Joyce Waugh, president and CEO of the Roanoke Regional Chamber, has been designated as a Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE). Alexandria, Virginia-based ACCE is an association of more than 7,500 chamber of commerce professionals and 1,300 chambers of commerce around the world.

“The CCE program assesses and tests the applicant’s knowledge of core chamber management areas —management, planning and development, membership and communication, and operations,” says Bob Quick, CCE, president and CEO of Commerce Lexington Inc. and CCE commission chairman. “Chamber professionals who are designated CCEs have rightfully earned this outstanding recognition through hard work, countless hours of dedication to their field and leadership of their chamber to achieve the chamber’s goals. We are proud to have this year’s class join a long tradition of professional excellence.”

Waugh is one of nine chamber professionals to earn the Certified Chamber Executive designation in 2017. The nine leaders represent chambers of commerce in six states, including Alabama, Indiana, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. Since the first CCE designation was conferred more than 40 years ago, about 500 professionals have become certified. CCE is recognized by many as the highest, and most elite, professional designation in the chamber of commerce profession. It’s the only globally-recognized certification program exclusive to the chamber of commerce industry.

Waugh has worked with the Roanoke Regional Chamber for 17 years, the past nine as president and CEO, the previous eight as vice president of public policy. In addition to being a CCE, Waugh also holds the designation of Certified Economic Developer (CEcD).

Certified Chamber Executives were recognized on stage July 18 at ACCE’s annual Awards Show, hosted this year in Nashville, Tennessee. Learn more about ACCE’s CCE program by visiting www.ACCE.org/CCE.

-Submitted by Starr Anderson, Communications Manager