W.A.C.E.'s Chamber Leadership Podcast: Recent Episodes
Western Association of Chamber Executives
Inspiring chamber of commerce executives, staff and volunteers through best practices and interviews with industry leaders.
In this episode we are joined by Lorraine Clarno, ACE, 2023-2024 Board Chair and Whitney Diver McEvoy, Board Chair Elect as they reflect on the Association's past year and set intentions and inspiration for the year ahead.
Glenn Morris, ACE , President/CEO of the Santa Maria Valley (CA) Chamber and W.A.C.E. Board member, joins us to discuss the role of chambers in economic development and how that may look now compared to chambers of the past. Listen now!
What is one of the most prominent needs in your community and what are you doing to address it? The last few years have unearthed some seismic shifts in our communities, and in this episode Tempe (AZ) Chamber President/CEO Colin Diaz, ACE shares his belief that Chambers are uniquely positioned to lead the charge in addressing them. This is a generational moment, and who chambers work with and how will determine the future in many of our communities. Check out the full episode now.
This week's podcast features special guest Zeb Welborn, ACE, President of the Chino Valley (CA) Chamber. Zeb shares with us a goal setting strategy that his chamber has seen success with and walks you through the step-by-step process using his first years at the chamber as a case study. Listen now.
On this episode, we interview John Bwarie from Stratiscope, a community engagement, marketing and association management firm. John discusses the local chambers’ roles in responding to community crises, building resiliency, and connecting your community.
On this episode, we discuss the important role Chambers fill when dealing with a community emergency or natural disaster. Many Chambers are considered their community’s hub for important information, when an unexpected event strikes, those expectations only increase for key community organizations like chambers of commerce.
On this episode of the Chamber Leadership podcast Jim Johnson from the Pearland (TX) Chamber of Commerce joins us. Jim talks about the importance of professional development in the industry and the program that won their chamber the “Chamber of the Year” award at the latest ACCE Conference.
Nick Ortiz with the Western Association of Chamber Executives (W.A.C.E.), announces the relaunch of the Chamber Leadership podcast and reviews the importance of Chambers of Commerce and the business community in advancing growth in their regions.
In this week's episode Dave Kilby sits down with Nick Ortiz, the new President/CEO of W.A.C.E. Nick discusses his background, experience, passion for the Chamber Industry, the future of chambers and reflects on the impact W.A.C.E. has had on him personally and on his career.
In this week’s episode, Dave Kilby, President of W.A.C.E., offers wisdom and reflection as he looks ahead towards retirement and the future forward.
This week, Dave Kilby, President of W.A.C.E., shares words of wisdom from Chamber Industry Champions. Hear advice and tips for communicating value from some of the best in the business. Listen now!
In this episode Dave Kilby, President of W.A.C.E., answers more of your questions! This week’s topics include should board members serve on multiple chamber boards at the same time, tips for getting off to a good start with a new board chair and tips for a successful government affairs program. Have a question that you would like answered on a future episode? Email dave.kilby@calchamber.com.
In this episode Dave Kilby, president of W.A.C.E., is joined by Eric Peterson from executive search firm Waverly Partners to discuss turnover in the chamber industry. Eric shares trends in the executive search process and offers application and interview tips for job seekers.
In this episode Dave Kilby is joined by Terri Cole, CCE, President/CEO of the Greater Albuquerque (NM) Chamber as she reflects on her 45 year chamber career and shares the secret to longevity with one organization. Cole also offers advice to new CEOs, the biggest changes in the Chamber Industry over the years, what’s holding chambers back from success and so much more. Listen now!
With the 2022 elections in the rearview mirror, the need for a “sane” center has never been more clear. In this episode Dave Kilby, President of W.A.C.E., discusses the opportunity for chambers to fill this need and help get business-friendly candidates elected while stressing the importance of learning to do so correctly. Sitting on the sidelines is simply no longer an option. You, your members and your community deserve better!
In this episode Dave Kilby, President of W.A.C.E., answers more of your questions! This week’s topics include installation dinners and swearing in ceremonies, the ideal timing for board retreats/planning sessions, and recommended frequency of dues increases. Have a question that you would like answered on a future episode? Email dave.kilby@calchamber.com.
