Wednesday, August 7 – 10:00am

Introduction to Deborah Lanham Consulting

Deborah Lanham, Founder & President 

Join us as we hear more about Deborah’s new firm – Deborah Lanham Consulting! She is a consultant who specializes in helping organizations break through barriers and maximize community growth. For Chambers, she can help unlock economic initiatives and optimize membership growth.

CLICK HERE to register for this meeting. Once you complete the short registration form, the system will share the Zoom meeting link, and you can add it to your calendar. The meeting will be recorded and shared with the membership in case you aren’t able to join us on that day.

Tuesday, August 27 – 2:00pm

Ambassador Training Program – Opelika (AL) Chamber

Ali Rauch, President & CEO

Are you looking to create an Ambassador Program for your Chamber or looking to re-vamp your current program? Do you struggle with how to get your Ambassadors up to speed on how to talk about your Chamber? Do you have relevant roles, policies, and expectations for your Ambassadors? Be sure to join us as we hear from Ali with the Opelika (AL) Chamber – and new ACCE Chamber of the Year! – about their program and how they handle Ambassador orientation.

CLICK HERE to register for this meeting. Once you complete the short registration form, the system will share the Zoom meeting link, and you can add it to your calendar. The meeting will be recorded and shared with the membership in case you aren’t able to join us on that day.

Wednesday, August 28 - 10:30am

GACCE Office Hours - Organizational Structure

Pam Carnes, GCCE, President & CEO, Cherokee County Chamber

Join us as Pam dives into Organizational Structure for Chambers – she’ll cover items including, but not limited to:

• Articles of Incorporation
• Bylaws
• Certification Letter as an IRS 501(c)6
• Board of Directors orientation overview, job description, conflict of interest declarations and commitment form                                                      
• Sample minutes from Board meetings
• General Policy & Procedure Manual – Chamber Operations Manual (not employee manual)

These webinars are for all chamber staff – not just Chamber Executives! Be sure to come ready with any questions you may have related to Organizational Structure.

CLICK HERE to register for this meeting. Once you complete the short registration form, the system will share the Zoom meeting link, and you can add it to your calendar. The meeting will be recorded and shared with the membership in case you aren’t able to join us on that day.

GACCE is pleased to partner with Teri Smiley and Starfish Partnerships for a new All Things Chamber Webinar Series. This is perfect for new staff members or a refresher for current staff.

The All Things Chamber bundle provides pre-recorded material, averaging a hour per module, plus downloadable notes pages of the PowerPoints and additional PDF documents.  Participating chambers will have access to the website through December 2025.

The fee for the program is $195 per chamber. CLICK HERE to register. Participating chambers will also be invited to a private Facebook group for Q&A and connecting with fellow chamber members across the country. 

Congressional Luncheon

August 7, 2024 - 10:30am to 1:30pm

The Classic Center - Athens, GA

Make plans to join us for our 2024 Congressional Luncheon. Click here for more information and to register.

It was announced at the most recent Chamber Board of Directors meeting the retirement of Sue Parr, President/CEO. Also announced was the selection of Angie Cox as President/CEO effective mid-August. Ms. Parr has been with the Chamber (AMCC) since 2005 when she accepted the position of Chamber President/CEO and relocated with her husband from Lansing, Michigan. Over the last two decades, Parr has overseen the Chamber’s growth and prominence in the Augusta Region as an important voice for the business community and a strategic partner to businesses, both large and small. Click here for the full press release.

The Chamber is accepting resumes for the position of Director of Programs and Events. Please see the GACCE Careers page for more information.

The Chamber has several events coming up in August:

• August 7 - Non-Profit Council - Sustainable Funding - Ever wondered why a business turns down your request for funding? Join us for an insightful panel discussion featuring representatives from small, medium, and large for-profit businesses. 
• August 7 - Young Professionals Volunteer Night - Join us for a meaningful and impactful evening of volunteer work at Clothes Less Traveled.
• August 14 - Federal Policy Update - Join us for an informative session at our 2024 Federal Policy Update.
• August 20 - AI + You: Save Time, Earn More, and Thrive with AI - Emory University, in partnership with the Center for AI Learning, Rowen Foundation, and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, is embarking on a statewide tour aimed at reducing apprehension towards AI technology and illustrating its potential to enhance our daily lives and work.

