How to become A Chamber of Commerce Executive Director

• Executive Vice President
• President

What do Chamber of Commerce Executive Directors do?

A Chamber of Commerce Executive Director would typically need to:

• Lead the development and implementation of goals, policies, programs, initiatives, duties, and activities required and established by the board of directors
• Serve as the "face" of the chamber; act as liaison with various entities and as the spokesperson for official policy statements; embody and model their chamber’s values through everyday conduct
• Build alliances with the board, government officials, and business leaders in the immediate community and beyond; advocate for chamber members from the business community
• Formulate strategic direction and policy recommendations for review and action by the board; implement board policies and directives at the organizational level
• Offer executive leadership; organize and oversee member services and events; carry out staff management, supervision, and leadership
• Carry out financial management duties for the chamber; allocate resources to fulfill chamber commitments while pursuing cost-effective management practices
• Maintain social media accounts; use marketing strategies through the web, social media, print, video, and collateral materials to promote chamber activity
• Build a team culture across the organization, which promotes a comprehensive image of the chamber
• Organize and schedule meetings with members, the board, advisors, and peers; designate locations, develop the agenda, and create and deliver meeting materials
• Provide professional management, support, and training to board members; serve as an ex-officio member on all committees by virtue of being the Executive Director
• Preside at all meetings of the board; ensure appropriate representation of the chamber at all essential events

The nature of the job is such that a Chamber of Commerce Executive Director works mostly indoors in the controlled environment of an office-based setting.

The position may require regular but light travel to off-site locations. It also demands a professional and positive image presented to members and the greater community through appropriate appearance and grooming, demeanor, and comments. The dress code depends on the location, sector, size, and membership of the organization in general or the particular event they need to attend in an official capacity.

In addition to regular and prescribed working hours, the Executive Director needs to be available over weekends and other off-work hours to attend chamber activities and community events.

All chambers of commerce are incorporated entities. Generally, local businesses come together to form a chamber of commerce. They elect a board of directors or an executive council.

Chamber of Commerce Executive Directors are generally employed by:

• The Board of Directors or Executive Council

Chambers that wish to thrive seek membership in state, national, and even international bodies (such as Eurochambres, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), World Chambers, or the American Chamber of Commerce Executives).

Professional associations and organizations are vital for Chamber of Commerce Executive Directors interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• Retaining, recruiting, and engaging members to prevent a decline in membership
• Managing data and multiple initiatives efficiently
• Overload of responsibility and shortage of personal time
• Impact of online social networking on the role of chambers
• Increasing website advertising revenue and engagement with social media

Boards seek promising Chamber of Commerce Executive Directors with significant work and leadership experience in economic development, public policy, external customer relations, sales, or a business-related field.

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a professional discipline relevant to providing executive leadership, such as business or marketing, is essential. The program should afford working knowledge of basic human resources policies, procedures, laws, and regulations. Hands-on experience with QuickBooks, Excel, and social media outlets would prove valuable.

This role requires no particular certification, license, or registration. However, a Chamber of Commerce Executive Director can gain professional credibility, validate their knowledge, and increase their confidence at work by acquiring voluntary certification in economic development through an objective and reputed organization.

Chamber of Commerce Executive Directors come from diverse locations such as business, government, and non-profit organizations and, in this role, interact with a wide variety of sectors and functions. With growing competence and experience, the Executive Director of a chamber could progress to heading more significant national or international chambers/other organizations.

Candidates who can build the chamber as a source of useful information, build functional and stable relationships with members, and increase chamber visibility, while offering roundtables, forums, and educational programs, will succeed.

The chamber industry occupies a niche and is different in terms of its unique needs and lower competitiveness among professionals than the corporate world. As a result, it is advantageous to connect with other chamber professionals and organizations for advice to grow more efficient, capable and trusted in the Executive Director’s role.

Social media channels provide a sense of how the chamber works, its challenges, and its reputation. Reading the chamber’s blog posts, social feeds, and comments gives an idea of member satisfaction. Joining the Facebook page of Chamber of Commerce professionals will allow you access to information shared by peers and industry experts. Acquiring further educational qualifications, such as an MBA degree or specializations in finance and economics, may propel job success and progression.

A Long-Serving Concept

The Chamber of Commerce, as a concept, has been in place for hundreds of years. Its original purpose was as a local organization of businesses whose goal was to further the interests of businesses.

Customized Responsibilities

A Chamber of Commerce Executive Director may also need to comprehend, integrate, and interpret current issues, research, trends, and best practices to ensure that they are actionable. They may need to review by-laws, governance issues, ethics, and non-compliance with governance duties before meeting with the board to consider changes.

The Executive Director may determine the need for action committees, appoint committee chairpersons and personnel, and provide support and guidance, following the board’s approval. They may need to execute all deeds, contracts, and other instruments affecting the chamber’s operation or its properties with the approval of the board. They may have to sign all formal chamber documents along with the secretary.

Incorporation - What Does It Mean?

Incorporation is the legal process used to form a corporate entity or company. It involves writing up a document known as the articles of incorporation and enumerating the firm's shareholders.

In a corporation, the business entity’s assets and cash flows are kept separate from owners and investors, a type of legal structure called limited liability. Incorporation protects the owner's assets against the company's liabilities and allows for easy transfer of ownership to another party. It can raise capital through the sale of stock and includes specific tax benefits.

Incorporation effectively creates a protective bubble of limited liability, often called a corporate veil, around its shareholders and directors. Incorporated businesses can take the risks that make growth possible without exposing the shareholders, owners, and directors to personal financial liability outside of their original investments in the company.

Globally, the chamber of commerce network is the largest informal business network. Currently, there are about 13,000 chambers registered in the official World Chambers Network registry.

As an Executive Director, you will make your Chamber of Commerce a happening place in your town or city, where businesses come together as members with common goals. As an experienced and visionary leader, you will lead the Chamber to achieve its mission of service.

Hear all sides of everything. Earn trust.