In this week’s episode we look at the high turnover seen in the chamber industry over the last few years. Dave Kilby, president of W.A.C.E., discusses the importance of rewarding loyalty and talent with promotions from within and emphasizes the importance of employment contracts and regular benefits audits. Don’t let your chamber be an employer of last resort with continuous turnover, listen now!
W.A.C.E. celebrates 100 episodes of the Chamber Leadership Podcast’s best practices, chamber industry trends and advice with the debut of the new Board Basics – Board Resource Page. Dave Kilby, president of W.A.C.E., discusses how the project came about as well as the importance of making listening and delivering an important part of your chamber culture.
In true film industry fashion this week’s episode is a sequel to episode 78 “Movie Wisdom for the Chamber World”. Dave Kilby is once again joined by Chris Romer, ACE, IOM, President/CEO of the Vail Valley (CO) Partnership, as they share 10 movie quotes that relate to life as a chamber professional. Themes range from the classic “Gone with the Wind” to a more modern blockbuster “Top Gun: Maverick” and everything in between. Grab some popcorn and enjoy the show!
In this week’s episode Dave Kilby, President of W.A.C.E., provides follow up to episode 74 with 7 more tips to help Chamber CEOs not only survive but thrive in the chamber industry. Listen now!
This week Dave Kilby, President of W.A.C.E., debuts a new format and answers questions submitted by some of our members. Topics covered include membership drives, having a chair-elect and who “owns” funds generated by committees. Have a question you want answered? Submit your question for a future “Ask Dave” segment to dave.kilby@calchamber.com.
In this week’s episode Dave Kilby is joined by Diane Schwenke, President/CEO of the Grand Junction Area (CO) Chamber and long time chamber executive. Diane shares the secrets to her career longevity at one chamber while reflecting on the biggest changes and challenges to the chamber industry during her tenure.
In this week's episode Dave Kilby, President of W.A.C.E., dispels 6 chamber myths that can pop up unexpectedly at any board meeting and offers best practices to combat them.
In this episode Dave Kilby is joined by Mark Turner, President/CEO of the Gilroy (CA) Chamber and longtime W.A.C.E. member as he discusses the 4 potential disruptive forces that can wreak havoc on a business community and your community at large. He also shares valuable insight into what is most important for a chamber when managing a community crisis based on his own experience.
In this week’s episode Dave Kilby, President of W.A.C.E., offers ten data points which are useful to have in order to help your chamber grow and provide a higher quality service to your members.
If your board or staff were approached by someone in your community with the question “What Does the Chamber Do?” what would their response be? Would it solely focus on events? Would it reflect the chamber’s mission? Would they only include those tasks that they personally handle? Dave Kilby discusses the importance of an agreed upon elevator speech and consistent messaging and offers ideas of content to include as well as a sample elevator speech.
Being a chamber CEO has never been easy, but now it seems it’s harder than ever before. This week Dave Kilby, President of W.A.C.E., discusses the need for risk in leadership and how to protect yourself and your chamber amidst the current cutthroat cancel culture mentality.
In this week’s episode Dave Kilby is joined by Lorraine Clarno, ACE, President/CEO of the Kalispell (MT) Chamber and W.A.C.E. Chair-Elect. Lorraine shares lessons learned from her twenty-seven years of experience in the chamber industry and offers advice to both professionals new to the industry and executives moving from one chamber to another. Listen to the end for a sneak peek of our new CEO Peer Group Program which will be coming soon!
The Chamber industry has not been immune to the great resignation. Each week we hear of a new executive job opening. In this episode Dave Kilby, President of W.A.C.E., offers his thoughts for new executives and any existing executives considering a move.
In this week’s episode Dave Kilby is joined by Leron Gubler, Life Member of W.A.C.E., to discuss his new book “The Walk of Dreams: Finding Fame in Hollywood (or Wherever Life Leads).” Gubler shares key messages from his book, suggestions for success and lessons learned throughout his 40+ year career in the chamber industry.
A common denominator found amongst successful chambers is excellent leaders on their board of directors. This week Dave Kilby, president of W.A.C.E., discusses the ideal traits your nominating committee should seek out when deciding who will be on your board. Making sure you have the right team to get things done is critical to your chamber soaring to success.
