November 4 & 5, 2026
Embassy Suites by Hilton Rockford Riverfront
416 S Main St, Rockford, IL 61101
(815) 668-7878
Hosted by the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce
This is IACCE’s premier educational event of the year. It’s created exclusively for chamber professionals who want to strengthen their organizations, sharpen their skills, and lead with greater impact. Through inspiring sessions, practical education, candid peer exchange, and purposeful networking, you’ll gain actionable strategies you can put to work immediately—whether it’s improving operations, increasing member value, or navigating change. You’ll leave with fresh ideas, trusted connections, and the confidence to move your chamber and community forward.
2026 Keynote Speakers
- Early Bird registration for IACCE members is $425 for the first atttendee from your chamber and $400 for each additional attendees from your chamber. The Early Registration Discount has been extended to October 31.
- Regular registration for IACCE members is $450/$425
- Optional Add-ons:
- Raffle tickets – 5 for $20
- Scratch-off lottery tickets – 1 for $10
- Silent Auction donation – $25
Registration includes conference sessions, social event and meals.
Make your hotel reservations by clicking here! Room rates are $169/night plus tax
Flying to Rockford? You can rent a car or use Rockford Rides – https://www.rkfdrides.com/ – be sure to mention the Rockford Chamber for a discount!
Questions? Contact Lisa Weitzel at lisa@iacce.org or (217) 585-2995.
Sponsoring IACCE’s annual conference is an exclusive opportunity for you to meet with chief executives and staff members representing chambers of commerce throughout Illinois. In addition to attending the conference for its professional development programs and networking experiences, these chamber of commerce leaders come seeking innovative solutions to challenges they face, and unique products or services that may further enhance their current benefit packages for their members.
thinking strategically in a time of uncertainty
Agenda
(subject to change)
2:30–4:30 p.m.
Pre-conference session
Introduction Into Leading Your Chamber (Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce – a few blocks from the conference hotel)
Led by Jessica Linder Gallo, president & CEO, Peoria area chamber of commerce
8:00 a.m.
Registration opens
9:00–10:15 a.m.
welcome & Opening session (Ballroom)
Make ‘Em Laugh: Using AI to Add Humor to Your Content
Beth Z
No matter how great your content is, you will struggle to find your audience if you don’t standout. Today’s crazy AI technology can help you add humor and interest to your posts, if you knowwhat tools to use.Join Beth Z, Your Nerdy Best Friend, for a mind-blowing tour of the fun side of AI content tools.You’ll discover how to make small talk, create shareable memes and even deep fake acoworker.
Takeaways:
●Discover free and bargain tools to create AI-powered multimedia in a click.
●Understand how to craft fun content without crossing ethical or copyright lines.
●Leave with a list of the latest and greatest AI generating tools to upgrade your content right away.
10:30–11:30 a.m.
Breakout Sessions
Decoding AI: Strategy, Policy & the Fine Print
Amy Boston – Threology HR
AI is already inside your chamber and your members’ organizations, whether it was purposely chosen or not. It’s in meeting notes, newsletters, member database, and the free tools staff uses to keep up. In this fast-paced, interactive session, Amy Boston, a “straight-talking HR pro,” uses real headlines to show how small, everyday AI decisions can turn into big problems. She covers chatbots that end up as evidence, AI note-takers that stay on after the meeting, and million-dollar reports built on made-up sources. You’ll leave knowing where AI genuinely helps a lean HR and operations team, how to put simple guardrails in place, and how to guide your members through AI with confidence.
Attendees will leave with:
Real-world examples of AI gone wrong and the simple decisions that would have prevented them
Practical, low-risk ways AI can save time for chamber staff and members
A one-page AI policy framework for your chamber and your members
Why HR and compliance questions still need experienced humans backed by vetted AI
Connecting Community and Commerce panel on the community-centric chamber model
Mike Putz – Wheeling Chamber of commerce & Ian tobin, Lincoln square ravenswood chamber of commerce
Rethink, Retire, or Try It: Chamber Programs in Motion
Katie Koester – President & CEO, Effingham County Chamber of Commerce
Rethinking Chamber Programs from the Ground Up
Still hosting that event because “we’ve always done it”? Begging members to attend? Spending more time planning a program than it’s actually worth? Yeah, we need to talk.
In this fun, fast-paced, interactive session, Katie Koester, President & CEO of the Effingham County Chamber, shares real chamber wins, reinventions, and a few honest flops. Through the Chamber Program Confessional, practical evaluation tools, and a hands-on Innovation Challenge, you’ll discover how to shake up stale programs, test fresh ideas, and make meaningful changes without overcomplicating the process.
Expect laughs, ideas worth stealing, and the confidence to challenge the status quo. You’ll leave with more than inspiration — you’ll leave with a plan to actually DO something!
Attendees will leave with:
The Chamber Program Gut Check to decide what to keep, fix, reinvent, or retire.
Real-world examples and fresh ideas for networking, member engagement, and non-dues revenue.
Practical strategies to test new ideas, get buy-in, and make changes.
A personalized action plan with concrete next steps to take back to their chamber.
Because “we’ve always done it that way” isn’t a good enough reason to keep doing it.
11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
sponsor carousel(Ballroom)
meet our sponsors!
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Every 5 minutes, the bell rings and you move to the next table. A fast, friendly way to meet all our sponsors, several of whom may be running their own drawings — plus a free conference registration up for grabs at the end.
12:30 – 1:00 p.m.
lunch (Ballroom)
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
keynote (Ballroom)
Stop Apologizing for Revenue
Pamela j. green
Too many mission-driven organizations treat sound business practices like a compromise of their values instead of a source of strength. This keynote makes the case for how mission-driven organizations can adopt for-profit practices to succeed — turning revenue, efficiency, and strategy into tools that fuel the mission rather than distract from it. Attendees will leave with a new lens on what it means to run a purpose-driven organization built to last.
2:15–2:45 p.m.
breakout Sessions
The child care crisis is an economic crisis: Pursuing solutions
Sean Noble & Sally PUleo – ReadyNation
A new report estimates the child care crisis costs Illinois families and employers $6.2 billion annually — a drag on our current economy that also carries enormous implications for hopes of building a skilled, future workforce. This session will unpack those findings — including challenges related to physical-infrastructure concerns for child care — and will detail efforts at solutions in which business-leader voices play a welcome and critical role.
The Exit Epidemic: What Chambers Can Do About It
Thano and Nicole Emerick, Exit Factor of Western Chicagoland
Did you know that 87% of businesses in the United States never sell? When businesses close, communities lose jobs, tax revenue, and local spending. Discover the five biggest risks behind failed or disappointing business exits and how Chambers can help local businesses thrive for generations while creating new revenue opportunities for their organizations.
discover how your Chamber can turn travel into a powerful revenue opportunity
Saeed Parker/Indus travels & David Sabathné/Western Dupage chamber
Discover how Chamber-led travel can generate non-dues revenue while strengthening member engagement and delivering greater value to your membership. Drawing on their combined travel industry and Chamber leadership experience, Saeed Parker of Indus Travels and David Sabathne of the Western DuPage Chamber will share practical strategies and real-world insights for developing successful travel programs with minimal staff workload.
Join us to discover how your Chamber can turn travel into a powerful revenue opportunity and a memorable member benefit.
Beyond the Job Board: Using Local Job Data to Drive Workforce Development
Kendra Vincent/Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce and Alex Sejdinaj/Rollie Jobs
A job board can do more than list openings. In this co-presentation, Kendra and Alex show how chambers are using their live job data as a workforce development tool. Kendra will share her community’s workforce goals, the programs already in place, and early results since launching their job board, including increased website traffic and greater visibility for local employers’ openings. Attendees will learn how to use Rollie and AI-assisted analysis to find the gaps in your local workforce and build programs that meet your community’s needs. The session is interactive, with live examples and an opportunity for Q&A. You’ll leave with practical ideas for launching a job board, winning employer and member buy-in, and using local labor market data to strengthen your chamber’s role in workforce development.
3:00-4:00 p.m.
breakout Sessions
Our AI Journey: One Chamber’s First Year
Steve Olson – Mclean County chamber
This session will share the early results of the McLean County Chamber’s journey into the world of AI and automation. Join us to hear about the approach we took, the early successes we have seen, and the lessons learned along the way. With time for open dialogue, there should also be an opportunity for the group to share their own experiences and identify actionable next steps we can all benefit from.
Revenue Without Regret: Tactics for Mission-Driven Organizations
pam green
This session picks up where the keynote leaves off — moving from mindset to mechanics. We’ll walk through concrete tactics mission-driven organizations can borrow from the for-profit world: pricing strategy for programs and services, diversifying revenue beyond grants and dues, building metrics that track impact and margin side by side, and structuring decision-making so financial sustainability becomes a shared organizational habit rather than one person’s job. Attendees will leave with practical approaches they can adapt to their own organization’s size and stage — no MBA required.
Illinois Chamber of commerce & U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Jimmy clayton – Illinois chamber of commerce & Kevin courtois – U.S. Chamber of commerce
4:00–4:30 p.m.
