ARE YOU READY to take the next step for personal development in your chamber career? Have you considered pursuing a CCE? Look through the guidelines... get more information in a CCE Workshop webinar on Oct. 10, 2018; Meet the newest Certified Chamber Executives; Front Royal Warren County Community Profile & Membership Directory 2017; Christian Maslowski named Indiana Chamber Executive of Year; 'Discover Wisconsin' to feature Baraboo; Naperville Area Chamber Of Commerce Launches New Program Aimed At Developing Business Professionals Into Engaged Community Leaders; Christian Co. Chamber selected for talent pipeline partnership; Southaven Chamber goes solar; Arlington Chamber: Non-profit Forum: A Guide to Fundraising under New Tax Laws; Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber map: Town Square Publications: Promises Made, Promises kept!; Troy Chamber Hosts Annual “Grillin’ with the Prez” Summer BBQ; Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles: The best in the U.S.;

Good morning #ChamberWorld! It's going to be a GREAT day!


ARE YOU READY to take the next step for personal development in your chamber career? Have you considered pursuing a CCE?  Look through the guidelines... get more information in a CCE Workshop webinar on Oct. 10, 2018

Here are some of the workshop materials for your reference from the CCE Workshop held during the ACCE Convention in Des Moines. Please read through this material and consider your future plans. 

1.  A PDF copy of the workshop presentation

2.  Intent to Apply form

3.  2019 CCE application. Note: We recommend that you open and save a blank copy of the CCE application to your own computer, and then work from that as complete the application. If you work on the application on-line, changes may not be saved.

4.  2019 application guidelines

As we discussed during the presentation, we will be accepting applications through an online link that will be on our CCE website page beginning on September 1. More information on the CCE program can be found on this page as well. The application due date for the 2019 class is January 7, 2019.

FYI, we will be holding a CCE Workshop webinar on October 10, 2018 at 2 pm ET that will cover essentially the same points we reviewed in the convention workshop. It may be of interest to others who are interested in the process, so please feel free to pass along this registration link or use it to join us again if you would like.

I hope that you all will consider applying for your CCE when the time is right for you and your career. Please don't hesitate to contact me at smcguire@acce.org if you have any questions about the process.

All the best,

Susan McGuire

Please emai Susan McGuire, ACCE Manager of Professional Development and Programs.

More FAQ here: CCE FAQ



Meet 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 Lindquist, Roy Nascimento, Lynn Olberding, Jodie Perry and Erin Williams — in Des Moines at the #ACCEAwards Show on Wednesday, July 18.
“The CCE program assesses and tests the applicant's knowledge of core chamber management areas —management, planning and development, membership and communication, and operations,” says Bob Quick, CCE, president and CEO of Commerce Lexington Inc. and 2017-18 CCE commission chairman. “Chamber professionals who are designated CCEs have rightfully earned this outstanding recognition through hard work, countless hours of dedication to their field, and leadership of their chamber to achieve the chamber’s goals. We are proud to have this year’s class join a long tradition of professional excellence.”


Congratulations, from your friends at ACCE!

Steve Baas, CCE       
Senior Vice President for Governmental Affairs & Public Policy    
Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of CommerceMilwaukee, Wis.

Marvin Bond, CCE   
Vice President of Investor Relations        
Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce
Irving, Texas

Lisa Hermes, CCE     
President & CEO              
McKinney Chamber of Commerce
McKinney, Texas

Tony Howard, CCE   
President & CEO              
Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce
Leesburg, Va.

Jamee Jolly, CCE       
President & CEO              
Plano Chamber of Commerce
Plano, Texas

Christine Kennedy, CCE         
COO and Executive Vice President           
Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance
Lynchburg, Va.

Sandra Lindquist, CCE             
Executive Vice President & COO
New Orleans Chamber
New Orleans, La.

Roy Nascimento, CCE             
President & CEO              
North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce
Fitchburg, Mass.

Lynn Olberding, CCE
Executive Director          
Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce
Marshalltown, Iowa

Jodie Perry, CCE       
President            
Richland Area Chamber of Commerce
Mansfield, Ohio

Erin Williams, CCE   
President & CEO              
O'Fallon Chamber of Commerce & Industries
O'Fallon, Mo.

Learn more about the Certified Chamber Executive designation and meet our CCE Commissioners.


