William E. Hammond Award

Anne Glasscock

Anne Glasscock, President of the Kaufman TX Chamber is the recipient of the 2009 Hammer Memorial Award.

The Russell J. “Rusty” Hammer Memorial Scholarship Award has been established by the Western Association of Chamber Executives to annually recognize a chamber chief executive who best exemplifies excellence and professionalism and is deemed to have the potential to be a future chamber industry leader.
The award is given in recognition of Russell J. “Rusty” Hammer, who was named W.A.C.E. Executive of the Year in 2002 and served as Chairman of the Board of the association in 2003. Rusty, who served as CEO of the Sacramento Metro and Los Angeles Area Chambers of Commerce, sadly had his life and career cut short in 2008 after a several-year battle with leukemia.
Because of his interest in the Academy program and furthering the professionalism of chamber of commerce executives, W.A.C.E. has decided to link the Russell J. “Rusty” Hammer Award with the program by awarding the recipient a full-tuition 3rd year Academy scholarship.

The recipient of this year’s Rusty Hammer Award is Anne Glasscock, President of the Kaufman TX Chamber of Commerce. celebrates her 3 year anniversary this month as a Chamber Executive. Upon accepting the position of CEO three years ago, Anne was faced with a challenge familiar to many chamber executives - the “Good Ole Boys” syndrome where the community perception was that the chamber was working on behalf of a few rather than the collective good. She has striven to ensure that their chamber became an inclusive organization where all voices were listened to, and valued.

In her efforts to lead this more inclusive and progressive organization, she has made it her business to meet one on one with all of her board members on a regular basis, in addition to personal visits to members who she does not see attending chamber functions.

Anne has worked hard to develop relationships with her community’s elected officials by participating in local and regional legislative activities. She was even successful in re-establishing her chamber as the operations arm for a city event whereby she was able to bring additional funding back into her organization. Not satisfied with just taking the event back she sought out ways to boost the benefits derived from the Festival. She came up with a concept that drove foot traffic into local businesses beforehand and resulted in an increase in participation and excitement at the community’s signature event.