VACCE Announces Inaugural Rising Leader Award Recipient

We proudly announced the recipient of our inaugural Rising Leader Award during the 2026 VACCE Spring Conference held in Winchester, Virginia.

The VACCE Rising Leader Award was created to recognize an emerging leader in the Chamber of Commerce profession who is already making a meaningful impact within their organization and community. The award honors a chamber professional who demonstrates initiative, leadership potential, and a strong commitment to advancing the mission of their Chamber and strengthening the business environment in their region.

The 2026 recipient of the VACCE Rising Leader Award is Justin Saunders, Vice President of Membership & Strategic Growth for the Hampton Roads Chamber. Click here for the full press release.

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VACCE Presents Service Awards for 2026

We also recognized our 2026 Service Award recipients during the VACCE Spring Conference. The Service Awards honor chamber professionals across the Commonwealth who have achieved significant milestones in their years of service to the chamber of commerce industry. VACCE presents a certificate recognizing each five-year increment of service. Years of service may include a combination of executive and/or staff roles held at any chamber of commerce. VACCE is proud to recognize the following professionals for their dedication to the chamber profession:

35 Years of Service

Linda Coffey - Loudoun Chamber of Commerce

20 Years of Service

Suzy Johnson – Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce

10 Years of Service

Jaime Parrish – Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce

5 Years of Service

Alec Burnett – Fauquier Chamber of Commerce

Ashley Dawson – Bristol TN/VA Chamber of Commerce

Gretchen Heal – Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce

YoVonne Letsome – Culpeper Chamber of Commerce

Dipti Rach – Loudoun Chamber of Commerce

Yasmeen Shields – Loudoun Chamber of Commerce

Lindsey Slagle – Bristol TN/VA Chamber of Commerce

VACCE congratulates each of these outstanding professionals and thanks them for their dedication and contributions to strengthening the chamber profession and the communities they serve.

We’re excited to introduce something brand new for our association…VACCE apparel is here!

We’ve partnered with Primo Designs to launch an online store featuring VACCE-logo apparel. Whether you’re looking for something polished for conference days or casual VACCE pride for everyday wear, there’s something for everyone. Shop the VACCE Store here:

https://shop.primodesigns.net/151913/shop/home

This is a new program for VACCE, and we’re thrilled to offer members a fun way to show your VACCE pride and represent our profession in style.

We have scheduled a complimentary webinar with a new VACCE Associate Member:

Thursday, April 2 – 9:00am

Introduction to Sierra Learnership Collaborative LLC 

Sierra Collins, Founder & CEO

Building Leadership Capacity Across Your Chamber Ecosystem

Join us for a strategic introduction to Sierra Learnership Collaborative, LLC, led by Founder & CEO Sierra Collins. Sierra partners with Chambers of Commerce, municipalities, and business leaders to strengthen leadership capacity at every level of the community. Through DISC and Emotional Intelligence assessments, communication training, emerging leader cohorts, executive coaching, and customized leadership programming, Sierra and her Collaborative Partners help organizations improve retention, strengthen collaboration, and translate strategy into execution.

Chambers can leverage this work to:

• Offer high-value Lunch & Learn programs and member workshops
• Develop emerging leader cohorts across their membership base
• Support municipal leadership teams with custom training
• Conduct company climate inventories to turn feedback into clear implementation plans
• Collaborate regionally through initiatives such as the Tri State Leadership Summit, which brings leaders across multiple states together for implementation-focused development

If your Chamber is looking to elevate leadership while strengthening member engagement and retention, this session will provide clear, practical next steps.

CLICK HERE to register for this 30-minute meeting. 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.

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We have scheduled a complimentary webinar with a new VACCE Associate Member:

Tuesday, April 7 – 10:00am

Power Your Chamber Operations with Automated Content | Intro to ITI Digital Content Solutions

Aline Gill, VP Digital Strategy

Discover how ITI Digital is transforming the way Chambers of Commerce engage members, promote local businesses, and connect communities to workforce opportunities. With over 30 years of experience supporting economic development across the U.S., ITI Digital will showcase its purpose-built digital platform for Chambers, including its innovative Workforce Hub. Join the session to hear how partners like the Louisa County Chamber of Commerce — the first Workforce Hub adopter — are already making an impact. Don't miss this opportunity to see what modern community digital strategy looks like in action! 

CLICK HERE to register for this 30-minute meeting. 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.

