Strong membership growth gives Albany Chamber of Commerce and Industry louder voice as new branding launched

The Albany Chamber of Commerce and Industry has welcomed an overdue “revamp and refresh” amid strong membership growth in the last 10 months. Last week, the business advocacy organisation launched its new branding at its monthly business after-hours event, which has continued to grow along with ACCI membership this year. Chief executive Kristen Pyrz-Brown said the old branding had been around for many years and was due for a change that aligned with business growth. Almost 100 new businesses have joined the ACCI in the last 10 months, tipping the 130-year-old organisation past the 500-member mark. Ms Pyrz-Brown said a larger membership base meant a “stronger, louder and more representative voice”. She said the ACCI was consulted on macro-economic factors affecting local businesses and was able to meet with ”key decision makers to advocate for members . . . who are facing challenges or require additional representation”. “Larger and more diverse membership make-up also means that we can speak on behalf of our members on a broader range of topics,” she said. “One of the biggest benefits we’ve found as well is our increased ability to use member services for all of our operational needs.” Ms Pyrz-Brown, who has been in the role since January, said the ACCI was eager to continue helping lower Great Southern businesses “grow, develop and thrive”. “We’ve been working on synthesising the results of our member survey from earlier this year and part of the feedback was around increased training opportunities that are hybrid,” she said. “We feel that development in the carbon accounting area needs further exploration and leadership which is something we’re working closely on at the moment as well as continue to deliver meaningful events to network, celebrate and learn.”