Contact:
Jessica M.L. Thompson, Communications Director
270-781-3200; jessica@bgchamber.com
BOWLING GREEN, KY-The Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce has been recognized by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) with an award and several top 10 rankings. The Chamber has also been honored by ACCE for being one of the top three chambers of its size in the nation for excellence in Chamber work.
The Chamber received an ACCE Award for Communication Excellence for its Kentucky Transpark brochure at the 2008 ACCE Conference in Pittsburg, Penn. The ACCE presents awards such as this to honor, reward and celebrate the achievements of outstanding communication programs, campaigns and projects. The Kentucky Transpark is an attraction piece designed to entice site selectors and industry professionals to locate at the Kentucky Transpark and encourages the target audiences to visit
the park.
Chamber President and CEO James N. Hizer, CEcD said, "It is a great honor to be recognized by the ACCE for our work on the Kentucky Transpark Brochure. This brochure is integral to our marketing materials that are sent to site selection consultants and companies worldwide, and we're proud to know that it is seen as one of the best in the nation by fellow chamber professionals."
As the only national association serving the professional development needs of chamber executives in the United States and Canada, ACCE currently represents more than 7,800 professional members in 1,400 chambers of commerce.
According to the ACCE's national survey results, the Chamber is ranked in the Top 10 for net gain in partner accounts, partner dollars and partner retention. In 2007, the Chamber experienced its largest net gain in years-9.9%, nearly nine times as high as the national average. With 320 new partners recruited during 2007, the Chamber doubled the annual recruitment rate it traditionally sees.
"The Chamber staff, volunteers and board members have focused on recruitment and retention non-stop, and their efforts have been rewarded by the ACCE's rankings," said Chamber Board Chairman Doug Gorman. "Led by Dana Matukas, our partnership development director, and Beth Oliphant, our partnership sales representative, our volunteer committees have been diligent and creative in their efforts to bring in more partners and retain them. They should all be congratulated for their great
work!"
As previously announced, the Chamber is ranked as one of the Top 3 in the nation by the ACCE for chambers of its size. This ranking comes after a thorough multi-stage application process, and the success of the Chamber is due in large part to the successes of 2007: the grand opening of its multi-million dollar new facility; 14 new and expanding industry announcements; and more than 300 new Chamber partners.
Incorporated in 1935, the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce is the driving force for economic development in South Central Kentucky. As one of only 336 chambers nationwide to be accredited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the fourth largest chamber in Kentucky, the Chamber serves as a premier business advocate for its more than 1,300 partners. Its primary goals are to promote growth and success in the business community, reaching its small business partners and those
in large industries alike. With leadership programs, governmental relations projects, educational initiatives and involvement opportunities, the Chamber aims to support the community and its neighbors in order to enhance the business climate and continue to grow the region.