ACCE News
ACCE Board Considers Succession Planning and Interim CEO Services
Alexandria, VA -
ACCE's recent board meeting in Memphis, TN included discussion of a succession planning and interim CEO services proposal by Charles Van Rysselberge, CCE, ACCE board member and President/CEO of Charleston (SC) Metro Chamber of Commerce.
Van Rysselberge was charged with researching an interim CEO program that is successfully being offered by United Way of America and developing a plan of action to organize a program to identify chamber retirees who could be called upon to fill in as an interim CEO and support succession planning for those Chambers that develop a vacancy. His research will be used to determine if ACCE could or should offer a similar program.
Several items would be required in order to organize such a plan, including identifying chamber CEO retirees who would be willing, qualified and able to play an interim role, chambers having a board approved succession plan, and an implementation plan to include the steps to activate the plan and work successfully for the chamber in need, the retired CEO and for ACCE.
Another branch of the interim CEO program would include the creation of a division of ACCE, Chamber of Commerce Retirees Association (CCRA). The mission of this division would be to improve the success ration for chambers served by ACCE, grow revenue for ACCE's foundation, Community Growth Educational Foundation, and improve the quality of life of CCRA members with some modest income from a temporary consulting contract, and by providing a means for chamber retirees to keep a connection to the chamber field.
ACCE recognizes the need for all chambers to have a succession plan in place in the event of the disability, death or departure of the chamber CEO. A fill-in-the blank template would be made available as a handout for chamber executives to take home, complete, seek board approval, and then file it with ACCE. Chamber succession may be structured to tie into ACCE's other search support services, as well as certification and awards programs. ACCE would also build a list of chambers who had a succession plan on file with ACCE.
Source: ACCE
Publication Date: April 15, 2008