Chamber Professionals Complete ACCE Foundation’s Fellowship for Talent Development

The ACCE Foundation recognizes the 18 chamber professionals who completed the 2025-2026 Fellowship for Talent Development.

“We are proud to recognize this exceptional group of chamber leaders for completing the Fellowship for Talent Development,” said ACCE President & CEO Sheree Anne Kelly. "Through their work, they have moved beyond learning to action, developing strategies that address workforce challenges, strengthen regional talent pipelines and drive long-term economic prosperity in their communities.”

As part of their final project, each fellow developed regional action plans that tackle some of the most pressing workforce challenges facing their communities.

Projects included the following actions:

• Strengthening talent pipelines through systems alignment
• Increasing employer engagement
• Building skills-based pathways

Their projects address critical gaps in child care, as well as workforce readiness and participation, while creating more coordinated connections between education, employers and job seekers.

Their work reflects a shift toward data-driven, skills-first and regionally aligned strategies designed to attract, develop and retain talent in an evolving economy.

You can view the presentations on our YouTube channel.

The 2025-2026 fellows are:

Joel Alvarado
Director of Business & Workforce Development
Opelika Chamber (Ala.)

Denise Bowls, Ph.D.
President & CEO
Greater Vail Chamber of Commerce (Ariz.)

Merrick Brtek
Director of Young Professionals & Talent Development Programs
Greater Omaha Chamber (Neb.)

Alex Bunten
Director of Workforce and Education
Lake Champlain Chamber (Vt.)

Katie Doherty, IOM
President & CEO
Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce (Maine)

Amber M. Gaddis
Director of Workforce Development
Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce (Ga.)

Kelly Gold
Vice President of Marketing, Talent Attraction and Retention
Greater Louisville Inc. (Ky.)

Reagan C. Gural, IOM, CCEC
President & CEO
Alamance Chamber (N.C.)

Madeline Herrman
Director of Foundation and Chamber Programs
Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce (Ill.)

Tammy Humphrey, Ed. D.
Senior Director, Talent Development
Orlando Economic Partnership (Fla.)

Laura McKinney
Senior Vice President for Talent and Workforce
Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce (S.C.)

Emily Pettinato
Workforce Development Specialist
Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce (Pa.)

Jack Russell
President & CEO
OneZone Chamber (Ind.)

Tish Shade, IOM
President & CEO
Frankfort Area Chamber of Commerce (Ky.)

Cameron Sloan
Talent & Emerging Business Specialist
Abilene Chamber of Commerce (Texas)

Laura Strickland, IOM, AACE
President & CEO
Sylacauga Chamber of Commerce (Ala.)

Kenny Ward Jr.
Director, Talent Development
Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce (Ala.)

Danielle Wiseman
Workforce Development Coordinator
Staten Island Chamber of Commerce (N.Y.)