 The economic landscape is shifting faster than ever, and for chambers of commerce, staying relevant means more than just hosting legacy mixers. In a recent WACE webinar, representatives from three award-winning chambers shared how they moved beyond "chambery things" to identify community pain points and turn them into clear value stories.
The session featured insights from the Grand Junction Area Chamber (CO), the Santa Maria Valley Chamber (CA), and the Walnut Creek Chamber (CA), all recipients of the 2026 Outstanding Local Chamber Program award and recently recognized at the W.A.C.E. Annual Conference.
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 In our latest W.A.C.E. Snapshot Survey, we took a deep dive into the engine room of our organizations: the Board of Directors. From board size to "Give or Get" policies, the results show a landscape of chambers that are leaning into leaner governance and mid-career leadership.
Here are the key takeaways from this month's data. Kira Zavala, ACE, IOM President & CEO, Roseburg Area Chamber of Commerce  Stepping into the role of Chair for the 2026 WACE Emerging Leaders Council is both an incredible honor and a full-circle moment in my chamber journey.
I still remember being new to the industry and applying for a WACE scholarship. In my essay, I wrote about my hope to one day give back to the organization that was investing so deeply in my growth. Today, I have the privilege of doing exactly that, and it is something I do not take lightly. Glenn Morris, President/CEO, W.A.C.E.
There has been a lot of discussion lately among Chamber leaders about how—and if—we are actually using AI. Most of us have played around with it a little, but there’s still a lot of "wait and see" happening in our industry. I get it. We all have enough on our plates without trying to figure out the latest tech trend. I know I’ve personally gotten really excited about the potential of one tool or another, but then when I get back to desk, the to-do list takes over and by the time I turn back to the new idea, I’ve forgotten what I thought I understood and it feels overwhelming to get started again. But I think there’s a bigger leadership piece here. Our members look to us to be the voice of the business community, and that means we need to be out in front of the tools that are changing how work gets done. |
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