Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Celebrates Accreditation

October 24, 2022 – Sarasota

The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce officially announced the U.S. Chamber of Commerce designation of Accreditation with 4 Stars for its sound policies, effective organizational procedures, and positive impact on the community at the 102^nd Annual Meeting of the membership on Friday, October 21^st.  Over 500 attendees celebrated with a champagne toast and lunch at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota.

“When chambers of commerce earn the distinction of being Accredited, it truly is a mark of excellence for the organization, its staff, and its leadership” said Raymond P. Towle, U.S. Chamber Vice President, Federation Relations and IOM. “This designation recognizes the positive impact these organizations have had within their communities, and it honors their commitment to continuing to serve local businesses. From connecting small business owners with needed resources, to advocating on behalf of their region with lawmakers, these chambers convene thought leaders to strengthen the collective voices of their members.”

The purpose of the U.S. Chamber’s Accreditation Program is to facilitate continuing excellence in the chamber industry and to foster a pro-business environment across America. In order to receive Accreditation, a chamber must meet minimum standards in their operations and programs, including areas of governance, government affairs, communications, and technology. This extensive self-review can take 6-9 months to complete.

“There are over 7,000 chambers in the United States and less than 200 of them have the elite designation of being accredited. Our chamber staff and board of directors worked tirelessly on the submission, and we are so excited to share this recognition with our members. This puts the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce in the top 2% of Chambers in the nation and showcases our array of programs that support workforce development, minority businesses, leadership training, young professionals, and our advocacy efforts,” states Heather Kasten, President/CEO.

In addition to the accreditation celebration, the Annual Meeting program shared an overview of the year, recognized the accomplishments of past Board chair, Dennis Murphy, President & CEO, Gulfside Bank, and inducted new Board chair, Emily Walsh, President Observer Media Group.  Honored with the prestigious Chair’s Cup was recipient, Joe Hembree, Hembree & Associates.  The Chair’s Cup is selected by the chair of the Board to recognize an individual who has given above and beyond to support the work of the Chamber.