Looking to 2035: The Forces Shaping the Industry

In 2014, ACCE launched the Horizon Initiative, which tapped into the collective chamber wisdom and predicted what life would be like for chambers in 2025. 

"It's safe to say that the Horizon Initiative nailed it," said Carlos Phillips, CCE, president & CEO of the Greenville Chamber (S.C.) and 2023-24 ACCE board chair. "It did not prescribe solutions, but it accurately identified imminent challenges that chambers would face. Its findings have influenced the reinvention of chamber leaders, the transformation of chamber organizations and the acceleration of community economies across the United States and Canada," explained Phillips.

With the next decade upon us, ACCE's Horizon Task Force is modernizing the Horizon Initiative and bringing the industry new thought leadership, original resources and practical tools to plan for a bolder future. It's time to look ahead to 2035 and forecast the factors that will influence the impact of chambers and the profession.

Noted top 50 professional futurist and economist Rebecca Ryan is working with ACCE on this ambitious project. At ACCE's Annual Convention in Dallas, Rebecca discussed the trends that will shape our communities, organizations and society in the next 10 years.

Watch Rebecca's presentation (right) and then share your input on the trends identified via our All Our Ideas survey. Vote as little or as much as you want, and you can stop voting at any time. You can also ADD relevant ideas that are not already covered. The survey closes Friday, August 2.

The new Horizon Initiative report will be released January 2025.

Additional Reading:

From the Chair: The Gift - ACCE Horizon Initiative (Chamber Executive, Spring 2024)