ACCE WELCOMES NEWEST CERTIFIED CHAMBER EXECUTIVE

 

ACCE Welcomes Newest Certified Chamber Executives

Sixteen chamber of commerce leaders have recently joined an elite roster of professionals who have earned the Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) designation.

The first CCE designation was conferred more than 40 years ago. CCE is recognized as the highest professional designation in the chamber of commerce profession. It’s the only globally-recognized certification program exclusive to the chamber of commerce industry.

“In the past year, these chamber leaders not only dedicated themselves to addressing local challenges brought on by the pandemic, but also invested many hours in their professional development to earn their CCE designation,” said Matt McCormick, CCE, IOM, president of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce (Mo.) and CCE commission chairman. “We commend their achievement and are very proud to have them join a long tradition of professional excellence.”

These sixteen leaders represent chambers of commerce in 11 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia, as well as the Canadian province Ontario.

Congratulations, from your friends at ACCE!

Brian D. Anderson, CCE, IOM

Brian has served as president & CEO of ChamberRVA (Va.) since 2019. Brian has served on ACCE's Metro Cities Council and will be an at-large director for the ACCE Board for 2021-2022. During his tenure serving as a chamber executive in Georgia, he was recognized as one of the 100 Most Influential Georgians for several years. The Leadership of Ft. Benning, Ga., awarded Brian the Meritorious Public Service medal while serving as president & CEO of the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce (Ga.). Brian focused his CCE presentation on ChamberRVA’s 2020 small business initiative that provided digital and physical toolkits to over 2400 small businesses in the Richmond, Va., region to assist them with reopening safely and responsibly due to COVID-19.

 

Desiree M. Bennyhoff, CCE, IOM
Desiree has served as president/CEO of the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce (Ill.) since 2011, and before that as the chamber's communications director. Desiree is past chair of the Illinois Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (IACCE), currently serves as a board member of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, and is on the Midwest IOM board of regents and curriculum committee for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Institute for Organization Management program. Desiree was honored with the Jim Anderson Professional Torch Award by the St. Louis Regional Chamber, was named Distinguished Illinois Chamber of Commerce Executive of the Year by IACCE, and led the Ed/Glen Chamber through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce accreditation process earning 5-Star distinction. Desiree focused her CCE presentation on building a strong government affairs program to advocate on behalf of the business community.

 

Kathy Blank, CCE 

As vice president of the 5-star accredited McKinney Chamber of Commerce (Texas), Kathy is responsible for leading the chamber's business development department. Since joining the McKinney Chamber leadership team in 2016, Kathy has played a pivotal role in growing the Major Investors of the Chamber and developing innovative programs, community initiatives and partnerships. During her chamber career, Kathy has achieved both an ACCE Lifetime Achievement Award – Gold, for $500,000 in membership sales and placed second in Total Member Sales in ACCE's Sales Contest in 2017-2018.  Kathy will be serving as chair of ACCE's Membership Development Division in 2021-2022 and will also serve on the executive committee of the ACCE Board of Directors. While she is most proud of achieving the CCE designation in 2021, Kathy looks forward to receiving her IOM graduate recognition later this year

 

Sandra M. Brewer, CCE, IOM

Sandra has served as vice president of membership and investor relations for the Chattanooga Chamber (Tenn.) since 2012. She has been involved with Rotary Club of Chattanooga, Parkridge Health System and Chattanooga Women's Leadership Institute for many years and served as a board member of each organization. She was honored as a Chattanooga Woman of Distinction in 2012 and honoree of the 2019 Chattanooga State Dinner of Firsts.  Sandra focused her CCE presentation on creating positive change in our community through catalytic leadership and aligned resources, outlining the importance of having a transformational vision and clear communications to raise the resources necessary to move the community forward.  

 

Heather Brothers New, CCE, IOM, TMP, AACE
Heather has served as president & CEO of The Chamber of Gadsden & Etowah County, Inc. (Ala.), since 2011. She is a past chair of the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama, serves on the Business Council Board of Directors and is an advisory council member of the Alabama Department of Public Health’s Office of Women’s Health. She is a graduate of Southeast Tourism Society’s Marketing College and Auburn University’s Government and Economic Development Institute. Heather focused her CCE presentation on a professional development program that immerses 400 educators annually in technical careers in the community through tours and hands-on experiences

 

Adrian Cain, CCE, IOM, CFRE

Adrian has served as senior vice president of leadership and programs of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce since 2015. Serving in several roles during his time with the chamber, Adrian’s work focuses on building a Charleston community where all have an opportunity to live, learn and earn. Adrian serves on the ACCE Board. In 2020-2021, Adrian was the chair of the Membership Development Division advisory board and an ACCE executive committee member. Adrian’s commitment to his community has been demonstrated through his service on the Charleston Criminal Justice Convening Council, launching the Chamber’s comprehensive diversity, equity and inclusion work, and developing and cultivating local leaders. Adrian focused his CCE presentation on “Raising the Region’s Leadership Quotient” by strategically aligning the diversity, equity and inclusion efforts with the Chamber’s leadership, government relationship and workforce development platforms

 

Lindsay Henderson, CCE, IOM

Lindsay has served as chief revenue officer of the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce (Ark.) since 2016. She serves on the Conway Corporation board of directors and has previously served on the boards of the Arkansas Economic Developers & Chamber Executives and Arkansas Community Foundation of Faulkner County. In 2017, Lindsay was named an Arkansas Business 40 Under 40 honoree and was recognized as a 2019 ACCE 40 Under 40. Lindsay focused her CCE presentation on developing a sales culture and on its importance and value in today’s chamber profession.