The Chamber is pleased to welcome Kim Craft as their new Executive Director.

The Chamber is sponsoring a Logistics Forum on Tuesday, August 6, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM. The event will be held at the Lanier Technical College – Ramsey Conference Center, and it will include lunch. It will feature an update on the Georgia Ports Authority - The Blue Ridge Connector, which is the inland port for NE Georgia opening in 2026. Expecting 300+ to attend.

The Chamber and Visitors Bureau invites you to experience Taste of Pooler scheduled for Thursday, September 26^th! Sample all the culinary delights Pooler has to offer. Whether you're trying out some traditional Southern cuisine, snacking on exotic treats, or indulging in something sweet, the Taste of Pooler will have something for everyone, and a people's choice vote to determine the best bites in town. Trust us, this is one event you won't want to miss. Secure your ticket here.

The Chamber has received a grant from Georgia FLEX to cover the $5,000 fee to become a Georgia FLEX Community for the 2024-25 school year. The Foundational Leadership and Entrepreneurship Experience (FLEX) is an entrepreneurship program for high school students that engages them in the business world through experiences and mentorships. Students in FLEX create real businesses, provide real products and services, and make real money. Local business partners, along with community leaders and teachers help to make this program a success by investing in the program through teaching workshops and mentoring student entrepreneurs. Click here to read more.

The Chamber is excited to announce Habersham County has been accepted into the 2024 Georgia Power CREATE Program. The Georgia Power CREATE program is designed to help leaders in rural communities implement entrepreneurship and small business growth plans. It was noted that the Chamber’s application demonstrated a strong interest in assisting entrepreneurs and developing an entrepreneurship ecosystem for the community. Additionally, there is clear evidence of readiness for the lessons in the program and an ability to implement and sustain strategies beneficial to entrepreneurs. Click here to read more.

Director of Membership Leonard Robinson has completed his first year of Institute for Organization Management in Athens.

Joseph B. Henning, IOM, CAE, CCE, recently completed the process of obtaining his certified chamber executive certification from ACCE. Henning is one of three active chamber executives in Georgia with the designation.

The Chamber is pleased to welcome Jessica Zurheide as their new Director of Marketing, Membership, and Events.

The Chamber is pleased to welcome two new staff members to their team:

• Ashley Couch - Member Relations Manager
• Leah Frazier - Programs & Communications Specialist

The Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber and Perimeter Chamber are excited to announce an agreement to merge, forming a unified organization. This strategic union will bring together the strengths, resources, and networks of both chambers, creating a more powerful and comprehensive advocate for the local business community. The merger will mark a significant milestone in our commitment to supporting and fostering business growth, innovation, and collaboration within the cities of Sandy Springs and Dunwoody and the Perimeter region. The newly formed to-be-named Chamber will serve as a centralized hub for business resources, networking opportunities, and community engagement. The integration of the two Chambers has begun, and members of each will have reciprocal benefits starting with program and event pricing immediately while integration teams work towards a fully unified organization by December 31, 2024.

Events and Communications Conference - Registration Open

Join us for ACCE’s Events and Communications Conference, October 16 through 18 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. We will welcome both new and more experienced professionals from chambers of all sizes working in the events, programs and communications areas. Learning and discussion will take place in workshops, general sessions, smaller breakouts, and peer-led roundtables. CLICK HERE for more information and to register.

Mark your calendars for #ACCE25 scheduled for July 22 - 25, 2025 in Philadelphia, PA. Check out the video here for the new host city!

Please CLICK HERE for Bob's latest material on Guide to Governance: Board Performance. 

We are thrilled to announce that the scholarship application for 2025 Winter Institute is now open! The application can be accessed HERE. The deadline to apply will be Friday, August 9 at 5:00pm ET. All applicants will be notified of their application status prior to registration launching.