We are #1! It is a chant and cheer that can meet a variety of different things but it almost always a positive. In this case, the Ocala/Marion County Chamber and Economic Partnership (CEP) is celebrating being named the national Chamber of the Year by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives for 2020. In other words, the CEP is the #1 chamber in all the land. This is the only globally-recognized industry award that honors top chambers.
At the CEP, this is more than just a pretty trophy and banner to hang on the wall. It is recognition of the unique partnerships which exist in this community between businesses, local governments, education providers, and the CEP. The idea behind chamber of the year award is to recognize those chambers which have demonstrated organizational strength and made an impact on key community priorities. The partnerships that exist and drive growth in this community is at the heart of what is recognized with this award. In other words, it is not just a CEP award but it is an award for the entire Ocala Metro.
One might wonder why this matters to the community at large? If one does not own a business, why does the CEP, the voice of the business community, receiving recognition really matter? It means the entity designated to lead growth and development for our area is operating at the highest level and leading efforts to meaningfully impact our community. The combination of metrics reviews, white papers, and in-depth interviews means that data is being tested and reviewed and it is consistently coming out among the very best. In fact, this year it is the very best!
Qualifying for Chamber of the Year is a rigorous process. First, chambers compete based on meeting key performance criteria on the ACCE Annual Operations Survey. To qualify to apply chambers must meet minimum thresholds in at least three of five key performance areas, including net revenue, net assets, membership account retention, and membership dollar retention. Those who meet these qualifications are then invited to submit a written application addressing all aspects of organizational operation and programmatic work. Applications are scored by peer chamber executives to determine finalists. Winners are selected from among finalists based on an in-person interview before a panel of experienced chamber professionals who are themselves past winners.
For the last 11 years, the CEP has regularly benchmarked the Ocala Metro against 10 other similarly sized metros across the Southeast. Knowing how the community compares against similar communities is a great way to track progress. How strong are these benchmarks? Half are past Chamber of the Year winners. Ocala is now on the same footing as these peers. The CEP is recognized among the best because our community is among the very best and that is what all of these efforts are truly about – working to ensure that the Ocala Metro is a prosperous community.
