CACCE was pleased to announce our 2025 award winners during our

Annual Management Conference held in Hilton Head Island, SC:



2025 North Carolina Executive of the Year

• Linda Parsons, Moore County Chamber

2025 South Carolina Executive of the Year

• Natalie Osterman, Greater Bluffton Chamber

2025 Outstanding Chamber of the Year (under 700 members)

• Wilson Chamber - Ryan Simons

2025 Outstanding Chamber of the Year (over 700 members)

• Boone Area Chamber - David Jackson

Certified Chamber Executives of the Carolinas (CCEC)

• Kim Effler, McDowell Chamber
• David Jackson, Boone Area Chamber

Carolinas Accredited Chambers

• McDowell Chamber - Kim Effler
• Southern Palmetto Chamber - Bob Snead

Continuing Education & Innovative Program Grants

• Lexington Chamber - $1,000 to attend the Southeast Tourism Society’s 2026 Marketing College
• Mint Hill Chamber - $637.50 to attend the MPA Public & Nonprofit Management Academy 
• Greenwood Chamber - $2,500 to provide NonProfit Leadership Training
• Southern Palmetto Chamber - $2,500 to launch a Member Business Video Spotlight Series
• York County Regional Chamber - $2,500 to create Business Expedition, a workforce development initiative

For photos from the event, please CLICK HERE.

Congratulations to all of our 2025 CACCE award winners!

We are excited to announce the dates & locations for our 2026 conferences…please be sure to save these on your calendar for next year:



2026 CACCE Staff Leadership Development Conference

for all chamber staff members

Monday – Wednesday, March 30 – April 1, 2026

DoubleTree by Hilton Columbia

Columbia, SC

Hosted by the Columbia Chamber of Commerce

2026 CACCE Annual Management Conference

for Chamber Executive Directors/Presidents/CEOs and senior staff members

Monday – Wednesday, November 16 – 18, 2026

Hilton Greenville

Greenville, NC

Hosted by the Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce 

Just a quick reminder that the 4th and final installment of our 2025 Advocacy in Action webinar series with Lumin Strategies is scheduled for:

Thursday, November 13 – 10:00am

Advocacy in Action Webinar with Lumin Strategies

Budgeting for Advocacy

Brian Francis, President & CEO, Lumin Strategies

To register for this meeting, please CLICK HERE. Once you have completed the short registration form, the system will send you the information to connect to the meeting, and you can add it to your calendar. The meeting will be recorded and shared with the membership in case you aren’t able to join us on that day.

Just a quick reminder that we have a new webinar with Convergent Nonprofit Solutions scheduled for November:

Thursday, November 20 – 10:00am

Navigating Capital Campaigns: Funding Big Community Initiatives

Erin Bemis, IOM, Senior Project Director, Convergent Nonprofit Solutions

Learn best practices for chambers and economic development organizations in planning and executing successful fundraising efforts.

To register for this meeting, please CLICK HERE. Once you have completed the short registration form, the system will send you the information to connect to the meeting, and you can add it to your calendar. The meeting will be recorded and shared with the membership in case you aren’t able to join us on that day.

Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy

Chambers Deliver Urgent Message to Congress: Fix Permitting, Unlock Investment

Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE) recently brought together chamber of commerce and economic development leaders from across the country in Washington, D.C., to meet with policymakers on Capitol Hill. Our message: America needs policy certainty to advance clean energy investment and economic growth, as well as permitting reform that enables, rather than delays, critical infrastructure projects. Read more here.

Eventeny

Think your event was the best of 2025? Let's find out! We’re looking to recognize the hard working teams behind the events that bring communities together. Nominate your event (or one that wowed you) by 11/30/25 for Best Event of 2025. Winners receive a free year of Eventeny Pro, a vendor e-blast to 300K+ vendors, press and social features, an exclusive badge, and a commemorative plaque! Nominate your event here.

Indus Travels

We are excited to share an update on the exclusive 8-day Familiarization (FAM) Trip to Portugal that will take place in late November. This trip is designed to showcase how travel experiences can become powerful non-dues revenue opportunities for your chamber.