Are you frustrated with your board? Are they frustrated with you? On this week’s episode Dave Kilby is joined by Hardy Smith, consultant, speaker and author of ‘Stop the Nonprofit Board Blame Game: How to Break the Cycle of Frustrating Relationships and Benefit from Fully Engaged Boards’. Hardy addresses the question “Why don’t board members do what they are supposed to do?” from the perspective of the board members themselves. Learn more about how to improve the relationship between staff and volunteer leaders now.
In this week’s episode Dave Kilby speaks with Mike Varney, a 23 year chamber executive and industry icon. Inspired by the leadership of Colin Powell Mike shares insight and 5 lessons from ‘The Powell Principles’ by Oren Harari and discusses how they apply to chambers of commerce.
While pondering Charles Dickens ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ Dave Kilby, president of W.A.C.E., was inspired to ask Chamber executives and industry professionals about their outlook for 2022. Hear some of their responses offering optimism and inspiration with a bit of a reality check.
In this episode Dave Kilby, President of W.A.C.E., shares a message from author and speaker Greg Mckeown about the importance of designing time to escape. With the evaporation of boundaries and 24/7 availability of the pandemic many people are struggling. Dave offers some tips on how to design those moments of escape into your schedule and why it is essential that you do so.
Does your chamber board have a clear understanding of who does what or are you “winging it”? This week Dave Kilby, President of W.A.C.E., discusses the importance of understanding management vs. governance and having clearly defined roles and responsibilities that are understood by everyone in the organization. Have you had this discussion with your board lately? If not, now might be the time so you can all start the year on the same page!
Dave Kilby, President of W.A.C.E., is often asked as a part of his discussions with chamber executives what he would do if he were “in their shoes”. In this episode Dave shares 5 things he would definitely be doing to take advantage of the chamber’s stock going up and capitalize on the positive chamber image that was strengthened over the last two years.
In this week’s episode Dave Kilby is joined by his colleague Tiffany Fulmer Ott, Executive Director and Administrator, for 6 chamber associations including the Carolinas, Georgia, Louisiana, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Dave and Tiffany share and compare feedback they are receiving from chamber executives in multiple states and discuss the successes and struggles of the chamber industry amidst the ongoing pandemic.
This week Dave Kilby is joined by W.A.C.E. Board Chair and Vail Valley (CO) Partnership President/CEO Chris Romer, ACE, IOM as they impart some movie wisdom as it relates to the chamber world. With themes of hard work, flexibility and being a visionary there is sure to be a reminder for success and/or lesson for each of us.
In this episode Dave Kilby is joined by Kyle Jacobson, VP of Government Relations for the Lubbock (TX) Chamber, to discuss his new book “Advocacy Basics for Chambers: The ABC’s of Government Relations”.Jacobson stresses the importance of advocacy and how you can move your chamber from sitting on the sidelines to playing in the game. He also emphasizes why chambers need to take advantage of advocacy as an opportunity to shine as a voice for your members while bringing value to your community. Is advocacy the missing ingredient for your chamber?
Inspired by a quote from the movie “The Departed”, W.A.C.E. President Dave Kilby shares that, while it takes courage and requires getting out of our comfort zones, chambers of commerce need to play a leadership role in shaping the future of their communities.
Dave Kilby, president of W.A.C.E., discusses principles from the book “Excellence Now: Extreme Humanism” by Tom Peters and how they apply to the chamber industry. Over the last year the importance of professional development during challenging times is more apparent than ever. Professional development offers ROI for not only you but also your organization. We have seen a direct correlation between chambers who invested in their staff and those chambers who are coming out of this pandemic successful and more relevant than ever.
There is currently a lot of change and transition in our industry. Each week our office receives new job announcements and new job opening listings. This week Dave Kilby, president of W.A.C.E., shares reminders and proven suggestions on chamber CEO survival basics and discusses the art of being successful in the chamber industry.
In this episode Dave Kilby is joined by Mick Fleming, longtime chamber champion and former CEO of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE). Mick provides background on the ACCE task force and process that led to the publication of the Horizon Initiative as well as a broad overview of the influences that will shape the future of the chamber industry. While many of the specifics and tactics have changed since the initiative was first published, you will find that many ofthe strategies and ideas are more relevant than ever.
