Professional Development

Professional Designations
Often you will see some letters following the last name of Chamber professionals. These members are recognized for reaching certain levels of achievement and professional growth. As a member of ICEA we encourage you to pursue one or more of these achievements toward excellence in chamber leadership. Here is what those designations mean. For additional information on criteria and applications, click on the respective links.

CAE: Certified Association Executive (American Society of Association Executives, ASAE)
CCE: Certified Chamber Executive (American Chamber of Commerce Executives, ACCE)
IOM: Graduate of Institute of Organization Management (U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute Program)

Professional of the Year Award

Each year ICEA recognizes our most professional and active peers with the prestigious Chamber Executive Of The Year award. This is our highest award of distinction that recognizes professional excellence - "the best of the best" - of chamber chief executives.

The recipients of this award are chamber chief executives whose performance and commitment to our industry and their local communities are exceptional.  It is our recognition of the “best of the best” among Indiana Chamber professionals.

Click here to see a current list of Professional of the Year Recipients

Chamber Accreditation

You may have noticed an "Accredited" logo on some chambers' websites, letterhead or in their newsletters.  These chambers, rated as  Accredited, 3-Stars, 4-Stars, or 5-Stars, have passed the muster of very highest standards of operation.  The following five Indiana chambers are currently Accredited by the U.S. Chamber:
            Chamber of Commerce of St. Joseph County (South Bend) *****
            Fishers Chamber of Commerce *****
            Greater Elkhart Chamber of Commerce ****
            Greater LaPorte Chamber of Commerce  ****
            One Southern Indiana 

The Accreditation Program defines standards of excellence in chamber planning and performance and shows chambers how they can reach and maintain these standards. It also helps chambers measure achievement while giving recognition and encouragement to chamber members and staff who meet high standards of operation and who are contributing in an effective way to the good of their chamber and community.

The criteria and standards used in the guidelines become tools for management control and self-discipline -- guiding the organization by helping it upgrade and improve its basic effectiveness. Chambers that have earned Accreditation value the process as a worthwhile experience. It has helped them focus attention on the nine critical areas that add to successful chamber performance:
     * Governance
     * Finance
     * Human Resources
     * Governmental Affairs
     * Program Development
     * Communications
     * Technology
     * Facilities
     * Benchmarking

To see if your chamber is ready for this process, click on the Accreditation Self-Analysis Survey for Local Chambers of Commerce

For more information on the U.S Chamber's Accreditation Program, click here.

Honorary Life Members

ICEA members and other individuals who have distinguished themselves through exceptional leadership and service to the chamber of commerce profession may be bestowed the title of Honorary Life Members.

Current ICEA members may submit nominations to the Board of Directors for its consideration.  Subject to a favorable vote by the board, a person so honored shall be presented with this distinction at the ICEA Winter Conference & Awards Luncheon.  For more information and al ist of current Honoary Life Members, click here.