On Nov. 7, the United States Chamber of Commerce awarded the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce with 5-Star Accreditation for its sound policies, effective organizational procedures and positive impact on the community. This prestigious honor puts the Chamber among the top five percent of chambers nationwide.
"Accreditation recognizes chambers for their high standards of practice, full accountability to members and steadfast commitment to community," said Thomas J. Donohue, president and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce. "We applaud these organizations for advancing these principles of free enterprise."
Accreditation is the only national program that recognizes chambers for their effective organizational procedures and community involvement. In order to receive Accreditation, a chamber must meet minimum standards in their operations and programs, including areas of governance, government affairs and technology. This extensive self-review can take three to six months to complete.
"This is exciting news," said David G. Brown, president and CEO of the Chamber. "Our Chamber volunteers and staff are an exceptional group of professionals. Receiving the 5-Star rating validates the work we do and the way we do it."
Local chambers are rated Accredited, 3-Stars, 4-Stars or 5-Stars. State chambers are recognized as either Accredited State Chamber or Accredited State Chamber with Distinction. The final determination is made by the Accrediting Board, a committee of U.S. Chamber board members. Of the 6,936 chambers in the U.S., 298 are Accredited and only 38 with the 5-Star designation.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation, representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.