts towards organizational excellence and overall innovation and relevance, which has reaped measurable results including, an increased membership retention rate and overall profitability for the chamber for the last nine years. Jonathan Long
Director, Community Advancement Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce (Kan.) Nominated by Gary Pummer, President & CEO, Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce
Jonathan has established, among chamber staffers he oversees, a “Go-Getter” spirit that has brought a level of positive energy to solving difficult challenges around the region’s talent efforts as well as diversity and inclusion work. He is a team player, an innovator in thought and practice and a positive engaged leader whose appreciation for Wichita is just as strong as many hometown heroes. continued on page 12
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Kate Lufkin
Marketing & Communications Manager Kalispell Chamber of Commerce (Mont.) Nominated by Joe Unterreiner, CCE, IOM, President & CEO, Kalispell Chamber of Commerce
Through Kate’s work with the chamber’s YP program, Manufacturing Day, education and workforce programming and superior marketing and communications work, she has distinguished herself as one of the brightest talents and innovative thinkers in the chamber industry today. Kelle Marsalis, CCE, IOM
Interim President & CEO Plano Chamber of Commerce (Texas) Nominated by Jamee Jolly, CCE, CAE, IOM, former President & CEO, Plano Chamber
Kelle has a true passion for this industry and it is reflected in the numerous hours she volunteers, her availability to help others coming into the industry and her desire to make the chamber industry a better place for staff and members alike. Amber Mooney
Director, Workforce Development The Business Council of New York State, Inc. Nominated by Heather C. Briccetti, Esq., President & CEO, The Business Council of New York State, Inc.
Amber has taken the lead role in our efforts to advance initiatives and advocacy efforts in pre-K through post-secondary education, workforce development and education reform. In each of these roles, Amber has the unique ability to work with a diverse group of members, non-members, education officials and non-profit advocacy groups, while continuing to move our education and workforce development agenda forward.
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Sarah Moylan
Senior Director, Talent Greater Omaha Chamber (Neb.) Nominated by David G. Brown, President & CEO, Greater Omaha Chamber
Sarah is about collaboration and strong relationships. Sarah cares deeply that people feel empowered and embraced to do their jobs with the resources which will make them successful. She is respected among her employees, colleagues and leaders at all levels within the Greater Omaha region. Sarah is willing to learn and constantly pushes herself to develop and grow as a professional. Joe Murphy
Senior Vice President of Government Relations & Public Policy Greater Des Moines Partnership (Iowa) Nominated by Greater Des Moines Partnership CEO Jay Byers, CCE, IOM, and President Gene Meyer
Joe has made an impact in advancing our region’s legislative priorities with the Iowa General Assembly and Iowa’s federally elected officials. He works tirelessly to build relationships with the many stakeholders that The Partnership works with to advocate with one regional voice. Thanks in large part to Joe’s efforts, our public policy work has affected legislative decisions in recent years that were positive for the region including a tax reform bill, the Future Ready Iowa Act and a water quality bill.
Abby Osborne
Vice President of Public Policy & Government Affairs Salt Lake Chamber Nominated by Derek Miller, President & CEO, Salt Lake Chamber & Downtown Alliance
Abby has the unique ability to bring unlikely partners together to solve difficult policy problems. For example, she convened a group of business rivals to negotiate a compromise on controversial non-compete legislation. She also created a crosscutting working group to strategize an overhaul of the state’s tax structure. Abby is articulate and consistently focused on actionable solutions. She knows how to cut through the anecdotes, business rivalries and political differences to get to the heart of the matter. David Pruente, IOM
Senior Vice President - Strategic Partnerships Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce (Mo.) Nominated by Joe Reardon, President & CEO, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
David has been instrumental in developing a unique and valued partnership program with our members leading to a deepening of our relationship with them. It has enhanced our ability to develop an agenda to grow our community by having our members standing behind the chamber mission. The Legacy Initiative takes the learning found in the Horizon Initiative and knits that together with our unique membership model to show real value to our most trusted chamber members.
James Reddish, CEcD
LaKendria Robinson
Allen Smith, CCE
James has been invaluable in our workforce development efforts, transforming our sales procedures and revitalizing our member events. Under his leadership, the four school districts in Pulaski County are working together collaboratively for the first time in our history. James instills trust and inclusion with our regional partners as he works with the districts to transform our public high schools into career-themed academies. His work will be a game changer.
