[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 7 (Monday, January 9, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E5]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           RECOGNIZING THE LOUDOUN COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JENNIFER WEXTON

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 9, 2023

  Ms. WEXTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Loudoun County 
Chamber of Commerce on achieving 5-Star Accreditation status from the 
U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
  Incorporated on December 18, 1968, the Loudoun County Chamber of 
Commerce has become the largest and most effective Chamber in Northern 
Virginia, with more than 1,000 members forming the premier network of 
business and community leaders in the nation's most economically 
vibrant county.
  The Loudoun Chamber's diverse membership includes businesses, 
nonprofits and public-sector partners of every size and industry, and 
includes visionary entrepreneurs and leaders who are dedicated to 
making Loudoun a world-class community to live, work, and grow a 
business.
  The Loudoun Chamber is an effective advocate for and partner with 
Loudoun's Department of Economic Development and Visit Loudoun, a 
partnership that has earned local, national and international 
recognition, the latter for their collaboration on the ``Loudoun Is 
Ready'' COVID response campaign.
  The Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE)--the 
nation's leading association for Chamber industry executives--named the 
Loudoun County Chamber one of 4 finalists for Chamber of the Year in 
2021, recognizing Loudoun's Chamber for its performance and community 
impact.
  Loudoun Chamber President & CEO Tony Howard has earned highly valued 
industry certifications from the U.S. Chamber's Institute for 
Organizational Management (IOM) and ACCE's Certified Chamber Executive 
(CCE), the Chamber industry's top recognition for professional 
excellence.
  Howard was also named Virginia's Chamber Executive of the Year in 
2015, by the Virginia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives 
(VACCE).
  ln recognition of the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce's many years of 
industry leading programs, business advocacy and community impact, the 
U.S. Chamber of Commerce awarded the Loudoun Chamber 5-Star 
Accreditation.
  This 5-Star Accreditation is the U.S. Chamber's highest endorsement 
for a local Chamber's performance. This places the Loudoun Chamber 
amongst the top 2 percent the 7,000 Chambers nationwide for the quality 
of its programs, policies and impact on the community.
  U.S. Chamber's Accreditation Program establishes standards for 
operational excellence and recognizes Chambers that achieve ``best in 
class performance'' in areas such as governance policies, financial 
controls, communications, public policy and programming. This extensive 
review took 6 months to complete. ``To earn our industry's highest 
distinction is reflective of the Loudoun Chamber's staffs and 
leadership's commitment to excellence in all your organization does to 
serve your community,'' said U.S. Chamber Vice President Raymond P. 
Towle.