Chambers around the West are, even during the pandemic, doing great things that really matter and make a difference to their members and communities. In this episode Dave Kilby, president of W.A.C.E., provides some examples and discusses 6 foundational key ingredients these successful chambers share. Chambers have the opportunity to lead and take action as the problem solvers in their community and now is the time to quit talking and start doing just that.
In this episode Dave Kilby is joined by special guest Brad Hicks, President/CEO of the Medford & Jackson County (OR) Chamber, as he reflects on his 28 year career with the chamber and shares wisdom, guiding principles for success in the chamber industry, and what’s next for his career.
It is normal for chambers to want to know how other chambers are doing in terms of membership and retention especially during these unprecedented times. Dave Kilby, president of W.A.C.E., shares data from a recent opinion poll and discusses why the data is so hard to pin down. With many chambers holding off on dropping past due members and adding large numbers of potential members to their databases pinpointing exact numbers of dues paying members can be tricky. What we do know is over the last year chambers have shown their value and as we approach the light at the end of the COVID tunnel it is time for chambers to unapologetically and consistently tell their story, communicate value and make the ask for membership.
While most chambers have been vocal about the need for PPE and PPP, vaccination campaigns do not seem to be as common. In this episode Dave Kilby discusses the reasons chambers may or may not choose to get involved and spotlights two chambers, the Grand Junction Area (CO) Chamber and the Lodi District (CA) Chamber, who have used their status as a trusted resource in their community to lead successful vaccination campaigns. The chamber is Courage and it is time for us to roll up our sleeves and get to work!
In this episode Dave Kilby is joined by Academy faculty member B Gorman, from B Great Leadership, to discuss how chamber professionals can battle burn out by prioritizing and establishing boundaries that protect not only their own health and well-being but the chamber’s focus and mission as well.
Post-pandemic we find that a chamber’s status varies. One chamber might be having their best year ever while a chamber next door is sinking and may never recover. In this episode Dave Kilby, president of W.A.C.E., discusses the dramatic changes The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly have brought to the chamber industry over the last year.
Dave Kilby is joined by special guest Casey Steinbacher, CCE, a national expert on urban innovation strategies and 27 year veteran of the chamber industry. Steinbacher discusses her new book From Relevant to Essential and shares 5 key insights for chambers of commerce after the last year has forced them to re-imagine their operations going forward. Why go back to just being relevant when you can continue to be essential to your community?
In this episode Dave Kilby is joined by special guest David Adkisson, CCE to discuss his book Horseshoes vs. Chess. Adkisson explains the importance of strategy and sequencing when running a chamber and emphasizes the importance of developing your staff and determining the distinct role of your chamber as well as the unique opportunity for chambers to get things done in today’s challenging political climate.
Dave Kilby, President of W.A.C.E., discusses the 5 essential ingredients of a successful chamber and how to avoid a recipe for disaster. Hear lessons learned that have been gathered from conversations over the last year with chamber professionals who are both excelling and struggling as we come together as an industry to get to the other side of this pandemic.
Dave Kilby is joined by, long-time friend of the chamber industry, Rob Engstrom as he reflects on his 19 years advocating for and working with chambers at the U.S. Chamber and shares the importance of chambers playing an active role in helping elect business-friendly candidates and as defenders of free enterprise.
In this episode Dave Kilby is joined by special guest Chris Romer, ACE, president/CEO of the Vail Valley (CO) Partnership and 2021 W.A.C.E. Board Chair. Romer shares insight into the biggest surprises from 2020 and offers advice on communicating value to members and how chambers are uniquely positioned now more than ever to achieve their missions.
Dave Kilby, president of W.A.C.E., discusses board term limits and board elections as well as complications and concerns that arise from having government representatives and/or elected officials on your chamber’s Board.
This episode features 2020 Chair of the W.A.C.E. Board Glenn Morris, ACE, President/CEO of the Santa Maria Valley (CA) Chamber, who discusses the importance of chambers being credible, current and collaborative. He also offers some career advice for new Chamber CEOs and touches on the skills that are needed to succeed in the chamber business.
In a time where our everyday vernacular includes an abundant and every growing amount of acronyms W.A.C.E. President, Dave Kilby, offers a couple more to add to your lexicon. VUCA is an acronym that has resurfaced from the cold war era to describe the current times. It stands for volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. Chambers must face the current whitewater conditions daily to plan, problem solve and make decisions. To help us do this Dave offers an alternative VUCA describing important leadership attributes.
