5-Star Chamber

The United States Chamber of Commerce today awarded the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce with 5-Star Accreditation for its sound policies, effective organizational procedures, and positive impact on the community.
 Of the 6,936 chambers in the United States, only 41 of these are Accredited with 5-Stars.  Only four percent of the chambers are Accredited at any level.  This places the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce in the top 1% - (0.6%) - of a very elite group.
 “To receive a 5-star Accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on our initial application is phenomenal,” commented Roger Gillispie, Chair of the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce.  “The recognition by the U.S. Chamber underscores the commitment and vision of this organization’s Board of Directors, committees, membership, staff, and community.”
 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.
 “Accreditation recognizes chambers for their high standards of practice, full accountability to members, and steadfast commitment to community,” said
Thomas J. Donohue, president and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “We applaud these organizations for advancing these principles of free enterprise.”
 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 rigorous standards in their operations and programs, including areas of governance, government affairs, program development, human resources and staff development, finance, communications, facilities, and technology. This extensive self-review can take 3-6 months to complete.  Chambers must re-apply to the U.S. Chamber every five years to maintain Accreditation.
  “This past year, the staff, board, and volunteers of the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce spent countless hours completing the Accreditation process. Our task was to demonstrate competency in nine core areas ranging from finance to facilities. The result of our hard-work is evidenced by this impressive rating. But in truth, we should all be extraordinarily proud of this milestone achievement. It was a true team effort,” Gillispie said.
 Chamber benefits from Accreditation include enhanced membership development, leadership development, realistic program development, and justified pride in the organization.  Accreditation also provides criteria and standards of excellence for Chamber planning and performance.
 “Accreditation allows us to renew, improve, and promote sound business practices, policies, and procedures, while validating the ongoing work of our volunteers and staff,” Gillispie added.  “Our efforts to serve our members and improve the business environment by providing leadership, products, programs, and services which promote the success of our members have been enhanced by this recognition of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.”
 “We hope our members will celebrate this recognition with us as Accreditation is a direct reflection of the commitment to excellence by our Chamber, our members, and our community,” Gillispie commented.
 The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation, representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.
 The Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce is a business organization with more than 720 members in the Danville/Pittsylvania County region.  The Chamber works to energize the region by creating exceptional business growth and profitability in a vibrant, customer-centered culture.