Illinois Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives

What Illinois Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives does

Illinois Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (IACCE) is a non-profit professional association founded in 1915 and headquartered in Springfield, Illinois. It serves as the statewide membership body for chamber of commerce professionals in Illinois, with a directory of 131+ member chambers ranging from small rural organizations to large metropolitan chambers with more than 600 members, plus affiliate members such as Indus Travels, UnitedHealthcare, and YGM Total Resource Campaigns. The organization runs on a lean staff of 1-10 employees and provides a portfolio of professional development, certification, recognition, and advocacy services aimed at executive directors, presidents, CEOs, and staff of Illinois chambers.

IACCE's core products center on an annual three-day Fall Conference, recurring webinar and peer-networking programs (Coffee and Conversation, AI Webinar Series, Encore Education, All Things Chamber, Leadership Summit), specialized training such as Membership Sales Training and Strategic Planning & Board Training, and the Chamber Day advocacy program co-hosted with the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. Credentialing products include the Accredited Chamber Executive (ACE) designation, established in 1997, and the Chamber Certification peer review program, alongside annual awards such as the Outstanding Chamber of the Year and the Distinguished Illinois Chamber of Commerce Executive of the Year (Brann Award, since 1991). The technology stack is standard association SaaS: GrowthZone for event calendar and registration, MemberLeap for membership management, Zoom for webinars, and iCal synchronization for events.

IACCE generates revenue primarily through annual membership dues, conference and event registration fees ($95-$450 per attendee with early-bird discounts), certification and award application fees, and multi-tier conference sponsorships (Platinum through Bronze). The go-to-market motion is community-led: membership is acquired through an online portal at mms.iacce.org, with value delivered through relationship-driven peer support, in-person and hybrid events, and peer-driven professional development. The organization operates exclusively within Illinois and has no parent company, subsidiaries, or external investment.

Name

Illinois Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives

Legal name

Illinois Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives

Website

https://iacce.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1915

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Illinois Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (IACCE) is a 1915-founded, Springfield-based non-profit professional association serving 131+ chamber of commerce organizations across Illinois through conferences, certification programs (ACE), peer networking, and advocacy events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Chamber Professional Development Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Virtual/Hybrid Conference Production & Platform Management (THAHACAM), Continuing Education (CE/CPD) & Provider Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAF)

Keywords

• Chamber professional development
• Chamber executive networking
• Chamber certification programs
• Chamber association membership
• Professional association services

Headquarters

HQ city

Springfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees for chamber of commerce organizations and professionals in Illinois. Members gain access to professional development resources, networking events, peer support, and educational programming.
2. Conference and Event Registration: Revenue from Fall Conference registration fees ($425-$450 per attendee), Membership Sales Training Seminar ($95), and other professional development events. Early bird discounts are offered for advance registration.
3. Certification and Award Program Fees: Fees associated with Chamber Certification Program, Outstanding Chamber of the Year applications, and ACE (Accredited Chamber Executive) designation applications.
4. Sponsorships: Conference sponsorships at various levels (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze) provide revenue and in-kind support. Sponsors gain visibility among chamber executives and staff attending events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

IACCE is a statewide nonprofit professional association serving chamber of commerce executives and staff across Illinois. It delivers professional development programming (annual Fall Conference, webinars, training seminars, certifications), peer networking communities, recognition and certification programs (ACE, Chamber Certification, Brann Award), and advocacy collaboration with the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.

Product overview

IACCE offers a comprehensive portfolio of professional development and chamber management products and services. The core offerings include annual conferences (Fall Conference), multiple webinar series (AI Webinar Series, Encore Education, All Things Chamber), peer networking events (Coffee and Conversation, Leadership Summit), and specialized training programs (Membership Sales Training, Strategic Planning & Board Training, Chamber Day). IACCE also provides professional certification and recognition programs including the ACE (Accredited Chamber Executive) certification, Chamber Certification, and multiple awards (Outstanding Chamber of the Year, Distinguished Executive of the Year, Distinguished Service Awards). Additional member services include scholarships, a member directory, ILoveLocal, and Empower Fund.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fall Conference

