Honored to Lead: The 2026 WACE Emerging Leaders Council

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.

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Welcoming the New Emerging Leaders
This year, 33 Emerging Leaders from across the West make up our council, an extraordinary group of professionals representing chambers of all sizes. Our members serve large metro organizations, mid-size regional chambers, and small but mighty community chambers. We support different membership bases, operate with different staff structures, and champion very different local economies.
As we often say in the chamber world:
“If you’ve seen one chamber, you’ve seen one chamber.”
That diversity is our strength.
The Emerging Leaders Council is a unique mix of Chamber CEOs and chamber professionals with fewer than 10 years in the industry, creating a dynamic environment where experience and fresh perspective come together. Click here to meet the 2026 Emerging Leaders Council.
Each month, we meet to:

• Share best practices
• Discuss industry standards
• Support one another in our professional development
• Strengthen our leadership skills
• Serve WACE through volunteering on committees and initiatives

This collaboration ensures that ideas don’t stay within one organization they ripple outward to benefit our chambers, our members, and the communities we serve.

The Value of Time and Talent
Time is one of the most valuable resources in the world, and the professionals who serve on this council give theirs generously.
These 33 leaders are some of the most talented, driven, and forward-thinking professionals in our industry. Their willingness to invest their time in WACE on top of their already demanding roles speaks volumes about their commitment to the chamber profession.
And the return on that investment is powerful.
When Emerging Leaders grow, their chambers grow.
When their chambers grow, their communities thrive.

A Real-World Approach to Professional Development
One of my goals this year is to bring a real, practical, and deeply relevant approach to professional development to the council.
Professional development should not just be inspirational; it should be actionable.
We will focus on:

• Skills chamber professionals use every day
• Leadership development at every career stage
• Peer-to-peer learning and knowledge sharing
• Preparing the next generation of CEOs and industry innovators

Because Emerging Leaders is more than a program, it is a leadership pipeline.

Strengthening the Future of WACE
Emerging Leaders are:

• The future members of the W.A.C.E. Board
• The next generation of Chamber CEOs
• A source of new ideas that keep our industry relevant and vibrant

We bring a fresh perspective, real-time operational insights, and a deep understanding of our members' evolving needs.
Most importantly, we elevate the chamber experience not just for ourselves, but for every chamber we serve.
Being part of Emerging Leaders doesn’t just impact the individuals in the program. It strengthens their chambers, their members, their local economies, and the entire WACE network.
This is how we build a profession that is innovative, collaborative, and future-focused.

A Year of Investment, Courage, and Expansion
This year, I am inspired to guide our work around three words that reflect both my personal leadership journey and my vision for Emerging Leaders:

• Investment. Not just financial investment, but the investment of time, focus, and belief in one another. The time we spend mentoring, sharing ideas, and showing up for our peers is what strengthens our industry.
• Courage. The courage to go after our goals, to step into leadership roles before we feel completely ready, and to bring new ideas forward that move our chambers and our profession ahead.
• Expansion. Expanding our impact in our communities, expanding our skill sets, and expanding what we believe is possible for ourselves and for the chamber industry.
• My hope is that every Emerging Leader finishes this year not only more connected, but more confident, more equipped, and more inspired to lead.

A Grateful Heart
W.A.C.E. believed in me early in my career. Now, I am proud to help lead a council filled with professionals who are shaping the future of our industry.
It is an honor.
It is a responsibility.
And it is one of the most meaningful opportunities of my career.
Here’s to a year of growth, connection, and bold leadership.