Hawkinson Completes First Year at IOM

Hawkinson Completes First Year at IOM

Institute for Organization Management, the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, is pleased to announce that Debbie Hawkinson, Executive Director of the McPherson Chamber of Commerce has recently completed her first year at Institute for Organization Management, a four-year nonprofit leadership training program at Winter IOM in Tucson.

“Institute graduates are recognized across the country as leaders in their industries and organizations,” said Raymond P. Towle, IOM, CAE, the U.S. Chamber’s vice president of Institute for Organization Management. “These individuals have the knowledge, skills, and dedication necessary to achieve professional and organizational success in the dynamic association and chamber industries.”

Since its commencement in 1921, the Institute program has educated and empowered chamber executives with the knowledge and skills they need to be leaders in their organization and communities. Institute’s curriculum consists of four weeklong sessions at four different university locations throughout the country. Through a combination of required courses and electives in areas such as leadership, advocacy, marketing, finance, and membership, Institute participants are able to enhance their own organizational management skills and add new fuel to their organizations, making them run more efficiently and effectively.

Institute for Organization Management is the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. It is the premier nonprofit professional development program for associations and chamber professionals, fostering individual growth through interactive learning and networking opportunities.

Debbie Hawkinson received a State Partner Scholarship from the Chamber of Commerce Executives of Kansas (CCEKS) for tuition expenses. She was one of only 31 scholarship recipients out of 278 attendees of Winter Institute. Hawkinson had this to say about IOM, “It was an incredible experience! Not only did I learn essential information from the IOM teachers, I also absorbed a tremendous wealth of information from chamber colleagues. This professional development program is a valuable tool to utilize in our day-to-day operations, and a catalyst for growing leadership capacity to benefit our community.”

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business organization representing companies of all sizes across every sector of the economy. Our members range from the small businesses and local chambers of commerce that line the Main Streets of America to leading industry associations and large corporations. Learn more about IOM at institute.uschamber.com