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40 Under 40
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ACCE is dedicated to recognizing and supporting the most talented professionals in the chamber industry. This annual recognition program showcases 40 of the industry’s top emerging leaders who have demonstrated success in their careers and made significant contributions to the communities they serve. The list includes CEOs and staff professionals from a wide variety of roles and chamber sizes. Their creativity, dedication and commitment to identifying innovative solutions will help shape the future of the chamber profession.
Learn more about ACCE's 40 Under 40 recognition program, its eligibility requirements and past winners here.
Ashley Alford Glance
President
Putnam County Chamber of Commerce
Nominated by Chris Wallace, Agency Director, Vandalia Digital
Since joining the chamber in 2010, Ashley has proven herself as a dedicated leader who continuously works to improve our community. Her vision and forward-thinking approach led to the development of Area 34, a shared workspace that has become a key resource for the local business community. She has also helped push other chamber organizations in the state to be better by serving for the last four years as the president of the West Virginia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. Ashley’s drive, dedication and innovative ideas make her an exceptional leader. Her contributions have had a lasting impact on our community.
Jessica Anderson
Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce
Nominated by Jerry Sanders, President & CEO, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce
Jessica leads the chamber’s strategy and vision, oversees day-to-day operations and directs public policy initiatives and our advocacy agenda. She has recruited talent and elevated and empowered staff to ensure the organization remains a leading voice in the community on policy issues. She has also led our most highly attended delegation trips ever to Washington, DC, Sacramento and Mexico City to advocate on chamber priorities.
Paige Anderson
Director of Investor Engagement
Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
Nominated by Melia Leedy, Vice President of Member and Investor Relations, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
Paige’s career trajectory over her 12 years of experience with the chamber illustrates her exceptional dedication, innovative thinking and leadership abilities. As a member relations intern, she demonstrated her analytical skills by conducting vital research for a membership dues restructure, laying a solid foundation for future roles. She led the programs and events team through the pandemic and adapted programming to create high-quality digital content. Now as director of investor relations, Paige excels at managing relationships with our top investors, securing revenue, and leading the economic development strategic planning process.
Diana Baccus
Director, Event Management
Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce
Nominated by Chip Cherry, President & CEO, Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce
Diana was hired to manage a newly created events department two years ago. Events represent 35% of our annual revenue. She has done an outstanding job establishing this department and winning over the team. Her ability to support events from four different divisions and the personalities and needs of four VPs has been noteworthy. I had high expectations for her position, and she has exceeded them.
Kyle Bedford
Director, Events
Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
Nominated by Ashli Watts, President and CEO, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
Kyle has consistently demonstrated an exceptional ability to oversee and execute high-caliber events that have significantly elevated the Kentucky Chamber's profile. What truly sets Kyle apart is his calm leadership under pressure and his unwavering commitment to customer service. Time and again, I have witnessed Kyle go above and beyond for our members, handling difficult situations with grace and ensuring that every event reflects positively on the chamber. His innovative approach and strategic thinking have brought recognition and honor to our organization, significantly impacting our community and membership.
Alex Berrios-Hernandez
Policy Advocate
Yorba Linda Chamber of Commerce
Nominated by Susan Wan-Ross, CEO , Yorba Linda Chamber of Commerce
Alex’s passion for public policy, nonprofit leadership, and his dedication to community service make him a standout leader within the chamber industry. As the policy advocate for our chamber, Alex has authored key amicus briefs, led successful media campaigns advocating for small businesses and introduced innovative programs like the Future CEO youth education course and the National Civics Bee. His ability to blend public policy advocacy with community engagement is truly extraordinary. His work has made a tangible difference in the lives of countless individuals, from supporting small businesses to empowering the next generation of leaders.
Kimberley Blohm
President & CEO
The Greater Boerne Chamber of Commerce
Nominated by Robb Weller II, Chairman, Board of Directors Board / Senior Vice President, The Greater Boerne Chamber of Commerce / Jefferson Bank
Kim has overcome challenges faced in a small but fast-growing community, the most difficult being siloed leadership and a protective community culture. Instead of tiptoeing around these barriers, Kim wholeheartedly embraced the senior leadership and became a positive force for change. She is the glue that unites our community; the leader we needed at a crucial time in our community’s growth. The chamber, under Kim’s five years of leadership, has more than doubled in members to 1,100+, averaged 83% membership retention, improved its financial health and received multiple recognitions.
