MONTGOMERY, AL – On April 22, 2025, the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama (Alabama Chambers) held its Night of Champions during their 2025 Executive Leadership Conference at The Graduate in Auburn, AL.
Laura Strickland, IOM, AACE was recognized as the 2025 Alabama Chamber Professional of the Year. Laura serves as President & CEO of the Sylacauga Chamber of Commerce. This award recognizes the professional career achievements, exemplary performance and leadership of a long term chamber professional. Laura is a dynamic leader, visionary strategist, and tireless advocate for her community, she exemplifies the very best of chamber leadership. With over eight years of dedicated service to her chamber - five of them at the helm - she has transformed the organization into a powerhouse of local economic development, workforce innovation, and community engagement.
The Alabama Accredited Chamber of Commerce program (AACC) was established in 2016 as one of the most prestigious programs of the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama. The AACC program sets standards of excellence for chambers in the State of Alabama. Additionally, the program promotes public awareness of the chamber of commerce brand as a community development, business membership organization. The peer review process benchmarks chambers in six areas: Organization, Mission Focus, Professional Administration, Financial Management, Communications, and Advocacy.
There are currently 27 chambers that hold the AACC designation. This year, 5 chambers renewed their designation including Cherokee Chamber, Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce, Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce, Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce, and Sylacauga Chamber of Commerce. Four chambers earned their designation for the first time including Albertville Chamber, Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce, Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce, and North Jefferson Chamber of Commerce.
The Alabama Accredited Chamber Executive program (AACE) was established in 2015 to recognize the professional competence of chamber of commerce executives in the State of Alabama. The AACE designation is based on experience, service to Alabama Chambers, training, continuing education, and professional achievement. AACE designation is intended to strengthen the career development objectives of chamber professionals while also providing personal recognition for their career accomplishments.
To date 17 chamber professionals have earned the designation including two new designees in 2025, Kimberly Dunn, IOM, AACE, Vice President of Special Events & Sponsorship at the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce and Mary McNairy, IOM, AACE, Vice President of Finance and Administration at the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber.
We also recognized Lisa Miller with Energy Southeast as a 2025 Chamber Partner. Lisa has been a long time supporter of Alabama Chambers, she has served as chair of the Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce, chair of Main Street Alabama and is active with our friends at Economic Development Association of Alabama just to name a few. Above all though, she is a strong advocate for the 11 member communities served by Energy Southeast. Please join us in thanking our friend Lisa Miller for her dedication and commitment.
Lastly, we recognized the Business Council of Alabama as a 2025 Chamber Partner. BCA is celebrating their 40th anniversary this year. As the state's largest business association, BCA works to ensure that businesses of all sizes can grow and flourish in our state. Advocating on the state and federal level, BCA works tirelessly to be the voice for the Alabama business community. Additionally, since 2003, The Partnership of Alabama Chambers and BCA has given an elevated voice to our local chambers. We are grateful for the work that BCA does and for the continued support they provide to our association.
Since its beginning in 1937 as the Alabama Association of Commercial Organizations, what is now known as the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama (Alabama Chambers) has remained dedicated to its mission of building stronger chambers across our state while advocating that chambers of commerce are the premier local business advocates in the State of Alabama. Through The Partnership with the Business Council of Alabama, a non-partisan organization, the two organizations represent the interests and concerns of over 1 million working Alabamians every day.
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