Awards and Recognition
Professional Designations
Often you will see some letters following the last name of members. These members are recognized for reaching certain levels of achievement and professional growth. As a member of CCEO we encourage you to pursue one or more of these achievements toward excellence in chamber leadership. Here is what those designations mean. For additional information on criteria and applications, click on the respective links.
CAE: Certified Association Executive (American Society of Association Executives, ASAE)
CCE: Certified Chamber Executive (American Chamber of Commerce Executives)
CCEO-AP: CCEO Accredited Professional (Chamber of Commerce Executives of Ohio)
IOM: Graduate of Institute of Organization Management (U.S. Chamber of Commerce)
POY: Professional of the Year (including the year awarded)
Professional of the Year - CCEO
Each year CCEO recognizes our most professional and active peers with the prestigious Michael A. Schultz Professional Of The Year award. This is our highest award of distinction that recognizes professional excellence - "the best of the best" - of chamber chief executives.
These awards are presented in memory of Michael A. Schultz, CCEO-AP (1944-1999). As President/CEO of Defiance Area Chamber of Commerce 1985-1997, and President/Chairman of CCEO 1994-1995, Michael served our industry with inspiration and distinguished leadership, and unselfishly supported the professional growth of his peers.
The recipients of this award are chamber chief executives whose performance and commitment to our industry and their local communities are exceptional. It is our recognition of the “best of the best” among Ohio Chamber professionals.
CCEO-AP
The Accredited Professional (AP) designation was created by CCEO in 1995 to encourage professional growth and recognize exemplary achievement of those that manage Ohio’s local chambers of commerce.
The CCEO-AP designation:
* Recognizes those among our members who have achieved high levels of professional competency;
* Provides them with a professional certification for inclusion with their profiles, biographies and resumes;
* Encourages their local chamber boards to appreciate and recognize the level of expertise achieved by their chamber executive.
Those so recognized must be current CCEO members at the time of application and receipt of this designation. They also must have been in the management position of their chamber for at last five of the most immediate years.
To retain the CCEO-AP designation, re-accreditation is required every five years.
Outstanding Chamber of the Year Award
In addition to recognizing organization excellence, the Outstanding Chamber of the Year Award
primarily focuses on acknowledging one or more significant achievements/accomplishments that a chamber has initiated, stimulated and/or led in its respective service area at some point during the past 18 months.
Achievements/accomplishments denote chamber activity that intentionally resulted in positive measurable results, including (but not limited to):
- A business development initiative,
- An economically impactful effort,
- A non-partisan election ballot (e.g. bond referendum) campaign, or
- A community improvement project.
Organizational excellence will be evaluated in each of the areas of:
membership, programs, planning and finance.
Eligibility
All chamber members of CCEO in good standing are eligible to apply.
Benefits to Award Recipients
- Recognition via an official CCEO press release; and
- A plaque at the Awards Ceremony for display at the chamber.
US Chamber Accreditation
You may have noticed an "Accredited" logo on some chambers' websites, letterhead or in their newsletters. These chambers, rated as Accredited, 3-Stars, 4-Stars, or 5-Stars, have passed the muster of very highest standards of operation. The following eight Ohio chambers are currently Accredited by the U.S. Chamber:
Dayton Area *****
Delaware Area ****
Licking County *****
Toledo Regional *****
The Accreditation Program defines standards of excellence in chamber planning and performance and shows chambers how they can reach and maintain these standards. It also helps chambers measure achievement while giving recognition and encouragement to chamber members and staff who meet high standards of operation and who are contributing in an effective way to the good of their chamber and community.
The criteria and standards used in the guidelines become tools for management control and self-discipline -- guiding the organization by helping it upgrade and improve its basic effectiveness. Chambers that have earned Accreditation value the process as a worthwhile experience. It has helped them focus attention on the nine critical areas that add to successful chamber performance:
* Governance
* Finance
* Human Resources
* Governmental Affairs
* Program Development
* Communications
* Technology
* Facilities
* Benchmarking
For more information on the U.S Chamber's Accreditation Program, click here.
Honorary Life Members
CCEO members and other individuals who have distinguished themselves through exceptional leadership and service to the CCEO and the chamber of commerce profession may be bestowed the title of Honorary Life Members.
Current CCEO members may submit nominations to the Board of Directors for its consideration. Subject to a favorable vote by the board, a person so honored shall be presented with this distinction either at the association's annual meeting or at a special meeting of the membership called for this purpose at the Summer Networking Conference.