LaKendria took the idea of the Minority Business Accelerator and created a program with clearly defined metrics. Her planning and execution led to the accelerator being successful in its first year and is on track to be more successful going forward. The companies she and her volunteers mentored in year one created 83 new jobs, secured more than $1.2 million in new contracts, acquired 13 new assets and made 33 strategic introductions.
Not long after starting at the chamber, I had the opportunity to meet and discuss chamber work with Allen and his team and immediately noticed he is incredibly passionate about his work. He has grown personally and professionally over his tenure at various chambers, resulting in stronger organizations, more engaged membership and a successful and impactful launch of a public/private partnership. Through it all, Allen has remained a dependable chamber advocate, mentor, chamber cheerleader and industry professional.
Executive Vice President Little Rock Regional Chamber (Ark.) Nominated by Jay Chesshir, CCE, President and CEO, Little Rock Regional Chamber
Celia Richa
Vice President of Programs Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Nominated by Jim Rooney, President & CEO, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
As a leader of her fourperson programs team and the GBCC executive team, Celia is remarkable. She works collaboratively with our members and other team members to develop riveting, relevant and informative content tied to our organizational mission and priorities. She has a passion and persistence for the representation of diversity in every program we host, partner on or participate in, with our 2018 events featuring 40 percent speakers of color, and 65 percent female speakers.
Director, Minority Business Accelerator & Economic Inclusion Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce (Fla.) Nominated by Karen Arnold, Chief Operating Officer, Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce
Christie Rogers, CMP
Vice President, Special Events Northern Kentucky Chamber Nominated by Brent Cooper, President & CEO, Northern Kentucky Chamber
During Christie’s tenure, chamber events have been responsive to the evolving needs of the business community as some underperforming events are put on hiatus and new events—such as the Pints & Perspectives event series designed to engage a new generation of chamber members—have been developed. Paul Rumler
President & CEO Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce (Ill./Iowa) Nominated by Chamber Chair-Elect Aaron Tennant, CEO, Total Solutions
Paul has led a challenging financial restructuring while boosting employee morale and member confidence. If Paul is in the room, you know there will be fresh ideas and perspective shared. Everyone steps up their game when he is present. He is a tireless advocate for regionalism and makes it a priority to bring key stakeholders to the table to discuss issues that matter to the Quad Cities community.
President Spartanburg Chamber of Commerce (S.C.) Nominated by Kate Teel, President & CEO, Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce (N.C.)
Sara Swisher, IOM
Director, EPIC Toledo Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce (Ohio) Nominated by Wendy Gramza, CCE, President & CEO, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce
Within six months of hiring Sara I knew I had a “rock star” on my team. Sara has sole responsibility for leading our very successful young professional organization that includes 2,200 individuals and 75 corporate companies. Her creativity and innovation make her great at launching new programs, with her ability to build, foster and leverage relationships being her greatest strengths.
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Sherry Taylor
Jessica Verderame
Jessica Welch, IOM
Sherry has done phenomenal work and made our chamber stronger and better than ever before. Her accomplishments include leading the efforts to redefine the organization’s mission, vission, values, priority outcomes and strategic initiatives to better serve our members. She also led the drive to rebrand the chamber and drive clarity and purpose for a newly defined constituency.
Jessica Verderame is champion of business in Fort Collins. Her career has been an assemblage of successful endeavors. Never shying away from a challenge, she has pushed herself to become a leader who is respected, admired and appreciated. She is a stellar example of professionalism and dedication to the mission and vision of the chamber. Her poise, grace and ability to be positive in stressful environments make her an ideal candidate for this honor.
Jessica demonstrates excellent judgment and has developed into a tremendous team and community leader. Jessica has assumed the oversight of three departments including programs and events, membership and office administration. She has overhauled the entire membership and dues structure, developed a successful retention campaign, transformed the production level of programs and events and dramatically increased operational efficiency of the organization.
Allison B. Walden, CFRE, IOM
Savannah Whitehead
Allison has proven to be a supreme innovator, a tenacious problem-solver and an unwavering champion of the Tulsa Regional Chamber’s mission to drive economic prosperity. In less than a decade, she has cultivated more than $60 million towards our chamber operations.
Since joining the chamber in 2016, Savannah has progressively taken on more tasks and improved programs. When she ascended to the director of events and programs role, she immediately made her mark as an essential leader in Edmond. Savannah’s leadership acumen enabled her to replace our largest fundraising event with a new event that has been wildly successful. She is a natural change agent and influencer within her programs and with her peers.
