"There’s a quote saying "If you have seen one Chamber, you have seen one Chamber." We all know no one Chamber is alike. That is why ICEA is so valuable. In 1988, I became the Director of the Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce. I had no Chamber experience other than fundraising and working with volunteers at our local hospital. Upon advice from my dear friend Dave Cox, at the Washington Chamber of Commerce, I immediately joined ICEA. The past twenty ones years have been so rewarding. In 1988, as a rookie, I was exposed to a multitude of exciting ideas that worked in other Chambers. The value of ICEA is to attend the conference, and "R and D" (Rob and Duplicate). You are encouraged to take the knowledge back to your community, and apply it, molding it to fit your special community and business needs. And as the years have progressed, ICEA has given me an opportunity to give back to a profession that I consider very important. Belonging to ICEA opens doors of opportunity for you to hone and develop skills to be the leader of an outstanding Chamber, not just a Chamber."

Adele Bowden-Purlee,
President Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce