WESTERVILLE - Mike Throne, President & CEO of the Chillicothe-Ross Chamber of Commerce, was certified as an Accredited Professional at the annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce Executives of Ohio (CCEO) held February 8, 2024, at the annual conference in Westerville, Ohio.

To achieve this CCEO-AP certification, candidates must have at least five years of continuous service as a manager of a chamber of commerce and/or in association management and meet specific criteria of professional standards, peer support, demonstrated growth of their local chambers, community leadership and submit an essay on their philosophy on chamber management.

Throne, 55, completed his first year at the U.S. Chamber's Institute for Organizational Management in 2023 and has served as the Chillicothe Ross CEO since December 2018. He also served as board chair for CCEO in 2023 and is in his second term on that board. He's also an active member of the Pickaway-Ross Career and Technology Center board, serving as vice president this year.

With a mission of “Fostering Excellence in Chamber Leadership”, the CCEO conducts workshops, seminars, conferences, researches “best practices” in the chamber industry, and provides consultation services for its members and their chambers.

Founded in 1916 as the Ohio Commercial Secretaries Association, the CCEO comprises more than 100 CEOs and support staff persons employed by local chambers in Ohio.