We are excited to share that the Newnan-Coweta Chamber has been named a Finalist for the 2024 Chamber of the Year award, presented by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives(ACCE). ACCE is an association based in Alexandria, Virginia, with more than 1,600 chambers of commerce and related business and economic development organizations as members, representing more than 9,000 professionals in the industry.

The award is the most prestigious and competitive recognition presented annually. It recognizes the leadership role chambers of commerce play in their communities. Those honored with the Chamber of the Year designation have demonstrated organizational strength and impacted key community priorities, such as education, transportation, economic prosperity, and quality of life

"This year's finalists represent the best in the chamber industry," said Sheree Anne Kelly, ACCE president & CEO. "They are community leaders and innovators, driving growth and regional prosperity. We congratulate them on this outstanding achievement.

Newnan-Coweta Chamber Board Chair Bob Heaberlin expressed his excitement over the honor of being named a national finalist. "This honor is a testament to the outstanding governance structure we’ve developed over many years, the amazing contributions of our awesome staff and volunteer team, and our incredibly impactful body of work," he said. "I couldn't be more proud!"

"Next year marks the 10^th year since we were named the first-ever national Chamber of the Year Winner from Georgia," shared Newnan Coweta Chamber President and CEO Candace Boothby.  She went on to explain, "since that win, we’ve been extremely proud to welcome the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the Henry County Chamber of Commerce, and the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce to the family of Georgia winners." 

She also shared, "Our team certainly feels like we hit the jackpot. We’re incredibly honored. It takes a team to achieve this type of recognition, and our team rocks! Let’s keep the good vibes rolling, and hopefully, we can bring home another win for Coweta and Georgia."

Award Background and Process

Chambers of commerce interested in competing for the award first must qualify by participating in an extremely 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 membership account retention, membership dollar retention, and net revenue and assets.

Qualifying chambers then 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.

Chamber of the Year winners will be announced on Wednesday, July 17, during the Awards Show at ACCE’s Annual Convention in Dallas, Texas.