W.A.C.E.'s Chamber Leadership Podcast

Post-pandemic we find that a chamber’s status varies. One chamber might be having their best year ever while a chamber next door is sinking and may never recover. In this episode Dave Kilby , president of W.A.C.E., discusses the dramatic changes The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly have brought to the chamber industry over the last year.

Dave Kilby is joined by special guest Casey Steinbacher, CCE , a national expert on urban innovation strategies and 27 year veteran of the chamber industry. Steinbacher discusses her new book From Relevant to Essential and shares 5 key insights for chambers of commerce after the last year has forced them to re-imagine their operations going forward. Why go back to just being relevant when you can...

In this episode Dave Kilby is joined by special guest David Adkisson, CCE to discuss his book Horseshoes vs. Chess . Adkisson explains the importance of strategy and sequencing when running a chamber and emphasizes the importance of developing your staff and determining the distinct role of your chamber as well as the unique opportunity for chambers to get things done in today’s challenging politi...

Dave Kilby , President of W.A.C.E., discusses the 5 essential ingredients of a successful chamber and how to avoid a recipe for disaster. Hear lessons learned that have been gathered from conversations over the last year with chamber professionals who are both excelling and struggling as we come together as an industry to get to the other side of this pandemic.

Dave Kilby is joined by, long-time friend of the chamber industry, Rob Engstrom as he reflects on his 19 years advocating for and working with chambers at the U.S. Chamber and shares the importance of chambers playing an active role in helping elect business-friendly candidates and as defenders of free enterprise.

In this episode Dave Kilby is joined by special guest Chris Romer, ACE , president/CEO of the Vail Valley (CO) Partnership and 2021 W.A.C.E. Board Chair. Romer shares insight into the biggest surprises from 2020 and offers advice on communicating value to members and how chambers are uniquely positioned now more than ever to achieve their missions.

Dave Kilby , president of W.A.C.E., discusses board term limits and board elections as well as complications and concerns that arise from having government representatives and/or elected officials on your chamber’s Board.

This episode features 2020 Chair of the W.A.C.E. Board Glenn Morris , ACE, President/CEO of the Santa Maria Valley (CA) Chamber, who discusses the importance of chambers being credible, current and collaborative. He also offers some career advice for new Chamber CEOs and touches on the skills that are needed to succeed in the chamber business.

In a time where our everyday vernacular includes an abundant and every growing amount of acronyms W.A.C.E. President, Dave Kilby , offers a couple more to add to your lexicon. VUCA is an acronym that has resurfaced from the cold war era to describe the current times. It stands for volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. Chambers must face the current whitewater conditions daily to plan,...

In 2020 we have found our country to be more divided and polarized than ever before. As this year comes to a close W.A.C.E. President Dave Kilby reflects on words of wisdom regarding compromise from the late Arizona Senator John McCain and looks optimistically towards the future. Chambers of Commerce that embrace their role as problem solvers and excel at being in the solutions business are primed...

The pandemic has brought membership challenges that the chamber industry did not see coming. Retention and recruitment weaknesses have been magnified making evident the need to re-evaluate strategies and practices. Is your chamber relevant? Do your members know your value? How do you tell your story? Dave Kilby, president of W.A.C.E., discusses the questions we need to ask ourselves to evaluate an...

In this episode we focus on the idea of being a virtual chamber in a thought provoking conversation with Kristen Miller , President/CEO of the Santa Barbara South Coast (CA) Chamber , who has successfully been running a chamber without a “brick & mortar” office for over a decade.  

Inspired by a canceled annual vacation to Disney Dave Kilby , president of W.A.C.E., shares a collection of Walt Disney’s words of Wisdom with the goal of inspiring members to stay strong and have courage during these tumultuous times.

Joshua Bonner, IOM , brings his experience merging multiple adjacent city chambers and associations to create the powerhouse that is the Greater Coachella Valley (CA) Chamber, as he joins Dave Kilby for an eye opening discussion on the best practices and potential pitfalls and roadblocks when considering a merger.  

W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby sits down with Author, Radio Talk Show Host, and #1 rated W.A.C.E. Annual Conference Speaker Barry Moltz to debunk the top customer service myths that hold us back and the biggest lie we tell ourselves.  *Disclaimer - This podcast was recorded immediately following the February 2020 Conference and held until a later date due to the challenges facing chambers a...

There is no doubt we are living in extreme "whitewater times" of uncertainty and ambiguity. In challenging times like this, true leaders emerge. Hear W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby discuss the characteristics of these striving and thriving leaders we call Chamber Champions.

For chambers, this means dropping the 3Ps (parties, parades and pageants) and embracing the 3Cs in order to be a real problem solver in their community. W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby talks about how many chambers are now focusing on the essential things and not trying to do everything.

To celebrate the Chamber Leadership Podcast's 50th episode, W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby sits down with New York Times best selling author Greg McKeown to talk about his book Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less.

Justin Patton sits down with W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby to talk about some of Justin's six breakthroughs to playing bigger in leadership, business and life. Get more information about Justin Patton at www.justinpatton.com Follow Justin Patton on Twitter: @JPInspires

This was the experience John Brewer, President and CEO of the Billings (MT) Chamber, was having in his community. He sat down with W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby to explain how the Billings Chamber got involved in their local elections and how it has made Billings a friendlier place to do business. How to connect with the Billings Chamber: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BillingsChamberof...

What is customer loyalty? Do you know? Maybe you think it's incentives but your most loyal members are looking for the "we" in relationship. W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby talks about True Loyalty and how to tie that into your mission.  Don't wait on a miracle... Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter: @DaveKilbyWACE

W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby sits down with membership expert Kyle Sexton to talk about the idea of sending out renewals now versus delaying renewals. Kyle provides some insight into the question and talks about the benefits of having a tiered dues structure. Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter: @DaveKilbyWACE For more information on Kyle Sexton visit https://www.kylesexton.com/  

W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby chats with JP Moery of the Moery Company - an agency that helps associations sell memberships and launch sponsorship sales campaigns. JP talks about the importance of chambers now and how to leverage a chamber's value during this COVID-19 pandemic. Dave and JP talk about: The concept of building muscle (2:20) Selling memberships and renewals during a pandemic...

W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby looks at some of our recent data on membership trends and discusses some new marketing materials designed to keep the chamber of commerce in the foreground during challenging times. Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter: @DaveKilbyWACE

Fort Collins Area (CO) Chamber President & CEO David May sits down with the Chamber Leadership Podcast host and W.A.C.E. President and CEO Dave Kilby to offer some tips to be an effective leader of your staff and your community. As we all face challenges in our communities these days, this is a must listen. Follow Fort Collins Area Chamber on Twitter: @FCCOChamber Follow Dave Kilby on Twitter: @Da...