Front Royal Warren County Community Profile & Membership Directory 2017 

The Front Royal Warren County Community Profile & Membership Directory 2017 is available at the Front Royal Warren County Chamber of Commerce today! Thank you to Niki Foster and Pam Riffle and the Chamber team for their help and direction putting this together! 

Front Royal Warren County Community Profile & Membership Directory 2017

Town Square Publications  (www.townsquarepublications.com) can help you accomplish your chamber's gloss map, directory, community profile or publication needs at no expense to the chamber. Please email John Dussman at jdussman@tspubs.com or call (847)-427-4633.



Christian Maslowski named Indiana Chamber Executive of Year

The Indiana Chamber Executives Association (ICEA) has named Christian Maslowski, president and CEO of the Greater Greenwood Chamber of Commerce, the 2018 Executive of the Year.

Maslowski, no stranger in the chamber community, has been with the Greater Greenwood Chamber for 11 years. ICEA chooses the winner based on criteria including a minimum of three years on the job, a demonstration of exemplary performance and leadership and demonstrated ability to lead changes at the local chamber level.

“Christian serves as the ideal candidate for this recognition,” said Shelli Williams, IOM, ICEA president. “He goes above-and-beyond with a willingness to help peers succeed. Peers across Indiana have great respect for what Christian brings to the profession.”

As president and CEO, Maslowski focuses on community relationships and public policy efforts. In late 2016, the Greater Greenwood Chamber forged a relationship with Business Ownership Initiative of Indiana (BOI). The BOI offers free business coaching and microlending, business workshops and online business courses. “They come alongside you and make sure you’re accessible,” Maslowski said.Maslowski, who said he was “beyond flattered and surprised”, did not even know he was up for the award until attending a recent ICEA conference held in Indianapolis. “My name was read as a finalist and I had no further expectation (of winning). I give gratitude to my board of directors and staff team.”

Maslowski said he has seen more diversity, an expansion of small businesses and a growing caliber of talent joining the chamber. In addition, he gives credit to his local chamber team’s innovation, drive and success. “They put members first and they support me,” he said. “We enjoy one another’s camaraderie.

“We live and work in a dynamic, vibrant area on the southside. This allows me and our team to be innovative, be flexible and have fun.”

On July 26, a fun event the chamber is hosting is the annual Chamber Golf Classic, which includes meals, games and prizes. The social/networking event will be held at Dye’s Walk Country Club in Greenwood. For more information, go to greenwoodchamber.com.

Maslowski is married to Michelle, an attorney for Ogletree Deakins in Indianapolis. Christian and Michelle have two daughters: Gabriella, 6 and Ainsley, 7 months. Read more: The Southside Times

'Discover Wisconsin' to feature Baraboo

Get ready for your closeup, Baraboo — you’re about to become a television star.

“Discover Wisconsin” is filming an episode about Baraboo. The cast and crew already have visited the Big Top Parade and Devil’s Lake Lavender, and will return to check out Baraboo Bluff Winery this week. Driftless Glen Distillery, downtown shops, local restaurants and rickshaw rides also will star in an episode that will premiere in April.

“You’ve got a special place,” said co-host Mariah Haberman, who served as one of the circus parade’s celebrity judges. “This area is one of my favorite places in Wisconsin.”

Broadcast in eight states, “Discover Wisconsin” promotes tourism. It’s filming an episode about Wisconsin Dells that will also air next spring.

The city of Baraboo, village of West Baraboo and Baraboo Area Chamber of Commerce shared the $40,000 cost of bringing the show to Baraboo. The episode will air multiple times next year, and also will be available online.

“We really are looking to move the needle,” Haberman said. “We take that very seriously.”

Bobbie Boettcher, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, said the “Discover Wisconsin” episode will introduce a new audience to Baraboo. The circus city hasn’t been featured on the show for several years. “This is an opportunity we have to showcase ourselves in a different way,” she said. “You really have to have a broad portfolio.” Read more: Baraboo News-Republic



Naperville Area Chamber Of Commerce Launches New Program Aimed At Developing Business Professionals Into Engaged Community Leaders

Naperville, IL. (August 8, 2018) – The Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce (NACC) has launched a new professional development program, Leadership Naperville! with the goal of developing business professionals into engaged community leaders.  This program provides the opportunity to learn directly from Naperville’s influencers and public officials. Participants will hear Naperville’s history, engage in face-to-face conversations with prominent community business leaders, meet Mayor Chirico and other members of the local government, tour the Police and Fire Departments with the Chiefs and become a voice for volunteer engagement. 

