W.a.c.e.'s Chamber Leadership Podcast

In this episode Dave Kilby is joined by Kyle Jacobson, VP of Government Relations for the Lubbock (TX) Chamber, to discuss his new book “Advocacy Basics for Chambers: The ABC’s of Government Relations”. Jacobson stresses the importance of advocacy and how you can move your chamber from sitting on the sidelines to playing in the game. He also emphasizes why chambers need to take advantage of advocacy as an opportunity to shine as a voice for your members while bringing value to your community. Is advocacy the missing ingredient for your chamber?

Inspired by a quote from the movie “The Departed”,  W.A.C.E. President Dave Kilby shares that, while it takes courage and requires getting out of our comfort zones, chambers of commerce need to play a leadership role in shaping the future of their communities.

Dave Kilby, president of W.A.C.E., discusses principles from the book “Excellence Now: Extreme Humanism” by Tom Peters and how they apply to the chamber industry. Over the last year the importance of professional development during challenging times is more apparent than ever. Professional development offers ROI for not only you but also your organization. We have seen a direct correlation between chambers who invested in their staff and those chambers who are coming out of this pandemic successful and more relevant than ever.

There is currently a lot of change and transition in our industry. Each week our office receives new job announcements and new job opening listings. This week Dave Kilby, president of W.A.C.E., shares reminders and proven suggestions on chamber CEO survival basics and discusses the art of being successful in the chamber industry. 

In this episode Dave Kilby is joined by Mick Fleming, longtime chamber champion and former CEO of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE). Mick provides background on the ACCE task force and process that led to the publication of the Horizon Initiative as well as a broad overview of the influences that will shape the future of the chamber industry. While many of the specifics and tactics have changed since the initiative was first published, you will find that many of the strategies and ideas are more relevant than ever. 

Chambers around the West are, even during the pandemic, doing great things that really matter and make a difference to their members and communities. In this episode Dave Kilby, president of W.A.C.E., provides some examples and discusses 6 foundational key ingredients these successful chambers share. Chambers have the opportunity to lead and take action as the problem solvers in their community and now is the time to quit talking and start doing just that.

In this episode Dave Kilby is joined by special guest Brad Hicks, President/CEO of the Medford & Jackson County (OR) Chamber, as he reflects on his 28 year career with the chamber and shares wisdom, guiding principles for success in the chamber industry, and what’s next for his career.

It is normal for chambers to want to know how other chambers are doing in terms of membership and retention especially during these unprecedented times. Dave Kilby, president of W.A.C.E., shares data from a recent opinion poll and discusses why the data is so hard to pin down. With many chambers holding off on dropping past due members and adding large numbers of potential members to their databases pinpointing exact numbers of dues paying members can be tricky. What we do know is over the last year chambers have shown their value and as we approach the light at the end of the COVID tunnel it is time for chambers to unapologetically and consistently tell their story, communicate value and make the ask for membership. 

While most chambers have been vocal about the need for PPE and PPP, vaccination campaigns do not seem to be as common. In this episode Dave Kilby discusses the reasons chambers may or may not choose to get involved and spotlights two chambers, the Grand Junction Area (CO) Chamber and the Lodi District (CA) Chamber, who have used their status as a trusted resource in their community to lead successful vaccination campaigns. The chamber is Courage and it is time for us to roll up our sleeves and get to work!

In this episode Dave Kilby is joined by Academy faculty member B Gorman, from B Great Leadership, to discuss  how chamber professionals can battle burn out by prioritizing and establishing boundaries that protect not only their own health and well-being but the chamber’s focus and mission as well.

Post-pandemic we find that a chamber’s status varies. One chamber might be having their best year ever while a chamber next door is sinking and may never recover. In this episode Dave Kilby, president of W.A.C.E., discusses the dramatic changes The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly have brought to the chamber industry over the last year.

Dave Kilby is joined by special guest Casey Steinbacher, CCE, a national expert on urban innovation strategies and 27 year veteran of the chamber industry. Steinbacher discusses her new book From Relevant to Essential and shares 5 key insights for chambers of commerce after the last year has forced them to re-imagine their operations going forward. Why go back to just being relevant when you can continue to be essential to your community?

In this episode Dave Kilby is joined by special guest David Adkisson, CCE to discuss his book Horseshoes vs. Chess. Adkisson explains the importance of strategy and sequencing when running a chamber and emphasizes the importance of developing your staff and determining the distinct role of your chamber as well as the unique opportunity for chambers to get things done in today’s challenging political climate.

Dave Kilby, President of W.A.C.E., discusses the 5 essential ingredients of a successful chamber and how to avoid a recipe for disaster. Hear lessons learned that have been gathered from conversations over the last year with chamber professionals who are both excelling and struggling as we come together as an industry to get to the other side of this pandemic.

Dave Kilby is joined by, long-time friend of the chamber industry, Rob Engstrom as he reflects on his 19 years advocating for and working with chambers at the U.S. Chamber and shares the importance of chambers playing an active role in helping elect business-friendly candidates and as defenders of free enterprise.

In this episode Dave Kilby is joined by special guest Chris Romer, ACE, president/CEO of the Vail Valley (CO) Partnership and 2021 W.A.C.E. Board Chair. Romer shares insight into the biggest surprises from 2020 and offers advice on communicating value to members and how chambers are uniquely positioned now more than ever to achieve their missions.

Dave Kilby, president of W.A.C.E., discusses board term limits and board elections as well as complications and concerns that arise from having government representatives and/or elected officials on your chamber’s Board.

This episode features 2020 Chair of the W.A.C.E. Board Glenn Morris, ACE, President/CEO of the Santa Maria Valley (CA) Chamber, who discusses the importance of chambers being credible, current and collaborative. He also offers some career advice for new Chamber CEOs and touches on the skills that are needed to succeed in the chamber business.

In a time where our everyday vernacular includes an abundant and every growing amount of acronyms W.A.C.E. President, Dave Kilby, offers a couple more to add to your lexicon. VUCA is an acronym that has resurfaced from the cold war era to describe the current times. It stands for volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. Chambers must face the current whitewater conditions daily to plan, problem solve and make decisions. To help us do this Dave offers an alternative  VUCA describing important leadership attributes.Now more than ever is the time to focus, consider new pathways and practice VUCA leadership. 

In 2020 we have found our country to be more divided and polarized than ever before. As this year comes to a close W.A.C.E. President Dave Kilby reflects on words of wisdom regarding compromise from the late Arizona Senator John McCain and looks optimistically towards the future.Chambers of Commerce that embrace their role as problem solvers and excel at being in the solutions business are primed and ready to help our communities find the “Sane Center”. With our consensus building experience, position as a trusted resource, and role as a Convener we can do our part to make the “Sane Center” a reality.