BOONE, NORTH CAROLINA — The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce has been named a finalist for the 2026 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
“Being named a Chamber of the Year finalist is a powerful reflection of leadership, innovation and measurable impact,” said ACCE President & CEO Sheree Anne Kelly. “We congratulate these outstanding chambers on this well-deserved recognition. They are not only serving their members, they are shaping stronger economies, building more resilient communities and setting a high standard for the chamber profession.”
Chamber of the Year winners will be announced on Tuesday, July 21, during the Awards Show at ACCE’s Annual Convention in New Orleans.
“I’m so excited for our team, Board of Directors, Chamber members, and the High Country community we work to support everyday,” said Boone Area Chamber of Commerce President/CEO David Jackson. “With the type of work we do, especially for a community as special as this one, to be recognized by our industry peers reaffirms we are traveling in an impactful direction. This process has helped us feel even more confident and energized about the way our organization is showing up for the High Country. It’s also given us the motivation to look inward at the way we operate, what we prioritize, and how we best utilize the talents of our amazing staff. We are grateful for the chance to tell the story of our community in a nationwide context, and we are excited for the chance to learn from the other Chambers that join us as finalists for this special honor.”
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.
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