Local volunteers receive awards and nationally recognized chamber of commerce executive Mick Fleming will speak about the power of community leaders at the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting on Aug. 22 from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Chattanooga Convention Center.

Award presentations will include:

·         Ambassador of the Year Award (2017 recipient: Amy Allara Kinworthy, Chattanooga Zoo)

·         Chamber Council of the Year Award (2017 recipient: Downtown Council)

·         Chamber Council Membership Award (2017 recipient: North Hamilton County Council)

“We'll celebrate our past and our future with a focus on celebrating all that's ahead for Chattanooga at our 2018 Annual Meeting," said Christy Gillenwater, president & CEO of the Chattanooga Chamber. “Our keynoter, Mick Fleming, is a longtime friend and colleague with expert community development insight. As we recognize our most dedicated Chamber volunteers, he'll address the vast positive impact of volunteer and community leadership and how even a small group of people can give the world a better future.” 

Mr. Fleming has served for more than 16 years as CEO of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, the professional association for chambers which named the Chattanooga Chamber as Chamber of the Year last year. In this role, Mr. Fleming has provided strategic planning, consulting support and direct motivation to hundreds of chambers of all sizes. 

"Throughout his storied career, Fleming has contributed to the community development movement in a variety of ways, including creating and leading the Ford Foundation's Regional Sustainable Development Fellowship. He served as a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Committee of 100 and the Council of State Chambers for 15 years and wrote key works such as 'Making Your Chamber Make a Difference,' 'Heresies Worth Discussing' and the 'Horizon Initiative,' exploring how chambers will adapt during the next decade.

"The associations where he served as CEO for more than 20 years benefited from numerous, multi-year strategic plans and funding campaigns. Fleming also has considerable experience on the other side of the aisle; he has been an elected officer in two local chambers and board member of other nonprofit organizations. During eight years as vice chairman of the World Chambers Federation, he worked on collaborative projects with chambers in the largest cities and nations in the world," officials said.

Annual Meeting will also include recognizing the Chamber’s 2018-19 Board Chair Tom Glenn of Elder’s Ace Hardware and Outgoing Chair Larry Buie of Chattanooga Gas.

Member tickets are $55, $65 for non-members and $650 for corporate tables. Register here.