Amanda Byers
Director, Talent & Policy
Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce
Nominated by Linda Ashworth, COO, Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce
Amanda works every day to drive systems and policy change in our community around education and training, along with connecting our members with critical resources to aid their workforce development, retention and attraction efforts. Amanda is a catalyst for the work that the our chamber is doing in the region, including expanding work-based learning experiences for K-12 students, creating opportunities for employers to engage in our education systems and expanding our commitment to Dayton’s future workforce.
Megan Campbell
Vice President of Marketing & Communications
Greenville Chamber of Commerce
Nominated by Liz Horton, Chief Operating Officer, Greenville Chamber of Commerce
Megan is an exceptionally talented storyteller and marketer who exhibits initiative and a positive attitude toward accomplishment and improvement of the Greenville Chamber, qualities that have made her an invaluable member of our team. Megan has pitched story ideas to numerous media outlets, securing stories and segments in multiple local and state publications and nationally in the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and 60 Minutes. Her attitude, application of effort, and innovative spirit are strong assets to our chamber and our community.
Travis Condon
Public Affairs Manager
North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce
Nominated by Roy Nascimento, President and CEO, North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce
Travis has consistently demonstrated outstanding leadership, innovation and a commitment to excellence. He has played a pivotal role in numerous initiatives, significantly impacting our organization and communities, including cultivating relationships with government leaders across 27 cities and towns; securing over $5.4 million in federal, state and local grants; leading critical workforce and talent initiatives and organizing key government affairs events. A particularly innovative contribution Travis makes to the chamber and our region is hosting and producing the Chamber's weekly podcast, "Inside North Central Massachusetts." Through this platform, he engages in meaningful conversations with leaders from industry, education, healthcare, and government, providing valuable insights into regional developments.
Emily Cooper
Vice President of Programs
Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce\
Nominated by Jack Lavin, President and CEO, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
Emily has successfully expanded our program offerings and strategically positioned our organization as a key player in addressing the needs of the business community. She played a pivotal role in creating the Women’s Business Council and Workforce & Talent Council as well as transforming the Mid-Market Initiative. Her focus on collaboration and partner management has resulted in a more robust Chamber network and increased member engagement. She also led the creation of the chamber’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Steering Committee, which has become a vital resource for businesses looking to adopt best practices in equity-driven programming.
Tyler Cravens
Chief Operating Officer
McLean County Chamber of Commerce
Nominated by Charlie Moore, President & CEO, McLean County Chamber of Commerce
Our chamber operates under the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), and Tyler serves as the Integrator, leading our six team members in their day-to-day work. Under his leadership, our membership has grown nearly 7% in the last two years, and revenue is up more than 17% during that time frame. Modernizing our technology and office infrastructure has been another key priority he has pursued, equipping our team with the flexibility they needed to serve our members. Attracting and retaining talent has been another focus area, and we have seen staff turnover reduced by 50% in the last two years. A comprehensive set of initiatives to make that happen has taken place with much thought and dedication.
Maya Curry
Vice President - Communications and Programming
Newark Regional Business Partnership
Nominated by Ferlanda Nixon, President & CEO, Newark Regional Business Partnership
Maya has been instrumental in communicating our new "Engage and Exchange" strategy, which shifts the organization from a transactional model to one that fosters collaboration among members, staff and stakeholders. She refreshed our website to showcase the diversity of our membership across various dimensions, emphasizing inclusivity. Her innovative redesign of our weekly digital newsletter features four tailored landing pages, enhancing accessibility to news, resources, media mentions, and member promotions. She has also significantly elevated our social media presence by documenting the organization’s new CEO’s listening tour encounters with members, promoting transparency and community engagement.
Zach Fiore
Director, Talent Pipeline and ATL Talent Collaborative
Metro Atlanta Chamber
Nominated by Tim Cairl, Sr Dir, Talent Development, Metro Atlanta Chamber
Zach has led the creation, management and day-to-day program work of the ATL Talent Collaborative, an active roundtable of over 30 chief human resource officers and heads of talent acquisition from the chamber’s investor corporations who focus on filling their hardest-to-fill jobs that are critical to their main lines of business. He has demonstrated incredible innovation with engaging this group of talent leaders and providing space for them and their sta to share better practices related to hiring and sourcing talent with a specific goal of expanding their talent acquisition networks into untapped and under-resourced communities across the region.
