U.S. Chamber of Commerce Awards Staten Island Chamber of Commerce with 5-Star Accreditation
The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce that it has achieved a five-star Accreditation ranking with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce is one of five Chambers in New York State to achieve this distinction, and the first in New York City.
Accreditation with the United States Chamber of Commerce is the only program of its kind that defines excellence in chamber planning and recognizes chambers for outstanding contributions toward positive change in their communities. Like a Michelin Star for the restaurant industry, Accredited Chambers are a distinct honor. Currently, 174 Chambers in the United States carry this distinction, accounting for an estimated 2% of Chambers of Commerce.
By earning Accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a chamber shows its dedication to reviewing, improving, and promoting strong business practices, recognizing leadership and outstanding contributions to the community, supporting the principles of free enterprise and promoting pro-growth policies at federal, state, and local levels, and establishing best practices and staying in-step with industry changes.
In total, more than 130 documents were submitted, covering the following categories: Governance, Finance, Human Resources, Government Affairs, Program Development, Technology, Communications, Facilities, and Benchmarking. This extensive self-review can take 6-9 months to complete.
“The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce’s Five-Star Accreditation is testament to the strength of our team, leadership, and our growing membership,” said Linda Baran, President & CEO of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce. “I am so proud of our organization and our team, which strives for excellence in serving the business community of Staten Island. We look forward to continuing to serve our members and work toward our guiding principles of making Staten Island a better place to live, work, and shop, and we thank the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for this honor.”
“With 130 years of history and experience, it is no surprise that the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce has achieved this extraordinary honor,” said Carol Decina, Chairwoman of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. “The Staten Island Chamber is an extraordinary organization, and I’m thrilled to see it join a short list of exemplary Chambers across the United States. Congratulations to Linda, her team, my fellow board members, and the membership of the Staten Island Chamber that have made this possible.”
“Chambers of commerce nationwide play a vital role in their communities every day,” said Raymond P. Towle, Vice President, Federation Relations and Coalition Partnerships at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “From connecting business owners with needed resources, to advocating on behalf of their region with lawmakers, these chambers convene thought leaders to strengthen the collective voices of their members. Achieving Accreditation is a mark of excellence for the organization, its staff, and its leadership. This designation recognizes the positive impact these organizations have on their communities and honors their ongoing commitment to serving local businesses.”
To see the full list of Accredited Chambers, visit https://www.uschamber.com/program/federation-relations/chamber-accreditation.
About the Chamber
Founded in 1895, the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce (SICC) is Staten Island’s largest and most respected business organization. We represent the interests and serve as the voice of more than 14,000 businesses of all sizes and sectors throughout all four shores of the borough. With nearly 700 members encompassing 250 categories, Chamber members range from small, family-owned storefront shops to leading institutions to larger employers.
The vast majority of our members are small companies with fewer than 10 employees. Membership hails from many contrasting and wide-ranging industries such as accountants, bankers, and financial service providers to automotive service professionals, contractors, and plumbers.
The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce has been serving merchants and residents since 1895. Our mission continues to be to improve the economic climate and expand business opportunities on Staten Island.