NEW YORK: The Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce represents more than 1,000 organizations in the area and produces events such as its golf outing. Photo via fb.com
A chamber of commerce in the region has been recognized by a statewide association for its organizational excellence.
The Michigan Association of Chamber Professionals, or MACP, presented the 2015 Outstanding Chamber of Commerce Award to the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce for the fourth time during the association’s Leadership Conference and Annual Meeting last month.
The Muskegon chamber won the award in the large chamber category.
Bob Thomas, director for the MACP, said the chamber’s accomplishments included leadership in state and local policy issues, its role in the “Watch Muskegon” image campaign and community development and its best practices in leadership development.
The Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce received the award based on its accomplishments in a number of categories: leadership and governance, financial stewardship, business advocacy and membership programming.
The Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce received an honorable mention in the small chamber category.
The Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce previously received the award in 2006, 2010 and 2012, according to the chamber’s website.
Cindy Larsen, president at the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce, said it’s an exciting time for the community, which is reflected by the association’s award.
“I was very excited and honored to receive the award again,” Larsen said.
Larsen said the chamber has a very strong staff and volunteer partnerships, which are important when implementing larger activities like the “Watch Muskegon” campaign or raising funds to relocate the farmers market.
“All of our projects coordinate staff-facilitation skills with volunteer energies and resources and that is the magic that makes a chamber successful,” Larsen said. “A big project . . . requires a lot of stakeholders and that is what we have been good at: pulling the people together to help make things happen for Muskegon.”
The Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce provides business information, member referrals, cost savings, networking opportunities and training for more than 1,150 organizations.
The Michigan Association of Chamber Professionals’ Outstanding Chamber of Commerce awards are modeled after the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Accreditation process, recognizing best industry practices and presented to a small, mid size and large chambers of commerce.
The winning chambers of commerce are chosen by professionals representing seven regional states after evaluating and scoring each comprehensive application.
