MEMPHIS, TN – June 10, 2025 – At the Mid-Year Chairman Forum, the Greater Memphis Chamber announced they have been named a finalist for the 2025 Chamber of the Year award, presented by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE). ACCE is an association based in Alexandria, Va., with over 1,600 chambers of commerce and related business and economic development organizations as members, representing more than 9,000 professionals in the industry.

The award, sponsored by GrowthZone, is the most prestigious and competitive award in the chamber industry, recognizing excellence in operations, member service and community leadership. Those honored with the Chamber of the Year designation have demonstrated organizational strength and impacted key community priorities, such as education, transportation, economic prosperity and quality of life.

“This year’s finalists represent excellence in the chamber industry,” said ACCE President & CEO Sheree Anne Kelly. “Each has shown how chambers can lead as community partners, forward-thinking leaders and problem solvers to drive growth and make a lasting impact on regional prosperity. We congratulate them on this well-deserved recognition.”

Chamber of the Year winners will be announced on Wednesday, July 23, during the Awards Show, presented by Comcast Business at ACCE’s Annual Convention in Philadelphia.

“Being named a finalist for the 2025 Chamber of the Year award represents a tremendous milestone in our journey to establish Memphis as a global economic leader,” said Ted Townsend, President and CEO of the Greater Memphis Chamber. This achievement belongs to our entire team, whose relentless pursuit of prosperity for all Memphians drives everything we do. As we prepare for our final interview in Philadelphia, we’re not just representing the Chamber – we’re representing Memphis’ remarkable economic growth and our community’s unmatched vitality. It’s time to bring the championship home to the Digital Delta!”

Chambers of commerce interested in competing for the award must first qualify by participating in a vigorous multi-stage process. Organizations entering the Chamber of the Year competition must meet minimum thresholds in at least three of five key performance areas in ACCE’s Annual Chamber Operations Survey, including net revenue and assets, membership account retention and membership dollar retention.

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. The finalists then move on to an interview before a panel of experienced chamber professionals.

To ensure the fairest competition, applicants are grouped into four categories based on annual revenue, membership, staff capacity, area population and other factors. A strong conflict of interest policy signed by all volunteer judges, ensures a competitive and fair playing field for all applicants.

About The Greater Memphis Chamber 

One of Memphis’ oldest institutions, dating back to 1838, the Greater Memphis Chamber is a privately funded nonprofit that serves as the region’s lead economic development organization and the “Voice of Memphis Business” on local, state, and national issues. The Chamber’s mission is to drive the Memphis business agenda for Greater Memphis. We do this by relentlessly pursuing prosperity for all — through economic and workforce development, pro-growth advocacy, and by providing support and resources to its investors, which include many of the region’s largest employers.  

About the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives

Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) is the professional society supporting the women and men who lead local, regional, statewide and international chambers of commerce and related business and economic development organizations. Our membership includes more than 1,600 business/civic organizations worldwide. We provide our members with information resources, thought leadership, education programs, original research, benchmarking, retirement security, and access to a network of peers.

About the award sponsor GrowthZone 

GrowthZone is association software that helps organizations grow and retain membership, engage and inform members and prospects, and streamline tedious tasks. It unlocks the full potential of member-based organizations and seamlessly integrates with core processes, providing the foundation for an organization’s strategy. Learn more about GrowthZone at https://www.growthzone.com/.