FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Greater Fort Wayne (GFW) Inc. has been named a finalist for a national 2020 Chamber of the Year award, presented by the Alexandria, Va.-based Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE).
The awards are the most prestigious and competitive recognition presented annually by ACCE. ACCE is an association of more than 9,000 professionals from 1,500 chambers of commerce, including 93 of the top 100 U.S. metro areas.
“Just being asked to apply for this award is an honor. Being selected as a finalist is a great win,” said John Urbahns, president and CEO of GFW Inc. “As we pursue our mission of building a nationally recognized economy, we’re always striving to be the best in everything we do. It’s a testament to our members, our board of directors, our hard-working staff, and our community that we’re in the position to be considered among the best in the country.”
The Chamber of the Year awards recognize the leadership role chambers have in their communities. Those honored with the Chamber of the Year designation have demonstrated organizational strength and made an impact on key community priorities, such as education, transportation, economic prosperity, and quality of life.
“Congratulations to the Chamber of the Year finalists. These chambers are among the most impactful organizations within the industry,” said ACCE president and CEO Sheree Anne Kelly. “These chambers are community champions, providing the catalytic leadership needed to help address their region’s greatest challenges.”
Qualifying for Chamber of the Year is a rigorous process. Chambers compete based on meeting key performance criteria on the ACCE Annual Operations Survey. Qualifying chambers enter the competition with a written application addressing all aspects of organizational operation and programmatic work. Applications are scored by peer chamber executives to determine finalists. Winners are selected from among finalists based on an interview before a panel of experienced chamber professionals.
This year’s competition drew numerous entries from chambers throughout the U.S. To ensure the fairest competition, applicants are grouped into four categories based on annual revenue, membership, area population, and other factors. Greater Fort Wayne Inc. is one of four finalists in Category Three. Winners for each of the four categories will be announced later this year.
About the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives
The Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, founded in 1914, serves more than 9,000 professionals who lead chambers of commerce. The mission of the Alexandria, Va.-based organization is to support and develop chamber professionals to lead businesses and their communities. Learn more about us by visiting www.ACCE.org.
About Greater Fort Wayne Inc.
Greater Fort Wayne (GFW) Inc. serves Fort Wayne and Allen County, Ind., as its primary point of contact for economic growth. GFW Inc. focuses on prosperity and community vibrancy through economic development, advocacy, programs and resources that support business success, leadership development, graduate retention and community engagement.