President & CEO Mason Deerfield Chamber (Ohio) Nominated by Chamber Chair Tom Daskalakis, Chief Administration Officer, West Chester Hospital – UC Health
Simone Thornton-Salley, IOM
Director of Operations Berkeley Chamber of Commerce (S.C.) Nominated by Elaine Morgan, IOM, CEO, Berkeley Chamber of Commerce
Simone started her career as an administrative assistant and quickly moved to director of operations. She is highly regarded by our board and our membership for her knowledge of chamber issues and being able to multitask programs and membership development. Simone’s fairness, integrity and ability to bring people together to address issues and common goals are some of her strongest strengths.
Community Impact Director Lancaster Chamber (Pa.) Nominated by Tom Baldridge, CCE, President & CEO, Lancaster Chamber
As our community impact director, Heather is responsible for coordinating all the government affairs and community impact initiatives of the chamber. Every time and with every issue, she leads with expertise, enthusiasm, teamwork and a passion for her work. In so doing, she has earned the respect of those that she works with, becoming the “go-to” person for many when they engage with the Lancaster Chamber. Chamber Executive
Senior Vice President, Resource Development Tulsa Regional Chamber (Okla.) Nominated by Michael S. Neal, CCE, CCD, HLM, President & CEO, Tulsa Regional Chamber
Alesha Washington
Heather Valudes
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Development & Retention Coordinator Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce (Colo.) Nominated by Nathan Scott, Community Relations Specialist, Foothills Gateway
Summer 2019
Vice President, Advocacy Greater Cleveland Partnership Nominated by Joe Roman, CEO, Greater Cleveland Partnership
Alesha has excelled in her role and cultivated close relationships with elected officials and key government staff. In 2018, Alesha took the reins as the director and staff lead for the Great Lakes Metro Chambers Coalition. In her short time, Alesha has reinvigorated the coalition, stabilized the finances and elevated the influence of the organization in Congress.
Vice President of Operations Greater Irvine Chamber (Ca.) Nominated by Bryan Starr, President & CEO, Greater Irvine Chamber
Director of Programs & Events Edmond Chamber of Commerce (Okla.) Nominated by Sherry Jordan, CPA, IOM, President & CEO, Edmond Chamber of Commerce
STRONG FOUNDATIO
Chamber
IMPACT, Built on a
C
hambers of commerce are in the community impact business, and many chambers are leveraging their foundations to create new revenue streams that support their mission-based work. Traditionally, many chambers have used their foundations to support leadership programs, scholarships, economic research and development projects. But as chambers of commerce broaden the scope of their missions to address community challenges like talent pipeline, economic inclusion and community health, philanthropic and cause-based fundraising has become a larger part of the revenue mix. “There is more potential for chamber growth through fundraising than through traditional dues and non-dues revenue,” said Kentucky Chamber President & CEO Dave Adkisson, CCE.
By Will Burns
Adkisson said that wealthy business owners and residents care about their communities. They support organizations like museums, faith-based institutions and local charities. Why not support the chamber if your mission is to build the community and create more broad-based economic prosperity? Find out what they care about and how it aligns with your mission. “There will be someone who will argue with you and resist a $200 increase in their dues but will then write a check for $25,000 for something that they care about,” he said.
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Alignment & Strategy
More than half of the respondents to a recent ACCE quickpoll said that their chamber has a foundation, but the structures, level of activity and programs supported by the foundations vary quite a bit. If you are interested in launching or revitalizing your chamber foundation, start with a few key operational elements. What is the purpose of the foundation and how will its mission align with your chamber’s mission? Does your foundation exist to support chamber priorities, or does it operate autonomously based on a separate set of priorities? There are no right answers. Chamber foundations operate using a variety structures and strategies. Developing an intentional strategy up front will help you head off future challenges. “When we launched our foundation, we knew this would be a completely separate organization, with a separate governing board and separate funding, yet the vision is 100 percent aligned with where the chamber is going,” said Kelly Hall, CCE, IOM, president & CEO of the Longview Chamber of Commerce (Texas). Hall and her leadership were intentional from the beginning. The chamber built its strategic plan around five pillars: redevelopment, education, advocacy, collaboration and health. “The areas that we knew we would need additional assistance and funding were education and workforce development, redevelopment and community development,” Hall said. “That’s why the foundation picked those three focus areas.” This alignment is key as you build a more intentional foundation strategy. In order to maintain it, it is crucial that you engage stakeholders beyond the foundation board. Don’t overlook the importance of ongoing engagement with the entire chamber staff and chamber board. “We’ve learned over time that it is important, if you are going to build up your foundation and do a lot of substantive work, you’ve got to treat it with the same seriousness and engagement of your chamber board and chamber staff as you do everything else in your core mission. Otherwise, you will run the risk of having
separation occur,” said David Rattray, executive vice president, education and workforce development, with the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. It is also likely that your strategy will evolve over time, based on what’s needed in the community and the impact your work is having. Be sure to work flexibility into your plan so that you can be nimble as opportunities arise. For example, the Jefferson Chamber in Louisiana launched its foundation in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Its initial focus was working with the Small Business Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help businesses access the assistance they needed to get back up and running. Jefferson Chamber President Todd Murphy said, “Over time our mission has evolved to beautification, education, workforce and community development projects.”