Snack break & Sponsor visits
4:30–5:30 p.m.
breakout Sessions
Engaging Your Board Members: Make them Feel Seen & Heard
Beth Lynch – Sandwich Area Chamber
Sometimes a board can lose sight of the vision, become demotivated or even a little shell-shocked. It helps to remember you are working with people – not just a board of directors. Beth describes how you can use personal interaction, regular meetings and mini board retreats to invigorate and redirect your board. If you are stuck in an endless cycle of events for the sake of events or a board that debates, worries and delays seemingly forever… come refresh your own view, strategize a plan and hone your ability to cast vision in subtle and overt ways. Learn how to get your board members to share from their heart, share openly and prepare for real work. Learn how to listen for opportunities to steer the ship in organic and non threatening ways – using the sting of truth in subtle and non-confrontational yet direct ways.
Tale of Two Chambers – How they successfully Merged
Chasity savage, DBR chamber of commerce & Marino Cecchi, Buffalo grove/lincolnshire chamber of commerce
What really happens when two chambers of commerce decide to become one?
Join the leaders behind the new Lake Cook Business Alliance for an open, behind-the-scenes conversation about merging the Deerfield Bannockburn Riverwoods Chamber and the Buffalo Grove Lincolnshire Chamber.
We’ll share the conversations that started it, the financial and governance decisions, the people who supported it, the people who didn’t, and the surprises along the way. We’ll also talk about what happened when we told our members, how our municipal partners responded, and the practical realities of bringing two organizations together.
Expect two perspectives, candid stories, and plenty of opportunities to ask questions. We’re still working through the transition, and we’ll share what we’ve learned so far, including the things we’d do differently.
Whether you’ve considered a merger, are curious about how one works or simply want to hear what happens when chambers make a major organizational change, you’re welcome in the conversation.
What’s Working: Chamber Strategies for Workforce Development
Matt Duffy – Dekalb Chamber, charlie Moore – mclean county chamber & dave sabathne – western dupage chamber
5:30–7:00 p.m.
Embassy Suites cocktails (Lower Level Hotel Restuarant)
6:00-7:30 p.m.
Iacce Reception (Ziock Ballroom)
7:30 p.m.
New & younger Chamber People Outing
Extra “outing” to engage new chamber pros and young chamber pros (under 40) following the IACCE Reception Wednesday night. The group will head to Cahoots to laugh about how there is never a dull moment in the rollercoaster ride we call “Chamber Life.” We will play some games and have mingling time to share and learn from our peers.
8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
IACCE Board Meeting
9:00-10:00 a.m.
Morning Session
The Ten-Cent Decision
presented by Laurie Guest
For chambers of commerce, value is proven in moments, not mission statements.
Every interaction with a member, answering a question, delivering a benefit, promoting a program, or supporting a sponsor, quietly shapes renewal decisions, engagement, and non-dues revenue. While big initiatives matter, it’s the small, nearly cost-free decisions that most often determine whether members see real value or just another invoice.
The 10¢ Decision® zeroes in on those moments.
In this fast-paced, practical keynote, Laurie Guest shows chamber leaders how small shifts in communication, service, and follow-through can strengthen member relationships, increase engagement, and uncover missed revenue opportunities without adding staff, stress, or budget.
Bonus: Every participant receives Laurie’s Simple Six Pack, a set of practical tools chambers can use immediately to improve member experience and value delivery.
Because for chambers, small decisions don’t stay small, they show up in renewals, reputation, and revenue.
10:15–11:15 a.m.
breakout Sessions
The 11 Forces Facing Chambers – and How to Act on Them
David brown – rebecca ryan/Next Consulting
Most executives spend fewer than five minutes a day thinking about the future — even though 95% say strategy is part of their job. The result? Chambers that are planning without foresight. Reacting instead of leading. The Quick Sort changes that in a single workshop.
Join David G. Brown (Greater Omaha Chamber, ret. CEO) for an engaging, expertly facilitated tabletop card game built around the 11 future forces identified in ACCE’s Horizon 2035 — the forces most likely to reshape your community and your chamber’s operating environment in the years ahead. You’ll move from vague awareness of these trends to a clear point of view on which ones demand your attention now, so you can build more future-ready work plans and strategies.
Thinking of tiered dues as a menu
dawn Mushill – Troy, Maryville, St. Jacob and Marine Chamber of commerce
What if your Chamber’s membership dues worked more like a restaurant menu, allowing members to choose the level of investment that best fits their needs and appetite for engagement? This interactive session will explore how to approach tiered dues as a menu of opportunities rather than a one-size-fits-all membership structure. Participants will learn how to package benefits, communicate value, create attractive membership levels, and encourage members to invest at higher tiers. Through practical examples, creative ideas, and lessons learned, attendees will leave with fresh ways to evaluate their current dues structure, increase non-dues and membership revenue, and ensure every member finds something on the menu that works for them.
