The W.A.C.E. Board is pleased to share that the popular Fall Webinar series will be returning in 2024. Under the leadership of Board Vice Chair Zeb Welborn (Chino Valley Chamber), the series will feature four programs designed to help Chambers identify ways to address member and community needs by highlighting high quality programs being offered by their peers.
"The W.A.C.E. Webinar Series is an important tool in delivering on W.A.C.E.'s promise to help all Chambers elevate their game locally," shared President & CEO Glenn Morris. "We recognize that not every member chamber can attend an in-person workshop or conference - or at least won't be able to bring the entire team - but the webinars are accessible to all members."
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![]() WACE joins with the family, friends and colleagues of Wayne Griffin in expressing our sadness at his recent passing. Wayne was the CEO of the Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce for 26 years. During his professional career, Griffin earned the Accredited Chamber Executive designation (A.C.E.) from the Western Association of Chamber Executives (W.A.C.E.) in 1995 and was reaccredited in 2000, 2005 and 2010. He is a past recipient of W.A.C.E.’s Russell E. Pettit Excellence in Leadership Award. Patrick Ellis, ACE, President/CEO, Murrieta/Wildomar Chamber of Commerce ![]() Chambers of Commerce and local workforce development boards (WDBs) are both vital components in fostering economic growth and stability within communities. Their collaboration is essential for creating a robust and dynamic workforce that meets the needs of local businesses. Chambers of Commerce represent a wide array of businesses within a community, from small enterprises to large corporations. They have a deep understanding of the specific skills and qualifications that businesses require. By participating in WDBs, Chambers ensure that workforce development programs are tailored to meet these specific needs, creating a well-prepared labor pool that aligns with market demands. Chambers can provide valuable input to WDBs in designing and implementing training programs that are directly relevant to the local business community. This ensures that job seekers acquire skills that are in demand, enhancing their employability and supporting local businesses in finding suitable talent. Josh Cross, President & CEO, Atascadero Chamber of Commerce ![]() While this phrase will always be music to my ears, I could sense a collective groan from the audience after our Chamber earned its fourth award at the 2024 WACE Conference in Anaheim earlier this year. And who could forget that we also received two awards at the 2023 WACE Conference! Bragging aside, we are truly honored to have received these awards, and we couldn’t have done it without the inspiration provided by many of your chambers, which motivated us to elevate our programs and communication platforms. WACE is fortunate to have the support of the WACE Educational Foundation. The Foundation’s purpose is to raise funds that can be used to support Chamber professionals to advance their professional development through participation in WACE programming.
As part of that mission, the Foundation Board allocated funds to support scholarships for individuals attending the 2024 Academy. After a careful review of the applications submitted this year, the following Chamber professionals have been awarded $500 scholarships to apply toward Academy tuition. David Key, Director of Business Development, Tempe Chamber of Commerce ![]() On May 16, 2024, the Western Association of Chamber Executives (WACE) hosted a pivotal workshop in Austin, Texas, focusing on workforce development. There were three focus areas around workforce development: housing & homelessness, transportation & childcare. Chambers of Commerce across the country have the opportunity to create solutions and make a meaningful impact in each of these areas and can make significant strides in their progress by learning how other communities are addressing these challenges. Talia Hart, Chief Executive Officer, Healdsburg Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau ![]() Running a Chamber of Commerce is like running any business, and in some cases much more difficult. The compensation of Chamber of Commerce executives and corporate CEOs can be viewed through several lenses, including their roles, responsibilities, skills, and the impact they have on their respective organizations and communities. Here are some arguments in favor of higher compensation for Chamber of Commerce executives: As we learn of changes in Chamber key leaders, we will share them here to welcome new colleagues, salute those who are wrapping up careers or moving on, and encourage networking and peer connections. During the past few months, WACE is aware of the following changes … if there are others that should be shared with the membership, please share them with us at [email protected].
![]() Four months … a blink of an eye – or an eternity, depending on your perspective! From my perspective, the four months I’ve served you as the WACE CEO has been a blink, but an incredibly busy and fast paced blink. I thought it might be interesting to share some of the highlights. Based on some of the questions I’ve gotten from members, it might also be helpful to touch on what is changing and what is not with WACE! So, here it goes … 2023 marked an opportunity for our organization to examine how we conduct business, how we are structured and positioned for the future, and, most importantly, how we can better serve our membership. While W.A.C.E. constantly strives to offer the high value to our members, the Board determined it was time to adapt our membership model to meet your needs as a member and our association's strategic goals.
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July 2024
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