Two Named 2024 Life Members

ACCE announces that Thomas Baldrige, CCE, and Jay Byers, CCE, IOM, are this year's recipients of the Life Member Award. ACCE bestows this pinnacle award on those who retire after stellar careers in chamber leadership. 

“We are pleased to honor Tom and Jay with this well-deserved recognition,” said ACCE President & CEO Sheree Anne Kelly. “Their leadership and dedication to advancing their chambers and improving the economic vitality of their regions, along with their exemplary service to the chamber industry, have inspired countless individuals within our profession.”

Join us in honoring Tom and Jay, their enduring influence and lifetime of service to the chamber profession when we celebrate this esteemed recognition on Wednesday, July 17 during the awards show, sponsored by Comcast Business, at the ACCE Convention in Dallas.

Thomas Baldrige, CCE

Tom Baldrige was president and CEO of the Lancaster Chamber (Pa.) from 2000-2022. Prior to that he had served as the chamber's vice president of government affairs and executive vice president from 1988-1993. Under Tom's leadership, in 2003 and 2013, The Lancaster Chamber was judged Chamber of the Year by ACCE; and in 2021 it was a national finalist.

Tom served as ACCE board chair in 2014-15 and served on the ACCE Foundation Board from 2019 until his retirement. He also was active in a number of ACCE committees throughout his chamber career. In 2011 he won the ACCE Chair’s Award for his work in leading the strategic planning process for ACCE.

During his career, Tom also served as president of The Lancaster Alliance, an organization focused on the revitalization of the City of Lancaster; assistant director of communications for the Senate of Pennsylvania; and scheduling coordinator for Governor Dick Thornburgh.

He earned his Certified Chamber Executive designation in 2008 and graduated from Institute of Organizational Management in 1993. Tom holds a bachelor's degree from Ithaca College and has completed graduate courses at Elmira College.

Tom currently serves on the boards of the High Foundation, Penn Medicine/Lancaster General Health, Lancaster History and Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology. He has also launched The 2nd Mountain, a business for recent retirees.

Jay Byers, CCE, IOM 

Jay Byers served the Greater Des Moines Partnership (Iowa), the regional chamber of commerce and economic development organization representing the Greater Des Moines (DSM) region, for 18 years, including 11 years as CEO. Under his leadership, The Partnership experienced significant growth, expanding to represent 11 counties and 24 affiliate chambers of commerce with more than 6,500 members, making The Partnership the fourth largest regional chamber in the country. 

Jay chaired the Iowa Chamber Alliance and was active with the Professional Developers of Iowa and the Iowa Association of Chambers of Commerce. He also chaired ACCE, served on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100 and was the U.S. representative on the International Chamber of Commerce World Chambers Federation General Council. Jay is a Certified Chamber Executive and is a graduate of the Institute for Organization Management and University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute.

Prior to serving as CEO, Jay was The Partnership’s senior vice president of government relations and public policy. Before joining The Partnership, he was district director for Iowa Congressman Leonard Boswell and an attorney at the Ice Miller Law Firm in Indianapolis, Indiana, after earning his Juris Doctor from the University of Iowa College of Law.

He currently serves on multiple boards of directors, including the Indianola Chamber of Commerce, Iowa Economic Development Authority, Warren County Economic Development Corporation, ChildServe and the Blank Park Zoo Foundation. He is also a member of the Indianola Rotary.

Jay's accolades include the ACCE Chairman’s Award (2020); the Des Moines Business Record Forty Under 40 Alum of the Year (2012), Catch Des Moines Community Champion Award (2014), Iowa Character Award (2023) and recognition as the #2 Most Influential Business Leader by the Des Moines Business Record (2019-23).

On July 31, 2023, Jay assumed his current role as the 25th president of Simpson College, which was founded in 1860. A 1993 graduate of Simpson, Jay had served on Simpson’s board of trustees since 2012 and was awarded the Simpson College Alumni Achievement Award in 2015.