Key Takeaways: Participants will learn how to design appealing membership tiers, communicate the value of each investment level, identify opportunities for upgrades, and create a membership menu that benefits both the Chamber and its members.
From Grant Hunting to Grant Ready: Building Your Chamber’s Funding Ecosystem
Nicole Van Hyfte – The Van Hyfte Grant Lab
Chamber professionals ask this question constantly: “Are there grants for chambers, and where do I even find them?” This session starts there — but the real goal is bigger than finding a list of funding sources.
We’ll unpack what actually makes an organization “grant-ready”: the internal systems, documentation, and project framing that let you compete for funding instead of just searching for it. Then we’ll widen the lens to the chamber’s role as a connector — helping local businesses, nonprofits, and municipalities understand grant readiness, find resources, build partnerships, and navigate the requirements that stall good projects before they start.
You’ll leave with practical tools for your own organization, plus a clearer picture of how your chamber can become part of your community’s funding infrastructure.
11:15 a.m. –12:15 p.m.
Breakout Sessions
From the Mic to the Table: A Practical Guide to Chamber Advocacy
Ian tobin – Lincoln square/ravenswood chamber of commerce
Advocacy doesn’t end with a legislative agenda. Using Chicago’s Lincoln Square neighborhood as a case study, this session takes a closer look at how community governance really works and how chambers can move from reacting to decisions to helping shape them. Learn practical approaches to building influence, cultivating relationships, and becoming a respected partner in local decision-making.
Retention by Design: Engage Members before they drop
Maria Gonzalez – Berwyn development corp
Better Events, Better Margins
Nicole Benjamin & Rudy Flores – Lincoln Square/Ravenswood Chamber
12:30 p.m.
1:30 p.m.
annual awards Luncheon (Ballroom)
afternoon keynote(Ballroom)
Positioning Yourself for Success
Pam Green
2:45-3:45 p.m.
Breakout Sessions
What Chambers Need to Know to Register & Truly Lobby as an Entity
Neil Malone – Naperville Area Chamber of commerce
Street Teams: DeKalb’s Model for Volunteer-Powered Member Visits
Anna Wilson – Dekalb chamber
Members complain that they can’t leave work to engage with the Chamber and fellow members, they don’t know what’s happening at the Chamber because they don’t read their emails, and they never see “The Chamber” in their business. Well, this can change all of that & nope this isn’t a gimmick! Street Team Days help you meet your members where they are in more way than just one.
Come join Anna Wilson, Membership Manager at the DeKalb Chamber, as she shares how you can leave your mark while saving your sanity (to some extent)! Leveraging your active and engaged members to meet some of your less active and off-the-radar members at their place of work.
See how hosting Street Team Day…
Can allow you to delegate tasks (even if you are a chamber of 1)
Increase your relevance to your members
Lead to more impactful future chamber endeavors
Increase members utilization of benefits & features
Increase retention
Keep you top of mind outside of renewal time
Leave Anna’s session with an actionable plan to host your own Street Team Day before the holidays!
Chambers Are Economic Development
Everett Butzine & Caitlin PUsateri – Greater Rockford chamber of commerce
4:00-4:45 p.m.
Closing keynote
The Real Price Tag of AI: What It Actually Costs to Get Right
Alex Sejdinaj – Code Works
AI is being adopted faster than any technology in modern history, and most businesses are still guessing at what it costs them. Alex Sejdinaj of Code Works and Rollie Jobs breaks down what AI actually costs, the stages of sophistication businesses move through and where most get stuck, and the practical role your organization can play. Includes a look at the data center boom driving all of it.
4:45-5:00 p.m.
Closing comments
9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Chambermaster training
Training provided by Greg Fagereng. Click to download the agenda!
Led by growthzone/chambermaster and held at the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce offices a few blocks from the hotel although we advise you to move your car to the parking garage across from the chamber
thank you to our 2026 Sponsors
Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsors
Hospitality Sponsor
Silver Sponsors
Registration Sponsor
Bronze Sponsors
Cancellations
Should you need to cancel your registration, please email Lisa at lisa@iacce.org. Please note the following:
- If your cancellation is submitted before October 1, IACCE will refund the full registration fee.
- If the cancellation request is submitted on or after October 1, IACCE will refund 50% of the registration fee.
- No refunds will be issued after October 15.
IACCE reserves the right to make real-time changes to conference content and offerings as it deems necessary, and in such situations no refunds, partial refunds or alternative offers shall be made outside of the stated cancellation policy listed above.
Special conference policies
- By attending Fall Conference, you understand and accept your photo may be taken and used for promotional pieces.
- If COVID-19 or other health restrictions are enacted, IACCE will abide by all state requirements
Interested in speaking at our 2026 conference? Submit your session here.