The United States Chamber of Commerce recently awarded the Gwinnett Chamber with 4-Star Accreditation for its sound policies, effective organizational procedures and positive impact on the community.

“Each day, chambers of commerce are working hard to put the American dream within reach of every hardworking business owner” said Raymond P. Towle, IOM, CAE, U.S. Chamber vice president of Federation Relations and Institute for Organization Management. “The Accreditation designation tells chamber members as well as the greater business community, this is an organization that has effective programs, sound finances, and is a strong advocate for their interests.”

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 six to nine months to complete.

“The staff and board of directors are honored by this distinction. By completing this process, the Gwinnett Chamber demonstrates competency in nine core areas ranging from finance to facilities,” says Dr. Dan Kaufman, President & CEO, Gwinnett Chamber. “The result of our hard work is evidenced by this impressive rating, which puts us among the top 3% of chambers nationwide.”

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.