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Brandon grabs state honor as best chamber

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 21, 2009

ORLANDO - Tammy Bracewell brandished her BlackBerry during an awards ceremony last week to e-mail a bunch of two-word messages back to Brandon - "We won!"

Bracewell, president of the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce, and Laura Simpson, vice president of business and community development, accepted the Chamber of Commerce of the Year award Oct. 13 at a joint conference of the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals and the Florida Chamber of Commerce.

"The chamber staff obviously plays a role in our success, and it's also important to recognize our members and volunteers," Bracewell said. "It takes an effort from everyone. It's really quite an honor."

The Florida Association of Chamber Professionals, established in 1919, provides resources and training to chambers of commerce across the state. It presents the award annually to one group in each of three categories that demonstrates excellence during a three-year period. The Brandon chamber received the award for chambers with annual membership revenues of more than $1 million.

Criteria used to select the winner include accomplishments, financial stability, membership recruitment and retention, government relations, strategic and long range plans, technology, communications, special events and innovation.

The Brandon chamber, incorporated in 1959, has grown from 990 members 10 years ago to about 1,800 today. It boasts a five-star accreditation from the U. S. Chamber of Commerce.

Laura Frazier

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