Bryan Fox
Vice President of Public Policy
Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce
Nominated by Geoff Durham, President & CEO, Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce
Bryan has been with us for almost seven years now and has demonstrated a passion for not only advancing our members and community through his work, but also for helping our organization participate in the mutually beneficial network of resources available through peer connections at the regional, state, industry and association levels. He is a collaborator who pitches in on all aspects of organization management, planning and execution, including everything from our signature events to day-to-day operations and is an asset to both our community and our industry.
Lauren Getts
VP of Economic Development & Strategic Communications
Greater Manchester Chamber
Nominated by Heather McGrail, President & CEO, Greater Manchester Chamber
As a highly impactful department of one, Lauren has led the marketing and communications for our chamber that represents the largest city in New Hampshire. Her talent has transformed our chamber’s identity, supported our internal team and most importantly, helped our members effectively tell their stories. She led a major re-brand process to replace our outdated brand with one more reflective of the modernity and innovation embodied by our team. Our ACCESS Economic Growth Conference, a new program inspired by Lauren’s vision, earned a revenue growth of over 400% in its second year.
Katie Harwood
Manager of Talent Development and Access Tallahassee
Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce
Nominated by Corrie Melton, Vice President of Membership and Talent Development, Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce
Katie has been instrumental in establishing two Talent Pipeline Management Employer Collaboratives—one in technology and another in healthcare. She also completed the ACCE Skills-Based Hiring coursework, equipping her with strategies to recruit and guide eight businesses in adopting skills-based employer practices. Katie organized our recent 2024 North Florida Worlds of Work Career Expo with extraordinary precision. This event welcomed high school students who explored ten themed "worlds" representing 18 industries. Katie managed logistics for 130 employers, 550 employees and close to 3,000 students across two campuses, making the event seamless, secure, and exceptionally impactful.
Sullivan Hogan
Director of Video Communications
Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership\
Nominated by Jessica Gilbert, VP, Foundation, Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership
Sullivan Hogan has made remarkable strides at the Ocala Chamber and Economic Partnership, demonstrating an innovative approach that blends creativity with community engagement. Her unique video content not only showcases local businesses but also highlights the vibrant culture and spirit of the area, fostering a strong sense of community pride. By leveraging her background in digital media communications and theatre, she has transformed traditional marketing strategies, bringing fresh perspectives to how chambers can engage with their members and the public. Her efforts to create authentic, relatable content set a new standard in the profession, encouraging other chambers to adopt similar strategies.
Jen Kerns
Account Executive
Evansville Regional Economic Partnership
Nominated by Justin Groenert, Chief Strategy Officer, Evansville Regional Economic Partnership
Jen began her chamber career at the Kosciusko Chamber in northern Indiana, working as their Main Street coordinator and a member relations manager. She brought those skills to the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership in 2022 and has consistently been a stellar community partner. Her successes already include the ACCE Dana Ketterling Lifetime Sales Achievement Award for new membership sales. She is also participating in this year’s ACCE sales contest. Her work with our members is top notch. She oversees our ambassador program and runs our highly successful Chamber Networking and News (CNN) weekly events that average 80-100 members. She truly has a servant’s heart and is an up-and-coming chamber leader.
Ellis Keifer
Vice President of Economic Development
Greater Winston-Salem Inc.
Nominated by Mark Owens, President & CEO, Greater Winston-Salem Inc.
Ellis has been instrumental in the creation of over 2,400 jobs and $680 million in capital investment, surpassing the job recruitment numbers of the previous decade in just four years. Her ability to share Winston-Salem's story and attract new businesses has strengthened the local economy and created lasting partnerships. In addition to leading the expansion of the Economic Development team from two to five members, Ellis launched the Greater Insights Economic Development Forum, offering local leaders invaluable perspectives on our organization’s complex development efforts. Her leadership and strategic vision have earned recognition beyond Forsyth County, contributing to our organization’s win as the 2024 ACCE Chamber of the Year.