Governance and Operations
After you have a better idea of how your chamber would like to proceed with your foundation strategy, it’s time to establish or refresh your governance and operations structure. If you need to establish your 501(c)(3), speak with your attorney about the steps needed at the federal and state level. If you already have a foundation, review your paperwork to be sure it is current and structured properly. Other key elements to consider include: Board of Directors: When establishing a foundation board, there are important factors to consider, including board size, eligibility requirements, board roles and the board’s relationship to your chamber board. Selecting board members who are passionate about the foundation’s strategy and mission is vital. “We thought it was really important that our foundation board members see themselves as catalytic leaders,” Hall said. “Our board is comprised of CEOs who sit at that 30,000-foot level. I can tell you that the human capacity that sits on our board has been one of our greatest assets. They
understand the importance of dreaming, visioning and taking action.” Bylaws: Adopt or review the bylaws that govern your foundation’s operations to be sure they are current and reflect your strategic goals, board structure, operational structure and alignment with the chamber. Bulletproof bylaws will help you. Financial Reporting: Establish or review your financial reporting processes for the foundation. Chamber leaders who have been through the process of reestablishing a passive foundation warn that internal processes can lapse over time if the foundation becomes an afterthought. As you map out a more intentional future for your foundation, be sure you are treating the financial reporting with the seriousness of an ongoing enterprise. Staffing: Decide how you will provide staff support to the foundation. Many chambers dedicate a percentage of a chamber staff member’s time to foundation activities or leverage foundation funding for staff time dedicated to foundation supported community advancement work, like workforce and community development. In addition, many chamber foundations leverage consultants to provide expertise in crucial areas like development, fundraising, grant writing, strategic planning and more.
There is more potential for chamber growth through fundraising than through traditional dues and non-dues revenue.” Chamber Executive
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What I see a lot of chambers do is think that they just need to hire a grant writer.�
Development is More Than Grant Writing
During a recent ACCE webinar, Rattray discussed the six-stage development process used by the team in Los Angeles to raise money. To watch this webinar online, visit www.ACCE.org/ foundationdevelopment
Research: Identify who is out there funding the type of work that you do. Determine if you have a reasonable chance of getting funding from them. You can glean key insights on prospects by downloading foundation tax forms at guidestar.org. Foundation 990s list all the grants they made during that tax year. Prospect & Cultivate: Based on your research, how do you cultivate a relationship with the prospective funders. During your research, it is important to understand enough about the funder to
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know if they accept unsolicited proposals or if their process is by invitation only. Research the staff and identify if your team or your board have the relationships to get you an introduction. Letter of Intent/Concept Paper: If your cultivation efforts are successful, many funders will ask for a concept paper or outline before inviting a full proposal. The goal of the concept paper is to entice the funder to invite you to submit a full proposal. Proposal: This is where you make your pitch and send a full proposal. Rattray said that it is important to be aware of how different foundations manage their proposal schedule. He said foundations will frequently post their proposal dates on their websites. Implementation & Monitoring: Execute your program and monitor the goals and deliverables you set in your proposal, budget and workplan.