Highlights include:

• Discovering Portugal: Lisbon → Obidos → Nazaré → Batalha → Fátima → Aveiro → Porto → Coimbra → Lisbon
• Airfare included (from Atlanta) + excellent value pricing
• An opportunity to gain first-hand experience of the tours we provide — so you can confidently offer these to your community
• A strong networking experience with peer chamber executives

We are thrilled to announce that many distinguished chamber executives from across the country will be joining us on this remarkable adventure, representing a diverse range of chambers. Below you will find a list of the CACCE participants along with their associated chambers.

CACCE Chamber Executives Participating in the Indus Travels Portugal FAM Trip

• Angelle LaBorde – Lexington Chamber and Visitor Center
• Kathryn Brown – Wilmington Chamber of Commerce
• Natalie Osterman – Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce
• Kathryn Gaither – Union Chamber of Commerce

Look for trip stories and highlights in our upcoming communications. We look forward to delivering a memorable journey and equipping your chamber with the tools, confidence, and inspiration to elevate member travel offerings. For any questions or to learn more about upcoming Indus Travels opportunities, please feel free to contact Dhruv at dhruv@indus.travel or call 866-978-2997 ext. 844.

Louder NonProfit Strategies

Structuring a Successful Community Development Effort

Many communities recognize the need to engage their stakeholders in community development of one kind or another. Whether addressing issues impacting quality of life and marketability, preparing for a major new employer, or simply addressing community gaps, effectively leveraging community knowledge and resources to focus on the most important elements is key to success. Click here to read the full article.

Lumin Strategies

It was great to see so many friends and new faces in Hilton Head, and congratulations especially to all of those recognized for their service, including our partners in Alamance County, Boone, Matthews, McDowell County, Mint Hill, and Union County.

PSP Group

Ready for 2026? Let’s Talk!

This year is flying by and planning for 2026 starts now. If you are interested in telling your Chamber's story with bigger impact AND growing your non-dues revenue, now is the perfect time to connect and explore how partnering with PSP Group can take you to the next level! Schedule a discovery call today with Eli (eli@mypspgroup.com) or Kenny (kenny@mypspgroup.com).

SOAR Nonprofit Solutions

Please help us welcome a new CACCE Associate Member:

SOAR Nonprofit Solutions, LLC

Tammy Shepherd, Founder & CEO

706-829-5075

tammy@soarnonprofitsolutions.com

SOAR Nonprofit Solutions, LLC is thrilled to join the Carolinas Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (CACCE)! As a former President & CEO of a Five-Star Accredited Chamber, I’m excited to share proven best practices to help take your chamber to the next level.

Founded in 2021, SOAR Nonprofit Solutions has been honored to partner with more than twenty chambers, including the Aiken, Southern Palmetto Regional, and Beaufort Regional Chambers in South Carolina. We help chambers build on their foundation through board training, governance, program development, dues conversion, and more — all designed to support growth and success.

I invite you to join me on December 3rd at 10:00 a.m. for the CACCE virtual introductory session to learn more about how SOAR can support your chamber. Click here to register for the session. You’re also welcome to reach out anytime at tammy@soarnonprofitsolutions.com.

Tammy Shepherd, IOM, GCCE, SOAR Nonprofit Solutions, LLC

Starfish Partnerships

We have a VIRTUAL MEMBERSHIP BOOT CAMP on November 10, 17, 24 from 1:30-2:30 pm. It’s on Recruitment – Relationships -- Retention and it’s ONLY $29 - Register here: https://www.starfishpartnerships.com/store.

YGM

UNLOOP by YGM is the smarter way to plan, sell, and track your sponsorships — no spreadsheets, no chaos. From real-time sales tracking to online contracts and sponsor FOMO when they see who else is buying, UNLOOP by YGM helps you sell smarter, not harder all while increasing your revenue.“UNLOOP by YGM's sponsorship website is a game-changer. The interface is incredibly intuitive—easy for chamber staff to update and even easier for sponsors to navigate and make purchases. It streamlines the entire process. This is the kind of tool that gives your chamber a competitive edge!”

