MOLINE, ILLINOIS (July 21, 2021) — Paul Rumler, President and CEO of the Quad Cities Chamber, has been designated as a Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE).
Based in Alexandria, Virginia, ACCE is a professional society with more than 1,600 chambers of commerce and related business and economic development organizations as members.
Rumler is one of sixteen chamber professionals to earn the CCE designation in 2021. This year’s class represents chambers in eleven states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia, as well as the Canadian province Ontario.
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.
“I’m proud to be recognized for my experience and knowledge as a Chamber leader,” Rumler said. “Receiving the CCE distinction is the pinnacle of the Chamber profession and I’m thankful to the Quad Cities Chamber for investing in my professional growth. I look forward to continuing our Chamber’s work to drive economic prosperity in the Quad Cities region.”
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 profession and the only globally-recognized certification program exclusive to the chamber industry.
“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 (Missouri) and CCE Commission chairman. “We commend their achievement and are very proud to have them join a long tradition of professional excellence.”
Rumler has led the Chamber since April 2018 when he was recruited back to his native Quad Cities after being in Michigan for two years as the Grand Rapids Chamber’s Chief Strategy Officer. Previously, he had been with the Quad Cities Chamber and its preceding organizations since 2006 serving in roles ranging from talent attraction and retention, community development, public policy, and economic development.
Prior to his chamber work, Rumler worked in legislative/government affairs in the Massachusetts State Senate and US Congress. He has a degree in Economics from Georgia State University and also attended Boston University and Black Hawk College. In 2015, he was recognized as a “40 Under 40 Leader in Economic Development” by Development Counsellors International. In 2019, he was awarded the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives “40 Under 40” award and the “Male Champion of Change” Athena Award by Women Lead Change.
About the Quad Cities Chamber: The Quad Cities Chamber facilitates business growth to help create a prosperous regional economy where all can thrive. Its work is focused in three strategic areas: business and economic growth; placemaking; and talent attraction and development. Learn more about the Chamber at quadcitieschamber.com.
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. Its membership includes more than 9,000 professionals in the Chamber industry and more than 1,600 business/civic organizations worldwide who receive information resources, thought leadership, education programs, original research, benchmarking, retirement security, and access to a network of peers. Learn more about ACCE’s CCE program by visiting ACCE.org/CCE.
