ACCE Names Christy Gillenwater Chair

Christy Gillenwater, CCE, IOM, president & CEO of the Chattanooga Area Chamber, was named chair of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) Board of Directors during the organization’s annual meeting on July 27.

“It's an exciting time for our association, and I accept this role with enthusiasm,” Gillenwater said. “Chambers can build on the successes we’ve achieved through challenging times. This will require us to embrace disruption and be more intentional about our work.”

Gillenwater said that ACCE will focus on providing chamber leaders with the strategies and tools they need to thrive. During the year ahead, the association will develop new research and thought leadership on the trends impacting the future of the chamber industry. It will also continue to improve all aspects of the membership experience and explore new community impact priorities.

“Chambers of commerce have never been more important than they are right now,” ACCE President & CEO Sheree Anne Kelly said. “Christy is an innovative and thoughtful leader who will help the chamber industry capitalize on this momentum to shape the future of our communities.”

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. Its membership includes more than 1,600 business/civic organizations worldwide, representing more than 9,000 professionals. The association provides members with information resources, thought leadership, education programs, original research, benchmarking, retirement security and access to a network of peers.

ACCE board chairs serve a one-year term. In this role, Gillenwater will oversee activities of a 65-member board of directors that provides leadership and strategic direction to the association’s 25-person staff.

The other members of the ACCE Executive Committee announced during the July 27 annual meeting include: 

• Chair-elect: Carlos Phillips​, President & CEO, Greenville Chamber​
• Immediate Past Chair: Chip Cherry, CCE, President & CEO, Huntsville Madison County Chamber​
• Treasurer: Alisha Benson, IOM​, CEO, Greater Spokane Inc.​
• Vice Chair: Michael Huber​, President & CEO, Indy Chamber​
• Vice Chair: Brittany Quick-Warner​, President & CEO, Eugene Area Chamber​
• Vice Chair: Jim Rooney​, President & CEO, Greater Boston Chamber​
• Vice Chair/MDD Chair: Allison Walden, CCE, CFRE, IOM​, Senior Vice President of Resource Development, Tulsa Regional Chamber​
• Metro Cities Chair: Adrienne Cole, President & CEO, Greater Raleigh Chamber
• ACCE Foundation Chair: Ian Fletcher, COO, Greater Gainesville Chamber
• Partnership Liaison: Tiffany Esposito, CCE, IOM, President & CEO, SWFL Inc.
• Engaging the Public Sector: Ashli Watts, President & CEO, Kentucky Chamber
• International Seat: Greg Durocher, President & CEO, Cambridge Chamber (Canada)