Chris Mead of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives on the Magician’s of Main Street

Through the Noise #120

Chris Mead // Senior Vice President // Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives

“If you’ve seen one Chamber, you’ve seen one Chamber.” That’s how today’s guest, Chris Mead of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives describes the culture of the more than 7000 Chambers that exist around the United States. As independent and unregulated community organizations, any person is free to start and operate a Chamber of Commerce. Our conversation takes an unexpected turn as we delve into the fascinating – and not always so pretty – history of the Chambers around the United States. Al Capone, Eliot Ness, the Cherry Blossom parade, Golden Gate Bridge, and the internment of Japanese Americans star in today’s episode as Mead gives us a sneak peak into his book on the history of the Chambers, Magicians on Main Street.

Chris Mead has nearly 20 years’ experience working with associations. He handles mostly sponsorships and memberships. And he’s also fascinated by chambers of commerce and their role in the building of the United States. The surprising influence of chambers on American history is something he uncovered in his recently published book, The Magicians of Main Street: America and its Chambers of Commerce, 1768-1945.

ACCE, founded in 1914, is an association of 1,200 local, regional, and state chambers of commerce, mostly in North America.