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DENVER – The Colorado Chamber of Commerce today announced the formation of a new affiliation with the Association of Colorado Chambers of Commerce (ACCC). The ACCC is a self-funded program of the Colorado Chamber that provides professional development opportunities for local chamber executives.
Under the new affiliation agreement, the Colorado Chamber will oversee the leadership of ACCC, which previously was managed independently from the Chamber. Lauren Schwartz, the Colorado Chamber’s director of investor relations, has been appointed to serve as ACCC’s new executive director and will serve in a dual capacity for both organizations. The agreement was ratified by the ACCC Board of Directors on January 18 and finalized by Colorado Chamber president and CEO Loren Furman on January 25.
“I’m humbled to accept this additional responsibility in service to local chambers, with the goal of continuously elevating the chamber profession in Colorado and amplifying the voice of local chambers at the state capitol and at the federal level,” said Schwartz.
Schwartz replaces previous ACCC executive director Dot Miller, who served in the role since 2018.
“This is a critical step in advancing our vision of growing and partnering with business leaders across the state,” said Furman. “Local chamber presidents are essential partners of the Colorado Chamber, and they bring an influential voice within the business community since they hear the priorities of businesses in every corner of Colorado.”
In addition to providing leadership and management to the ACCC, the new affiliation will further strengthen the Colorado Chamber’s partnership with local chambers by providing operational support and a stronger partnership with their state chamber. The ACCC will remain a self-funded organization within the Colorado Chamber and will continue to provide professional development, peer-networking opportunities, and business advocacy training and resources to local chambers.
“We look forward to this next phase in the ACCC’s organizational development,” said Andrea Stewart, ACCC board chair and executive director of the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce. “This formal affiliation with the state chamber will allow local chamber executives to tap into additional resources and support, which will provide tremendous value to our local business communities.”
Kevin Hougan, president and CEO of the Aurora Chamber of Commerce, will continue to serve as the official representative of ACCC on the Colorado Chamber’s Board of Directors. He has served in this role since 2012.
A headshot of Lauren Schwartz, director of investor relations for the Colorado Chamber and ACCC’s new executive director, can be found here.
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The Colorado Chamber of Commerce champions free enterprise, a healthy business environment and economic prosperity for all Coloradans. It is the only business association that works to improve the business climate for all sizes of business from a statewide, multi-industry perspective. What the Colorado Chamber accomplishes is good for all businesses, and that’s good for the state’s economy. It was created in 1965 based on the merger with the Colorado Manufacturers’ Association.
The Association for Colorado Chambers of Commerce (ACCC) is a self-funded organization within the Colorado Chamber that provides local chamber executives and their teams opportunities for professional development, organizational excellence, peer networking and grassroots advocacy training and resources.