NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce has been selected for the most prestigious national award presented to chambers of commerce -- the American Chamber of Commerce Executives' (ACCE) Chamber of the Year award. The award recognizes the top chambers in the nation for organizational excellence including financial, member services and connections, engagement of volunteers and leading communities by making an impact on key community priorities.
The Chamber's overall organizational performance qualified the organization to apply for the award in the largest chamber category. The Nashville for All of Us community coalition and the development of "A Leading Edge," a suite of programs designed to help members manage through the economic downturn, were used as case studies in the Chamber's application.
Ralph Schulz, Chamber president and CEO, and Ben Wolf, vice president of member services, were interviewed at ACCE's annual convention in Raleigh, N.C., and winners were announced at an awards presentation on Friday, July 31. Other finalists in the largest chamber category included the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Greater Louisville Inc., from Louisville, Ky.
"This year's Chamber of the Year award selection process was especially competitive," said Mick Fleming, president of ACCE. "Many chambers provided compelling applications and all finalists were able to demonstrate significant accomplishments during their intense, in-person interviews. In the end, only one nominee in each size category could win. It was the consistent quality, as well as the scope and scale, of the Nashville Chamber's work that elevated them above the other finalists in the eyes of the judges. Ralph Schulz and the team he has assembled are clearly driving positive change in their region - and that's what modern chamber work is all about."
"We are excited to be named the nation's top chamber of commerce of our size, and we couldn't have done it without the leadership and support of our board, staff, members and community partners," said Schulz. "Now, we must all continue pushing forward with an aggressive list of priorities to support and increase prosperity in our region."
The ACCE awards provide chambers across the country with examples of best practices for specific chamber programs, campaigns, products or communications pieces.
"By receiving this award from ACCE, we hope to help bring awareness to the good work that chambers of commerce are doing around the country, particularly in a changing economic landscape," said Ron Samuels, chairman, president and CEO of Avenue Bank and chairman of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. "The entire Nashville-area community can be proud of their contribution to our region being recognized with such a distinct honor."
Established in 1914, ACCE is the only national association serving the professional development needs of chamber professionals throughout the United States and Canada. Representing more than 7,000 individuals, ACCE enhances the knowledge, leadership skills, and management effectiveness of chamber executives and their staff through education, benefits programs, trend analysis, benchmarking, and network development. ACCE supports and develops chamber professionals to lead businesses and their communities.