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A PROGRAM OF THE U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION
 

IOM Blog

September 17, 2014

Chamber Mergers: Lessons Learned

At a recent best practices session with a dozen of seasoned chamber CEOs, the topic of mergers was addressed.

With a sluggish economy it was suggested that there will probably be more mergers or outright closings of chambers in the future, not less.

Let’s start with a couple of facts:

  • There are over 7,000 chambers of commerce in this country.
  • Local chambers are in competition with each other.

Now that we can agree that mergers are inevitable in our business, as discussed in this session, I thought I’d share a few comments from the panel.

The following statements we’re made about mergers:

  • Most difficult thing I’ve ever done!
  • Put people on your board who can be change agents.
  • You may not have a job at the end of it.
  • It’s emotional.
  • In today’s global economy there will be more mergers in the future
  • Address all the issues.
  • You must believe in the merger.
  • Potential companies don’t look at community lines, it’s bigger than that.

At the end of the day, you need to do what’s best for the organization and the surrounding community.

Can you come up with any partnerships with surrounding chambers of commerce?

Avatar photo
Raymond P. Towle, IOM, CAE
Vice President, Political Affairs & Federation Relations and Institute for Organization Management
U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Raymond P. Towle, IOM, CAE is vice president of Political Affairs & Federation Relations and Institute for Organization Management at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Before joining the Chamber, Towle was vice president of Member Resources at the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). An accomplished association executive, Towle has more than 22 years of experience in association management, including strategic planning, governance, membership, sponsorships, affinity programs, expositions, professional development and public policy; six years in grassroots management; and more than five years on Capitol Hill. Follow Raymond on Twitter @ChamberLeader.

Comments

  1. Susana Sandoval says

    September 26, 2014 at 6:14 pm

    I managed an initiative that involved 60associations.

    it is possible to have mou/Moa for collective work.

    Sana Global

    Reply
  2. marc jordan IOM CCE says

    September 26, 2014 at 6:34 pm

    Interesting comments regarding chamber mergers. I may be "the last guy standing" that played a leadership role in dissolving 5 chambers in a region and creating what is now the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce. My thoughts on the subject have changed somewhat since those days in the early 80's. We dissolved Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and the Suffolk Chambers to create the new entity. I could and should write a book. We retained Dick Baily and followed the Accreditation areas as a guide.

    Reply

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