Forsyth Chamber Named Chamber Of The Year Finalist

CUMMING, GA — The Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce has been named a finalist for the 2021 Chamber of the Year award, presented by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.

The organization is the only Chamber in the state of Georgia nominated this year. The Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives is an association based in Alexandria, Virginia, which has more than 1,600 chambers of commerce and related business and economic development organizations as members, representing more than 9,000 professionals in the industry.

“It is a tremendous honor to be recognized among the very best Chambers in the nation,” James McCoy, president and CEO of the Forsyth County Chamber, said in the news release. “The Chamber is a direct reflection of the strong support of the prosperity-building mission from our board of directors, strategic partners, investors, and community.”

The award is the most prestigious and competitive recognition presented annually by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. It recognizes the leadership role chambers of commerce have in their communities. Those honored with the Chamber of the Year designation have demonstrated organizational strength and made an impact on key community priorities, such as education, transportation, economic prosperity and quality of life.

“This year’s finalists are among the most impactful organizations within the industry,” Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives President and CEO Sheree Anne Kelly said in a news release. “Following a tumultuous year, these chambers emerged as community champions, providing catalytic leadership to address their region’s greatest challenges and opportunities for prosperity.”

Chambers of commerce interested in competing for the award first must qualify by participating in a vigorous multi-stage process. Chambers compete based on meeting key performance criteria and qualifying chambers enter the competition with 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 interview before a panel of experienced chamber professionals.