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We’re looking forward to bringing our VACCE community back together for a Legislative Check-In Session with Lumin Strategies on Wednesday, April 29 at 11:00am via Zoom—and this one will be especially timely.

By this point in the legislative cycle, we should have a comprehensive recap of key actions and outcomes that could impact your chamber and business community. In addition, we’re planning to feature a special guest speaker (to be announced soon) who will provide insight into the increasingly important topic of data center development and related policy considerations.

This session is a great opportunity to:

• Stay informed on what’s happening at the state level
• Better understand how recent decisions may affect your work
• Engage in a timely conversation with your peers

We hope you’ll join us for this important and informative discussion!

CLICK HERE to register for this meeting. 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.

2026 Virginia Healthcare and Safety Conference

Presented by Anthem

Wednesday, June 3, 2026

Greater Richmond Convention Center

Richmond, VA

The Virginia Chamber Foundation and the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association are pleased to present the 2026 Virginia Healthcare and Safety Conference. This annual signature event convenes top healthcare and industry experts, members of the business community, and policymakers to discuss the top issues in healthcare and safety. CLICK HERE for more information and to register.

Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy

CICE 2025 Annual Report

The CICE 2025 Annual Report highlights how federal policy shifts tested clean energy's momentum while CICE expanded its impact, hiring five new staff members, growing its nationwide network, and hosting three D.C. fly-ins. Wind and solar remain the fastest, most affordable energy options.

Sierra Learnership Collaborative

Registration will open on April 14 for the 2nd Annual Tri-State Leadership Summit, a regional event designed to bring together business leaders, municipal leaders, and Chamber members for practical, implementation-focused leadership development. In its inaugural year, the Summit welcomed nearly 200 attendees and was honored to have sponsorship support from Chambers across four states, reinforcing the power of regional collaboration in strengthening our communities. Click here to learn more about the event and contact grow@sierralearnership.com to learn how you can get involved.

The Bill of Rights Institute

VACCE is pleased to welcome a new Associate Member:

The Bill of Rights Institute

Anthony Simone, Vice President, Development

Arlington, VA

703-300-7590

asimone@mybri.org

The Bill of Rights Institute is in charge of the curriculum for the National Civics Bee. You can learn more about them here:

https://billofrightsinstitute.org/

We will schedule a Zoom meeting soon for Anthony to share their program information with our members. 

WiseChoice / Anthem

WiseChoice FAQ Spotlight

As interest in WiseChoice Healthcare Alliance continues to grow, chamber executives often receive important questions from members.

WiseChoice is a Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangement (MEWA) that allows chamber-member businesses to band together for purchasing power and access to Anthem health plans. Eligible employers must be chamber members in good standing and meet participation guidelines. Because the MEWA pools risk across many employers, participating businesses may experience greater stability and more predictable long-term pricing compared to traditional small group options.

Anthem serves as the carrier partner, delivering claims processing, provider networks, digital tools, and customer support.

For chambers, WiseChoice enhances membership value without adding administrative burden while strengthening retention and recruitment efforts.

Here is a complete FAQ sheet you can share with members.

YGM

When most people think about a Total Resource Campaign, they picture the public phase: volunteers out selling, members engaged, and a defined campaign window driving sales results. But what often goes unseen, and is just as valuable, is the sponsorship development process that happens beforehand.

As Kellie Goodman Shaffer and the team at the Bedford County (PA) Chamber prepare to launch their inaugural campaign this April, they have already experienced the impact of the TRC sponsorship development work. Reflecting on the experience, Kellie shared:

“We have found significant value in the sponsorship development process, including a deep-dive into all of our programs, events, and initiatives. The opportunity to see our work through the lens of an industry leader and Chamber champion the caliber of Jason has been incredibly rewarding for our team. We have developed new opportunities for our members, including sponsorship benefits and marketing products we would have never thought of on our own. 

But we have also been pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable and even inspiring this process has been. Jason appreciates the mission and values of our organization and is helping us become the best we can be utilizing the time and resources currently available to us. While we expect the campaign to be a success in terms of revenue, membership engagement, and future time management for our staff, the work our team is doing to prepare for the campaign has been far more valuable than we could have ever imagined. We are already better for the experience - Jason is giving us the tools and the confidence to dream even bigger!”

Culpeper Chamber

The Chamber recently hosted the 2026 State of the Community, bringing together business and community leaders for focused conversations on economic competitiveness, workforce stability, and quality of life. Highlights included insights from Blueprint Virginia 2035 on housing and infrastructure needs, a public safety update showing declining crime through strong community engagement, and panels emphasizing how health access and reliable childcare function as essential workforce infrastructure. Together, the discussions reinforced the role chambers can play in convening partners and advancing solutions that support both employers and communities.

