Recognizing the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce

Floor Speech

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Ms. WEXTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce on achieving 5-Star Accreditation status from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Incorporated on December 18, 1968, the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce has become the largest and most effective Chamber in Northern Virginia, with more than 1,000 members forming the premier network of business and community leaders in the nation's most economically vibrant county.

The Loudoun Chamber's diverse membership includes businesses, nonprofits and public-sector partners of every size and industry, and includes visionary entrepreneurs and leaders who are dedicated to making Loudoun a world-class community to live, work, and grow a business.

The Loudoun Chamber is an effective advocate for and partner with Loudoun's Department of Economic Development and Visit Loudoun, a partnership that has earned local, national and international recognition, the latter for their collaboration on the ``Loudoun Is Ready'' COVID response campaign.

The Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE)--the nation's leading association for Chamber industry executives--named the Loudoun County Chamber one of 4 finalists for Chamber of the Year in 2021, recognizing Loudoun's Chamber for its performance and community impact.

Loudoun Chamber President & CEO Tony Howard has earned highly valued industry certifications from the U.S. Chamber's Institute for Organizational Management (IOM) and ACCE's Certified Chamber Executive (CCE), the Chamber industry's top recognition for professional excellence.

Howard was also named Virginia's Chamber Executive of the Year in 2015, by the Virginia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (VACCE).

ln recognition of the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce's many years of industry leading programs, business advocacy and community impact, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce awarded the Loudoun Chamber 5-Star Accreditation.

This 5-Star Accreditation is the U.S. Chamber's highest endorsement for a local Chamber's performance. This places the Loudoun Chamber amongst the top 2 percent the 7,000 Chambers nationwide for the quality of its programs, policies and impact on the community.

U.S. Chamber's Accreditation Program establishes standards for operational excellence and recognizes Chambers that achieve ``best in class performance'' in areas such as governance policies, financial controls, communications, public policy and programming. This extensive review took 6 months to complete. ``To earn our industry's highest distinction is reflective of the Loudoun Chamber's staffs and leadership's commitment to excellence in all your organization does to serve your community,'' said U.S. Chamber Vice President Raymond P. Towle.

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