Alanna Luksha
Vice President, Events + NextUp JAX
JAX Chamber of Commerce
Nominated by Kelly Pourciau, COO, JAX Chamber of Commerce
Alanna started at the chamber when she was 19 years old and has grown leaps and bounds from an events coordinator to now serving as the Vice President of Events and NextUp Jax. She brings a measured approach to event planning, balancing member engagement, customer service and fiscal responsibility. She is thoughtful, intentional and has a great eye for detail while not overlooking the big picture. In addition to event planning, she leads our two young professional groups, NextUp Jax and the Hightower Fellowship. She is a shining example of what the next generation brings, both to our businesses and our community at large.
Britain Lynn Walker
Vice President of Member Engagement
Tulsa Regional Chamber of Commerce
Nominated by Mike S. Neal, President and Chief Executive Officer , Tulsa Regional Chamber of Commerce
Britain joined us in 2018 and quickly became a sales leader in relationship management, investor fulfillment and member satisfaction. Named vice president of member engagement in 2023, Britain directs, guides, executes and oversees the chamber’s membership, sponsorship sales and retention strategy to generate over $5.5M for the chamber’s annual budget. She directly manages a sales team of three member engagement managers responsible for achieving annual membership and sponsorship metrics, while also executing the organization's member engagement strategy. Under her leadership, the sales team has doubled its production over the last 12 months. Britain led the largest sponsorship campaign in the chamber’s history, raising over $2.7M with a 25 percent increase in sponsor dollars and an 83 percent retention of sponsors from 2023.
Brett May
Vice President of Operations & Administration
Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce
Nominated by Beth A. Bowman, President & CEO, Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce
Since joining our leadership team in March 2022, Brett May’s responsibilities have greatly expanded to comprise all aspects of our organization, including financial management, accounting, operations, human resources, technology infrastructure, marketing and communications and innovation functions at the chamber. With only a staff of two, Brett has modernized our office processes and infrastructure, enabling our chamber to recover from the consequences of the COVID pandemic and to continue to grow, innovate and fulfill our mission. As staff liaison to the chamber’s Strategic Visioning Committee, she helped create a new five-year strategic plan adopted by the Board of Directors.
James Medaglio
Director, Business Attraction & Expansion
The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia
Nominated by Chellie Cameron, President & CEO, The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia
Under James’ leadership, business attraction leads and prospects surged by an impressive 300%, a direct result of the strategic realignment of his team. This shift ensured that Philadelphia remains highly competitive in an ever-evolving market. One of his hallmark achievements was the creation of a comprehensive engagement strategy that brought together chamber members and regional stakeholders around business attraction and expansion efforts. This initiative solidified Greater Philadelphia’s position as a key hub for economic development.
Margaret Murphy Monk
President
Greater Hartsville Chamber of Commerce
Nominated by Craig Weber, Treasurer of Hartsville Chamber Board, Greater Hartsville Chamber of Commerce
Margaret has the skills, talent, and ambition that are absolutely necessary to survive as a small-town chamber president. She utterly transformed the Hartsville Chamber in her first year and has continued to do so as we come up on her 8th anniversary. Her ability to lead people and to bring groups together toward a common goal are outstanding. No one works harder for her members, and her community is thriving under her leadership.
Reese Niu
Workforce Planning Director
Elevate Rapid City
Nominated by Taylor Davis, Senior Director, Workforce Development & Partnerships, Elevate Rapid City
Reese has been an integral force in driving our organization’s mission forward. Her creativity, innovative ideas, and willingness to pitch in wherever needed have not only propelled our workforce initiatives but have also set a new standard for our region. Her leadership in spearheading the ACCE Economic Mobility Grant program is a prime example of her vision. She developed and implemented a low-barrier micro-credentialing initiative that provides opportunity talent populations with free training and guaranteed interviews for in-demand jobs in healthcare and construction. This initiative has been transformative, creating new career pathways for individuals who have historically faced barriers to employment, while meeting critical workforce shortages in our community.
Devon O'Reilly
Senior Director, Community Engagement & Leadership Development
Detroit Regional Chamber
Nominated by Tammy Carnrike , Chief Operating Officer , Detroit Regional Chamber
Devon leads multiple key programs for the chamber focused on leadership, small business impact, and supporting the ongoing revitalization of Detroit’s neighborhoods. Under Devon’s Leadership, the Leadership Detroit has been reimagined with new and innovative topics while remaining one of the premier leadership programs in the country. He led the creation of the chamber’s NeighborHUB program. This program directs grant dollars to Detroit-based nonprofits and small businesses to create welcoming and exciting spaces in their community. To date the program has awarded 93 grants totaling $2.3 million. He also created and hosts the Detroiters Think Big podcast series, which served to showcase and tell the stories of local small business owners creating a positive impact in their communities.
Ashley Odil
Sr. Director, Events and Sponsorships
Portland Metro Chamber
Nominated by Benjamin Forstag, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, Portland Metro Chamber
Ashley has led the chamber's event department since 2016. During her tenure, the chamber has been a leader in delivering high-quality events that provide value to our members, advance our policy priorities, increase our standing in the community and generate significant non-dues revenue. Since returning to a full in-person event schedule in 2022, Ashley has sold out every single signature event, far surpassing our attendance and revenue goals. She nurtured an innovative partnership with local media outlets to livestream our monthly Breakfast Forum series, increasing the visibility and impact of the events, without reducing in-person attendance. Last fiscal year, our events team generated a record annual net revenue of nearly $400,000—representing 11% of total chamber revenue.
Paul Oh
Director of Public Policy and Community Affairs
Gwinnett Chamber
Nominated by Nick Masino, President & CEO, Gwinnett Chamber
Paul has a unique ability to foster meaningful and genuine connections with our elected officials and their staff to ensure “championing business” is a unifying message. Paul led the campaign efforts to renew the county’s special purpose local option sales tax to a confident 63.8% victory – higher than its previous two votes with every county precinct in support. This was achieved despite a high-inflation economy and on the heels of a global pandemic. He spearheaded the creation of two 501c4 entities and the fundraising of nearly $200K, bringing together express advocacy and education-only groups to coordinate a strategic campaign.
Kristin Peoples
Director of Member Relations & Engagement
Wilmington Chamber of Commerce
Nominated by Megan Mullins, Chief Marketing and Engagement Officer, Wilmington Chamber of Commerce
Kristin’s combination of professional success and personal commitment to her community is what sets her apart. She’s a true leader, both in the chamber world and in Wilmington, and her impact on the local business community is undeniable. One of her biggest achievements has been boosting member retention to an impressive 97%. She’s really focused on building strong, lasting relationships with chamber members and making sure they feel supported. On top of that, she’s been instrumental in bringing over 300 new businesses into the fold in 2024 alone.
Danielle Permenter
Chief Development Officer
Orlando Economic Partnership
Nominated by Timothy Giuliani, President & CEO, Orlando Economic Partnership
Danielle drives strategic initiatives that enhance corporate engagement and community development across the region. Her oversight of key programs like Leadership Orlando and The Black Boardroom Leadership Institute demonstrates her commitment to fostering inclusive leadership and equipping future leaders with the necessary tools to succeed. Her role extends to managing strategic investor engagement and organizing pivotal events and programs that propel Orlando's economic growth. Danielle’s work not only supports economic growth but also champions a sustainable quality of life for the region, embodying the core values of leadership, innovation and community commitment.
Caitlin Pusateri
President
Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce
Nominated by Angela Kay Larson, Chief Executive Officer, Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce
Leading a chamber is filled with challenges. Those challenges are amplified when your chamber is in the midst of a merger, reorganization, reduction-in-force, software conversion, and leadership transition — all on the heels of the 2020 pandemic. And yet, amidst all this change, Caitlin persevered and relentlessly served our members. Under her leadership, the team continued business retention visits, completed business attraction requests, supported partnerships with elected officials, celebrated new businesses, published newsletters and publications, overhauled the membership investment packages, produced networking and member recognition programs and events, elevated our leader development program and literally “kept the lights on.”
Jack Russell
President & CEO
OneZone Chamber
Nominated by Ryan Mooney, Director, Commercial Relationship Manager, BMO
Jack has expanded the chamber’s impact and reach, overseeing the merger with Northern Hamilton County Chamber in 2023 and creating the One Impact Foundation and OneZone Business Action Committee (PAC). These initiatives reflect his forward-thinking approach to strengthening both the chamber and the community. He has introduced initiatives like childcare roundtables and disability employment programs, addressing critical community needs and securing the chamber's role as a key problem-solver. Jack’s leadership extends beyond OneZone. He currently chairs the Indiana Chamber Executives Association and serves on multiple boards, influencing chamber practices statewide.
