GACCE Announces New Georgia Certified Chamber Executives

The Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (GACCE) announced their newest class of Georgia Certified Chamber Executives at the 2026 Executive Leadership Conference held at the Jekyll Island Club Resort in Jekyll Island, GA.

In 1993, GACCE began looking at ways to enhance public awareness and credibility of the Chamber of Commerce profession. One of the items selected to accomplish this was the establishment of a designation which exemplifies excellence and professionalism of Georgia’s Chamber Executives. This designation would be based upon experience, service to GACCE, training/continuing education, and personal achievement. The Georgia Certified Chamber Executive (GCCE) was created to strengthen career development, provide an opportunity for personal recognition, and measure individual progress.

The process for those Chamber Executives wishing to achieve this designation include earning points on the GCCE application and providing supporting documentation, writing a 250-word essay describing their views on their performance as a Chamber Executive, and providing five letters of recommendation.

GACCE has a total of 23 current chamber executives who have achieved this designation. This year, GACCE is proud to announce that the following seven chamber professionals have met the criteria to be named a Georgia Certified Chamber Executive:

1. David Bradley, GCCE, Athens Area Chamber of Commerce

2. Melody Cowart, GCCE, Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce

3. Melissa Dark, GCCE, Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Chamber of Commerce

4. Sabrina Griffin, GCCE, Columbia County Chamber of Commerce

5. Rhyne Owenby, GCCE, Carroll County Chamber of Commerce

6. Carmenlita Scott, GCCE, ATL Airport Chamber of Commerce

7. Heath Taylor, GCCE, Columbia County Chamber of Commerc

We congratulate these professionals on receiving this designation and are proud to have them representing the Chamber of Commerce profession in Georgia!

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GACCE is the professional society of chamber of commerce executives and staff in the state of Georgia. The mission of GACCE is to educate, engage, and empower chamber professionals.