ACCE Names New Board Chair and Officers for 2023-24

Carlos Phillips, CCE, president & CEO of the Greenville Chamber, was named chair of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) Board of Directors during the organization’s annual meeting on August 1.

“The chamber industry has provided me with a professional home, a place where I can leverage my strengths, my passions and my interests to build better communities,” Phillips said. “Our chambers and our communities will continue to face challenges, and the pace of change is only going to increase. We must build on our momentum and continue to innovate.”  

Phillips said that ACCE will continue to develop new research and thought leadership on the trends impacting the future of the chamber industry. The association will also develop a campaign to elevate the chamber brand, help chambers do a better job telling their stories and conduct a public opinion poll to highlight the power of the chamber brand. 

“Chambers of commerce have never been more important than they are right now,” ACCE president & CEO Sheree Anne Kelly said. “Carlos 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 people 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, Phillips will oversee the 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 August 1 annual meeting include:

• Chair-elect: Jim Rooney, Greater Boston Chamber
• Immediate Past Chair: Christy Gillenwater, CCE, IOM, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber
• Treasurer: Alisha Benson, IOM, Greater Spokane Inc.
• Vice Chair: Natalie English, CCE, Wilmington Chamber
• Vice Chair: Adam Knapp, Baton Rouge Area Chamber
• Vice Chair: Brittany Quick-Warner, Eugene Area Chamber
• Vice Chair/Membership Development Division Chair: Omar Cuevas, CCE, Grand Rapids Chamber
• Metro Cities Council Chair: Adrienne Cole, Greater Raleigh Chamber
• Convention Host: Dale Petroskey, Dallas Regional Chamber
• ACCE Foundation Chair: Ian Fletcher, CCE, Greater Gainesville Chamber
• Partnership Liaison: Maria Salinas, Los Angeles Area Chamber
• Engaging the Public Sector: Ashli Watts, CCE, IOM, Kentucky Chamber
• International Seat: Greg Durocher, Cambridge Chamber (Canada)