Greenville Chamber CEO to lead national organization

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The president and CEO of the Greenville Chamber will helm a national association of chamber leaders for the 2023-2024 term.

Carlos Phillips was named chair of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives Board of Directors during the organization’s annual meeting on Aug. 1 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives is the professional society supporting the women and men who lead local, regional, statewide and international chambers of commerce and related business and economic development organizations. ACCE board chairs serve a one-year term. Phillips will oversee activities of a 65-member board of directors that provides leadership and strategic direction to the association’s 25-person staff, according to a news release from the Greenville Chamber.

“I am honored to be selected as the ACCE board chair for 2023-2024,” said Phillips said in the news release. “I look forward to collaborating with chamber peers across the U.S., Canada and beyond to advance ACCE’s key priorities in building up inclusive and thriving business communities. For more than 100 years, ACCE has set the standard for chambers of commerce; a top priority will be continuing that legacy by providing innovative thought leadership, practical solutions and cutting-edge resources to address critical community and national issues.”

Phillips has been designated as a Certified Chamber Executive by ACCE. The CCE program assesses and tests the applicant's knowledge of core chamber management areas. Chamber professionals who are designated CCEs earned the recognition through dedication to their field and leadership of their chamber to achieve the chamber’s goals, the release said.

CCE is recognized as the highest and most elite professional designation in the chamber of commerce profession. Phillips is one of 10 chamber professionals to earn the designation in 2023. To date, only 475 individuals have earned the CCE designation.

 “On behalf of the Greenville Chamber Board of Directors, I extend heartfelt congratulations to Carlos on his achievement of earning the prestigious CCE credentials, as well as his appointment as the ACCE board chair.” Cal Hurst, 2023 Greenville Chamber board chair, said in the release. “This recognition is a testament to his dedication and visionary leadership, not only within our region but across the nation. These achievements further solidify his status as a national leader in the chamber of commerce industry and we are grateful for his impact.”

Phillips has 17 years of industry experience, beginning his chamber career in Louisville, Ky. He joined the Greenville Chamber as president and CEO in 2016. His tenure at the Greenville Chamber has been marked by a growth in investment, engagement and revenue growth; 5-star Accreditation status by the U.S. Chamber; and relocation of the Chamber’s headquarters to downtown Greenville.

“Chambers of commerce have never been more important than they are right now,” ACCE President and CEO Sheree Anne Kelly said in the release. “Carlos is an innovative and thoughtful leader who will help the chamber industry capitalize on this momentum to shape the future of our communities.”