U.S. Chamber of Commerce Awards Keyesta Sherman Scholarship to Attend Institute for Organization Management

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 30, 2008 - The U.S. Chamber of Commerce awarded 73 nonprofit professionals with $500 Regent Scholarships to attend Institute for Organization Management (Institute), at four sites across the country this summer.  Our very own President of the Boaz Area Chamber of Commerce, Keyesta Sherman was one of the recipients and she attended in Athens, Georgia last week.

The industry leader in nonprofit education and professional development, Institute is a four-year program, held at five sites each year-four in the summer and one in the winter. Most participants attend the one-week sessions at the same site each year, building valuable relationships with others in the industry and creating a network of idea sharing. Through a combination of required courses and electives, students not only enhance their own organizational management skills but add new fuel to their organizations, making them run more efficiently and effectively.

"Regent scholarships offer these executives the opportunity to learn about emerging industry trends, expand their organizations' influence, and grow their peer network," said Raymond P. Towle, IOM, CAE, vice president, Institute, U.S. Chamber of Commerce. "We are pleased to help these able professionals build their careers and their organizations' bottom-line."

Scholarship recipients attend a five-day intensive session at one of Institute's four summer college campus locations. Upon successful completion of the four-year program, Institute students are awarded the IOM (Institute for Organization Management) Graduate Recognition, signifying 96 hours of course instruction in association, chamber, and nonprofit management. 

"We were delighted to award Keyesta with the scholarship to help build her career and the Boaz Area Chamber of Commerce," said Gary A. LaBranche, chairman of the Institute National Board of Trustees and president and CEO of the Association Forum of Chicagoland. "She is dedicated to the industry and makes a positive contribution to her organization and community."

"This program has been most beneficial for me because I have been able to return to Boaz with new ideas and programs that we implement to assist our businesses in their quest to succeed and that help our chamber emerge as a leader," states Sherman.  "Our Board of Directors understands that it is paramount that I go annually.  They are happy to spend the money that it takes to further our efforts in gaining insight to assist our members."


The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation, representing more than three million businesses of every size, sector, and region.