Quantifiable outcome

• 24% increase in membership renewal rates achieved by Bolingbrook Chamber after implementing IACCE-shared ambassador program strategies
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Momentum AIcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 February 2026IACCE has partnered with Momentum AI to launch a complementary Virtual AI Training Series for chambers. The partnership provides quarterly sessions designed to help chamber professionals use AI confidently, responsibly, and strategically. Sessions include practical examples for communications, operations, member engagement, and strategy, plus live Q&A. The goal is to help chamber staff become capable AI users rather than technologists.
• GrowthZonecoreTechnology or IntegrationGrowthZone serves as the event calendar and registration platform for IACCE. They are the Platinum Sponsor of the 2026 Fall Conference and provide the association management technology that powers IACCE's member directory, event registration, and calendar functionality.
• Indus TravelsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum Sponsor of the 2026 Fall Conference. Indus Travels is a travel company providing conference sponsorship support.
• LeidosminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold Sponsor of the 2026 Fall Conference. Leidos is an Ameren Illinois Savings partner providing sponsorship support.
• Ready NationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver Sponsor of the 2026 Fall Conference. Ready Nation is a workforce readiness organization.
• Shaw MediaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver Sponsor of the 2026 Fall Conference. Shaw Media provides media and news sponsorship support.
• Illinois American WaterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze Sponsor of the 2026 Fall Conference. Illinois American Water provides utility company sponsorship support.
• ChamberNationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze Sponsor of the 2026 Fall Conference. ChamberNation is a chamber technology and solutions provider.
• Golden Ticket ProgramminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegistration Sponsor for the 2026 Fall Conference. Provides registration sponsorship support.
• Keg Grove Brewing CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue sponsor for the Membership Sales Training Seminar. Located in Morris, IL. Provides venue and complimentary beer for attendees.
• Mayor Chris BrownminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBar Sponsor for the Membership Sales Training Seminar. Provides sponsorship support for the event venue.
• Illinois Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosts the annual Chamber Day program with IACCE, providing relevant information on topical issues facing state policy makers during legislative sessions. This is an ongoing programmatic partnership for advocacy and education.
• Illinois Valley Area Chamber & Economic DevelopmentminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHost organization for the 2026 Fall Conference at Grand Bear Resort at Starved Rock in Utica, IL.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• New York State Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives: A statewide peer association for chamber executives in New York offering conferences, awards, and training analogous to IACCE's programming — directly comparable as a state-association peer.
• Ohio Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (OACCE): OACCE is a peer state-level association serving chamber of commerce executives in Ohio with annual conferences, professional development, and recognition programs — a near-identical operating model to IACCE but in a different state.
• Carolinas Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (CACCE): CACCE is a state/regional peer association serving chamber of commerce executives across the Carolinas with conferences, awards, and professional development — operating the same model IACCE uses in Illinois, just in a different geography.
• Chamber of Commerce Executives of Missouri (CCEM): CCEM is a statewide professional association for chamber executives in Missouri, providing conferences, networking, and awards similar to IACCE — same nonprofit-association model for chamber leaders.

Others

• Illinois Chamber of Commerce: The Illinois Chamber of Commerce is IACCE's co-host for Chamber Day and a state-level advocacy partner — adjacent rather than competitive, serving Illinois businesses broadly while IACCE serves the chamber executives who run local chambers.

Broad incumbents

• Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE): ACCE is the national umbrella association for chamber of commerce executives, offering similar professional development, certification, awards, and conferences but at the national level. Directly comparable to IACCE because they serve the same chamber-executive persona with analogous programming (conferences, scholarships, credentials).
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce (Institute for Organization Management): The U.S. Chamber of Commerce runs the Institute for Organizational Management, a national training program serving chamber executives — overlaps with IACCE's conference and certification offerings at a larger national scale.

Regional players

• Texas Association of Business (TAB) Chamber Executives: TAB and its chamber executive programming offer analogous professional development, advocacy, and events for chamber leaders in Texas — a comparable state-association model scaled to a much larger geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/IACCE4me
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iacce
• Xx.com/iacce

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Illinois Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives