MONDAY, OCTOBER 6
3:00pm: New Executive Session
Hit the Ground Leading - Leadership Lessons, Landmines & Lift-Off Strategies for New (and Newer) Chamber Execs
Blending practical advice, candid insights, and peer-to-peer learning, this interactive session equips new and emerging chamber executives with the mindset, tools, and strategies to lead with confidence from day one. Whether you're in your first 90 days, six months, or navigating the complexity of your first couple of years, you'll gain actionable resources to help you manage operations, build trust with boards and teams, and align your work with the long-term mission and vision. You'll also hear seasoned execs share what they wish they knew early on - from landmines to leadership wins. Designed for those in the role for three years or less, this session offers a dynamic blend of context, connection, and clarity for your leadership journey.
Speaker: Vonnie Mikkelsen - President & CEO, Springfield Area Chamber
5:30 - 7:00pm: WELCOME RECEPTION
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7
9:00am: Conference Begins
Keynote:
2035: The Next Horizon for Chambers of Commerce
In a world that is constantly shifting, how can chamber leaders ensure that they are adapting and evolving to key trends and issues in the next decade? ACCE has revisited its original Horizon Initiative work to help chambers proactively shape their next ten years. In this session, Amy Shields will share the latest influences that chambers should be prepared to navigate. Participants will have the opportunity to learn more about each influence and consider how these trends may show up in their communities.
Speaker: Amy Shields - Executive Director, ACCE Foundation and Vice President, Programs with Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives
Breakout Sessions:
- Strategic Planning for Maintaining Flexibility & Focus
Strategic planning provides an opportunity to set the direction for your chamber and ensure that the decisions you make as an organization align to your vision and goals. In uncertain times, a good strategic plan acts as a compass to help you navigate uncharted waters. This session will cover the basics of strategic planning and offer suggestions on how to incorporate the Horizon 2035 influences in the plan and process. Attendees will also learn how to build flexibility into a strategic plan so that their organizations can adapt to changes while still maintaining focus.
Speaker: Amy Shields - ACCE
- Leading for Team Care to Build Connected Communities
Your team's well-being isn't just about retention—it's the foundation of your community impact. In this hands-on workshop, you'll dive deep into one of the three levers from the Connection Advantage framework: Teams Who Care. Through interactive exercises and real Chamber scenarios—from board tensions to volunteer burnout—you'll practice specific tools that create teams where feedback flows freely, clarity replaces confusion, and shared responsibility becomes the norm. Leave with immediately actionable strategies, templates you can use right away, and a clear plan for building the kind of team culture that makes both your people and your partnerships thrive. This workshop sets the foundation for the deeper strategies revealed in the keynote session.
Speaker: Moe Carrick - Moementum
12:00pm: Networking Lunch
Afternoon Keynotes:
Oregon Economic Update
Speaker: Carl Riccadonna - Chief Economist for the State of Oregon
OSCC Advocacy 360: From Local Priorities to Statewide Action
Speakers: JL Wilson & Jenny Dresler – Legislative Counsel for OSCC
Chris Eyler - U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Breakout Session:
- ACCE Horizons Influences
Small group discussions for chambers
6:00pm: OSCC Reception & Celebration Dinner
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8
8:30am: Conference begins
Keynote & Hands-On Workshop
AI in Action: Hands-On Workshop for Chamber Leaders
AI is moving fast, and it’s time to do more than just learn about it. In this hands-on, practical workshop designed for chamber executives and leadership teams, we’ll roll up our sleeves and put AI to work for your organization.
Building on our June webinar, this deeper session will help you:
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Create a consistent brand voice your whole team can use when working with AI
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Draft an AI policy to guide how your staff and volunteers use AI wisely
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Learn how to build a simple yet powerful smart AI assistant trained specifically for your chamber that reflects your brand voice, values, and day-to-day needs
No tech background is required. You’ll leave with real work done, useful prompts and templates, and a clear plan for how to start using AI with confidence.
Speakers: Tim & Pam Fahndrich, WhirLocal Media Group
12:00pm: Networking Lunch
Keynote:
The Connection Advantage: Leading with Heart in a High-Tech World
Tomorrow's challenges demand today's leadership—but what kind of leadership will actually shape what's next? As Chamber professionals, you're tasked with strengthening local businesses and fostering economic growth in an environment where only 23% of employees are engaged and 72% of leaders believe human connection is critical to business success, yet only 18% feel equipped to cultivate it. After three decades working with thousands of leaders, Moe Carrick has discovered what separates thriving organizations from those that merely survive: We've optimized for speed and efficiency at the cost of our humanity.
In this thought-provoking keynote, Moe introduces her field-tested three-lever framework for connection-advantaged organizations: Leaders Who Are Good for People, Teams Who Care, and Conscious Brave Culture. You'll gain practical strategies to strengthen member relationships, navigate change with courage, and build Chamber of Commerce operations that don't just survive—but become catalysts for community resilience and economic vitality. Connection isn't a perk—it's the competitive advantage that will define successful chambers in 2035.
Speaker: Moe Carrick - Moementum
2:00pm: Conference adjourns
*Agenda subject to change
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