Diane Schwenke
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Diane
Schwenke, ACE, President/CEO
of the Grand Junction CO
Area Chamber of Commerce is
the 2010 recipient of the
Pettit Award. Presenting the
award is Leron Gubler,
President/CEO of the
Hollywood CA Chamber. |
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In memory of Russell E.
Pettit, a veteran of 40 years in chamber of
commerce management, who unselfishly served his
community and fellow executives in the highest
professional standards. This award is presented
to a chief executive officer or department head
in recognition of outstanding contributions for
encouraging new executives to enter the
profession and in assisting those in the field
to attain higher professional standards and
capabilities.
Diane Schwenke, ACE, President/CEO of the
Grand Junction CO Area Chamber of Commerce was presented the
2010 Pettit Award.
Presenting the award was Leron Gubler,
President/CEO of the Hollywood CA Chamber. In
his presentation, Gubler stated:
"Here is what peers said of this year’s
honoree:
·
I can’t think of a chamber exec. in the business
today who is more deserving of this award.
·
An industry leader, mentor, and collaborator.
·
One of the best chamber mentors I have had the
pleasure of working with.
·
As a child, she was told
by mother that she needed to learn how to make a
living someday, in case her husband died.
She took the counsel to
heart and graduated from Briar Cliff University
with a B/A degree in speech therapy, psychology
and elementary education.
Following her graduation
she had two choices for a first job:
1) She could teach
at a one-room schoolhouse with seven grades and
12 students, or 2) She could work for the State
Department of Roads; a very male-dominated
profession.
Eventually, she became
manager of a small chamber before being hired in
her current position as the first female
President & CEO of a major regional Chamber, a
position she has held for 22 years now.
Her professional
contributions include:
·
Serving as chair of board of regents for U.S.
Chamber’s Institute for Organizational
Management
·
Past board member of ACCE.
·
Co-chair of the Steering Committee for the State
Competitive Council.
·
Instructor at WACE Chamber Academy and a
steering committee member.
·
Chaired a WACE Conference
·
Currently co-chairing a WACE project to publish
a book about chamber core competencies.
·
Past chair of WACE.
Please help me welcome Diane
Schwenke of the Grand Junction Chamber of
Commerce
2011 Pettit Award
Application Form
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