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

The pandemic has brought membership challenges that the chamber industry did not see coming. Retention and recruitment weaknesses have been magnified making evident the need to re-evaluate strategies and practices. Is your chamber relevant? Do your members know your value? How do you tell your story? Dave Kilby, president of W.A.C.E., discusses the questions we need to ask ourselves to evaluate and improve how we communicate our value and ensure our chambers are 3C problem solving chambers that excel in the solutions business.  

In this episode we focus on the idea of being a virtual chamber in a thought provoking conversation with Kristen Miller, President/CEO of the Santa Barbara South Coast (CA) Chamber, who has successfully been running a chamber without a “brick & mortar” office for over a decade.  

Inspired by a canceled annual vacation to Disney Dave Kilby, president of W.A.C.E., shares a collection of Walt Disney’s words of Wisdom with the goal of inspiring members to stay strong and have courage during these tumultuous times.

Joshua Bonner, IOM, brings his experience merging multiple adjacent city chambers and associations to create the powerhouse that is the Greater Coachella Valley (CA) Chamber, as he joins Dave Kilby for an eye opening discussion on the best practices and potential pitfalls and roadblocks when considering a merger.  

W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby sits down with Author, Radio Talk Show Host, and #1 rated W.A.C.E. Annual Conference Speaker Barry Moltz to debunk the top customer service myths that hold us back and the biggest lie we tell ourselves. *Disclaimer - This podcast was recorded immediately following the February 2020 Conference and held until a later date due to the challenges facing chambers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic

There is no doubt we are living in extreme "whitewater times" of uncertainty and ambiguity. In challenging times like this, true leaders emerge. Hear W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby discuss the characteristics of these striving and thriving leaders we call Chamber Champions.

For chambers, this means dropping the 3Ps (parties, parades and pageants) and embracing the 3Cs in order to be a real problem solver in their community. W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby talks about how many chambers are now focusing on the essential things and not trying to do everything.

To celebrate the Chamber Leadership Podcast's 50th episode, W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby sits down with New York Times best selling author Greg McKeown to talk about his book Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less.

Justin Patton sits down with W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby to talk about some of Justin's six breakthroughs to playing bigger in leadership, business and life.Get more information about Justin Patton at www.justinpatton.comFollow Justin Patton on Twitter: @JPInspires

This was the experience John Brewer, President and CEO of the Billings (MT) Chamber, was having in his community. He sat down with W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby to explain how the Billings Chamber got involved in their local elections and how it has made Billings a friendlier place to do business.How to connect with the Billings Chamber:Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/BillingsChamberofCommerceCVBWebsite: https://www.billingschamber.com/Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter:https://www.billingschamber.com/

What is customer loyalty? Do you know? Maybe you think it's incentives but your most loyal members are looking for the "we" in relationship. W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby talks about True Loyalty and how to tie that into your mission.  Don't wait on a miracle...Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter: @DaveKilbyWACE

W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby sits down with membership expert Kyle Sexton to talk about the idea of sending out renewals now versus delaying renewals. Kyle provides some insight into the question and talks about the benefits of having a tiered dues structure.Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter: @DaveKilbyWACEFor more information on Kyle Sexton visit https://www.kylesexton.com/ 

W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby chats with JP Moery of the Moery Company - an agency that helps associations sell memberships and launch sponsorship sales campaigns. JP talks about the importance of chambers now and how to leverage a chamber's value during this COVID-19 pandemic.Dave and JP talk about:The concept of building muscle (2:20)Selling memberships and renewals during a pandemic (4:25)Rethinking sponsorships in a pandemic (7:30)Selling solutions instead of selling products (10:40)Advocacy as the differentiator (12:40)Lessons learned from U.S. Chamber CEO Tom Donohue (15:30)Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter: @DaveKilbyWACEFollow JP Moery on Twitter: @JPMoeryGet more information on the JP Moery Company at www.moerycompany.com 

W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby looks at some of our recent data on membership trends and discusses some new marketing materials designed to keep the chamber of commerce in the foreground during challenging times.Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter: @DaveKilbyWACE

Fort Collins Area (CO) Chamber President & CEO David May sits down with the Chamber Leadership Podcast host and W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby to offer some tips to be an effective leader of your staff and your community. As we all face challenges in our communities these days, this is a must listen.Follow Fort Collins Area Chamber on Twitter: @FCCOChamberFollow Dave Kilby on Twitter: @DaveKilbyWACE 

W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby takes a moment to reflect on the wisdom shared by Jack Welch throughout his career. More specifically, Dave talks about how 3C chambers should also embrace the concept of being a 4E leader as defined by Jack Welch.

The Chamber Leadership Podcast sat down with Chris Romer, President and CEO of the Vail Valley (CO) Partnership to chat about their two award-winning programs "Smart Business Eagle County" and "CareerWise Youth Apprenticeship." W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby also chats with Romer about his presentation on the Future of Chambers at the 2020 W.A.C.E. Annual Conference.www.vailvalleypartnership.comFollow Chris Romer on Twitter: @ChrisBRomerFollow Vail Valley Partnership on Twitter: @VVPartnershipFollow Dave Kilby on Twitter: @DaveKilbyWACE

W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby sits down with 2020 Board Chair Glenn Morris, ACE, President and CEO of the Santa Maria Valley (CA) Chamber, to discuss the association's focus among other chamber topics.Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter: @DaveKilbyWACEFollow Santa Maria Valley Chamber on Twitter: @SMVCC

W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby reached out to several chamber CEOs to find out what their rallying cry is for the year. The results just might inspire you to adopt one of the many options provided or one of your own.

W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby takes a closer look at how some chamber CEOs  walk a fine line between giving their board too much power and not showing enough leadership. Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter: @DaveKilbyWACE