“As our community evolves, so must our Chamber.  Our Members are telling us that community engagement is key to their professional success. Leadership Naperville! does just that,” said Nicki Anderson, NACC President & CEO. “Providing opportunities to meet with influential leaders throughout the community gives attendees the insight necessary to be an active participant in the future of Naperville.” 

Leadership Naperville! runs every Tuesday morning, 7:00 – 9:00 a.m., from October 2 through November 6 and will meet at various locations throughout Naperville.  This program is open to the public.  The cost for Chamber Members is $295 through September 1 and $325 after September 1.  The price for Non-Members is $350.

For more information on registration or sponsorship, please visit www.naperville.net or contact Kara Carpenter at (630) 355-4141.

About the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce

The Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce is the largest suburban Chamber in Illinois with an active membership of 1,200 organizations of every size and from every sector. The NACC promotes economic growth and advocacy in and around the Naperville area.  For its efforts in promoting free enterprise and the business community, the Chamber has been recognized with 5-Star Accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, an honor bestowed on only 1 percent of Chambers, out of the nearly 7,000 in the nation. Visit www.naperville.net

Christian Co. Chamber selected for talent pipeline partnership

The Christian County Chamber of Commerce has been chosen to participate in a partnership with the United States Chamber of Commerce to help close the skills gap in Kentucky.

The skills gap is created by a lack of skilled workers in the workforce, and the U.S. Chamber has created the Talent Pipeline Management program to help generate those talented workers. Kentucky is one of three states selected to instate the initiative, which will be supported by grants from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. In the program, business professionals receive training in creating a demand-driven approach to close the workforce skills gap by building partnerships with education and training providers.

The state would set up “academies”, which would provide participants with curriculum, technical assistance, resources and tools, and a peer-to-peer learning network. Over the next two years, participating employers, employer-led associations and education providers in the three states will hold in-person meetings, with technical support from webinars and teleconferences, to develop workforce-improvement strategies.

For more information about the program, go online to the-talent-supply-chain dot org. Read more: WHOP AM


Southaven Chamber goes solar

Becoming likely the first business entity in DeSoto County to do so, the Southaven Chamber of Commerce has added a solar energy array and will use power from the sun to operate its building functions in the future.

Chamber officials invited community and business leaders to come to its 500 Main Street location on Friday, July 27 for a ribbon cutting and workshop on the advantages of solar energy.

There’s been a move in many parts of the country to use natural resources, such as wind or solar energy, as an alternative to electricity for power, but the move to solar has been slow to start in DeSoto County and North Mississippi.

The Southaven Chamber array was installed by Lightwave Solar of Nashville, Tennessee, led by President/CEO Chris Koczaja, who hopes DeSoto County residents and businesses will start to “warm” up more to the idea.

“We’ve been in business since 2006 and what we see here in the Southaven area is an opportunity with the net metering and the programs available to show people how solar can not only impact the environment and impact the bottom line results for their business,” Koczaja said. “We’ve worked with the Southaven Chamber and have put an array up on the Chamber building to show people not only how an array looks but the Chamber now will be able to tell people how it works.”

Net metering is a billing mechanism that credits solar energy system owners for the electricity they add to the power grid. A solar customer with an array may generate more electricity than the facility uses during daylight hours.

Solar arrays and energy use have become more common and as the cost of equipment and installation has come down, companies are more clearly seeing the financial advantages of its use, Koczaja said.

“Solar has come many steps even in just the last 2-3 years to the point where not only the technology but the price of the technology has reached a point where it can compete with normal generation sources,” Koczaja pointed out. “We see a lot more people looking to solar not only for the sustainable aspects but there’s actually financial benefits for doing that because of where the industry has come and the availability of materials and supplies.”

Both Koczaja and Chamber Executive Director Carmen Kyle said the actual installation of the array did not take much time to have completed.

“The array itself took a couple of days to set up and then we worked with the local utility which was very helpful in hooking it up and connecting it to their system,” Koczaja said, with Kyle adding, “The actual installation was seamless. These guys are just beyond professional. The craftsmanship, the quality, the customer service was top-notch.”

Koczaja added the impact on the Chamber’s electric bill should be substantial, even after one month.

“The array that is on the building will generate about 10,000 kilowatt hours a year for the Chamber over its life and that life expectancy is over 30 years,” Koczaja said. Read more: De Soto Times-Tribune

Arlington Chamber: Non-profit Forum: A Guide to Fundraising under New Tax Laws

Presented by the Community Action Committee

Join us on August 7!