Reporting: In this stage you are trying to make sure you are reporting to the funder based on their guidelines, but you also want to continue to cultivate the relationship. This can help you position your chamber foundation for a follow-on grant if that is possible. Don’t be intimidated by the six steps. Use them to guide your outreach and make it more targeted and intentional. It is important to view your development activities as a process. It’s easy to focus too much attention on grant writing. “What I see a lot of chambers do is think that they just need to hire a grant writer,” Rattray said. “We slip into the idea that this is about writing grants. What we had to learn is that this is actually the fourth step, and in some ways the easiest and least important. The first three steps are the most difficult and the more important to learn.” As you think through the process, spend some time thinking of your funding prospects. Do you plan to accept govern-
ment grants, or do you want to focus on corporate and philanthropic foundations and individual donors? In Jefferson, Louisiana, Murphy said the chamber’s foundation doesn’t seek government funds, but it does use corporate endeavor agreements to allow local governments to partner with them on projects. “Our chamber doesn’t take any government funds,” Murphy said. “We look at other nonprofits and foundations for grants and we look at individual donors for donations. Our community holds a GiveNOLA Day and we collect thousands of dollars just off that one day from people who want to give to our chamber foundation.” In Los Angeles, Rattray said the chamber foundation works to ensure funding diversification. “We try to make sure our funding is very spread out,” he said. “We have public dollars, we have foundation dollars, we have sponsorship dollars, we have fee for service. We try to make sure
it is spread out so that if any one source goes away, we are solid.”
How ACCE Can Help
ACCE is developing new resources to help chambers that are interested in launching or revitalizing their foundations. We are creating a peer network for staff who manage chamber foundations to share insights and best practices. We will also be rolling out foundation-specific resources and professional development activities for chambers in all stages of development. To learn more and stay up to date on developments, complete the brief survey at www.ACCE.org/ChamberFoundations or contact Will Burns at wburns@acce.org. Listen to the full ACCE19 session by Dave Adkisson, Kelly Hall and David Rattray by visiting www.ACCE.org/StrongFoundation. Will Burns is the vice president of communications & networks at ACCE. Connect with Will at wburns@acce.org
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19 CHAM 0 2
R OF TH BE
YEAR•W
N IN
ERS •
The highlight of the year for the chamber profession, the Chamber of Year awards go unmatched to anything else awarded within the industry. Presented to just one chamber of commerce in each size category, the award recognizes excellence in operations, member services and community leadership. The Chamber of the Year award involves a multi-stage process, which includes participating in Dynamic Chamber Benchmarking, a written application addressing all aspects of organization operation, programmatic work and an in-person interview.
Category 2 Longview Chamber of Commerce•Longview, Texas
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. Join us in congratulating the four chambers of commerce that have been recognized as 2019 Chamber of the Year winners. To learn how your chamber can apply to earn this coveted distinction, visit www.ACCE.org/COY.
Category 3 Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce•Asheville, North Carolina
Category 1 M urray-Calloway County Chamber of Commerce•Murray, Kentucky 20
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Seven chamber of commerce leaders recently joined an elite roster of professionals who have earned the Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) designation. Since the first CCE designation was conferred 40 years ago, more than 500 chamber professionals have become certified. The CCE 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.
Jeremy L. Arthur, CCE, IOM President & CEO Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama
Sherry MenorMcNamara, CCE President & CEO Chamber of Commerce Hawaii
James “Chris” Clark, Jr., CCE, IOM President & CEO Georgia Chamber of Commerce
Jennifer Reiser, CCE, IOM Chief Operating Officer Billings Chamber of Commerce
Tiffany Esposito, CCE, IOM, MBA, APR President & CEO Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce
Heidi Walker, CCE Chief Operating Officer Salt Lake Chamber
Paul J. Farmer, CCE President & CEO Salina Valley Chamber of Commerce
Applications for the next CCE class are due January 6, 2020. More information about ACCE’s Certified Chamber Executive designation, including the application form, can be found by visiting www. ACCE.org/CCE.
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Marcus Turley
Kristina O’Leary
ASK THE SALES PROS ACCE called upon the expertise and insight of the Jeffrey Durbin
2019 Sales Contest award winners to learn more about the trends and activities
D’Andre Allegra
they are using within their organizations. For a complete list of responses visit www.ACCE.org/salestrends. Vicki Keibler Gina Martens
Karri Clark
David L. May
What sales trend(s) should chambers be monitoring to ensure they stay up to date in 2019?
GINA MARTENS SVP, Member Relations & Sales Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce (Pa.)
Efficiencies in their own technology and maximizing the use of their CRM for a solid sales process—this will help them stay on target and reach their goals. It’s about the buyer’s needs, and customization is key in delivering value around that.
MARCUS TURLEY Vice President, Membership Development Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce
As business owners become more knowledgeable, membership professionals must become more knowledgeable. In terms of membership development, the trend is towards professionals who will understand their members' unique needs, industries and provide members and prospects with valuable and targeted advice/solutions.
