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2025 Spring Conference Sessions

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Marc Jordan, IOM, CCE

Start Where You Are, Use What You Have, and Do What You Can Do

5/6/2025 12:00 PM - 5/6/2025 1:00 PM

Location
Galleries 1-3
Speakers
  • Marc Jordan, IOM, CCE - Founder, Shamgar Consulting, LLC
    R. Marc Jordan, IOM, CCE, has led chambers of commerce throughout the South, both large and small, including Memphis, Raleigh, Norfolk, Rocky Mount, NC, and North Myrtle Beach, SC, where he achieved both 4 Star and 5 Star Accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. With an extensive career in chamber leadership, Marc was named a Lifetime Member of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), a testament to his outstanding contributions and dedication to the industry. Throughout his career, Jordan has held numerous volunteer leadership positions, including chairman of the Metro Cities Council and chair-elect for ACCE. He relinquished his pending chairman's position while awaiting a heart transplant, but upon returning to his adopted home of Lynchburg, Virginia, he resumed his impactful leadership journey. Marc's leadership and perseverance have earned him recognition as Chamber Executive of the Year in North Carolina and, most recently, Chamber Executive of the Year in South Carolina. Additionally, he has served as president of the state associations in Tennessee and North Carolina, solidifying his legacy as a transformative force in the chamber community. The Governor of SC appointed Marc to the Organ Donation Board to oversee and grow registered organ, tissue, and eye donors in the state of SC.
Summary
In my 25 years as a heart transplant survivor, I've learned that life can take unexpected turns. Despite predictions of a much shorter life, I’ve continued to live a fulfilling life with purpose. My story is not just about survival – it's about thriving, overcoming, and pushing forward. Let my experience show you how to handle challenges and achieve your goals

"Getting to Know You".....Attendee and Sponsor Networking Session

5/6/2025 1:15 PM - 5/6/2025 2:15 PM

Location
Galleries 1-3

Breakout A: Tiered Dues (Everything You Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to Ask!)

5/6/2025 2:30 PM - 5/7/2025 3:25 PM

Location
Galleries 1-3
Speakers
  • Shane Moody, CCE, FCCP - President, Destin Chamber of Commerce
    Shane Moody, CCE, FCCP, assumed the role of President and CEO on Jan. 5, 2004. Under his leadership, the Chamber won the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) Award for Excellence in August 2005 and became a Florida Association of Chamber Professionals (FACP) Certified Chamber of Commerce in October 2010. His designation CCE marks him as an ACCE Certified Chamber Executive, the highest individual designation in the chamber profession, an honor he earned in 2007, and IOM indicates his graduation from the US Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organization Management in 2003. Previously, he was the Clayton County (GA) Chamber of Commerce President and CEO. He was chairman of the FACP board (2010-11) and its executive committee and has also been its treasurer. He has served the Florida Chamber of Commerce Federation Advisory Board and Board of Governors; the Quality of Life Caucus for the Florida Chamber Foundation; the Certified Chamber Executive Commission for ACCE; and various other committees for state and national chamber associations.
Summary
This session will give an overview of the tiered dues structure and will look at revenue generation, the process for conversion for your chamber, and evaluating and looking inside your chamber.

Breakout B: Ad Sales Huddle LIVE: For Chamber Pros Who Sell Ads

5/6/2025 2:30 PM - 5/7/2025 3:25 PM

Location
Galleries 4-5
Speakers
  • Ed Burzminski - President & CEO, Chamber Marketing Partners
    Ed Burzminski provides publications consulting and ad sales coaching to chamber professionals who sell advertising and to those producing a chamber directory or community guide-style publication. Ed has produced publications for chambers of commerce since 1993 and is a W.A.C.E. Academy graduate.
Summary
Ad Sales Huddle LIVE will be an interactive, peer-driven session designed to help chamber professionals improve ad sales, overcome objections, and create more value for members. Modeled after the virtual Ad Sales Huddle, this live event fosters real-time discussions, idea-sharing, and problem-solving. Attendees engage with peers, exchange strategies, and leave with actionable solutions to boost ad revenue.

Breakout A: Early Learning & Literacy Panel Discussion

5/6/2025 3:30 PM - 5/6/2025 4:25 PM

Location
Galleries 4-5
Speakers
  • Makayla Buchanan - Director of Early Learning & Literacy, The Florida Chamber

Breakout B: Social Media Mastery

5/6/2025 3:30 PM - 5/6/2025 4:25 PM

Location
Galleries 1-3
Speakers
  • Alexis & Eric Winegard - Co-Founders, Rare Blue Moon Marketing
    Eric and Alexis Winegard are the husband-and-wife duo behind Rare Blue Moon Marketing, a company founded on love, trust, and a shared commitment to growth. Eric brings over 20 years of marketing expertise, having served as Vice President at a leading company before taking a leap of faith to build something extraordinary with Alexis. His strategic mindset and industry experience lay the foundation for their clients’ success. Alexis complements this with more than a decade of marketing experience, dedicating herself to nurturing relationships and delivering results with care and creativity.
Summary
Learn how to maximize your social media impact with strategic content, audience engagement, and the latest trends. Walk away with actionable insights to grow your brand and drive results. Key Topics will include choosing the right platforms, crafting engaging content, building and nurturing your audience, and tracking success with analytics.

