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With so many demands on our time and our money, we have to constantly justify where we invest our resources. Having worked in the Chamber business for nine years and in economic development for nearly twenty, I’ve realized that ACCE’s annual gathering is my favorite conference of them all, for three reasons.

First, the speakers and programs are top-notch. ACCE does a good job each year tackling the most current and toughest issues we face as Chambers. Whether your biggest challenge is increasing dues revenue, building the right team or retaining the members you’ve got, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to improve your organization. On top of that, you just might catch Casey Steinbacher talking about how we create collisions, or learn Molly Fletcher’s inspirational story or hear the Des Moines chorus singing about how us Texas Chamber execs can’t stop waving our flags. I always return home with way more ideas than I can implement, and the hardest thing to do is to figure out what NOT to take on next.

Second, the peer networking with colleagues and friends from around the world is the best I’ve ever experienced. If you’ve been through Chamber Institute, WACE or any programs like those around the country, ACCE will feel like a reunion. In the months leading up to Long Beach, the emails and texts have begun to fly, with everyone comparing arrival times and planning the location of that first drink. My Chamber world is one big mostly-happy family, and I can’t wait to see everyone again.

Finally, the host communities always give a great lesson on how to develop a city, and Long Beach should be no exception. Savannah showed us how the historic and modern aspects of a city can thrive together.  Nashville was a non-stop music festival everywhere you went, intent on balancing history and down-home culture with nearly overwhelming growth.  And Des Moines was the biggest surprise of them all. Jay Byers and his team are doing some amazing things, and I’ve been looking for a reason to go back ever since. Maybe to get another Zombie Burger. 

Can somebody bring one to Long Beach?

Tags: #ACCE19, Annual Convention

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

Last week, six marketing and communications leaders from Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri and Tennessee gathered at #ACCEHQ to carefully review more than 160 award submissions. We thank our judges for joining us in Alexandria, Virginia, and lending us their eyes and expertise for this year's competition: Jeremy Henderson (Chattanooga Chamber); Joe Pellman (Indy Chamber); Jennifer Gerlock (Frederick County Chamber of Commerce); Mia Jankowiak (Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce); Kyle Oppenhuizen (Greater Des Moines Partnership) and Alesha Henley (St. Louis Regional Chamber).

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 2019 Annual Convention in Long Beach, California. Learn more about the Awards for Communications Excellence here.

Grand Awards

These award winners represent the finest entries in each entry category in each of the three total annual budget categories. Winners of the Grand Award go on to compete for the Best in Show, which recognizes the best piece in each of the three categories. 

Advertising and Marketing

Champaign County Chamber of Commerce
Champaign, Illinois
Dr. Rogers' Neighborhood: Photo 1, 2, 3, 4 | Facebook Invite

Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce
Huntsville, Alabama
Second Chance Job Fair: Flyer | Handout

Campaigns

Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce
Bentonville, Arkansas
BecauseBentonville Campaign

Greater Fort Wayne Inc.
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Electric Works Campaign: Regional Video | Website | Advocacy Brief
 

Digital

Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce
Dalton, Georgia
"When You're in D-Town" 

Lincoln Chamber of Commerce
Lincoln, Nebraska
"Lincoln, We Chose It" Video

Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
Kansas City, Missouri
A New Website for the KC Chamber: www.kcchamber.com

Publications

Mason Deerfield Chamber
Mason, Ohio
Mason Deerfield Chamber's New Member Packet

Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce
Eugene, Oregon
Open For Business Magazine Rebrand

Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce
Irving, Texas
2018 Irving-Las Colinas Chamber Annual Report

Awards of Excellence

A limited number of Awards of Excellence are presented; winners are selected from submissions of each entry type, from each category. Their work represent communications excellence in the chamber profession. 

Advertising and Marketing

Greenville Chamber
Greenville, South Carolina
Marketing Materials

Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky
Business Spotlight

Campaigns

Buffalo Niagara Partnership
Buffalo, New York
Adaptive Reuse Campaign

Edmonton Chamber of Commerce
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
2019-2022 City Budget Campaign

Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce
Fort Collins, Colorado
Bringing Business Home Campaign

Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce (dba: Greater Gainesville Chamber)
Gainesville, Florida
Rebranding Florida's Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce

Goshen Chamber of Commerce
Goshen, Indiana
Design & Brand Touchpoints

Greater Green Bay Chamber
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Startup Hub Launch

Loudon County Chamber of Commerce
Leesburg, Virginia
50th Anniversary Rebranding Campaign

