Cocoa Beach Chamber Honored as 2024 Florida Chamber of Commerce of the Year
Cocoa Beach Chamber received the Florida Chamber of the Year Award in the category of chamber of commerce with a budget of $500,000 to $1 million.
BREVARD COUNTY • – The Cocoa Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce has been named the 2024 Florida Chamber of Commerce of the Year by the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals during its Annual Conference this week in Boca Raton.
The prestigious award was presented by FACP Immediate Past President Dan Lindblade, CAE, President & CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, in front of more than 100 chamber professionals from across the state.
"What an amazing honor for our Chamber and community! The Cocoa Beach Chamber is truly an exceptional organization," said Skip Marsh, CFO, of Community Health Services at Health First, the Chamber's 2024 Chairman of the Board.
"This award is a recognition of the important work the Chamber performs daily to initiate transformational change that will ensure a prosperous future for our residents."
Judged according to size, the Cocoa Beach Chamber received the Florida Chamber of the Year Award in the category of chamber of commerce with a budget of $500,000 to $1 million.
"We gratefully share this recognition with our over 1,000 Chamber investor businesses, their employees. as well as our board of Directors and the many leaders who come before us who established the chamber as a business success, convener of leaders and influencers, and champion for our thriving business community," said Jimmy Lane, IOM, President & CEO of the Cocoa Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce.
The roots of the Cocoa Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce reach back some 80 years
In 1921, Cocoa, Rockledge, and Merritt Island began separate Chambers of Commerce. In 1925, Cocoa Beach opened its Chamber.
These small Chambers worked hard for the good of their municipalities and helped build a positive foundation for the businesses in the area. However, community visionaries recognized that a consolidated organization would have a stronger and more effective voice.
In 1967, a committee from each of the Chambers formed. Through most of 1968, these committees met to lay the ground rules of a combined Chamber.
On September 1, 1968, the Cocoa-Rockledge Chamber, the Merritt Island Chamber, and the Cape Kennedy Chamber joined together to form the Cape Kennedy Area Chamber of Commerce, with Dudley Jewell as the first Executive Director.
The first Chairman of the Board, in 1968, was Tommy Alston. He also repeated as Chairman in 1975. Tommy still closely follows the Chamber's activities and is President of Alston Properties, Inc., in Merritt Island.
The list of past chairpersons reads like a "who's who" of past and current business and community leaders.
Today, the Cocoa Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce is the largest business organization in Brevard County and continues to serve as a strong voice for the important issues facing our area.
"We are concerned about responsible growth, seeking a legislative and economic climate that encourages business development and creates job opportunities. Working together, we look forward with optimism to a future of peace and prosperity for our area and nation," said a Cocoa Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce spokesperson.
