A chamber of commerce is a voluntary partnership of businesses and professionals who work together to build a healthy economy and improve the quality of life in a community. As a chamber works to achieve these goals, it must fulfill many different functions: economic developer and planner, tourist information center, business secretary, economic advisor and educator, government relations specialist, human resources advisor, and public relations specialist.
Who are the Chamber Members?
Chamber members are businesses, organizations, and individuals who are interested in the socioeconomic climate of the community. These groups have come together because they have a better chance of achieving results when they speak with a collective voice. Chamber members can include a small hardware store on the corner, a mom-and-pop cafe, a well-known downtown bank, franchises and large retailers, and the local baseball team. There are no restrictions on the number and type of members who want to become members of a chamber of commerce.
Who leads the chamber?
A chamber of commerce is run by its members. They elect a board of directors that sets policies and goals. The chief elected officer presides over all board meetings. The day-to-day operations of the chamber are handled by a professional manager. This person is usually a paid employee. Some small chambers have a manager who is a volunteer or part-time employee. You can increase participation by encouraging members to serve on committees. Committees may include economic development, education, government relations, human resources, public affairs, and tourism.
What are the goals of the chamber?
As the chamber works to improve the economy and quality of life in the community, it keeps these broad goals in mind:
- Help businesses thrive and grow;
- Increase job opportunities;
- Encourage the orderly expansion and development of all segments of the community;
- Promote the overall economic stability of the community;
- Promote a national private competitive marketing system.
Chief Paid Executive Officer
The chief paid executive officer of a chamber of commerce serves as the chief executive officer, implementing the policies and directives of the membership.
Typical job titles in this classification:
- Executive Director;
- Executive Vice President;
- President;
- President and CEO or President/CEO.
Chief Operating Officer
The Chief Operating Officer is the chief operating officer of the Chamber. This position helps to manage and supervise staff to ensure that the day-to-day business operations of the organization are carried out.
Typical job titles in this classification:
- Deputy Director;
- Director of internal service;
- Executive assistant/office manager;
- Office manager;
- Senior Vice President of Operations.