Now more than ever is the time to focus, consider new pathways and practice VUCA leadership.
In 2020 we have found our country to be more divided and polarized than ever before. As this year comes to a close W.A.C.E. President Dave Kilby reflects on words of wisdom regarding compromise from the late Arizona Senator John McCain and looks optimistically towards the future.
Chambers of Commerce that embrace their role as problem solvers and excel at being in the solutions business are primed and ready to help our communities find the “Sane Center”. With our consensus building experience, position as a trusted resource, and role as a Convener we can do our part to make the “Sane Center” a reality.
The pandemic has brought membership challenges that the chamber industry did not see coming. Retention and recruitment weaknesses have been magnified making evident the need to re-evaluate strategies and practices. Is your chamber relevant? Do your members know your value? How do you tell your story? Dave Kilby, president of W.A.C.E., discusses the questions we need to ask ourselves to evaluate and improve how we communicate our value and ensure our chambers are 3C problem solving chambers that excel in the solutions business.
In this episode we focus on the idea of being a virtual chamber in a thought provoking conversation with Kristen Miller, President/CEO of the Santa Barbara South Coast (CA) Chamber, who has successfully been running a chamber without a “brick & mortar” office for over a decade.
Inspired by a canceled annual vacation to Disney Dave Kilby, president of W.A.C.E., shares a collection of Walt Disney’s words of Wisdom with the goal of inspiring members to stay strong and have courage during these tumultuous times.
Joshua Bonner, IOM, brings his experience merging multiple adjacent city chambers and associations to create the powerhouse that is the Greater Coachella Valley (CA) Chamber, as he joins Dave Kilby for an eye opening discussion on the best practices and potential pitfalls and roadblocks when considering a merger.
W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby sits down with Author, Radio Talk Show Host, and #1 rated W.A.C.E. Annual Conference Speaker Barry Moltz to debunk the top customer service myths that hold us back and the biggest lie we tell ourselves.
*Disclaimer - This podcast was recorded immediately following the February 2020 Conference and held until a later date due to the challenges facing chambers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic
There is no doubt we are living in extreme "whitewater times" of uncertainty and ambiguity. In challenging times like this, true leaders emerge. Hear W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby discuss the characteristics of these striving and thriving leaders we call Chamber Champions.
For chambers, this means dropping the 3Ps (parties, parades and pageants) and embracing the 3Cs in order to be a real problem solver in their community. W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby talks about how many chambers are now focusing on the essential things and not trying to do everything.
To celebrate the Chamber Leadership Podcast's 50th episode, W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby sits down with New York Times best selling author Greg McKeown to talk about his book Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less.
Justin Patton sits down with W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby to talk about some of Justin's six breakthroughs to playing bigger in leadership, business and life.
Get more information about Justin Patton at www.justinpatton.com
Follow Justin Patton on Twitter: @JPInspires
This was the experience John Brewer, President and CEO of the Billings (MT) Chamber, was having in his community. He sat down with W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby to explain how the Billings Chamber got involved in their local elections and how it has made Billings a friendlier place to do business.
How to connect with the Billings Chamber:
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/BillingsChamberofCommerceCVB
Website:
https://www.billingschamber.com/
Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter:
https://www.billingschamber.com/
What is customer loyalty? Do you know? Maybe you think it's incentives but your most loyal members are looking for the "we" in relationship. W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby talks about True Loyalty and how to tie that into your mission. Don't wait on a miracle...
Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter: @DaveKilbyWACE
W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby sits down with membership expert Kyle Sexton to talk about the idea of sending out renewals now versus delaying renewals. Kyle provides some insight into the question and talks about the benefits of having a tiered dues structure.
Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter: @DaveKilbyWACE
For more information on Kyle Sexton visit https://www.kylesexton.com/
W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby chats with JP Moery of the Moery Company - an agency that helps associations sell memberships and launch sponsorship sales campaigns. JP talks about the importance of chambers now and how to leverage a chamber's value during this COVID-19 pandemic.
