Posted March 28, 2008

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee -- The best places to work tend to belong to their local chamber of commerce, according to a recent study by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE).

Ninety-four of Fortune magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For" in the U.S. and Canada are members of their local chamber, including all of the top 24.

Separately, ACCE found that in a random sample of 100 companies in the Fortune 1000, at least 75 were members of their local chamber.

"This 'Best Companies to Work For' information is one more indication that the best companies tend to be chamber members," said Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tom Edd Wilson. "If a company cares about its employees, there's a good chance it also cares about its community, and the chamber is the way that great employers invest in both."

The ACCE reports that consumers seem to expect chamber members to be better-than-average companies. A study conducted for the ACCE by the Atlanta-based Schapiro Group last August found that consumers are 63 percent more likely to buy products from companies that they believe are chamber members.

Wayne McMeen is district sales coordinator in Chattanooga for Aflac, one of the Fortune Best Companies to Work For. "When I moved back to Chattanooga in 2004, I was introduced to the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce as a resource to enhance my job search,” he says. “From that positive experience, and once I chose Aflac as a career, I knew that becoming an active member of the Chamber would be a top priority.

“Over the past four years, my involvement in the Chamber has enhanced the quality of my business and has also accelerated the timeline of building my client base.  But more importantly, the personal and business relationships that I have developed through the Chamber are the most valuable aspects of my Chamber membership.  Aflac is a great company to work for and the Chamber has made it even better."  

ACCE plans to probe further into which kinds of companies join their local chamber and which ones don't. "We are not surprised that many of the best companies join chambers of commerce," said ACCE President Mick Fleming. "And I believe when more people are aware of this, we're going to see still more firms joining their local chamber."

Chambers provide their members benefits in a range of areas, from education to workforce development to public policy advocacy, says Kristi Haulsee, Chattanooga Area Chamber Vice President of Member-Investor Services. "Chambers show member companies how to be excellent and appreciated employers by partnering in developing great programs and sharing best practices,” she said.

Established in 1914, ACCE serves the professional development needs of chamber executives throughout the United States and Canada. Representing more than 7,000 individuals, ACCE enhances the knowledge, leadership skills, and management effectiveness of chamber executives and their staff through education, benefits programs, trend analysis, benchmarking, and network development. ACCE supports and develops chamber professionals to lead businesses and their communities. To learn more about ACCE, visit www.acce.org.