2024 Communications Excellence Best in Show Winners

Three chambers have been honored as Best in Show at the #ACCE24 Awards show in Dallas.

ACCE’s Awards for Communications Excellence (ACE) program is designed to showcase the top communications and marketing work of chambers of commerce and similar organizations. Several thousand award entries have been submitted since the competition's launch, which is now in its 39th year. These entries highlight some of the freshest and most innovative marketing and communications work coming from ACCE member organizations of all types and sizes.

“Effective communication and storytelling are crucial in advancing a chamber's mission and showcasing its impact,” said ACCE President & CEO Sheree Anne Kelly. “Their efforts to drive engagement and make a positive difference in the regions they serve are inspiring and very deserving of this recognition.”

A panel of communications and marketing professionals from 16 U.S.-based chambers of commerce evaluated entries submitted for this year’s competition. Entries were organized by category — based on the chamber’s annual revenue — and entry type: campaigns, websites, audio-video and print and electronic publications. See all 12 ACE finalists here.

Best in Show Winners

CATEGORY 1

Chamber Member Ribbon Cutting Promotional Campaign | Etowah Chamber (Ala.)

Every member of the Etowah Chamber that celebrates a ribbon cutting, groundbreaking, anniversary or a similar achievement receives a free promotional video with photography produced in-house by chamber staff along with additional media exposure. The goal of the chamber's strategy is to provide an extensive media campaign package for the chamber's members while informing the community and growing the member's and chamber's online reach. After filming the event and editing, the chamber broadcasts the member's big day on all social media platforms. Members are given permission to use any photos and videos from their event (including drone footage). The campaign has increased the number of ribbon cuttings from 26 in 2021 (before starting ribbon cutting promotionals) to 46 in 2023. Furthermore, the chamber gained 2,000+ followers on Facebook/Instagram in 2023 and enjoyed a total social media reach of over 560,000.

CATEGORY 2

ACCESS 2023: Economic Growth Conference | Greater Manchester Chamber (N.H.)

In the early planning stages of ACCESS 2023, the Greater Manchester Chamber’s new, annual economic growth conference, the team emphasized creating a strong brand and marketing campaign reflective of Manchester's diverse history and innovative future. As they aimed to establish ACCESS as a premier annual event for professional development and idea generation throughout New Hampshire and beyond, they ensured the brand represented the entire state, not just Manchester. They brought in design and printing partners from within their membership and promotion was facilitated through partnerships with New Hampshire Business Review and New Hampshire Public Radio. They integrated the WHOVA App for event organization and promotion. The event's achieved results include: 147+ attendees, $45,500 in sponsorship revenue and $9,815 in attendee revenue.

CATEGORY 3

Chamber Effect Marketing Campaign | Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce (Tenn.)

The Chamber Effect Marketing Campaign emerged as a storytelling initiative designed to illustrate the profound impact of chamber membership on Middle Tennessee's business landscape. Through a curated blend of print and digital media, alongside professionally produced short interview-style testimonials from a diverse array of business leaders—from the manager of the Green Hills Mall to an urban farmer championing local agriculture—the chamber painted a vivid picture of the 'Chamber Effect.' In order to more fine-tune the chamber's reach, the marketing campaign also targeted businesses formed within the last 2-5 years to ensure emerging leaders were exposed to how chamber membership could accelerate their growth and impact. Highlights of the campaign's results include: 10.5k+ landing page views; 70k+ YouTube views, which equaled more than 1,100 watch hours; 1.4M+ social media impressions and 15k+ link clicks.