OLYMPIA— The Association of Washington Business announced today it has been Accredited with Distinction by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. AWB is Washington state’s oldest and largest statewide business association, and is one of just four state chambers in the country to earn this recognition. It is also the second time AWB has earned Accreditation with Distinction.
“To be Accredited with Distinction is great news and a testament to our entire staff’s hard work and professionalism,” said AWB President Don Brunell. “It also underscores the value to our 7,500-plus employer members who look to us to represent their voice in the halls of Olympia, along with the U.S. Chamber back in Washington, D.C.”
The U.S. Chamber’s 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 every five years in their operations and programs, including areas of governance, government affairs, communications and technology. This extensive self-review can take 6-9 months to complete.
There are more than 800 chambers that have participated in the program since 1964, among which only 230 currently remain accredited. With nearly 7,000 chambers in the United States, accreditation with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is a prestigious honor that distinguishes the high quality, expertise, and strong leadership displayed by accredited state and local chambers of commerce.
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. The Michigan Chamber of Commerce, the State Chamber of Oklahoma and the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce also earned the honor of Accredited, with Distinction.
“Many chambers employ the accreditation process as a way to establish organizational excellence. Nonetheless, your chamber went above and beyond the minimum requirements and was awarded Accreditation with Distinction, the highest designation for state chambers, at our most recent board meeting,” said U.S. Chamber President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue, in a letter to Brunell.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.
About the Association of Washington Business
Formed in 1904, the Association of Washington Business is Washington’s oldest and largest statewide business association, and includes more than 7,500 members representing 650,000 employees. AWB serves as both the state’s chamber of commerce and the manufacturing and technology association. While its membership includes major employers like Boeing, Microsoft and Weyerhaeuser, 90 percent of AWB members employ fewer than 100 people. More than half of AWB’s members employ fewer than 10. For more about AWB, visit http://www.awb.org/.
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