— Tiffany Fulmer Ott

👉 Sponsor Sales Demo: [Watch Now]

👉 Admin Demo: [Watch Now]

Click here to sign-up for UNLOOP by YGM.

Alleghany County Chamber

A collaborative effort to increase the Chamber's involvement in economic development for the county has led to a move to retain the services of Chamber Executive Director Larry VanHoose. It was announced earlier this month that VanHoose had decided to take a position in Virginia dealing with economic development for five entities in Southwest Virginia. However, when the story on his departure came to light, an effort was launched to explore a cooperative initiative to keep him on board and help expand economic development in the county and town. Click here to read more.

Conway Chamber

The Chamber held its inaugural Graveyard Grand Prix Coffin Races on October 25 in Downtown Conway. The event brought in over 6,500 people! As you may have heard, the City of Conway transforms into the City of Halloween for the month of October. Streets, businesses and trees are flooded with decorations and spooky-ness! Thousands of visitors and locals alike have walked the streets of Conway this month - with record-breaking attendance. Click here for some fun photos from the event. We are now busy gearing up for the Conway Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 13.

Currituck Chamber

After nearly 15 years of dedicated service, Josh Bass, President of the Chamber, will be stepping down December 2025 to accept an exciting new opportunity with Wild Horse Adventure Tours in Corolla. We are pleased to announce that Juanita Krause, our Chamber Membership Director for the past nine years, will be promoted to the role of Chamber President.

Greater Statesville Chamber

Beth Packman and Lisa Meier have recently stepped into the role of Co-President for the Chamber.

Greenville - Pitt County Chamber

This October, the Chamber proudly welcomed 40 Pitt County high school students into the 2025-2026 Teen Leadership Institute Program. Throughout the program, participants will connect with peers, community organizations, local professionals, and institutions of higher education, gaining valuable insights into teamwork, leadership, and community impact. Since its inception in 1988, the Teen Leadership Institute has graduated more than 1,200 students, empowering the next generation of leaders to make a difference in Greenville-Pitt County and beyond.

The Chamber honored Michael Letchworth, co-owner of Sam Jones BBQ, as its 2025 Small Business Leader of the Year. This award recognizes local business owners who demonstrate operational success, leadership, and meaningful contributions to the community. A lifelong Pitt County native, Letchworth has grown Sam Jones BBQ from its roots in Ayden’s legendary Skylight Inn BBQ lineage into a thriving, nationally acclaimed brand with locations in Winterville and Raleigh. Under his leadership, the restaurant has become both a local favorite and a destination recognized by Southern Living, Garden & Gun, The New York Times, and Food Network, blending Eastern North Carolina barbecue tradition with a modern, community-focused business model.

Kershaw County Chamber

The Chamber is pleased to announce that Loree Stokes has been named Executive Director of the Chamber. Loree brings eighteen years of experience at the Kershaw County Chamber most recently serving as the Interim Executive Director since the beginning of September. Prior to assuming the role as Interim ED, Loree served as the Manager of Events & Finance.

Lexington Chamber

For the second year, the Chamber will kick off the holiday shopping season with “Main Street Sip & Vibe,” an exciting wine-tasting social event in Downtown Lexington. Over a dozen participating businesses will welcome an expected 175+ attendees on Nov. 21st, offering residents and visitors an opportunity to explore the unique shops, taste delicious wines, peruse unique merchandise, and chat directly with business owners. Each ticket includes a souvenir wine glass, and wine stop merchants will provide light hors d'oeuvres and snacks. This popular event supports our local merchants and brings the holiday spirit to life as the Town of Lexington kicks off its annual “Snowball Festival” Dec. 4 – 7, 2025.

Rocky Mount Area Chamber

The Chamber recently hosted our 33^rd annual Oyster Roast, with a record-breaking attendance of over 600 guests! The evening was filled with great food, lively music, and incredible networking as business and community leaders came together for one of Rocky Mount's favorite fall traditions.