Unlock Your Event Potential: Conducting Effective Event Evaluations & Leveraging Your Events for Recruitment & Retention

5/6/2025 4:30 PM - 5/6/2025 5:25 PM

Location
Galleries 1-3
Speakers
  • Cally D'Angelo, IOM - Founder & Principal, Collective Edge
    Cally D’Angelo, IOM is the Founder & Principal of Collective Edge (CE). Nonprofit organization management is where her passion and purpose align. After working directly for Chambers of Commerce for nearly 20 years, she created CE to amplify and influence NPOs impact. She is a seasoned executive, skilled in professional development, events & programs, sales & service, member recruitment & retention, coaching & consulting, benefits & onboarding, international travel, and volunteer engagement.
Summary
Are your events delivering the results you need? An event evaluation can reveal opportunities to enhance engagement, increase revenue, and align with your Chamber’s goals. In this session, learn how to evaluate your current event portfolio, identify what’s working, and uncover areas for improvement. From analyzing attendance to assessing ROI, you’ll take away a framework to optimize your events. Events are often the first touchpoint for potential members and an essential engagement tool for existing ones. Explore innovative approaches to integrating recruitment strategies and retention tactics into your event planning. Walk away with actionable ideas to elevate your event strategy and strengthen your membership base.

Selling a Membership to a Generation Who Doesn't Join

5/7/2025 8:00 AM - 5/7/2025 8:55 AM

Location
Galleries 1-3
Speakers
  • Bill Holman - Partner, Holman Brothers Membership Sales Solutions
    Bill Holman isn’t just any membership sales and relations consultant, he’s a real-world chamber guy with over two decades of chamber membership sales, member relations and management experience – and “know-how!” The Holman Brothers partner with chambers of every size to implement proven membership sales and relations action plans and coaching that fast-tracks sustainable growth.
  • Scott Robertson - Sales Manager, GrowthZone
    Scott Robertson has been serving Associations for over 25 years. Scott’s passion and focus are providing customers with the tools to grow and retain membership, generate revenue, engage, communicate with members and prospects, and streamline their day-to-day operations. Scott has served as an Ambassador for his local Chamber of Commerce and graduated from the US Chamber Winter Institute program with his IOM in 2022. Scott currently resides in Hebron, KY with his wife and son, and you can typically find him playing competitive poker in his downtime.
Summary
Attracting and retaining younger generations—who often hesitate to join traditional membership organizations—requires fresh strategies and a deep understanding of their values. Join membership experts Scott Robertson and Bill Holman as they share effective techniques for engaging millennials and Gen Z using the benefits and services your chamber already offers. Through insightful discussions and real-world examples, participants will learn how to foster meaningful recruiting conversations that resonate with younger audiences. Whether you're focused on membership growth, engagement, or long-term retention, this session delivers practical strategies to help you connect with the next generation of members. Participants will receive a complimentary copy of the Holman Brothers’ Strategic Questioning Guide, packed with actionable strategies and step-by-step guidance for chambers of any size. This practical tool will help you lead impactful conversations and drive results in membership recruitment and engagement

How to Make Better Data-Driven Decisions to Drive Success in your Chamber

5/7/2025 9:00 AM - 5/7/2025 9:55 AM

Location
Galleries 1-3
Speakers
  • DJ Muller - CEO & Founder, 1 to 100 Advisors
    DJ was the founder of WebLink International in 1996 (now Personify). DJ’s company provided the first online membership management platform to chambers of commerce. DJ’s company won many tech awards for innovation, including a case study done by Microsoft. DJ’s company attracted several million dollars of venture capital in 2007. DJ led his company through 10x growth and eventually sold to Personify where it continues to thrive today. DJ now consults with other tech companies and chambers of commerce to help them optimize their organizations for retention, growth and profitability. DJ is a frequent speaker on entrepreneurship, transitioning from a tech startup to a scale-up; capital raising and other business topics with domain expertise in B2B sales, chambers of commerce and trade associations.

Mastering AI for Chambers: Operations, Members, and Leadership

5/7/2025 10:15AM - 5/7/2025 11:10 AM

Location
Galleries 1-3
Speakers
  • Craig Turner - Founder & President, Momentum
Summary
This will be a transformational session on harnessing the power of AI, designed specifically for chambers of commerce. Discover the essential “Big Three” strategies for chamber leadership in AI: • Integrating AI into your internal operations • Empowering your members • Establishing your chamber as thought leaders Gain practical, real-world insights and up-to-the-minute trends to seamlessly integrate AI into your chamber’s daily operations, allowing you to save (more) time, be (more) productive, and have a closer relationship with your members. Experience the power of LIVE AI demonstrations - impactful prompts will be displayed on-screen for everyone to see, use, and take back to their chambers for day-to-day applications.

Advocacy: Current Events Report

5/7/2025 11:15 AM - 5/7/2025 12:10 PM

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