 

Andy Johnston, CCE, IOM
Andy has served as vice president of government affairs for the Grand Rapids Chamber (Mich.) since 2010. He is involved in numerous community board and committees and has been named a 40 under 40 recipient by ACCE and the Grand Rapids Business Journal. Andy focused his CCE presentation on the West Michigan CEO Summit and how it connects to the heart of the chamber profession, the sweet spot at the intersection of business, community and government.

 

Tony Moline, CCE, IOM, PCED

Tony has served as the president & CEO of the Cedar Park Chamber of Commerce (Texas) since 2012. He serves on the board for the Texas Association of Business (the State Chamber) and the Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives. Tony has also earned his IOM designation and his PCED (Professional Community and Economic Developer) designation. Tony focused his CCE presentation on strategic communication during a crisis and being the clearinghouse of information for businesses.

 

James Reddish, CCE, CEcD
James has served as executive vice president of the Little Rock Regional Chamber (Ark.) since 2018. He currently chairs the board of directors for MAKO, which represents chamber executives in the states of Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma. He also serves on the board of ACCE. In 2019, James was named 40 Under 40 by ACCE and in 2021, received the same honor in the state of Arkansas. James focused his CCE presentation on a multi-district public education initiative he is leading called the Academies of Central Arkansas. This work is transforming the public high school experience to ensure all students in all schools have access to relevant college and career preparation, while strengthening their core academic achievement.  

 

Rory Ring, MBA, CCE

Rory joined the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce (Ont.) in 2016 as CEO, moving from Sarnia, Ont., where he was CEO of the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce for three years. He is a firm believer in the leadership provided by the chamber of commerce network, and those professionals who have dedicated their professional careers to doing what no other leadership role does. He serves as a director on the Ontario Chamber of Commerce Board, is the past chair of the Chamber Executives of Ontario and is a former board member of the Canadian Chamber Executive of Canada.

 

Paul Rumler, CCE

Paul has served as the president & CEO of the Quad Cities Chamber (Iowa) since 2018 and has 15 years of chamber leadership experience. He has a history of actively volunteering for industry and community organizations, including current roles on the board of directors for the John Deere Classic, Iowa Chamber Alliance and Visit Quad Cities. Paul has been recognized for his chamber leadership, including Athena International’s Male Champion of Change Award for his work fostering a diverse and inclusive organization, the ACCE 40 Under 40 Award and 40 Under 40 Leader in Economic Development by Development Counsellors International/International Economic Development Council. Paul focused his CCE presentation on a place management organization the Quad Cities Chamber created to lead affiliated downtown development efforts across multiple cities and states.

 

Amy Shuttle, CCE, IOM
Amy has served as senior vice president of the Bristol Chamber of Commerce (Tenn.) since 2016. She is a member of the Membership Development Division (MDD) advisory board and has served as a MDD sales mentor.  Amy earned her IOM designation at U.S. Chamber Southeast Institute in 2016, was awarded the Bronze Dana Ketterling Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018 and the Silver Dana Ketterling Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021. Amy focused her CCE presentation on generating economy while meeting community and business needs during the pandemic.

 

Curtis S. Sneden, CCE, IOM

Curtis has served as president of the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce (Kan.) since 2019. He has also served as senior vice president of the Greater Topeka Partnership since its inception in 2018. He serves on the boards of the Topeka Community Foundation and Community Action, a non-profit fighting poverty in Topeka. He previously served on the boards of the Topeka Performing Arts Center, the United Way and the Downtown Topeka Rotary Club, which he led as president in 2015-16. Curtis focused his CCE presentation on his role in leading the design and establishment of the Greater Topeka Partnership, a new 501(c)(6) organization which combines the operations of Topeka’s Chamber of Commerce, economic development organization, convention and visitor’s bureau and downtown association under one unified management structure.

 

Heather Valudes, CCE
Heather has served as the vice president of the Lancaster Chamber (Pa.) since 2020, previously working as the chamber's community impact director since 2011. Heather serves on the steering committee for the Coalition for Sustainable Housing, Lancaster County Refugee & Immigrant Coalition and the Clean Water Partners. She has previously been named to the 40 Under 40 from Central Penn Business Journal and ACCE. Heather focused her CCE presentation on her role in the Recovery Lancaster project, a countywide COVID-19 response initiative that delivered almost $50 million in grants to businesses in Lancaster.

 

Becki Zumwalt-Womble, CCE, IOM 

Becki Zumwalt-Womble has served as president & CEO of the Bastrop Chamber of Commerce (Texas) since August 2014. During her tenure, she has taken an active role in local politics and community issues including a school bond and transportation issues. She chairs the Bastrop County Workforce Matters Coalition and serves as a board member for Visit Bastrop, the city’s destination marketing organization. Becki also serves on the Texas Chamber of Commerce and Texas Association of Business state boards. Becki focused her CCE presentation on “The Establishment of a Destination Marketing Organization, Visit Bastrop.” This was an initiative that established an independent organization to market the greater Bastrop area to tourists and attract convention business to the area.