Lisa Howe, vice president of memberships and programs for the North Texas LGBT Chamber of Commerce, has graduated from the Institute for Organization Management, the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and has received the recognition of IOM, North Texas LGBT Chamber announced today (Tuesday, Jan. 14).
Awarded to all graduates of the Institute program, the IOM Graduate Recognition signifies the individual’s completion of 96 credit hours of course instruction in non-profit management. Participants can also earn credit hours towards the certified chamber executive or certified association executive certifications. Nearly 1,000 individuals attend Institute annually.
“Institute graduates are recognized across the country as leaders in their industries and organizations,” said Raymond P. Towle, IOM, CAE, the U.S. Chamber’s vice president of Institute for Organization Management. “These individuals have the knowledge, skills, and dedication necessary to achieve professional and organizational success in the dynamic association and chamber industries.”
“With Lisa’s IOM designation, our chamber becomes the only LGBTQ chamber in the country with two credentialed executives.”
North Texas LGBT Chamber Board Chair Scott Carnes
North Texas LGBT Chamber Board Chair Scott Carnes said the organization is “incredibly proud of Lisa for earning the prestigious IOM designation. This remarkable achievement not only highlights Lisa’s leadership and dedication to our chamber and community, it also elevates the North Texas LGBTQ Chamber. With Lisa’s IOM designation, our chamber becomes the only LGBTQ chamber in the country with two credentialed executives, a distinction that also includes our president and CEO, Tony Vedda, CCE, IOM.”
Since its beginning in 1921, the Institute program has “educated tens of thousands of association, chamber and other nonprofit leaders on how to build stronger organizations, better serve their members and become strong business advocates,” according to a press release.
The Institute’s curriculum includes of four weeklong sessions at four different university locations throughout the country with a combination of required courses and electives in areas such as leadership, advocacy, marketing, finance and membership. This curriculum allows Institute participants to “enhance their own organizational management skills and add new fuel to their organizations, making them run more efficiently and effectively,” the press release explained.
Institute for Organization Management is the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and is “the premier nonprofit professional development program for association and chamber professionals, fostering individual growth through interactive learning and networking opportunities,” the press release said.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business organization representing companies of all sizes across every sector of the economy, with members ranging from “the small businesses and local chambers of commerce that line the Main Streets of
America to leading industry associations and large corporations.”
The North Texas LGBT Chamber of Commerce is the largest LGBTQ business organization in Texas, with a membership of more than 400 business entities and community organizations located throughout the North Texas region. The chamber “works to achieve equality through business” with “programs designed to promote policies and practices that value a diverse and inclusive business community, workforce, and supply chain,” the press released noted.
Since launching in 2005, the chamber has been the only North Texas organization to be “positioned at the crossroads of business and equality.” Visit LGBTQChamber.com for more information.