I am a CCE

Ian R. Fletcher, CCE

 Meet Ian R. Fletcher, CCE, chief operating officer and vice president of education and talent at the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce (Fla.). Ian has spent more than 18 years in the chamber industry, all with the Gainesville Area Chamber. He earned his Certified Chamber Executive designation in 2022.

What stands out from your experience in earning your CCE? 

What stands out from my experience earning my CCE is the network of CCEs I get to interact with, starting with my two mentors who helped me through the process. Also, I never in my lifetime believed I could learn so much about finance and accounting.

What advice would you give to the next generation of professionals? 

It’s easy to chase visibility, but the real work is often invisible. Helping a business connect with the right person in the city government to get a permit to build something new is invisible. Not having the numbers you want to see at a Financial Aid Lab for high school seniors and their parents or guardians, but the impact you make on the people who did attend is priceless. Focus on the people and business you help or encourage, and the partnerships you build. Those quiet victories often have the loudest long-term impact.

Books you are reading these days?  

The FBI Way: Inside the Bureau’s Code of Excellence, by Frank Figliuzzi

If you could recommend one book to your chamber peers, what would it be?

The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth, by Amy C. Edmondson

Share a fun fact about yourself.

I was the Duck Master on my birthday at the Peabody Memphis hotel in Memphis, Tennessee, while attending the 2022 Talent and Economic Development Annual Meeting.

If you had a superpower, what would it be?  

My ability to remain calm during a crisis. 

Interested in joining this prestigious company of influential chamber leaders? Take this important step for your career. If you have six or more years of senior-level chamber management experience and are currently employed in a senior-level chamber management position, then review the eligibility requirements and consider earning your CCE. Applications for the 2026 Class are due February 6, 2026. Learn more here.