South Carolina Chamber

The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce (SC Chamber) and the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance (SCMA) recently announced the formation of a new advocacy organization, formally combining entities, resources and leadership effective January 1, 2026.The new organization – South Carolina Manufacturers and Commerce (SCMC) – will be one of the largest and most powerful advocacy organizations in the history of South Carolina. Merging the SC Chamber and SCMA will allow the business community across the state to speak with one unified voice, bolster its presence in Columbia, expand its reach across South Carolina and align its goals. Click here to read more.

The Caldwell Chamber

October Was Full of Momentum and Milestones! October was an incredible month for the Chamber, filled with connection, collaboration, and community spirit! We started the month with our Fall Golf Classic, where teams enjoyed a beautiful day on the course and some friendly competition — all while supporting local business initiatives. A huge thank-you to our sponsors and participants who made this event such a success! Next, we officially welcomed the Leadership Caldwell Class of 2026 with an exciting kickoff event. We’re thrilled to see this new group of emerging leaders begin their journey to grow, serve, and make a lasting impact in Caldwell County. Our Leadership Conference followed, featuring powerful speakers including Melissa Furman, Destin Hall, Bruce Schronce, and Chrissie Dixon. Attendees were inspired and left motivated with fresh insights, practical strategies, and meaningful connections to take back to their teams and communities.  We closed out the month with Business @ the Border, hosted inside the Foothills Regional Airport and surrounded by a majestic mountain view. Regional leaders and professionals came together to share ideas, strengthen partnerships, and celebrate the continued growth and collaboration across our communities. We’re so proud of what we’ve accomplished together this month!

Wilmington Chamber

The Chamber will host their Oyster Roast on Friday, November 14 on the Riverfront Lawn. Guests will enjoy a spread of local oysters, succulent shrimp, and a hearty seafood boil paired with an open bar featuring premium beer and wine. It’s the perfect opportunity to connect with fellow Chamber members in a relaxed coastal setting.

ACCE

Save the Date - #ACCE26 Annual Convention has been set for July 20-23, 2026 in New Orleans, LA.

CACCE Disaster Fund Grants

CACCE created a Disaster Fund to assist our members in times of natural disasters. CACCE member chambers that need assistance after a natural disaster may apply for a grant from this fund if they meet the following criteria:

• The Chamber has suffered financial losses due to direct damage to their building and/or a disruption in normal operations as a result of a natural disaster;
• The Chamber is located in a county that has been declared a federal disaster area (grant applications received from chambers in a community that has not been declared a federal disaster area will be reviewed at the discretion of the CACCE Executive Committee);
• The Chamber is a current paid member of CACCE; and,
• The Chamber has at least one full-time employee.

Please CLICK HERE for the application. Contact Tiffany at tfulmer@tlfexecutiveservices.com with any questions.

IOM 2026 Program Dates

The U.S. Chamber Foundation's Institute for Organization Management has announced their 2026 program dates. CLICK HERE to see the sites and dates for 2026.

Western NC Chambers Update

The Western NC Chamber Executives gathered on Thursday & Friday, October 23 & 24th, 2025, for our Fall Retreat in the beautiful town of Burnsville, NC. The Yancey County Chamber of Commerce was our host. These regional leaders have been meeting regularly over the years and have offered beneficial programming and collaboration for the WNC Chamber Executives. During this year's session, we discussed important topics such as Data-Driven Chambers -Turning Numbers into Strategy, a Regional Playbook for Growth, Beyond Ribbon & Breakfasts - Taking a modern approach to events, Building Better Boards with Culture, Clarity & Commitment, and Advocacy in Action & Why it Matters.

The spring retreat is scheduled on April 30th, in Murphy, NC, and will be hosted by the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce. 

We invite all executive leaders in WNC to join us at the next retreat. Any interested WNC Chamber Executives are encouraged to reach out to the 2026 Leadership Team of Bryan Moore (Caldwell), Tamika Hunter (Brevard/Transylvania), Robin Miller (Blowing Rock), or Victoria Ivey (Cherokee).