Kissimmee/Osceola Chamber named Florida's 2021 Chamber of the Year for outstanding achievement.In September, members of the Chamber staff attended the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals’ (FACP) Annual Conference, held September 22-24, 2021 at the Wyndham Grand Jupiter at Harbourside in Jupiter, Florida.  Awards were presented at the conference to recognize Florida’s top chambers of commerce throughout the state for their outstanding achievement and dedication to the industry.

The Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce was was named the 2021 Chamber of the Year for the state of Florida. This marks the third time the Kissimmee/Osceola Chamber has claimed this award, having previously won in 2001 and 2017.  Following an extensive application process, which included assessment of the Chamber’s financial stability, use of communications, membership recruitment and retention, special events, strategic planning, use of technology, and innovation, the Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber was chosen by a group of fellow Chamber professionals from around Florida.

“The Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber has much to be proud of and have demonstrated a high caliber of service to their community and the members that they represent,” noted Tammy C. Bracewell, President of FACP. “Their list of accomplishments was exceptional and demonstrated excellence in all areas of chamber operations,” she added.

Accomplishments of your Chamber over the past three years that helped secure the award include successfully pivoting to utilize technology to engage with its members during the pandemic, successfully transitioning from fair-share dues to a tiered dues structure, nominating and receiving two FACP Professionals of the Year Awards, and contributing thousands of dollars in scholarships to graduating seniors in Osceola County.

In addition to Chamber of the Year, the chamber also won a Communications Award in the Public Relations category for their COVID-19 Rebound and Recovery email communications and COVID-19 resources webpage.

“The team here at the Chamber works hard,” said Chamber President & CEO John Newstreet, “but the story we tell is made by our members.”

FACP is a statewide organization whose mission is “Advancing excellence in chamber management” and whose vision is “Enhancing Florida’s business communities by cultivating successful chamber professionals.”  They previously named Kissimmee/Osceola Chamber Executive Vice President Cindy Lewis and Director of Business Development Robin Hughes Chamber Professional of the Year in 2018 and 2020 respectively.  Serving Osceola County since the early 20th Century, the mission of the Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce is to be champions for business and community.

While at the conference, Chamber staff had time to meet and compare notes with Chamber professionals across the state of Florida, and attended presentations and panels on everything from diversity, equity, & inclusion to engaging volunteers.