The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has awarded The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce with its designation of Accredited with 5 Stars for its sound policies, effective organizational procedures, and positive impact on the community.
This is the third time the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce has achieved the 5-star accredited status. Local chambers are rated Accredited, 3-Stars, 4-Stars, or 5-Stars. State chambers are recognized as either Accredited State Chamber or Accredited State Chamber with Distinction. The final determination is made by the Accrediting Board, a committee of U.S. Chamber board members. This 5-Star Accreditation is in effect for 5 years.
“Accredited chambers of commerce are impactful advocates for the business community” said Raymond P. Towle, U.S. Chamber Vice President, Federation Relations, and IOM. “When chambers of commerce earn the distinction of becoming Accredited, it is a mark of excellence for the organization, its staff, and its leadership. This rigorous review includes all aspects of a chamber’s policies, operations, and programming. Accredited chambers are recognized for their ability to serve as a resource to their region’s businesses while maintaining transparent governance practices, sound financial controls, safe work environments, effective communications, and value in programming. It is an extraordinary accomplishment.”
The purpose of the U.S. Chamber's Accreditation Program is to facilitate continuing excellence in the chamber industry and to foster a pro-business environment across America. In order to receive Accreditation, a chamber must meet minimum standards in their operations and programs, including areas of governance, government affairs, communications, and technology. This extensive self-review can take 6-9 months to complete.
Mike Murphy, President & CEO, stated that he, the board, and staff at the Chamber are very excited and honored by this recognition from the US Chamber. “We feel fortunate to be among the top 2 percent of Chambers in the United States with the highest honor awarded 5-Star Accreditation!”
He also mentioned a couple of areas that were highlighted by the Accrediting Board that were especially satisfying to him. The U.S. Chamber stated “The chamber is a vocal advocate for the region’s business community. It has fostered an excellent working relationship with elected officials and is engaged with many regional and state working groups and associations. The chamber is recognized for its leadership role in the All in for Economic Recovery group, as well as for its Advocacy Advisory Council and its Mayoral Forum.” The Accrediting Board also noted that, “The chamber is recognized for its Disaster Recovery Plan as well as its utilization of the Ready Action Plan to address service continuity. The chamber does an excellent job recognizing the work of its volunteers. It is noted for its partnership with BIGG Success and its resource library.”