Ferlanda Fox Nixon, president and CEO of the Newark Regional Business Partnership (NRBP), has been awarded the prestigious Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) designation by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE).
Nixon is part of an elite class of just 19 chamber professionals across 12 states to earn the honor in 2026. With this achievement, she makes history as the sole credentialed CCE in New Jersey and only the second African American woman to attain the designation in the program’s four-decade history.
Rigorous national standard
Administered by the Alexandria, Virginia-based ACCE—which represents over 1,600 chambers and 9,000 industry professionals worldwide—the CCE program is the only globally recognized certification exclusive to the chamber of commerce industry. Candidates undergo rigorous testing and assessment across core competencies of chamber management, including organizational planning, financial operations, membership development, communications and strategic leadership.
“Certified Chamber Executives represent the highest level of professional achievement in our industry,” Justin McLaughlin, CCE, executive vice president and COO of the Tulsa Regional Chamber and chair of the CCE Commission, said. “This year’s recipients have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to leadership, innovation, and excellence, setting an example for chamber professionals across the country.”
A trajectory of historic leadership
Nixon’s latest professional milestone underscores a rapid and impactful tenure in regional economic development. After beginning her chamber executive career in 2021 with the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, she was appointed president & CEO of the NRBP. In taking the helm, she became both the first woman and the first person of color to lead the 157-year-old organization.
Under her ongoing leadership, the NRBP continues to expand its mission as Greater Newark’s premier business organization, fostering regional collaboration, supporting local enterprises, and strengthening the economic ecosystem across the urban core and surrounding counties.
