National chamber leader to speak at annual meeting

The Chamber of Greater Springfield will welcome Mick Fleming, president of the American Chamber of Commerce Executives, as the keynote speaker at its annual meeting presented by CareWorks on Feb. 18. The annual meeting will be held at at 6:30 p.m. at Clark State’s Hollenbeck Bayley Center.

As ACCE president, Fleming serves the needs of 1,400 chambers of commerce and related organizations. His 29-person staff provides information, professional development, certifications, employee benefits plans, conferences, consulting and networking opportunities for community leaders throughout the United States and Canada.

Fleming has served on university boards, charitable institutions, professional societies, workforce entities and other volunteer leadership positions. He is currently vice chairman of the World Chambers Federation.

Fleming will discuss ACCE’s Horizon Initiative, which explains eight influences that will shape chambers — and communities — of all sizes over the next decade. The Chamber of Greater Springfield is a two-time finalist for ACCE’s national Chamber of the Year award.

Fleming’s keynote address will be followed by the chamber’s annual business awards, which include Business of the Year (Security National Bank), Small Business of the Year (LWS Tax & Accounting Services) and Community Restaurant/Retailer of the Year (Simon Kenton Inn).

Tom Rue, of Littleton & Rue Funeral Home and Crematory, will be presented with the Richard L. Kuss Lifetime Community Achievement Award at this year’s event. Rue will be the 10th such honoree in the chamber’s history.

A special banner honoring aviation pioneer Caro Bayley Bosca also will be unveiled at the event.

The Greater Springfield Business EXPO presented by Cox Media Group Ohio immediately precedes the annual meeting, running from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Clark State’s Performing Arts Center. The EXPO features 36 chamber member exhibitors in the PAC’s Grand Lobby. The EXPO is open to the public and attendees will be entered to win a $500 gift card, compliments of Speedway.

Tickets are not required to attend the EXPO. Registration for the annual meeting dinner is priced at $75 for chamber members, and $650 for a reserved corporate partner table of 10.

To register, call 937-521-1944 or visit www.GreaterSpringfield.com.

Chris Schutte is marketing director for The Chamber of Greater Springfield.

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