Jorge Sanchez
Vice President of Economic Development
McAllen Chamber of Commerce
Nominated by Elizabeth Suarez, President & CEO, McAllen Chamber of Commerce
Marked by a journey of service from intern to vice president of economic development, Jorge has demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovative thinking and a passion for driving positive change. His innovative thinking is highlighted by programs like Latina Hope, a pitch competition that facilitates training, networking and microbusiness development for Spanish speaking women. Jorge’s upbringing in Monterrey, Mexico influenced his approach to economic development and his commitment to creating successful pathways for international business. From creating low-cost virtual offices and providing business counseling, he is passionate about supporting international companies looking for new opportunities.
Justin A. Saunders
Vice President of Membership & Strategic Growth
Hampton Roads Chamber
Nominated by Bryan K. Stephens , President & CEO, Hampton Roads Chamber
Justin leads our membership efforts with remarkable skill, overseeing all aspects from new member development to retention strategies. His innovative approach has enhanced our member base and significantly strengthened member engagement, fostering a vibrant business community in our region. In addition to his membership responsibilities, he plays a crucial role in our overall growth strategy. He effectively manages eight boards, coordinates numerous events, and oversees various committees and ambassadors; all while facilitating over sixty ribbon cutting ceremonies annually.
Carla Schaeperkoetter
Chief Operating Officer
The State Chamber of Oklahoma
Nominated by Brent Skarky, SVP Communications, The State Chamber of Oklahoma
Carla’s professional and steady approach was critical in helping us navigate financial challenges and secure the chamber’s financial stability. Thanks to her contributions, we have not only achieved our strategic goals but also built a dynamic team of employees and board members who are driving impactful change across our state. One of Carla’s most notable accomplishments has been her role in establishing ChamberCare, a Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangement that offers affordable health coverage to small businesses through local chambers. This initiative has created a new revenue stream for the Chamber while providing a much-needed resource for our community. Her leadership, energy, and commitment to sound financial decisions have set us on a path to sustainable growth that is truly commendable.
Janelle Smith
President
Howell Area Chamber of Commerce
Nominated by Geof Greeneisen, Principal, Rescue LLC
With over a decade of industry experience, Janelle has made significant contributions to the chambers and communities she has served. At the Howell Chamber, she led initiatives that cultivated a strong business environment and developed crucial partnerships with organizations and other economic development entities Her leadership in securing a Small Business Support Hub Grant, in partnership with Ann Arbor Spark, will enable the chamber to provide technical assistance to businesses and entrepreneurs.
Lily White
Vice President of External Affairs
Columbia Chamber of Commerce
Nominated by Matt McCormick, President, Columbia Chamber of Commerce
Lily was recently named the Vice President of External Affairs at the Columbia Chamber after a five-year tenure as the President of the Maryville Chamber of Commerce. Her skills and passion make her an asset not only to the Columbia Chamber of Commerce but also our community as a whole and the chamber industry. During her time in the chamber industry, Lily has been vital in the success of multiple legislative actions, including the Interstate 70 Expansion across the State of Missouri, securing more than $600,0000 in Business Grants during the COVID-19 pandemic and the awarding of more than $1.2 million in ARPA and grant monies to the Columbia Chamber Foundation for the Workforce Development Division.
Andrea Winey
Vice President of Communications & Events
Loudoun Chamber of Commerce
Nominated by Anthony Howard, President & CEO, Loudoun Chamber of Commerce
An 11-year member of the Loudoun Chamber team, Andrea has grown to become a proven leader within our organization and a rising star in the chamber industry. She has consistently proven her commitment to improving her professional skills while devoting time and leadership to advancing the Loudoun Chamber’s mission. She leads a four-person team responsible for producing 100+ events a year – from 500+ attendee galas to various workshops and larger panel discussions. An accomplished communications professional, her work has earned eight ACCE Awards for Communication Excellence honors.
Samira Zimmerly
President
Wooster Area Chamber of Commerce
Wooster, Ohio
Nominated by Amy Marinello, Broker, Berkshire Hathaway
Under Samira’s leadership, we have seen consistent growth in membership, high member retention rates and increased investments from returning members. The chamber's overall revenue has doubled during her tenure. She played a pivotal role in enhancing our organization through the introduction of new events and programs, as well as the revitalization of existing ones. Her unwavering commitment and tireless efforts have transformed our organization, leading to impactful programming for the Wooster community. One of her standout achievements is the creation of the Loyal to Local program, which fosters a supportive environment for local businesses to thrive during the holiday season.
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