Opelika, AL – July 31, 2024 – The Opelika Chamber of Commerce has been named 2024 Chamber of the Year by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE). ACCE is an association based in Alexandria, Virginia, that has over 1,600 chambers of commerce and related business and economic development organizations as members, representing more than 9,000 professionals in the industry.
Chamber of the Year, sponsored by GrowthZone, is the most prestigious and competitive award presented annually by ACCE. It is the only globally recognized award and honors the leadership role chambers of commerce have in their communities. Those that win Chamber of the Year have demonstrated organizational strength and made an impact on key community priorities such as education, transportation, economic prosperity, and quality of life.
“Chambers of commerce play an increasingly vital role in promoting regional prosperity,” said ACCE President & CEO Sheree Anne Kelly. “This achievement demonstrates their commitment to fostering vibrant communities and achieving organizational success. Congratulations on the Opelika Chamber of Commerce outstanding leadership, dedication to its community and serving as a role model for the chamber profession.”
The Opelika Chamber of Commerce accepted the Chamber of the Year Award on July 17 during the Awards Show at ACCE’s Annual Convention in Dallas, Texas. They also took home the Audio/Video Award for Excellence in Communication.
“Our Chamber has undergone a transformation over the last four years; this award is a testament to just how much we’ve grown and to the work we are doing to be the leading catalyst for a better Opelika. We couldn’t do what we do without our amazing members, volunteers, Board of Directors and key partners,” said Ali Rauch, IOM, President & CEO of the Opelika Chamber of Commerce.
Chambers of commerce interested in competing for the award must first qualify by participating in a vigorous multi-stage process. Organizations entering the Chamber of the Year competition must meet minimum thresholds in at least three of five key performance areas in ACCE’s Annual Chamber Operations Survey, including net revenue and assets, membership account retention and membership dollar retention. Qualifying chambers enter the competition with a written application addressing all organizational operation and programmatic work aspects.
Applications are scored by peer chamber executives to determine finalists. Winners are selected from among finalists based on an interview before a panel of experienced chamber professionals. To ensure the fairest competition, applicants are grouped into four categories based on annual revenue, membership, area population and other factors.
About the Opelika Chamber
For more than 80 years, the Opelika Chamber has worked to strengthen the community as the champion of business by building bridges, cultivating community, and elevating business in order to achieve excellence. Representing more than 900 businesses and over 20,000 employees in the region, the Opelika Chamber has been recognized for its operational best practices among 501(c)6 not-for-profit Chambers of Commerce. The Opelika Chamber is one of only three 5-star accredited chambers in the state of Alabama. You can learn more at www.opelikachamber.com