CCE: More Than a Credential
It's a commitment to the future
The Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) designation is the highest professional recognition in the chamber industry. For members of ACCE’s 2025 CCE class, it represents more than a career milestone. It validates expertise, builds confidence, sparks innovation and strengthens the chamber profession through mentorship and connection.
This year marked a milestone for the program, with 26 chamber professionals earning the designation, the most in ACCE history.
Motivation and Reflection
For many chamber leaders, the motivation to pursue the CCE goes beyond adding letters after their name. It is about a commitment to excellence and a desire to hold themselves, and their organizations, to the highest standard.
Ali Rauch, CCE, president and CEO of the Opelika Chamber of Commerce in Alabama, explained that from the moment she entered the field, she viewed the CCE as the industry’s gold standard. For her, the journey was about more than the credential itself; it was a way to demonstrate to her board and community that she was fully committed to leading at the highest level. What surprised her most, however, was how reflective the process became. Rather than simply checking boxes, she found herself pausing to recognize how far her chamber had come and gaining pride and perspective along the way.
Other graduates echoed the sense of personal validation. Heath Barret, CCE, IOM, vice president of membership development at the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance in Virginia, pursued the designation to challenge himself and confirm that his skills matched the highest professional benchmarks.
For Zeb Welborn, CCE, IOM, president and CEO of the Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce in California, the process was both intimidating and energizing as well as a natural next step after completing WACE Academy and IOM.
And for veteran leader Douglas Peters, CCE, IOM, president and CEO of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce in Texas, the designation carried personal and community meaning. After nearly four decades in the field, he said the milestone was something he owed not only to himself but also to his community.
Validating Expertise and Building Confidence
For many, the CCE journey underscored what they already knew but perhaps hadn’t always said aloud. Lily E. White, CCE, IOM, vice president of external affairs at the Columbia Chamber of Commerce in Missouri, reflected that the process gave her the confidence to recognize her deep industry knowledge and speak about it with authority.
Others found the process to be humbling as well as affirming. Wendy Laros, CCE, president and CEO of the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce in Hawaii, noted that while chamber executives must bring vision, strategy and initiative to their roles, the CCE reminded her that effective leadership also requires humility. That balance, she said, creates space for significant growth.
Sparking Innovation and Strengthening Community
Beyond personal growth, the CCE journey inspired graduates to think differently about their organizations. Barret found that working through the material and engaging with peers sparked new ideas about improving systems and processes in his own chamber.
Laros pointed to research and initiatives shared through ACCE, such as Horizon 2035 and the findings on how chambers are trusted from ACCE’s public opinion poll, as tools she will continue to incorporate into her chamber’s work.
Equally important were the connections forged along the way. Graduates consistently cited mentors and colleagues as central to their success. Rauch said reconnecting with longtime mentors provided both encouragement and perspective on her leadership journey. Welborn emphasized the strength of the chamber community, describing it as filled with “incredibly supportive people.” Peters also highlighted the wisdom and generosity of his mentors, whose guidance shaped his own process.
That spirit of support is already inspiring graduates to pay it forward. White shared her hope to return to an IOM site as a class adviser, eager to guide the next generation of chamber professionals. Rauch echoed that sentiment, viewing her CCE not as an endpoint but as the beginning of a new chapter. She looks forward to mentoring others, elevating her chamber and championing the transformative role chambers play in their communities.
CCE: A Lasting Impact
The impact of the CCE designation is clear. It validates expertise, builds confidence, sparks innovation and strengthens the chamber profession through mentorship and connection.
As Peters reflected, chamber executives will never find a “convenient” time to take on the challenge, but that’s precisely why it matters. For the 2025 class, the CCE is more than a credential. It is a commitment to lead, to mentor and to elevate the chamber profession for the future.
Are you considering obtaining your CCE? Start with this CCE Points Worksheet and learn more about the process here.
