What's In A Name?

Here is a question to think about . . . Executive Director vs. President/CEO for the staff leader of your Chamber? If you have been in this business long enough, you have heard that 'board members need to bring their business minds to the Chamber's board table' and that 'not for profit is the tax status, not the business plan, for the Chamber.'  So why are so many chamber board leaders still operating the Chamber as just another community not for profit? 

According to Wikipedia, nonprofit senior managers are called executive directors instead of chief executive officers “to avoid the business connotation which the latter name evokes.”  A Chamber staff leader represents the diversity of businesses as members and that is what makes the Chamber stand out among the non profit network in a community.  We represent business leaders and they will better relate to the title of President or CEO. Regardless of the size of your Chamber, it's time we walk the walk for the members that we represent. This may be a sticky change for a staff leader to persuade a Board to make.  ICEA is only a phone call away for  confidential assistance with guiding your Board. Give the ICEA Office a call at 812-871-3000 anytime you need help consider directing your Board volunteers to the Board Resources section of this website.