Little Rock Regional Chamber Leader Earns Elite Certification

Media Contact:
Jay Chesshir
President/CEO
Little Rock Regional Chamber
Phone: 501.377.6002
Email: [email protected]

Little Rock Regional Chamber Leader Earns Elite Certification

EVP James Reddish part of latest Certified Chamber Executive class

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (July 15, 2021) – James Reddish, Executive Vice President at the Little Rock Regional Chamber, has been designated as a Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) by ACCE, the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.

ACCE is an association based in Alexandria, Va., that has over 1,600 chambers of commerce and related business and economic development organizations as members, representing more than 9,000 professionals in the industry.

The CCE program assesses and tests the applicant’s knowledge of core chamber management areas —management; planning and development; membership, communications and revenue; and operations. Chamber professionals who are designated CCEs earned this prestigious recognition through hard work, countless hours of dedication to their field and leadership of their chamber to achieve the chamber’s goals.

“In the past year, these chamber leaders not only dedicated themselves to addressing local challenges brought on by the pandemic, but also invested many hours in their professional development to earn their CCE designation,” said Matt McCormick, CCE, IOM, president of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce (Mo.) and CCE Commission chairman. “We commend their achievement and are very proud to have them join a long tradition of professional excellence.”

Reddish is one of sixteen chamber professionals to earn the Certified Chamber Executive designation in 2021. These leaders represent chambers of commerce in 11 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia, as well as the Canadian province Ontario.

“The validation process one has to navigate to be considered for the CCE designation is extremely rigorous,” stated Jay Chesshir, CCE, IOM, president of the Little Rock Regional Chamber. “James is a very talented chamber and economic development professional who embodies the certification.”

James joined the Little Rock Regional Chamber in early 2018 as chief operating officer. In early 2021, he also assumed the leadership responsibility for the economic development division of the chamber, a role which he previously held at the chamber of commerce in Louisville, Ky. Reddish began his chamber career more than a decade ago and becomes one of a small handful of practitioners in the country to hold both the CCE and the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designations.

“I’m very grateful to my chamber colleagues here in Little Rock and those throughout the country who have supported me through this process,” said Reddish. “Little Rock is a special place, and I am energized every day to make our community better for our businesses and our residents.”

The first CCE designation was conferred more than 40 years ago. It is recognized as the highest, and most elite, professional designation in the chamber of commerce profession. It’s the only globally-recognized certification program exclusive to the chamber of commerce industry.

Learn more about ACCE’s CCE program by visiting www.ACCE.org/CCE.

*Headshot image of James Reddish is owned by the subject and does not require photo credit.

About the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives

Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) 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. Our membership includes more than 1,600 business/civic organizations worldwide. We provide our members with information resources, thought leadership, education programs, original research, benchmarking, retirement security, and access to a network of peers.

About the Little Rock Regional Chamber

The Little Rock Regional Chamber is the principal business-driven leadership organization responsible for fostering the economic growth and development of the Little Rock region to ensure that business and industry may operate profitably and enhance the earning opportunities and quality of life for every citizen.