Dave and JP talk about:
- The concept of building muscle (2:20)
- Selling memberships and renewals during a pandemic (4:25)
- Rethinking sponsorships in a pandemic (7:30)
- Selling solutions instead of selling products (10:40)
- Advocacy as the differentiator (12:40)
- Lessons learned from U.S. Chamber CEO Tom Donohue (15:30)
Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter: @DaveKilbyWACE
Follow JP Moery on Twitter: @JPMoery
Get more information on the JP Moery Company at www.moerycompany.com
W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby looks at some of our recent data on membership trends and discusses some new marketing materials designed to keep the chamber of commerce in the foreground during challenging times.
Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter: @DaveKilbyWACE
Fort Collins Area (CO) Chamber President & CEO David May sits down with the Chamber Leadership Podcast host and W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby to offer some tips to be an effective leader of your staff and your community. As we all face challenges in our communities these days, this is a must listen.
Follow Fort Collins Area Chamber on Twitter: @FCCOChamber
Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter: @DaveKilbyWACE
W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby takes a moment to reflect on the wisdom shared by Jack Welch throughout his career. More specifically, Dave talks about how 3C chambers should also embrace the concept of being a 4E leader as defined by Jack Welch.
The Chamber Leadership Podcast sat down with Chris Romer, President and CEO of the Vail Valley (CO) Partnership to chat about their two award-winning programs "Smart Business Eagle County" and "CareerWise Youth Apprenticeship." W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby also chats with Romer about his presentation on the Future of Chambers at the 2020 W.A.C.E. Annual Conference.
www.vailvalleypartnership.com
Follow Chris Romer on Twitter: @ChrisBRomer
Follow Vail Valley Partnership on Twitter: @VVPartnership
Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter: @DaveKilbyWACE
W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby sits down with 2020 Board Chair Glenn Morris, ACE, President and CEO of the Santa Maria Valley (CA) Chamber, to discuss the association's focus among other chamber topics.
Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter: @DaveKilbyWACE
Follow Santa Maria Valley Chamber on Twitter: @SMVCC
W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby reached out to several chamber CEOs to find out what their rallying cry is for the year. The results just might inspire you to adopt one of the many options provided or one of your own.
W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby takes a closer look at how some chamber CEOs walk a fine line between giving their board too much power and not showing enough leadership.
Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter: @DaveKilbyWACE
W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby talks to W.A.C.E. Life Member Scott Raty about why it's important to have a community vision and how to get started. Find out who you should have at the table and all the benefits that come with having a community vision.
Connect with Scott Raty: scott@ratygroup.com
Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter: @DaveKilbyWACE
Some chambers of commerce have a bad reputation for low compensation but the reason might have more to do with their reputation in the community than the abilities of the CEO. W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby addresses the reasons why some CEO positions pay better than others and what you can do to build a case for better pay within your organization.
Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter: @DaveKilbyWACE
Greater Phoenix Chamber President and CEO Todd Sanders talks about how they shifted away from being a transactional chamber to a transformational chamber where businesses and the community are the focus instead of all the things the chamber does.
Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter: @DaveKilbyWACE
Follow Greater Phoenix Chamber on Twitter: @phxchamber
In this episode of the podcast, W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby talks about what he has learned by facilitating meetings and retreats with local chamber board members and the top seven issues that typically come up during those candid conversations.
Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter: @DaveKilbyWACE
W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby sits down with Vice President Russell Lahodny to talk about the Chamber Performance Survey. The two discuss the process of the survey, some key findings from the data collected, and the importance of asking for feedback from your members.
Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter: @DaveKilbyWACE
Follow Chamber Leadership Podcast on Twitter: @WACEPodcast
W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby reached out to a some baseball fans in the industry and came up with a list of lessons chamber professionals can learn from the sport and some of the people involved in it. These tips will certainly help you take your bat off your shoulder and start swinging for the fences.
Brad Hicks, President and CEO of The Chamber of Medford/Jackson County (OR), talks about how a career coach helped change his perspective on his job and the challenges of living in the community as CEO of the local chamber in an interview with W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby.
Follow Medford/Jackson County Chamber: @MedfordChamber
Follow Dave Kilby: @DaveKilbyWACE
As President and CEO of the Fresno Chamber, Nathan Ahle leads one of California's larger chambers while under the age of 40. Dave Kilby sits down with Nathan to discuss his path to the Fresno Chamber and how he approached the stark contrast and the challenges of replacing a predecessor who was more than twice his age.
Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter: @DaveKilbyWACE
Follow Nathan Ahle on Twitter: @nmahle
Follow the Fresno Chamber on Twitter: @fresno_chamber
It may seem like an odd question coming from an association for chamber executives but when you look at if from a different perspective, it offers a lot to think about. W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby tackles the question, "Are there too many chambers?" and takes a look at the answer through the lens of the most important factor in the equation - the member.
W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby sits down with Diane Schwenke from the Grand Junction Area (CO) Chamber of Commerce to get her perspective on the evolution of the chamber industry and her recipe for success.
Follow the Chamber Leadership Podcast on Twitter: @WACEPodcast
Follow the Dave Kilby on Twitter: @DaveKilbyWACE
Follow the Grand Junction Chamber on Twitter: @GJChamber
W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby takes a quick look at the areas that lead to the most questions from volunteer leaders as well as the chief paid staff members during the ABCs of a Successful Chamber workshops. Learn about a variety of topics from bylaws to board elections and much more. Don't forget to share this episode with your Board of Directors.
Follow Chamber Leadership Podcast on Twitter: @WACEPodcast
Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter: @DaveKilbyWACE
Do you have a success story or a key takeaway after listening to the Chamber Leadership Podcast? Share your testimonial with us and you may be featured in one of our publications or on social media. Email your thoughts to russell.lahodny@calchamber.com.
Golfers aren't the only ones that like mulligans. Chamber leaders have their fair share of things they would do differently given the chance. W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby shares a few responses from chamber leaders he received while writing his book "Chamber Champions: Wisdom for the Ages." Take a few minutes to listen - it might prevent you from needing a mulligan.
Follow the Chamber Leadership Podcast on Twitter: @WACEPodcast
Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter: @DaveKilbyWACE
W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby shares four integral parts of a successful government affairs program that will help your committee be more effective and see more victories. Focus on these four Ps and success will soon follow.
Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter: @DaveKilbyWACE
Follow the Chamber Leadership Podcast on Twitter: @WACEPodcast
W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby dives into some quick and easy tips that you can implement today and vastly improve the effectiveness of your communications. Whether you are fully digital or still using printed materials, these tips work on all platforms.
Follow the Chamber Leadership Podcast on Twitter: @WACEPodcast
Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter: @DaveKilbyWACE
W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby talks about the new resource available to members of the association and how "The Chamber Is..." brand campaign looks to clarify the role of the chamber and challenge each chamber to live up to the brand of the 21st Century Chamber of Commerce.
Follow Chamber Leadership Podcast on Twitter: @WACEPodcast
By way of asking 16 key questions, W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby invites you to rate your board of directors on a scale of 1 to 4, with 1 being poor and 4 being excellent, and see what your BPA (Board Performance Average) is. Hopefully it's a 4.0 - just like your high school GPA, right?
After chatting about the chamber branding project in part one of this two-part interview, W.A.C.E. President Dave Kilby asks Pat Patrick, President and CEO of the Lodi District Chamber, about some of best advice he received from his mentor earlier in his career and how it has helped him and the chamber succeed.
Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DaveKilbyWACE
Lodi District Chamber: https://www.lodichamber.com
W.A.C.E. President Dave Kilby invites Pat Patrick President and CEO of the Lodi District Chamber to talk about how the 3Cs were determined and what's on the horizon for the project in part one of this two-part interview.
Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DaveKilbyWACE
Lodi District Chamber https://www.lodichamber.com/
When it comes to titles for the chief paid staff member of a chamber, you might not think it matters, but think again. W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby talks about the perception of different titles in the industry.
Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DaveKilbyWACE
W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby asks some key questions that chambers should think about when entering the arena of public funds for services provided. Learn some best practices to stay out of trouble and discover some signs that indicate your chamber has become dependent on a government handout.
Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter: @DaveKilbyWACE
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Many chambers have started offering trips to foreign countries. But what if your chamber offered a trip that had a more significant impact? In this episode, W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby discusses how chambers are stepping outside of their community for advocacy and answers.
