The Florida Association of Chamber Professionals (FACP) had confirmed what local businesses already know:
The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) does a pretty darned good job.
The FACP gave the WCCC a “Certified Plus” Chamber of Commerce designation at it’s annual conference in Orlando Sept. 28-29.
“It was great news,’’ says WCCC CEO Hope Allen. “It’s something we have definitely been shooting for.”
Being Certified Plus means the WCCC scored better than an 86 on its certification program, which took a year to put together. More than 300 pages long, it includes items like a particular chamber’s strategic planning, procedural information, membership growth and plans for transitioning from operating as a non-profit to a regular, for-profit business.
“The Certified Chamber of Commerce program sets standards within the industry and recognizes chambers that have met those standards while offering guidelines for those to improve their effectiveness,” said Tammy C. Bracewell, the FACP president. “In many ways, it is like the Good Housekeeping seal of approval for a chamber of commerce.”
The WCCC was one of only five chambers to receive the Certified Plus Chamber status this year, joining the Melbourne Regional Chamber, the Charlotte County Chamber, the Bay County Chamber and the Ocala/Marion County Chamber.
The WCCC was the only one in the group that achieved that honored status with their inaugural application.
There are 250 chambers of commerce in Florida, and only 14 currently have Certified Plus Chamber designation, including the Greater Tampa and Brandon chambers.
The WCCC currently has 545 members, and is having its best year to date. Since last year, the WCCC has added 72 new members.
Allen and her two-person staff have helped grow the Chamber while also promoting the Wesley Chapel area. The WCCC gives monthly economic updates to its members via an economic development briefing at Pebble Creek Golf Club and also hosts dozens of free ribbon-cutting and networking events and mixers each year, a monthly business breakfast, a “Lunch & Learn” program, and last week, the Chamber hosted a “Get Down to Business Expo & Lunch” at Saddlebrook Resort off S.R. 54, featuring guest speaker and Business Executive Coach Jayne Jenkins.
For more information about the WCCC, visit WesleyChapelChamber.com, call 994-8534, or see the story on the following page.
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