MERCER REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESIDENT MICHELE SIEKERKA SELECTED FOR ACCE REGIONAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FELLOWSHIP

Mercerville, NJ: The Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that Chamber President and CEO Michele Siekerka has been selected by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) to participate in its Regional Sustainable Development (RSD) Fellowship, funded by the Ford Foundation.

Michele is among the 32 business-civic leaders, nationwide, who will be participating in this class. Competition was fierce, and fellows, who represent diverse communities and personal backgrounds, were chosen from a pool of more than 60 distinguished and talented candidates.

“Spurring regional, sustainable development is one of the major issues facing civic organizations, especially chambers of commerce, in the 21st century.” Says Mick Fleming, President of ACCE. “This program immerses regional leaders in integrated economic and community growth strategies that foster greater equity of opportunity for all sectors, neighborhoods and individuals.” Chamber Chairman Jeff Perlman, of Borden Perlman, said “the value of this program is second to none, particularly in light of the Chamber’s newly-formed Economic Development Foundation; we are proud and delighted to have Michele Siekerka participate”.

The Fellowship is a unique, 12-month program for regional leaders who build communities and economies. It provides hands-on training, peer knowledge exchange, research, and examination of working models covering a wide range of growth and sustainability issues, including: infrastructure, immigration, land use, housing, education, environment, and social inclusion. During the course of the Fellowship, each participant crafts a “regional action project,” to ameliorate a specific regional challenge using the tools, policies and practices learned during the Fellowship.

Established in 1914, ACCE is the only national association uniquely serving the professional development needs of individuals managing chambers of commerce throughout the United States and Canada.

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