Howard County Chamber of Commerce’s McClarty Earns Chamber Executive Certification

The Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) (www.acce.org) has designated Leonardo McClarty, President/CEO of the Howard County Chamber of Commerce as a Certified Chamber Executive (CCE). The CCE is the only national certification for chamber professionals.

“The CCE program assesses and tests the applicant's knowledge of core chamber management areas—management, planning and development, membership and communication, and operations,” says Bob Quick, CCE, president and CEO of Commerce Lexington Inc. and CCE commission chairman. “Chamber professionals who are designated CCEs have rightfully earned this outstanding recognition through hard work, countless hours of dedication to their field, and leadership of their chamber to achieve the chamber’s goals. We are proud to have this year’s class join a long tradition of professional excellence.”

McClarty was one of seven chamber executives in the nation who earned the CCE designation which was awarded August 10 during ACCE’s Convention in Savannah, Georgia. Since the program was initiated more than 40 years ago, only about 500 individuals have earned this highest designation in the industry.

McClarty has served as the Howard County Chamber President/CEO since November 2014. Under his leadership, the Howard County Chamber has been reinvigorated and grown. Prior to coming to Howard County, McClarty was the Director of Economic and Community Development for the City of York, PA where he was responsible for promoting the city to the private sector in efforts to foster economic investment and neighborhood redevelopment. Within his purview were the Bureaus of Economic Development, Health, Housing, and Planning-Permits-Zoning. A native of the Atlanta area, McClarty served as the President/CEO of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce for nearly 10 years.

“We on the Chamber board are so proud of Leonardo’s achievement. This is a really big deal for Leonardo and for the Howard County Chamber,” commented Jeff Agnor, Attorney with Davis, Agnor, Rapaport, & Skalny and current Howard County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Chair. Agnor, who has been a long time Howard County Chamber member and Howard County business leader would go on to add, “We are grateful to Leonardo for continuing to bring such a high level of professionalism to the Chamber.”