Jul 02, 2022

Great Bend Chamber CEO completes second year at leadership program

Posted Jul 02, 2022 12:00 AM
Megan Barfield
Megan Barfield

Institute for Organization Management, the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, is pleased to announce that Megan Barfield, President, of the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce, has recently completed her second year at Institute for Organization Management, a four-year nonprofit leadership training program at the University of Wisconsin School of Business in Madison, WI.

“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.”

Barfield started her non-profit career in 2014 with Volunteers in Action followed by the Golden Belt Community Foundation, both in Great Bend, KS. In 2016 she started at the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce working as the Director of Member Relations before moving into her current role as President/CEO in January, 2020.

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.

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 association and chamber professionals, fostering individual growth through interactive learning and networking opportunities.

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.