JEFFREY DURBIN Senior Business Development Executive Greater Phoenix Chamber
You must continue to review the benefits offered by your chamber and make sure you understand how to relate those back to prospects. You must also research what businesses are looking for using articles, growth trends and speaking with them in person. When you understand what the customer needs and can provide that value, the new membership sale is complete.
How are you able to connect, and ultimately sell, the benefits of membership to a younger generation of business owner?
D’ANDRE ALLEGRA Membership Development Manager McKinney Chamber of Commerce (Texas)
We created a very engaged McKinney Young Professionals program that offers professional development, opportunities to network and philanthropic opportunities for the young entrepreneurs and professionals in the city. We’ve also recently launched a CEO Series that offers an opportunity for YPs to connect with local CEOs and are developing more online resources in order to provide more educational and relevant content to the younger generation.
KRISTINA O’LEARY Director of Membership & Business Development Seminole County Regional Chamber of Commerce (Fla.)
We position our membership as part of their plan for corporate social responsibility. By providing programs and resources for their employees for selfimprovement, leadership and direct connect to non-profits. Millennials want to know they are working for someone with a larger mission. We already have that as the chamber; it’s our responsibility to inform and educate.
VICKI KEIBLER Director of Sales Barrow County Chamber of Commerce (Ga.)
I do my homework on the companies and find out what their platforms and channels are for their audience and then leverage these to connect with them. The new generations have so much information at their fingertips, they research products and services online extensively before they buy often demanding personalized experiences. We must be prepared to meet these expectations.
MARCUS TURLEY Vice President, Membership Development Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce
I still believe face-to-face meetings are vital in relationship building with the new generation of business owners regardless of technology. The key is to establish the importance of their involvement as a key ingredient for the future of our economy, especially through our state business committees, legislative events and leadership development programs.
GINA MARTENS SVP, Member Relations & Sales Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce (Pa.) It ultimately depends on the needs of that business. Once we identify the need, we show the value. Perhaps it’s a personal introduction or connection they couldn’t make on their own, or we’re able to show savings through one of our exclusive member programs. Staying relevant and creating opportunities and benefits that add value are essential. Chamber Executive
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"Members who do not regularly engage love seeing the power their membership holds, even when they do not use the networking side of the chamber."
What digital trend(s) has your chamber begun using to attract and retain members?
D’ANDRE ALLEGRA Membership Development Manager McKinney Chamber of Commerce (Texas)
Our organization operates a public website, McKinneyOnline.com, which provides members an opportunity to publish news articles, events and deals. The platform is especially advantageous for retail and restaurant members who do not always have the time to participate in person at chamber events. The site has provided our membership an additional way to market their business, and in turn, increased membership retention.
KRISTINA O’LEARY Director of Membership & Business Development Seminole County Regional Chamber of Commerce (Fla.)
Though not primarily digital, our #imhere program utilizes an old idea of leaving behind a card at a member business to show that another member visited. We amped it up and added social media to the mix, with members creatively showing off their #imhere cards on Facebook and Instagram. Members who do not regularly engage love seeing the power their membership holds, even when they do not use the networking side of the chamber.
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KARRI CLARK Director of Sales & Membership Operations Bozeman Area Chamber of Commerce (Mont.)
Social media has become a staple for membership recognition and promotion of our programs and events. However, we can’t forget about traditional forms of media and still use our local television station and local newspaper to recognize new members, renewing members and events. We even produce a 15 second commercial for our high stakeholder members.
GINA MARTENS SVP, Member Relations & Sales Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce (Pa.)
Recent upgrades to our website have allowed for easy access to all membership benefits and information for an efficient member experience. Additionally, our strategy includes improved technology to allow members the opportunity to receive what’s relevant to them through email marketing.
Leadership Transition Sponsors and Exhibitors Thank you to our #ACCE19 sponsors and exhibitors who brought value and expertise to convention attendees. For more information on organizations represented visit www.ACCEconvention.com/ convention-sponsors
Each year, convention marks a time of transition within ACCE. David G. Brown, president and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber, has been named chair of the ACCE Board of Directors. Serving a one-year term, Brown’s term will span July 2019 through July 2020. In this role, he will oversee activities of the 70-member board of directors that provides leadership and strategic direction to our association.
Awards and Recognition
Whether you joined us in Long Beach or you followed the convention via the app or on social media, thank you for being a part of ACCE’s largest event of the year. With over 1,000 chamber professionals from all over the world, #ACCE19 proved to be a jam-packed event full of insightful sessions and opportunities to learn about the latest topics and trends in the industry.
