The Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce proudly announces that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has awarded the organization with the Five-Star Accredited designation – the highest-level of designation in the Chamber industry.

“I am so proud of the professional team and the visionary board of directors,” said Gina M. Spagnola, president and chief executive officer of the Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce. “We were honored to have 4-Stars since 2010, but this 5-Star distinction represents a product of our past, our present and our future. This testament reflects our dedication to excellence and our commitment to promote and advocate for business and community development.”

The Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce is one of only 27 Chambers in Texas to hold the Five-Star distinction. Out of approximately 7,000 Chambers nationwide, only 142 have earned this prestigious distinction.

“I want to congratulate Gina Spagnola and the entire team for this tremendous accomplishment,” said Jay Carnes, chair of the Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce. “I am honored to serve as this year’s chair and proud of the leadership from the board of directors, staff and volunteers who are dedicated to serving our members.”

Accreditation, completed every five years, is the only national program that recognizes Chambers for their effective organizational procedures and community involvement. To receive Accreditation, a Chamber must meet minimum standards in their operations and programs, including areas of governance, government affairs, and technology. This extensive self-review can take 6-9 months to complete.

The chamber achieved a perfect score in eight of the nine sections. The organization was not only recognized as being a vocal and effective advocate for the region’s business community but commended for aiding neighbors on the Louisiana Coastline impacted by Hurricane Ida and for its leadership role to help members and the greater business community navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Every five years looks different, but the past two years were unimaginable as we faced the challenges of the pandemic. This team never stopped. We worked 24/7 on behalf of the business community during the pandemic to ensure their doors stayed open and we continue our commitment to implement and improve our programming and processes to deliver value to our members,” continued Spagnola. “Our hard work paid off and 2022 has been a momentous year for us. We also achieved another milestone and exceeded 1,000 members with the help of our mighty volunteers. We are so grateful to the business community for trusting us as their voice since 1845.”

“This incredible honor reflects a 177-year-old mission that has stood the test of time, a set of values that doesn’t waiver, and people who share a passionate commitment around a common purpose of serving the business community. We are extremely grateful to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for this recognition,” said Gina M. Spagnola.

For more information, visit www.galvestonchamber.com or contact Gina M. Spagnola, president and chief executive officer for the Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce at (409) 763-5326 or by email at gspganola@galvestonchamber.com.