Georgia Association of
Chamber of Commerce
Executives
2014-2015
Plan of Action
The mission of GACCE is to engage, educate and
empower chamber professionals.
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Executive Committee
Chair:
Dinah Rowe – Chatsworth-Murray County Chamber
Chair-Elect:
Yulonda Darden Beauford – Clayton County Chamber
1st Vice Chair/Secretary: Daniel Jackson – Carroll County Chamber
2nd Vice Chair/Treasurer: Tommy Jennings – Barrow County Chamber
Immediate Past Chair:
Candace Boothby – Newnan-Coweta Chamber
OBJECTIVES
1. Plan



& execute three major conferences per year
Executive Leadership Conference (July 2014)
Volunteer Leader Conference (November 2014)
Staff Development Conference (March 2015)
2. Develop and facilitate yearly event bid process
 Review RFP for all events
 RFP sent out April of current year for next year’s events
 Discuss and present recommendation to Board at June Board Retreat
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Marketing & Communications Division
Chair:
Jerry Connell – Adel-Cook County Chamber
Committee:
Daniel Jackson – Carroll County Chamber
Kathy Johnson – Gordon County Chamber
Karen Rackley – Sylvester-Worth County Chamber
Lori Showalter Smith – Thomaston-Upson County Chamber
Cindy Williams – Blairsville-Union County Chamber
Purpose:
The Purpose of the Marketing & Communications Division is to
develop marketing, communications and strategies for GACCE,
with the goal of growing membership, maximizing participation,
and increasing the overall value of the organization.
STRATEGY 1: MARKETING
1. GACCE Website
 Integrate responsive design
 Add regional map (graphic only) to “Chambers by Region” page
 Develop peer groups for Member Login section
 Upload communications materials to Member Login section
STRATEGY 2: COMMUNICATIONS
1. Headshots
 Ask chamber executives to provide new headshots as needed
2. Annual Newsletter for Executive Leadership Conference
 Include in conference notebook with Plan of Action and year-end
accomplishments
3. Encourage Facebook usage
 Ask everyone to “like” page at events
4. GACCE Newsletter / Tuesday Tidbits
 Eliminate regional spotlight
 Add more news you can use to newsletter
 Add staff photos and contact information to Tuesday Tidbits
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Member Benefits Division
Chair:
Sue Parr – Augusta Metro Chamber
Committee:
Brian Anderson – Greater Dalton Chamber
Roddie Anne Blackwell – Eatonton-Putnam Chamber
Bob Hughes – Madison-Morgan County Chamber
Tommy Jennings – Barrow County Chamber
Purpose:
The purpose of the Member Benefits Division is to create value
by engaging, educating, and empowering our members.
STRATEGY 1: TRAVEL PARTNERS
1. Determine annual membership travel program
 Accept offer from Central Holidays for September 2015 trip to Germany
o Determine final pricing and free trip consideration
STRATEGY 2: CONFERENCE CALLS / PROGRAMS
1. Determine monthly subject matter for membership calls
 Use GACCE conference call line
 Suggested topics: T-SPLOST, common core, etc.
2. Wage & Benefit Survey
 Conduct in August 2015
STRATEGY 3: EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
1. Review new affinity programs for association
 Survey membership about the programs they are using
 Review proposal from BrokerSavant for membership
2. Investigate organizational discounts (GA Academy, Carl Vinson)
STRATEGY 4: GEORGIA CERTIFIED CHAMBER PROGRAM
1. Review and manage program
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Professional Development Division
Chair:
Angela Westra – Americus-Sumter County Chamber
Committee:
Yulonda Darden Beauford – Clayton County Chamber
Candace Boothby – Newnan-Coweta Chamber
Fred Boscarino – Conyers-Rockdale Chamber
Denise Duncan – Pickens County Chamber
Bill Mitchell – Toombs-Montgomery Chamber
Dinah Rowe – Chatsworth-Murray County Chamber
Tammy Shepherd – Columbia County Chamber
Meredith Zonsius – Georgia Chamber
Purpose:
The purpose of the Professional Development Division is to
educate chamber professionals and empower their professional
needs.
STRATEGY 1: AWARDS, DESIGNATIONS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
1. GACCE Executive of the Year Award Honoring Kent Lawrence
 Change name of award to GACCE Distinguished Executive Award honoring
Kent Lawrence
 Develop criteria and checklist for nominations – Fred/Candace deadline to
committee 8/30/14 with presentation to Board at November Board
Meeting
2. Georgia Certified Chamber Executive (GCCE) program
 Review and manage program
3. GACCE Scholarships
 Determine number available each year after budget review with Treasurer
STRATEGY 2: COUNCILS
1. Communications Council
 Division to work with chair/s to determine quarterly meeting locations and
topics
2. Membership Council
 Division to work with chair/s to determine quarterly meeting locations and
topics
3. Young Professionals Council
 Continue to meet each year at Staff Development Conference
 40 and under to be a member
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STRATEGY 3: REGIONAL ROAD SHOWS / TRAINING
1. Determine timeframe and topics
 Two per year – September 2014 and May 2015
 Suggested topics: communications/social media, membership
recruitment/retention, marketing
 Research 8-10 centrally located chamber locations for meetings
2. Webinars
 Promote free industry webinars to membership
 Discuss possibility of purchasing training programs from nationally
recognized speakers for addition to Member Login section of GACCE
website (Cathi Hight, Kyle Sexton, etc.)
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