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Since 2006, the Waco Chamber of Commerce has produced its own monthly TV show, “Chamber Connection.” The talk-show, which is broadcast on Waco City Cable Channel (WCCC), offers a platform for chamber members to speak directly to the community.

“It’s about giving our members a voice so they can tell their stories,” said Autumn Outlaw, the chamber’s director of marketing and communication and host of Chamber Connection. “The show gives them the opportunity to explain what their business is about, where they came from and why they’re a member of the chamber.”

WCCC is funded by a local tax on cable usage, which goes to public broadcast services. The station, which has a partnership with the Waco Chamber, covers the costs for nearly all aspects of the show’s production.

“The one question I try to ask everyone is, ‘Why would you encourage someone to join the chamber?’” said Outlaw. “Besides being a great message for former and prospective members, it allows people who aren’t business owners to hear how the chamber fosters collaboration and serves the community.”

Outlaw says her favorite part of the show is interviewing members and learning about the businesses they run.

“Doing Chamber Connection, I always learn so much more than I ever thought I would,” she said. “I love finding out what brought our members to Waco and why they do business here. It’s very rewarding to learn about the people we get to serve.”

“I also try to tie in our quarterly publication,” she continued. “For example, I recently pulled in one of our young professionals who was featured in the magazine, and he talked about why young people should move to Waco and the value the YP group brings to the community.”

Outlaw says the show’s reach has been growing and that the feedback she gets is mostly positive.

“We use snippets from the show on social media, and the reach has been fantastic,” she said. “I have people calling all the time asking if they can be interviewed on Chamber Connection.”

For chambers looking to start producing original video content, but unsure where to begin, Outlaw suggests starting out small.

“A cell phone video is an authentic way to capture people’s responses, which could be a good start for building a show of your own,” she said. “It’s also definitely worth reaching out to your local news stations to see if they’d partner with the chamber on some level, too.”

Want to be featured in the #ACCESpotlight? Share your story with Ben Goldstein.

Tags: Communications, Entertainment, Marketing, Public Relations, Television

ACCE’s Awards for Communications Excellence celebrate top-notch marketing work that effectively communicates policy work, the accomplishments of the chamber of commerce, community advancement and economic development initiatives, membership attraction and retention, events and more.

The top three entries — one from each size category — are presented the Best in Show award.

At the #ACCEAwards Show in Nashville, Tennessee on July 18, three organizations — Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce, Kalispell Chamber of Commerce and Portland Business Alliance — were recognized as this year’s Best in Show winners.

Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce
West Bay, Grand Cayman
Economic Growth Matters Campaign

Kalispell Chamber of Commerce
Kalispell, Montana
Winter Campaign: Press Release, Ski Vacation Contest Details, Weekend Sherpa Sponsored Content

Portland Business Alliance
Portland, Oregon
Portland Can Do Better Campaign

Judges of this year’s Communications Excellence awards selected one entry — submitted by the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce — to receive a specially-created recognition called the “Literally Perfect” award. Honored for creative execution and attention-grabbing results, Chattanooga’s Literally Perfect series is, well, literally perfect.

Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga: Literally Perfect Campaign

In addition to celebrating winners of the Best in Show and Literally Perfect awards, Grand Award winners took to the stage and Awards of Excellence winners were recognized. (Check out this blog post, where we announced Grand Award and Award of Excellence winners.)

See photos of Communications Excellence Best in Show winners here and Grand Award winners here.

Tags: #ACCE17, #ACCEAwards, Awards for Communications Excellence, Communications, Marketing

The Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives today announced winners of its Communications Excellence awards program.

In late May 2017, six marketing and communications leaders from Arkansas, Louisiana, Manitoba, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin gathered at #ACCEHQ to carefully review more than 100 award submissions.

These entries highlight some of the freshest and most innovative marketing and communications work coming from ACCE member organizations of all types and sizes.

Each submission was organized by type — advertising and marketing, campaigns, digital and publications — and by the submitting organization’s total annual budget range: under $1 million, $1 to $3 million and above $3 million.

In addition to awards listed below, three “Best in Show” awards will be presented at the 2017 Awards Show.

