The Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (GACCE) announced their newest Georgia Certified Chamber Executives, including Liberty County Chamber of Commerce CEO Leah Poole, at the 2023 Executive Leadership Conference held at the Sea Palms Resort in St. Simons Island.

In 1993, the Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (GACCE) began looking at ways to enhance public awareness and credibility of the Chamber of Commerce profession. One of the items selected to accomplish this was the establishment of a designation which exemplifies excellence and professionalism of Georgia’s Chamber Executives. This designation would be based upon experience, service to GACCE, training/continuing education and personal achievement. The Georgia Certified Chamber Executive (GCCE) was created to strengthen career development, provide an opportunity for personal recognition, and measure individual progress.

The process for those Chamber Executives wishing to achieve this designation include completing the GCCE application and providing supporting documentation, writing a 250-word essay describing their views on their performance as a Chamber Executive, and providing letters of recommendation from a Past Chamber Chair and three GACCE peers. The application and supporting material are then reviewed by a panel of judges.

GACCE has a total of 20 current chamber executives who have achieved this designation. Also named a Georgia Certified Chamber Executive were: Crystal Fairless, Blairsville-Union County Chamber of Commerce; Cindy Jones, Griffin Spalding Chamber of Commerce; and Angie Martin, Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce.