Chamber Blog

I recently had the opportunity to attend the 2025 Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) Annual Convention, hosted this year in the historic and vibrant city of brotherly love, Philadelphia.

The ACCE Convention brought together more than 1,000 chamber executives and professionals from across the country for a week filled with learning, networking, and inspiration.

From engaging keynotes to interactive breakout sessions, we heard directly from some of the top leaders in our industry and learned best practices from award-winning, accredited chambers that are setting the standard nationwide. We even had the opportunity to celebrate with chambers receiving some of ACCE’s top awards.

A highlight for me was the chance to be part of a session specifically designed for new Chamber CEOs. This session was facilitated by the widely respected Carlos Phillips, President & CEO of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce in Greenville, South Carolina. Carlos is a known force in the chamber world, and the wisdom he shared, along with the discussion among fellow new leaders, was both affirming and motivating.

Here are a few key takeaways from the Convention:

• While chamber memberships have declined in many areas, our relevance has not diminished. Chambers continue to play a vital role in advocacy and economic development.

• We must get and stay future-ready by embracing AI, elevating the voices and talents of Gen Z, and cultivating innovation—essential to staying ahead.

• It’s okay to sunset programs or events that no longer serve our mission, and it’s okay to bring others back that do, but with a twist. Sometimes bold, radical change is exactly what’s needed.

I’m excited to apply what I’ve learned and continue shaping a chamber that is ready for the future.