Chambers of commerce shine as we celebrate the men and women of the industry who have made an impact on the profession and those whose innovative efforts are influencing the work of chambers of the future. For a full list of winners visit www.acce.org/2019awards
Social Events From the first night to the last, fun was to be had all week. Long Beach proved to be the perfect backdrop to meet and connect with friends and swap ideas.
CONVENTIO W E I V E IN R
Save the date for #ACCE20, happening July 12–15 in Dallas, Texas
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See you
in Dallas! #ACCE20
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SESSION SPEAKERS
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SESSIONS
Fear has no place in your success equation.” —Carla Harris
Breakout Sessions With over 40 recorded sessions, re-live convention all year long. Listen to panels discuss relevant chamber issues, hear our keynote speakers and download presentations. Visit www. ACCE.org/ acce19resources to download and experience today.
ON
We have to give people more meaningful ways to engage in our mission on their terms.”
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KEYNOTE SESSIONS
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APP DOWNLOADS
—Henry Timms
We must decide what disruptions we should cause to make our communities the best places to live, work and play.” —David Brown, ACCE Board Chair Chamber Chamber Executive Executive SummerSummer 2019 2019 29
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FACES AND PLACES
Ball
Cantler
Conway
Garza
Griffin
Henning
Jackson
Lieb
The Round Rock Chamber (Texas) named JASON BALL, CECD, IOM, as its new president and CEO. Ball comes to the chamber after serving as president and CEO of the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce (S.D.).
BOBBY LIEB was named president and CEO of the Houston
BOB CANTLER was named president and CEO for the Chamber
ERICA PANGBURN, IOM, was named president of the Denton
The Broken Arrow Chamber (Okla.) named JENNIFER CONWAY president and CEO. Conway was formerly president and CEO of the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce (N.Y.).
The Batavia Chamber of Commerce (Ill.) named MARGARET PERREAULT as the new president and CEO of the organization. Perreault had been serving as the chamber’s membership development specialist.
of Commerce serving Johnson City, Jonesborough, Washington County (Tenn.), as well as the Chamber Foundation. Cantler most recently worked as a business consultant focused on the retail and hospitality industry with Johnson City’s Model Mill.
Northwest Chamber of Commerce (Texas). Lieb, who had been the chamber’s vice president, succeeds BARBARA THOMASON, who retired after 14 years in the position. Chamber of Commerce (Texas). Previously, Pangburn served as the director of community engagement for the Abilene Chamber of Commerce.
The Weslaco Area Chamber of Commerce (Texas) named BARBARA JEAN GARZA president and CEO. Garza joins the chamber after working at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, where she was the director of P-16 Outreach, dedicated to supporting students in early education and creating a bridge to and through college.
The Top of Virginia Regional Chamber named CYNTHIA SCHNEIDER its new CEO. Schneider has been with the chamber since 2015, serving first as its director of finance and administration and, most recently, as chief operating officer.
MIKE GRIFFIN was named president and CEO of the Cleveland/
County Chamber of Commerce and New River Gorge Convention & Visitors Bureau (W.V.). Sullivan, who succeeds the recently retired SHARON CRUIKSHANK, served six years as group tour and membership director and three years as marketing director of Visit Southern West Virginia.
Bradley Chamber of Commerce (Tenn.). Griffin had worked for First Tennessee Bank for more than 32 years where he served as community president for the Cleveland area since 2012. An active former chamber board member, Griffin recently served as the co-chairman of the chamber’s Momentum ‘22 community investment campaign. The Greeley Area Chamber of Commerce (Colo.) has named JAIME HENNING, CCE, IOM, as its new president and CEO. She previously served as the Lincoln, Nebraska, Chamber of Commerce’s senior director of membership, events, communications and young professionals group. Henning succeeds SARAH MACQUIDDY, who is retiring after serving the chamber for more than 20 years, the past 15 as president and CEO. VINCENT “VINCE” JACKSON was named executive director of the
Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce (Mass.). Jackson, an entrepreneur, was CEO of Marketing Moves, a company he founded. 30
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BECKY SULLIVAN was named executive director of the Fayette
The Chico Chamber of Commerce (Calif.) named KATY THOMA president and CEO. Thoma, who has 25 years of banking experience, has worked for other local nonprofits, including as executive director of the Jesus Center and the Chico State University Research Foundation. The Hays Area Chamber of Commerce (Kan.) named SARAH WASINGER as its new president and CEO. Wasinger was
previously the board clerk and assistant to the superintendent for Hays’ public school district.