One Acadiana
Lafayette, Louisiana
Regional Celebration

Salt Lake Chamber
Salt Lake City, Utah
Housing GAP Coalition Campaign

Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce
Springfield, Missouri
Yes for OTC - Yes on A & B Advocacy Campaign to Pass Property Tax Renewal and Increase Proposals

The Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce (dba: The Chamber)
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Rebranding the Chamber

Digital

Aiken Chamber of Commerce 
Aiken, South Carolina
Geofence Targets D.C. Market

Association of Washington Business
Olympia, Washington
AWB News/AWB Amplified

Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga Works

Community Development Foundation
Tupelo, Mississippi
Ignitecast - The Official Podcast of the Ignite Leadership Conference by CDF

Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce
Eugene, Oregon
Bold Leadership 2019 - Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce

Goshen Chamber of Commerce
Goshen, Indiana
Walk and Talk with the Chamber FB Live Weekly Series

Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Create Great - GR Chamber Year in Review

Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
Boston, Massachusetts
City Awake Website

Greater Des Moines Partnership
Des Moines, Iowa
"I'm Up" Music Video

Greater Fort Wayne Inc.
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Digital Marketing Strategy

Greater Houston Partnership
Houston, Texas
A Redesigned Houston.org

Greater New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce
New Braunfels, Texas
Success Flows Here: Feature Film Highlighting Chamber's 100th Anniversary

Greenville Chamber
Greenville, South Carolina
Online Tier Selector

Michigan West Coast Chamber of Commerce
Holland, Michigan
Digital Transformation: New Member Journey

One Acadiana
Lafayette, Louisiana
Aligned for Impact Video Series - One Acadiana

St. Louis Regional Chamber
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis Regional Chamber: Making Social Media Trends

Southwestern Auglaize County Chamber of Commerce
New Bremen, Ohio
Our Community

Tulsa Regional Chamber
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa Creativity Database

Publications

Bossier Chamber of Commerce
Bossier City, Louisiana
Bossier Annual Manual

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce
Bowling Green, Kentucky
Annual Report

Buffalo Niagara Partnership
Buffalo, New York
2019 Advocacy Agenda

Georgia Chamber of Commerce
Atlanta, Georgia
New Georgia Economy Book

Greater Des Moines Partnership
Des Moines, Iowa
Quarterly Board Reports

Mason Deerfield Chamber
Mason, Ohio
Mason Deerfield Chamber's 2018-19 Community Profile & Relocation Guide

Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville 2018 Regional Economic Development Guide

Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce
Rogers, Arkansas
The Good Life Destination Guide

Salt Lake Chamber
Salt Lake, Utah
Utah's Growth: Today's Actions Create Tomorrow's Future

Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce
Springfield, Missouri
Community Leadership Visit Report 2018: Chattanooga, TN

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

The Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives today announced finalists for the 2019 Chamber of the Year competition, sponsored by MemberClicks.

Finalists for 2019 Chamber of the Year are (sorted by category):

Category One:

Murray-Calloway County Chamber of Commerce 
Murray, Kentucky

Wooster Area Chamber of Commerce
Wooster, Ohio

Effingham County Chamber of Commerce 
Effingham, Illinois

Category Two:

Kalispell Chamber of Commerce
Kalispell, Montana

Longview Chamber of Commerce
Longview, Texas

Grapevine Chamber of Commerce
Grapevine, Texas

Category Three:

Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce
Asheville, North Carolina

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce
Bowling Green, Kentucky

Ocala/Marion County Chamber & Economic Partnership
Ocala, Florida

Category Four:

Salt Lake Chamber
Salt Lake City, Utah

Greater Louisville Inc. 
Louisville, Kentucky

Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce
Irving, Texas

In the final phase of the competition, a judging committee conducts in-person interviews with leaders representing each finalist chamber. One winner from each category will be named at the 2019 ACCE Annual Convention in Long Beach, California.

Learn more about Chamber of the Year here.

Tags: Murray-Calloway County Chamber of Commerce, Best Chambers, Ocala/Marion County Chamber & Economic Partnership, Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, Salt Lake Chamber, Chamber of the Year, Top Chambers of Commerce, Chamber Professional, Wooster Area Chamber of Commerce, Effingham County Chamber of Commerce, Grapevine Chamber of Commerce, Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce, #ACCE19, Greater Louisville Inc., #ACCEAwards, Kalispell Chamber of Commerce, Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, Longview Chamber of Commerce, Awards