CAEL and ACCE Renew Partnership for Second Year of Collaboration

In 2024, CAEL and the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) launched a partnership focused on sharing best practices, research, technical expertise, and other networking opportunities. The collaboration included joint webinars, publications, and event participation. Members of both organizations reported strong benefits from these experiences. As a result of this response, plus the many opportunities to further expand joint impact, CAEL and ACCE have announced a renewal of their Industry Partnership for a second year.

“Chambers play a critical role in regional workforce initiatives, and this is a great way to introduce more chamber practitioners to CAEL’s members to bolster our work to enhance education-employment ecosystems,” said Doug Heckman, vice president of partnerships and development for CAEL. “Similarly, CAEL has much to offer chamber members, who are often not fully aware of the many tools and solutions tailored to align education and training to the latest workforce needs.”

For example, CAEL supports chambers with education benefit program assessment and support, career pathway mapping, high school-employment pathways, work-based learning, regional credit for prior learning, and veteran support, among other services.

“We are thrilled to build on our partnership with CAEL,” ACCE President & CEO Sheree Anne Kelly said. “Through this collaboration, we will share CAEL's thought leadership resources and practical tools that chambers can use to support adult learners, promote economic vitality, and shape the future of our communities.”

The renewed CAEL-ACCE partnership will further broaden the complementary network of resources accessible to members of both organizations. ACCE members will gain access to CAEL’s expertise about adult learners, and will have a direct line of communication to active professionals in the higher education and workforce sectors. Opening CAEL members’ eyes to how chambers can help with workforce initiatives will encourage greater partnership opportunities. ACCE members will also learn about CAEL’s robust suite of tools and solutions that support regional talent attraction and retention initiatives.

CAEL members will benefit from a deeper understanding of how chambers support workforce and training initiatives, as well as learn about best practices from chamber professionals. With CAEL and ACCE already aligned in areas like regional upskilling, talent development, and building career pathways, the renewed partnership will help ensure continued thought leadership focused on workforce development. Focal initiatives for the renewed partnership include employer education benefit programs, work-based learning, skills-based hiring, employer-higher education partnerships, talent attraction, credit for prior learning, career pathways, and high school work-based learning opportunities.

These topics will also be explored at the 2025 ACCE Annual Convention, presented by Comcast Business, in Philadelphia, July 22-25. From education and talent to community impact and more, attendees will examine the latest trends and innovative tactics to help their organizations and communities forge a bolder future. Agenda highlights include more than 40 solutions-focused educational sessions, a keynote presentation by former Google executive Steve Lerch, and many opportunities to network with peers and industry partners. Learn more and register here.

CAEL’s annual conference, which will take place in Memphis Nov. 11-14, will also address many topics central to the CAEL-ACCE partnership as well as many other opportunities for collaboration among chambers of commerce and other vital components of the education-employment ecosystem. Register here.