Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce named Outstanding Chamber of the Year

The Carolinas Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (CACCE) has recognized the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce as the 2016 Outstanding Chamber of the Year (for a chamber with 700 or more members).  The award was accepted by Chamber President & CEO Karen Brown at the annual Management Conference on Oct. 20 at the Sheraton Hotel in Chapel Hill.

The CACCE Outstanding Chamber of the Year Award primarily focuses on acknowledging one or more significant achievements / accomplishments that a chamber has initiated, stimulated, and/or led in its respective service area at some point during the past 18 months. 

The Outer Banks Chamber is a regional organization, and its Simply Connected brand has become the resource and go-to option for the Outer Banks business community.  At nearly 1,100 members, an 88 percent retention rate and a 47 percent market saturation rate, the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce is the largest and strongest chamber in northeast North Carolina.

Incorporated as the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce in 1974 with primary goals of marketing and business support for its members, the Chamber continues to update its programming and services to meet the needs of the community.  Since 2014, the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce has added new offerings including Leadership OBX (LOBX), Young Professionals Network (YPN), OBX Women of Excellence Celebration, and Chairman’s Club. 

In addition, the Chamber has played a more active role in economic sustainability.  In 2013, the OBCC Board of Directors and Economic Sustainability Committee assisted in the development and execution of a Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) Survey to be sent annually to the local business community.  The purpose of the program is to gather demographic information on existing businesses, review trends and challenges identify any skills gap in the local workforce and to uncover future plans including product, service or location expansions in our business community.

To date, the survey has yielded a completion rate of approximately 19 percent and survey results have helped identify a number of topics that, with the assistance of area resource partners, have turned into workshop offerings for the business community including succession planning, disaster planning, and soft skills training for employees.  More importantly the OBCC has been able to assist 10 local businesses with their expansion plans. Two of our success stories include Carolina Casual and Wanchese Marina, LLC.

“Just like any other business, the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce continues to evaluate its program of work each year to better meet the needs of our changing community,” said Chamber President & CEO Karen Brown.  “We have an outstanding track record over the years and are extremely honored to be recognized by our peers as Chamber of the Year by the Carolina Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.  We thank our board leadership, volunteers and membership for the partnership and hope they share with us the great sense of pride we have in this honor.”

CACCE is the professional development organization dedicated to providing educational opportunities for chamber of commerce executives and staff members in North Carolina and South Carolina.  CACCE equips chamber of commerce professionals with leadership skills and tools to build innovative chambers. The organization was formed in 1994 when the North Carolina and South Carolina state chamber associations merged.  For more information on CACCE, or any of CACCE’s conferences or programs, contact Tiffany Fulmer Ott at (404) 312-0524.   

The Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce is located at 101 Town Hall Drive (Colington Road), Kill Devil Hills.  For more information about the Chamber or its programs, visit the office, website at www.outerbankschamber.com or call (252) 441-8144.