Secure Your Chamber's Future

The biggest threat to your chamber isn’t a slow economy, it’s a stagnant team. Chambers must work to retain their high potential staff as hard as they work to retain their highest-level investors.

ACCE’s Next Generation Leadership Program is designed to transform your ambitious employees into indispensable leaders. It will help your organization:

• Plan for the Future:  Develop a pipeline of competent, confident leaders ready to step up, reducing the panic of a sudden leadership gap.
• Build Executive Confidence: Move your top leaders from functional managers to strategic leaders who share your vision.
• Create a Culture of Growth: Position your chamber as a top-tier destination for talent, not just a stepping stone.

Equip your team with modern leadership insights to navigate the evolving demands of the chamber industry. Participants connect with colleagues from across the country and engage with current chamber executives who speak candidly about decision-making, missteps and lessons learned.

A member of the program’s first cohort, Ross Phillips, COO of the Rogers Lowell Chamber (Ark) said the value came from unfiltered conversations and the ability to apply insights immediately inside his organization. The experience reinforced that leadership growth happens fastest when learning is practical, shared and supported.

The program’s structure is intentionally designed to move learning into action. Virtual professional development sessions are paired with facilitated connection sessions that give participants space to reflect, challenge assumptions and learn from one another. One-on-one mentorship deepens that work by giving participants access to experienced leaders who provide guidance, perspective and accountability as they grow into the next stage of leadership.

ACCE partnered with BetterCulture, a nationally recognized expert in leadership and workplace culture development. BetterCulture currently serves more than 50 chambers nationwide and brings a deep understanding of the leadership challenges unique to the chamber environment.

Applications are now open for the 2026–27 Next Generation Leadership Program cohort, with a submission deadline of April 24, 2026. Prospective applicants can also attend the NextGen Leadership Program Interest Webinar on March 25 at 12 p.m. ET to hear from current participants and learn more about the experience.