Portland, Ore. (June 7, 2023) — The Portland Metro Chamber has been named a finalist for the 2023 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 Personify, 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 truly represent excellence in the chamber industry,” said ACCE President & CEO Sheree Anne Kelly. “Through their roles as community partners, thought leaders and innovative problem solvers, each has demonstrated what it means to be a catalyst for growth and regional prosperity. We congratulate them on this achievement.”
Chamber of the Year winners will be announced on Tuesday, August 1, during the Awards Show at ACCE’s Annual Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah.
“Being named a Chamber of the Year finalist—one of the three best Chambers in the nation!—is a huge honor and an acknowledgment of the work our staff and boards are doing to support Greater Portland and advance our region’s business community,” says Andrew Hoan, President and CEO of the Portland Business Alliance. “We know that in these challenging times, Chambers of Commerce and the voice of business as a convener, collaborator and policy advocate has never been more important. Congratulations to the other finalists. You inspire us, and we know that our chambers all share a common vision of more vibrant and prosperous metropolitan communities”.
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 in ACCE’s Annual Chamber Operations Survey, including net revenue and assets, membership account retention and membership dollar retention.
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.
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About the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives
Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) is the professional society supporting the women and men who lead local, regional, statewide and international chambers of commerce and related business and economic development organizations. Our membership includes more than 1,600 business/civic organizations worldwide. We provide our members with information resources, thought leadership, education programs, original research, benchmarking, retirement security, and access to a network of peers.
About the award sponsor Personify
Personify partners with associations, chambers of commerce, nonprofits, event professionals, YMCAs, JCCs and other organizations to help them bring people and ideas together. Our technology platform, combined with our professional service and support, empowers organizations of all sizes at every step of their journey. Personify’s integrated solutions enable clients to build reliable revenue streams and achieve greater success, and our partnership means they never do it alone.