The Albany Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that Donna Gray, director of sales of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce, has graduated from the Institute for Organization Management, the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, and has received the recognition of IOM.

“Institute graduates are recognized across the country as leaders in their industries and organizations,” said Raymond P. Towle, IOM, CAE, the U.S. Chamber Foundation’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.”

The IOM graduate recognition signifies the individual’s completion of 96 hours of course instruction in nonprofit management and is awarded to all graduates of the Institute program.

“At the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce, we put best practices to work every day so that we can better serve our members and help build a stronger community. We are so proud of Donna’s dedication to professional development and of her graduation from the Institute of Organization Management, a commitment to excellence that is recognized across the country,” said Bárbara Rivera Holmes, interim president and CEO of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce.

Since its commencement in 1921, the Institute program has been educating tens of thousands of association, chamber, and other nonprofit leaders on how to build stronger organizations, better serve their members and become strong business advocates. Institute’s curriculum consists of four weeklong sessions at five 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.

Nearly 1,000 individuals attend Institute annually.