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5/22/2012 |
General |
St. Joseph County Chamber a Finalist for National Chamber of the Year |
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The Chamber of Commerce of St. Joseph County is one of the top three chambers of commerce in the country, according to the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), the nation’s leading organization for education and professional development of chamber executives and staff.
The designation means that the St. Joseph County Chamber is a finalist for Chamber of the Year and will compete against the chambers in Hilton Head, SC, and Springfield, Mo., for overall top honors. The award recognizes excellence in operations, member services and community leadership, covering the work of 7,200 chambers of commerce throughout the United States. The Chamber of the Year award involves a multi-step process, which includes the completion of an operations survey, application and interview. Interviews will be conducted and the award winner announced in early August at the national ACCE Conference in Louisville, Ky.
This recognition comes on the heels of the organization’s state recognition earlier this year as 2012 Indiana Chamber of the Year. This marks the third time in the past six years that the
5-Star Accredited St. Joseph County Chamber reached the finals of the national Chamber of the Year competition—a feat also achieved in 2007 and 2009.
“The work of The Chamber continues to be recognized by our peers and experts in the industry,” said Jeff Rea, president and CEO of The Chamber. “The transformational work by our talented staff, volunteers and members is having impact. With more than 1,100 member businesses representing 90,000 employees, our strategic vision focuses on issues and initiatives that positively impact the area economy.”
Last year, The Chamber of Commerce of St. Joseph County expanded its business growth and economic development efforts, now responsible for county economic development. Its Small Business Development Center is one of the leading SBDCs in the nation. The Chamber added to its public policy success by endorsing candidates, through its political action committee (ChamberPAC), in municipal elections for the first time--with a 91% winning percentage. Its Leadership South Bend/Mishawaka program hosted the second regional leadership conference and continues to be the benchmark for leadership programs in the region and state.
The South Bend/Mishawaka Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), an initiative of The Chamber, developed an award-winning website, visitsouthbend.com, to attract visiting publics and assisted in booking/servicing conventions, meetings and sporting events that drew more than 40,000 visitors to the community. And, The Chamber’s Young Professionals Network (YPN) will soon graduate its sixth Michiana Forty under 40 class and recognized the first Outstanding Young Business Leader of the Year. At the conclusion of 2011, The Chamber touted a 90% member retention rate, one of the highest in the nation.
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