Showing posts with label CEcD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CEcD. Show all posts

Economic Development

What role is your chamber playing in this sector of your community?

Do you have an economic development component to your program of work or do you rely on a separate entity in the community to do that?

At the end of the day, all chambers are in the economic development space whether it’s a formal public/private relationship or you’ve just taken on the role through your work in workforce development and on infrastructure issues.

In my experience, the metro chambers main focus is economic development.

While state chambers mainly focus on advocacy work at the state capitol and the local chambers are in the networking business at the local level, it’s the metro chambers that focus on economic development.

That’s not to say that all three chamber entities don’t do advocacy, economic development and networking, but each has a main focus and that’s what makes them a state, metro or local chamber.  Our roles are defined by our members and geography.

Did you know that there is a certification for economic development professionals?

Did you also know that many chamber CEO’s have their CEcD certification?

For more information on the certification and how you can get involved in the economic development space go HERE.

Professional Certifications

Do you have any initials after your name?

Are they worth it? Absolutely!

Certifications are not recognitions or a certificate of completion of some course you took online.

No, certification is everything it implies, time in the profession, recognized leader, and oh by the way, yes, you must pass a test just like a lawyer or accountant.

Well in the chamber and association management field we have three:

  • CCE - Certified Chamber Executive
  • CAE - Certified Association Executive
  • CEcD - Certified Economic Developer

And yes, they are worth your time and effort.

It basically makes the statement that you believe in the industry you work in and you have made the commitment to obtain the highest honor your professional society places on that sector.

Like anything worth doing, you need to take the time and effort to go through the process.

For more details on these certifications from the three professional societies that administer the programs:

  • For more information on the CCE go HERE.
  • For more information on the CAE go HERE.
  • For more information on the CEcD go HERE. 

To borrow a tagline from Nike, Just Do It!