Grand Awards

Advertising and Marketing

Williamson, Inc.
Franklin, Tennessee
Williamson County Mobility Week: Graphic Elements, Host Media Guide, Emails and Social Media, Multi Media

Kalispell Chamber of Commerce
Kalispell, Montana
Winter Campaign: Press Release, Ski Vacation Contest Details, Weekend Sherpa Sponsored Content

Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga: Literally Perfect Campaign

Campaigns

Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce
West Bay, Grand Cayman
Economic Growth Matters Campaign

Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce
Tysons, Virginia
Northern Virginia Chamber Rebrand

Portland Business Alliance
Portland, Oregon
Portland Can Do Better Campaign

Digital

Greater Greer Chamber of Commerce
Greer, South Carolina
GreerMade Learn the Trade Video

Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce
Toledo, Ohio
It Matters Where You Make It Video

Tulsa Regional Chamber
Tulsa, Oklahoma
FMAC Web Site

Publications

Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce
Selma, Alabama
Selma–Dallas County Find it Local Guide

Conway Area Chamber of Commerce
Conway, Arkansas
Off Campus 2016–17 College Guide

Community Development Foundation
Tupelo, Mississippi
CDF Annual Meeting: Invitation; Program and Annual Report 2016; Video Highlights

Awards of Excellence

Advertising and Marketing

Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce
Beaufort, South Carolina
Beaufort Coast Is Clear

Georgia Chamber of Commerce
Atlanta, Georgia
Advocacy Infographic

Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce
Moline, Illinois/Davenport, Iowa
I'm Invested: Videos, Newspaper Ads

Tulsa Regional Chamber
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Career Awareness

Campaigns

Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
Boston, Massachusetts
"Rise Together" Rebrand

Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce
Galveston, Texas
Lemonade Day Galveston County Campaign

Georgia Chamber of Commerce
Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia 2030

Livingston Parish Chamber of Commerce
Denham Springs, Louisiana
LP BACK 2 BIZ – Disaster Recovery Campaign

Lubbock Chamber of Commerce
Lubbock, Texas
Go Vote Lubbock Campaign: Flyer, Video

Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce
Naperville, Illinois
Rebranding Campaign

Orleans Chamber of Commerce
Orleans, Massachusetts
Runner Up! America's Happiest Seaside Town: Poster, Postcard, Video

Tulsa Regional Chamber
Tulsa, Oklahoma
TYPros Voter Engagement

Digital

Allegheny Conference on Community Development
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Greater Pittsburgh Chamber Year in Review

Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
Boston, Massachusetts
Website Redesign

Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce
Charleston, South Carolina
“That’s Why I’m a Member” Video Campaign

Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Greater Chattanooga Economic Partnership Website

Conway Area Chamber of Commerce
Conway, Arkansas
125th Anniversary Video

Greater Des Moines Partnership
Des Moines, Iowa
Regional Momentum Video

Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce
Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Winter Golf Promo Video

Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce
Edwardsville, Illinois
SAVOR: Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Restaurant Week

Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Annual Report

Northwest Metroport Chamber of Commerce
Roanoke, Texas
Website

Plano Chamber of Commerce
Plano, Texas
Take 10: Legislative Landscape E-Newsletter

Greater Spokane Incorporated
Spokane, Washington
Business AfterSchool Video

Greater Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce
Valparaiso, Indiana
Video Newsletter Highlights

Publications

Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce
Charleston, South Carolina
State House Guide

Greenville Chamber
Greenville, South Carolina
Accelerate Brochure

Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce
Irving, Texas
Annual Report

Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce
Killeen, Texas
Greater Killeen Business Quarterly

Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce
Humble, Texas
Business Matters Magazine

Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce
Lansdowne, Virginia
Annual Report

Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce
Macon, Georgia
Annual Report

Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
Nashville, Tennessee
Economic Development Regional Profile

One Acadiana
Lafayette, Louisiana
Annual Report

Orleans Chamber of Commerce
Orleans, Massachusetts
Truly Orleans: Official Travel Guide

Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce
Owensboro, Kentucky
GO Chamber Magazine

Salt Lake Chamber
Salt Lake City, Utah
Public Policy Guide

Learn more about ACCE's Communications Excellence awards here.

Communications Excellence winners: 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013

Tags: #ACCEAwards, Awards, Awards for Communications Excellence, Branding, Communications, Marketing

Tonight the Miami Heat take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in game one of the NBA finals.  In addition to swarms of national media, 22 international media teams are in Oklahoma City and they will be airing the game to over 200 countries around the globe. Total viewership is estimated at somewhere between 20 and 25 million. For at least 3 hours, those millions of viewers will not only see Kevin Durant and LeBron James battle in the post; thanks to the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber they’ll also see a lot of OKC.

The Chamber’s newly launched website OKC News Room is a journalist’s delight. They have complied video clips, photographs, interviews, fact sheets and sound bites – pages of material and full media packages - all available online.  The seven part series with Oklahoma City Mayor (and former sports broadcaster) Mick Cornett is a particular highlight.

As you watch tonight, look for images of the Oklahoma City skyline and video clips featuring new restaurants in Bricktown.  They were probably supplied by your friends at the Oklahoma City Chamber.

Want to learn more about this project and other cutting edge economic development marketing? Join Oklahoma City Chamber CEO Roy Williams and VP of Marketing and Communications Cynthia Reid as they lead the Innovative Community Marketing Strategies workshop at the ACCE Convention in Louisville, Aug 1-4.

Tags: Branding, Economic Development, Marketing, media, NBA, Oklahoma City