Farmville Area Chamber

The Chamber would like to thank former Executive Director Anne Tyler Paulek for her many years of faithful service to the Chamber. Trish McGregor has been named the Interim Executive Coordinator. FACC is currently seeking a dynamic Executive Director to lead the organization and is accepting applications. Please see the VACCE Careers page for more information and to apply.

Fredericksburg Regional Chamber

The Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) has awarded Wendy L. Zelazny with the Chamber its 2025 Sales Contest award for dollar value of new member sales. Zelazny placed third in $500,000 – $ 2 million | organizational dues income category for $211,947 of new member sales Eligible sales were to have been made between January 1 through December 31, 2025. To be considered for the award, sales professionals must submit quarterly sales figures to ACCE. Click here for the press release.

Hampton Roads Chamber

The first of five high-impact State of the City events across Hampton Roads set the tone for a powerful year of regional engagement. With more than 1,300 business and community leaders in the room, the Virginia Beach State of the City led by Mayor Bobby Dyer and City Manager Patrick Duhaney, delivered critical insights on priorities, progress, and what’s ahead. We look forward to continuing the momentum with the remaining four events in the series, including two in April and two in May.

We also extend our congratulations to our friends at VACCE on a successful Spring Conference. Our team was proud to be represented by four staff members who engaged with peers from across the Commonwealth strengthening connections, sharing best practices, and bringing back insights to better serve our members.

Looking ahead, we’re taking our momentum on the road to Jacksonville for our annual Leadership Exchange. This premier experience brings together regional leaders to gain real-world insights from peer markets facing similar opportunities and challenges. In Jacksonville, our focus will center on workforce development, talent attraction and retention, regional branding, sports tourism, infrastructure, and innovation, turning lessons learned into actionable strategies for Hampton Roads.

Luray-Page County Chamber

The Chamber is traveling to Ireland in 2026! In partnership with C I Destinations, the Chamber is offering "The Best of Ireland" departing October 14, 2026. Click here for more details.

The Chamber's 100th Annual Banquet & Awards will be held Thursday, May 28 at The Mimslyn Inn.

Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance

We mentioned at the Leadership Programs panel session in Winchester (VACCE Spring Conference) about our national leadership association called the Association of Leadership Programs. Next month is All Access April, with them which means non-members are able to access ALP at the member rate and also participate in our free programs as non-members in case any of our members want to check them out. The virtual affinity sessions are very helpful in sharing best practices. If anyone has any questions about ALP, Christine Kennedy is happy to share her experience.

Prince William Chamber

The Chamber has named Krisi Black their new Interim CEO.

Top of Virginia Regional Chamber

Join us for the 2026 Post-Legislative Briefing at The George Washington Hotel on Tuesday, April 7—and don’t wait, time is running out to get your tickets! This important event offers a valuable opportunity to engage with our legislative representatives and gain insight into the outcomes of the recent legislative session. 

Virginia Hispanic Chamber

The 25th Annual ¿Qué Pasa? Festival returns on Saturday, May 30th, 2026 at the brand-new CarMax Park in Richmond, VA . As one of the largest celebrations of Hispanic and Latin American culture in the Commonwealth, the festival brings together thousands of attendees for a vibrant day of live music, authentic food, cultural performances, artisan vendors, and community celebration.

Virginia Peninsula Chamber

The Chamber continues to advance its mission of strengthening regional competitiveness through leadership development, neighborhood engagement, and convening around the issues that matter most to our economy. A cornerstone of our work is our suite of leadership programs, which together create a continuum of talent development across the Peninsula. LEAD Peninsula remains our flagship civic immersion program for emerging leaders. Building on that foundation, LEAD Higher, delivered in partnership with Christopher Newport University, serves as our advanced leadership development experience. We are also launching a new pilot this summer: LEAD for Interns. In addition to leadership development, we are launching a new community engagement initiative: Spotlight on the Neighborhood, debuting in May with an inaugural event focused on Newport News’ Yard District. Click here to read more about these exciting programs.

ACCE

The #ACCE26 Annual Convention has been set for July 20-22, 2026 in New Orleans, LA. Please click here for more information and to register.

IOM - 2026 Summer Sites Now Open for Registration

We are looking forward to another amazing year at Madison, Athens, & Villanova. Click here to go to the general Institute registration page.