ACCE News
ACCE Selects Regional Sustainable Development Fellows
Alexandria, VA -
The American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) has selected 50 business-civic leaders to participate in its Regional Sustainable Development (RSD) Fellowship, funded by the Ford Foundation and conducted with the support of research consulting firm, FutureWorks, as well as The Alliance for Regional Stewardship. Beginning in the fall of 2008, three groups of Fellows will begin the 12-month program in order to create a regional action plan that will address barriers to creating a sustainable economy and healthy environment.
“Spurring regional, sustainable development is one of the major issues facing civic organizations, especially chambers of commerce, in the 21st century,” says Mick Fleming, president of ACCE. “This program immerses regional leaders in integrated economic and community growth strategies that foster greater equity of opportunity for all sectors, neighborhoods and individuals.”
Fellows, who represent diverse communities and personal backgrounds, were chosen from a pool of distinguished and talented candidates of almost double the number of applications for the available openings. The Fellows are:
Cohort I:
- Rafael Carbonell, Thrive (WI)
- Mary Graham, CCE, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce (SC)
- Ellen Horan, Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PA)
- Kristofer Johnson, IOM, St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce (MN)
- Jerry Mallot, CCE, Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce (FL)
- Michael Malone, CCE, Northwest Arkansas Council (AR)
- Kelly Miller, Asheville Chamber of Commerce (NC)
- Andrew Moretz, IOM, Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce (NC)
- Lou Ann Nisbett, The Alliance (AR)
- Wendy Northcross, CCE, Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce (MA)
- Judith Prince, University of South Carolina Upstate (SC)
- Kristi Ray, Columbia Chamber of Commerce (MO)
- Leon F. (Skip) Rowland, Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce (WA)
- Jeff Severs, Greater Spokane Inc (WA)
- Jack Wong, CMA, Vancouver Board of Trade (BC)
- Steve Wray, Economy League of Greater Philadelphia (PA)
Cohort II:
- Dennis Andrews, Richmond-Wayne County Indiana Chamber of Commerce (IN)
- Chip Cherry, CCE, Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce (GA)
- Chris Cooney, CCE, Metro South Chamber of Commerce (MA)
- Daniel Culhane, Ames Chamber of Commerce (IA)
- Mica Espinoza, MPA, Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce (TX)
- Samuel Garrison, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce (CA)
- David Hauser, CCE, Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce (OR)
- Sandy Hentges, IOM, Austin Chamber of Commerce (TX)
- Jodi Ann LaFreniere, CCE, Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce (NC)
- David Martin, CCE, Chamber of Commerce of Fargo Moorhead (ND)
- Paul Matthews, 495/MetroWest Corridor Partnership, Inc. (MA)
- Tracye McDaniel, Greater Houston Partnership (TX)
- Aaron Nelson, Chapel Hill/Carrboro Chamber of Commerce (NC)
- Phillip Parker, CAE, CCE, Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce (OH)
- Nadine Francis West, MetroHartford Alliance Inc (CT)
- Robert Wright, Rowan County Chamber of Commerce (NC)
- Kristina Wyatt, Greater Kansas City (MO)
Cohort III
- Marla Akridge, Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce (OH)
- Amy Clickner, Lake Superior Community Partnership (MI)
- Myrita Craig, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber (OH)
- Barb Denny, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce (OK)
- Thomas Donley, CCE, York County Chamber of Commerce (PA)
- John Harmon, Metropolitan Trenton African-American Chamber of Commerce (NJ)
- Jerry Hoyer, CCE, CID, Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce (CA)
- Carl Hum, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce (NY)
- Paul Jadin, Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce (WI)
- John Long, III, IOM, CCE, CAE, St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce (FL)
- David May, CCE, CAE, Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce (CO)
- Larry McKinney, CCE, CED, Daytona Beach-Halifax Area Chamber of Commerce (FL)
- Jean McPheeters, Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce (NY)
- Shane Moody, IOM, CCE, Destin Area Chamber of Commerce (FL)
- Lance Pressl, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce (IL)
- Susan Stauder, St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association (MO)
- Keva Walton, Charlotte Chamber of Commerce (NC)
About the Fellowship
The Fellowship is a unique, 12-month program for regional leaders who build communities and economies. ACCE and FutureWorks, a research consulting firm, are again partnering in this initiative, with the assistance of the Alliance for Regional Stewardship and The Citistates Group. The Fellowship provides hands-on training, peer knowledge exchange, research, and examination of working models covering a wide range of growth and sustainability issues, including: infrastructure, immigration, land use, housing, education, environment, and social inclusion. During the course of the Fellowship, each participant crafts a “regional action plan,” to ameliorate a specific regional challenge to be concluded (or launched) within two years of the program conclusion.
About the Ford Foundation
The 2008-2009 program represents the second year that the Ford Foundation, headquartered in New York, has funded the Fellowship. Over the Foundation’s 70-year history, over $15 billion in funding distributed world-wide has supported programs related to asset building and community development; peace and social justice; and knowledge, creativity and freedom.
About the American Chamber of Commerce of Commerce Executives
Established in 1914, ACCE is the only national association uniquely serving the professional development needs of individuals managing chambers of commerce throughout the United States and Canada. Representing more than 6,000 professionals, ACCE enhances the knowledge, leadership skills, and management effectiveness of chamber executives and their staffs through education, trend analysis, benchmarking, and best practices. ACCE promotes the highest standards of professional excellence and integrity within the chamber profession.
Source: ACCE
Contact: Cathy Lada
Publication Date: May 7, 2008