Chamber Relevance Stronger Than Ever

​First, congratulations to all of us on a tremendously successful Foundation Annual Celebration last week. I was so sorry to miss such an important opportunity to pause and celebrate together! And don’t forget about our regional competitiveness program, Compete l 25, coming up on August 13. I hope to see you there.
 
So glad to be home again, after a week in Philadelphia at the ACCE Convention, where I joined 900 peers from across the country. I came home energized – with new ideas, a stronger understanding of national trends, and renewed affirmation of the role chambers play in shaping communities.
 
Sheree Anne Kelly, ACCE’s president and CEO, talked about the uncertainty we’re operating in, and the urgent need for innovative, adaptive leadership from chambers. I couldn’t agree more.  
 
ACCE’s Horizon 2035 report, which I had the privilege of helping shape as a member of the research committee, reinforces what many of us already feel: chambers have never been more essential.
 
Trust in chambers remains strong. According to a 2024 Harris Poll commissioned by ACCE:

• 81% of U.S. adults agree that their local chamber of commerce is a trusted resource and partner for businesses.
• 90% believe their local chamber has an impact on growing the local economy.
• 88% say chambers positively impact challenges within their community.

 
The momentum is ours. We are charged to bring even more bold leadership and lasting impact to our communities. 
 
Horizon 2025 highlights three key spheres of influence shaping the future of chambers:

• Linchpin influences: our foundational role as conveners and community champions
• Timeless influences: the enduring challenges every chamber leader navigates
• Timely influences: emerging issues with long term implications 

 
The takeaway? Chamber leaders must think like futurists – able to discern weak signals that could evolve into trends, and craft community-specific strategies that are both grounded and visionary.
 
There is no one-size-fits-all solution. But I do hear a clear call: to lead and serve with both curiosity and courage. Let’s step into that together!  
 
 
See you in the trenches,
B

Chamber Check-in 7/29/25