The recently-passed Tax Cuts and Jobs Act contains many provisions that impact nonprofits and the way businesses and donors support these organizations - and it's crucial for all parties to prepare for these changes now. Join the Chamber's Community Action Committee at the next Nonprofit Forum, "A Guide to Fundraising under New Tax Laws," where an expert panel will help nonprofits and businesses understand how the new law may impact charitable giving.

During this interactive forum, our panelists will discuss the tools and information that businesses and donors need, regarding the tax advantages of giving and managing contributions in light of the new tax law. This includes accelerating and clumping contributions, business donations and sponsorships, donating appreciated stock, and charitable gift annuity. Nonprofits will come away with practical guidance to prepare their organizations for the changes ahead, as well as insights on dealing with the uncertainties inherent in any new legislation.
More infrmation: Arlington Chamber



Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber map: Town Square Publications: Promises Made, Promises kept!

The Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce recently worked with Town Square Publications on the production of a map. Town Square Publications provided all the map design and cartography for the product and sold the sponsorships, so there was no cost to the chamber. The chamber provided local content and photos that showed our organization’s focus on promoting our communities and helping our businesses to thrive. Town Square Publications provided the chamber a proof before going to print. The result was a top quality map. We were especially pleased with the quality of the printing and the paper.

The chamber works hard to identify programs that will be of benefit to our chamber members, such as the 28th Street Metro Cruise program that draws over 200,000 to our area and the annual Santa Parade. The Wyoming-Kentwood chamber map is another great example, and the chamber received the additional benefit of non-dues revenue.

Your company delivered on your promises. We appreciate our partnership with Town Square Publications and will call on them again for the next project.

Bob O’Callaghan

President

Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber


Troy Chamber Hosts Annual “Grillin’ with the Prez” Summer BBQ 


Back by popular demand, this fun-filled event celebrates its 5th year!

July 26, 2018 – TROY, MI — Join the Troy Chamber and its members for an evening of networking, delicious food, live music and fun at our annual “Grillin’ with the Prez” event. Chamber President & CEO, Ara Topouzian, will be manning the grill for this summer networking event on Thursday, July 26 from 4:30-7 p.m. in the parking lot of the Centennial building (100 E. Big Beaver Rd, Troy).

“It’s one of my favorite events of the year and allows us to mingle with our members in a purely outdoor social setting.” says Topouzian. “Each year our attendance grows, and we’re hope for ‘chamber of commerce weather’ this year!”

In addition to fun networking and BBQ fare, this year’s event features:

·         Food trucks

·         Ice cream truck

·         Craft beer keg from Granite City Food & Brewery

·         Wine tent

·         Live music by Next Generation Funk Brothers

·         Food from Kona Grill

·         … and more!

This event is presented by MAHLE and Chief Financial Credit Union with supporting sponsorship from First State Bank, Trion Solutions, HTC and its entities, AAA, and Kona Grill (in kind). Media sponsors include DBusiness and Corp! Magazine.

Cost for the event is $15 for Troy Chamber members and $30 for future members. To register, please visit troychamber.com/events or contact (248) 641-8151 / theteam@troychamber.com for more information.

Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles: The best in the U.S.

Town Square Publications, a division of the Daily Herald Media Group, is a national chamber custom publishing group that specializes in developing partnerships by producing high-quality print and digitally integrated publications along with other added value programs dedicated to creating relevancy for local chambers of commerce and other membership focused organizations interested in raising non-dues revenues.

Town Square Publications parent company, Paddock Publications, has over 100 years’ experience of print product development and dedicated customer service in communities throughout the Midwest. Our experience allows Town Square Publications to offer you attractive royalty and non-dues revenue share streams, provide direct distribution of your custom designed printed publications, including digital and mobile integration, and all with the quickest turn-around times available in the industry. Town Square also offers multi-media maps in both print and online formats, both with our No-Cost guarantee. More information: Town Square Publications

Chambers of Commerce and member focused organizations serve as a valuable resource in the local marketplace. The networking opportunities and representation with a wide variety of diverse businesses in your community is the catalyst of a successful organization. For further information about Town Square's publishing partnership with chambers of commerce and our No-Cost guarantee and Earned Revenue Share Program, To request your chamber publication or map proposal, contact Town Square Chamber Proposal