Follow The Chamber Leadership Podcast on Twitter @WACEPodcast
Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter @DaveKilbyWACE
W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby talks about what it looks like when a chamber is truly embracing the 3Cs -- a catalyst for business growth, a convener of leaders and influencers, and a champion for stronger communities. It may not be as simple as following a recipe for you favorite dish, but it doesn't need to be that hard either.
Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter @DaveKilbyWACE
Keith Woods, CEO of the North Coast Builders Exchange, has spent plenty of time as a senior executive and CEO of many chambers including the San Jose, San Francisco and the Santa Rosa Chambers but now spends his time on the other side of the spectrum as a dues-paying member of several chambers. Keith sits down with W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby to discuss a range of topics like what has changed over the years, molasses points, guts and glitz, and the downfall of chambers needing to be liked. Sit back and enjoy this conversation between two colleagues and longtime friends as Dave and Keith take a look at the chamber industry today.
Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter: @DaveKilbyWACE
With many new elected officials at the local, regional, state and national levels there are many new opportunities for chambers to represent the business interests with government. W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby offers some tips to get your chamber "grassroots ready" so that when an issue arises, your chamber and your members can turn up the heat on elected officials.
Follow Dave on Twitter: @DaveKilbyWACE
It's easy to go with the flow and do things the way they have always been done but in order to be a leader in your community, you're going to have to make some waves now and then. W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby challenges chambers to embrace the 3Cs in this episode of the Chamber Leadership Podcast and start becoming problem solvers in their communities.
Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter @DaveKilbyWACE
W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby sits down with Roseville Area (CA) Chamber CEO Wendy Gerig to ask her how she has made it 25 years not only in the business but with one chamber. Hear her take on the rewards of chamber work and hear her advice for chambers to make progress in their communities.
Roseville Area Chamber: http://rosevillechamber.com/
Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter: @DaveKilbyWACE
W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby takes a look at the world of politics and chambers and provides some tips to help be in the game, even if you don't have a Political Action Committee (PAC). Whether you are already involved or wondering how to get involved, these tips will help your chamber increase awareness and shape the political environment in your community.
On this episode of the Chamber Leadership Podcast, Dave Kilby invites W.A.C.E.'s Vice President Russell Lahodny to talk about the power of print communications and ways to create a strong publication for your organization.
Have questions for Russell Lahodny? Email him at russell.lahodny@calchamber.com or reach out on Twitter @RussellLahodny
Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter @DaveKilbyWACE
Chamber Leadership Podcast turns 10! If you like what you've heard after 10 episodes, let us know by rating the podcast and writing a review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player.
W.A.C.E. President Dave Kilby poses some important questions to ponder for any chamber on their path to victory.
Listen in as W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby sits down with Tacoma-Pierce County (WA) Chamber President and CEO Tom Pierson to see how they went from an 1,100-member chamber to one with 1,800 members and an increased budget from $1.6 million to $3 million.
Learn more about the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber at https://www.tacomachamber.org.
W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby provides some tips on ensuring everyone knows what is expected of them to prevent any confusion as to their respective roles in the organization.
W.A.C.E. President and CEO shares his thoughts on why the nominating committee just might be the most important committee your chamber has and also covers some of the best practices for your board elections.
Baby boomers are starting to exit the workplace and that holds true in the chamber industry. W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby shares his 11 questions to help your chamber find the right match.
W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby tackles the issue of a perceived membership problem within a chamber of commerce and what really might be the root cause of the problem. Listen in as Dave takes on this misconception and offers ways to avoid having a membership problem in your organization.
W.A.C.E. President & CEO Dave Kilby sits down with Lodi District Chamber President & CEO Pat Patrick to discuss how they structured their community vision project and how they are tracking their progress.
To access the Lodi District Chamber's Vision 2020 report follow this link: http://www.lodi.gov/eco_development/pdf/Vision2020FNLFNL.pdf
Many chambers know what they do and how they do it , but do they really know WHY they do it? In this episode, we look at some of the findings of W.A.C.E.'s recent branding project for chambers of commerce and discuss the 3Cs and the core competencies that should be the backbone of every chamber.
In the first episode of the Chamber Leadership Podcast, W.A.C.E.'s President Dave Kilby touches on five key ingredients that should be a part of any successful chamber's recipe.