Paige Walters Named ‘Forty Under 40’ by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives
Paige Walters, Director of Economic Development and Advocacy at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, has been named to the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) prestigious 2023 Forty Under 40 list of emerging leaders shaping the chamber of commerce industry.
This annual recognition program showcases 40 of the industry’s top emerging leaders who have demonstrated success in their careers and made significant contributions to the communities they serve. The list includes CEOs and staff professionals, from a wide variety of roles and chamber sizes, honored for their creativity, dedication, and commitment to identifying innovative solutions that will help shape the future of the chamber profession.
Paige began her career with the Springfield Chamber in 2017, after spending three years in Africa in the Peace Corps. “Her refreshing and worldly perspective screamed high potential chamber professional in the works,” said Springfield Chamber President & CEO Vonnie Mikkelsen.
“I hired Paige as a coordinator to build out a new workforce development partnership we had just launched in 2017. Every day since, I have challenged Paige on every front imaginable and have yet to find one thing she cannot do, will not try, or has not excelled at.”
– Vonnie Mikkelsen, President & CEO, Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce
Paige’s expertise and impact in the realm of workforce and talent development is unmatched among our local, regional, and state chamber communities. She has assisted dozens of employers and educators in their targeted pre-apprenticeships, internships, job shadows, mock interviews, career expos and industry tours; has studied and advocated for K12, College, and University CTE programs seeking improved policy and funding; facilitated two new industry-K12-College CTE pipeline programs; and most recently, developed a new, 21st century essential skills and management training module to respond to local industry middle- and executive-management needs.
Additionally, Paige is a graduate of the ACCE education and talent development fellowship program and continues to actively engage with industry professionals across the country.
ACCE has over 1,600 chambers of commerce and related business and economic development organizations as members, representing more than 9,000 professionals in the industry. “I am inspired by these talented professionals who are making a difference in their organizations and the communities they serve,” said ACCE President & CEO Sheree Anne Kelly. “Their passion and dedication not only foster positive change in their regions but also shape a promising future for those they impact.”
Eligible chamber professionals must be nominated by their chamber’s president/CEO, direct supervisor or Board chair. Candidates must demonstrate meaningful involvement in the advancement of their community and proven professional success within their chamber. The full 2023 Forty Under 40 list was announced publicly in the Fall 2023 edition of Chamber Executive, ACCE’s digital magazine. View all the honorees online at https://magazine.acce.org/.
About the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE)
ACCE is the professional society supporting the people who lead local, regional, statewide and international chambers of commerce and related business and economic development organizations. Our membership includes more than 1,600 business/civic organizations worldwide. We provide our members with information resources, thought leadership, education programs, original research, benchmarking, retirement security, and access to a network of peers. Learn more about us by visiting www.ACCE.org.