Pangburn
Perreault
Schneider
Sullivan
Thoma
Wasinger
Weidanz
Wilson
CHARLIE WEIDANZ is the new CEO of the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce (Calif.) and will work with JUDY KLEINBERG, who
had spent the past five years as both the CEO and president of the chamber. While Kleinberg will continue to serve as president, Weidanz’s role will focus on the organization’s internal operations. Weidanz most recently served as CEO at Abilities United.
The San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce (Calif.) has named RICK WILSON president and CEO. He was formerly executive director of the Liberty Station Community Association and Liberty Station Improvement Association.
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A NOTE FROM SHEREE ANNE
Attracting and Retaining Young Talent there were more organization-wide service days. Showcasing the value and impact that your work has on your region, and engaging your team in those efforts, can be critical to employee satisfaction.
If there are ways ACCE or I can be helpful, please let me know. skelly@acce.org 703-998-3540 LinkedIn.com/in/ShereeAnne
Y
ou likely saw that The Business Roundtable updated its statement on the purpose of a corporation. Looking beyond shareholder value, they’re focusing on broader stakeholders to put community wellbeing front and center. Businesses should now solve community challenges, align workforce preparation in a more intentional way, and make sure employers build up the communities they serve. This is what chambers of commerce have been doing for quite some time. I’m glad to see that big business is catching up and catching on to the power of strong, healthy communities. Not only does this philosophy serve the greater good, but it can help attract and retain young talent. >> Find the full Business Roundtable statement at www.ACCE.org/ BusinessRoundtable
In a 2017 study from the Society for Human Resource Management, 94 percent of millennials want to use their skills to benefit a cause, while 57 percent wish 32
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sion. You can listen to the session audio at www.ACCE.org/acce19resources.
At ACCE we aim to elevate the profession and highlight impactful work accomplished by chambers around the world. After a 10-year absence, I’m thrilled that we brought back ACCE’s 40 Under 40 awards to recognize and showcase emerging leaders in our field.
Professional Growth: Support your employees with professional development opportunities. Provide avenues to learn new skills, broaden their industry knowledge and develop a network of trusted peers. One easy way to support your team is to encourage them to participate in ACCE Divisions. Completing ACCE’s member engagement survey is a great place to start: www.ACCE.org/engagement.
I met many of this year’s honorees during the ACCE Convention in Long Beach, and I’m blown away by their talent, passion and commitment. They come from chambers of different sizes and geographies, and from all areas of chamber work—CEOs, operations, finance, membership, events, economic and community development, government relations, workforce development, diversity and inclusion and more. The future of our industry is bright with catalytic leaders like these.
Competitive Compensation: Chambers can’t always compete in instances when salary is the candidate’s top priority, but you should review your pay and benefits package to ensure you are as competitive as possible. Resources like ACCE’s Salary Survey can help www.ACCE.org/ SalarySurvey. Consider other benefits like paid time off for volunteer work, flexible work schedules, retirement savings offerings (www.ACCE.org/Benefits) and other perks.
Competing against the private sector for talent is a challenge. Many businesses get introduced to your best and brightest through their interactions with your chamber. Competition is fierce, but there are a few things we can do to increase our odds of keeping top talent in the chamber profession:
Gen Z: ACCE’s convention keynote David and Jonah Stillman shared research and the motivators for the youngest generation entering our workforce. Gen Z is pragmatic, hard working, competitive and driven to win. The Stillmans recommend showcasing your organization’s winning track record to attract talent, and leveraging FOMO (fear of missing out) to keep them engaged and interested. More tips on engaging this generation can be found in their book Gen Z @ Work.
Missions that Motivate: This is an area where chambers of commerce have an inherent advantage. Chambers provide catalytic leadership and uniquely engage community stakeholders to advance impactful public policy, build cross-sector partnerships and create broad-based economic prosperity. Collaborative Cultures: Appealing organizational cultures strive for excellence, value collaboration and recognize achievement. Don’t forget to make time to have fun together. 2019 Chamber of the Year Greater Louisville Inc. shared its strategies for enhancing culture and strengthening employee morale during a convention ses-
Share Your Best Practices As we implement our new strategic plan, ACCE is working to identify emerging trends in chamber leadership and operations. What are your chamber’s strategies for improving your organizational culture and attracting and retaining top talent? We’d love to hear from you. Submit your examples at www.ACCE.org/culture.
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