FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - August 8, 2023  Contact: Karyn MacRae 202-463-5704

Mary Griffin & Ferlanda Nixon of The African American Chamber of Commerce of NJ Graduate from Institute for Organization Management

A Leadership Training Program Produced by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce 

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Institute for Organization Management (Institute), the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, is pleased to announce that Mary Griffin, IOM, PMP, MS and Vice President of Membership Retention and Relations and Ferlanda Nixon, IOM, J.D., Chief of Policy and External Affairs of the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (AACCNJ), have graduated from the program and have received the recognition of IOM. Awarded to all graduates of the Institute program, the IOM Graduate Recognition signifies an individual’s completion of 96 credit hours of course instruction in non-profit management. In addition, participants can earn credit hours towards the Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) or Certified Association Executive (CAE) certifications. Nearly 1,000 individuals attend the Institute annually.

“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. “These individuals have the knowledge, skills, and dedication necessary to achieve professional and organizational success in the dynamic association and chamber industries.”

Institute is the premier nonprofit professional development program for association and chamber professionals, fostering individual growth through interactive learning and networking opportunities. 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 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.



The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business organization representing companies of all sizes across every sector of the economy. Its 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.



institute.uschamber.com           @IOMeducates

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"The IOM program gave me the opportunity to brainstorm ideas and share best practices with professionals across the USA. This collaborative environment encouraged open dialogue, allowing me to broaden my perspective and challenge my own assumptions. The program not only empowered me with knowledge but also nurtured a strong network of individuals that I will continue to ‘give to’ and ‘pull from’ in the future. I am very thankful to our President, Founder and CEO, John Harmon, for encouraging and allowing us to attend the IOM program."

-Mary Griffin, IOM, PMP, MS & Vice President of Membership Retention and Relations of The African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey 

"I have the highest regard for Institute and have been fortunate to experience it in three different venues. I began with Centennial Institute as a virtual attendee in 2021. The following summer I discovered the benefits of attending in person at Northeast Institute at Villanova University. This year I converted to a fast-tracker and met wonderful people at Southeast Institute at the University of Georgia-Athens in July and became an Institute alumna by a return visit to Northeast Institute last week. What makes Institute most special for me is that I attended the program lockstep with my colleague Mary Griffin. Sharing the experience with a revered coworker undoubtedly reinforced the learning and enhanced the networking. I am truly grateful to John for affording us this opportunity."

-Ferlanda Nixon, IOM, J.D., Chief of Policy and External Affairs of The African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey