Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Earns Top-Three Finish for National Chamber of the Year

The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce closed out its run as a 2026 Chamber of the Year finalist this week, with winners announced live on Tuesday, July 21, at ACCE's Annual Convention in New Orleans.

Named by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, the finalist distinction is among the most significant in the chamber industry. It required meeting performance thresholds in membership retention and financial health, completing a comprehensive written application scored by peer executives, and advancing through a finalist interview panel. The Boone Area Chamber was one of only three finalists in its size category, selected from a field representing more than 1,600 organizations worldwide.

President/CEO David Jackson and Vice President of Events/Chief of Staff Carrie Henderson traveled to make the organization's case in person and represent the High Country before a panel of national peers.

"Let us be among the first to congratulate the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce on being named 2026 ACCE Chamber of the Year. We had a chance to meet with President & CEO, Ryan Tarrant and their staff over dinner in New Orleans, giving us an opportunity to learn what has steered their organization to this exciting recognition," said David Jackson, President/CEO of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. "While we may not have been selected as the ultimate honoree this time around, I could not be more proud for our staff, Board of Directors, and membership. Getting to this point means our Chamber is doing work that is deeply respected at a national level, and this experience will only help embolden our work to serve our membership and High Country community. We have shared plenty about Boone and Western North Carolina over the last few days, and we look forward to implementing some new ideas we've learned here at the ACCE Annual Convention."

The application and interview process asked us to tell the story of our work, and it is a story that belongs to all of us. Thank you to every member who renewed, every board member who gave their time, every sponsor, every event, every WNC chamber and every program brought the Boone Area Chamber to a stage very few organizations reach. This recognition is as much yours as it is ours!

At the center of that application was a single synopsis that best represented our work. If you know the Boone Area Chamber, you already know the answer: Childcare as an Economic Development Priority. Over the past two years, that commitment has meant direct tuition support for families, stabilization grants for childcare centers, professional development for early childhood educators, and a new campaign this fall to fund retention bonuses for childcare workers across Watauga County. This goes beyond childcare affordability and accessibility in our county, but proves communities our size can lead on issues as consequential as childcare, disaster recovery, and workforce development.

The week offered more than the finalist competition. The Boone Area Chamber presented at the finalist showcase, sharing its work with peers from across the country. Boone was also among several Western North Carolina chambers at the convention, with Kim Effler, President/CEO of the McDowell Chamber of Commerce, and Lindsay Keisler, President/CEO of the Catawba County Chamber of Commerce, representing the region. North Carolina's presence reached the association's leadership as well, with Natalie English, President and CEO of the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, named ACCE's 2026 board chair.

Standing among the country's strongest chambers is its own affirmation. While we do not do what we do for recognition, it is validating to be celebrated by your own industry, to have peers who understand this work say it matters. The Chamber carried the High Country's story to a national stage and earned a place in that conversation. This journey raises the bar for what comes next, and sharpens the drive to build on the work that put us here.