The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama has been named a finalist for the 2021 Chamber of the Year award, presented by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE). ACCE is an association based in Alexandria, Va., that has over 1,600 chambers of commerce and related business and economic development organizations as members, representing more than 9,000 professionals in the industry.
The award, sponsored by MemberClicks, a Personify Company, is the most prestigious and competitive recognition presented annually by ACCE. It recognizes the leadership role chambers of commerce have in their communities. Those honored with the Chamber of the Year designation have demonstrated organizational strength and made an impact on key community priorities, such as education, transportation, economic prosperity, and quality of life.
“This year’s finalists are among the most impactful organizations within the industry,” said ACCE President and CEO Sheree Anne Kelly. “Following a tumultuous year, these chambers emerged as community champions, providing catalytic leadership to address their region’s greatest challenges and opportunities for prosperity.”
Chamber of the Year winners will be announced on Tuesday, July 20, during ACCE’s virtual Chamber Innovation Summit.
“To be named a finalist for Chamber of the Year is a tremendous accomplishment for our organization,” said Jim Page, President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama. “This incredible recognition is the result of a loyal and supportive membership, a visionary board of directors, and the tireless work ethic of a dedicated professional staff. I’m so proud to see the innovative work being done in this great community being highlighted to an international audience.”
Chambers of commerce interested in competing for the award first must qualify by participating in a vigorous multi-stage process. Organizations entering the Chamber of the Year competition must meet minimum thresholds in at least three of five key performance areas, including net revenue and assets, membership account retention, and membership dollar retention.
Chambers compete based on meeting key performance criteria on the ACCE Annual Operations Survey. Qualifying chambers enter the competition with a written application addressing all aspects of organizational operation and programmatic work. Applications are scored by peer chamber executives to determine finalists. Winners are selected from among finalists based on an interview before a panel of experienced chamber professionals.
To ensure the fairest competition, applicants are grouped into four categories based on: annual revenue, membership, area population and other factors.
