Manatee Chamber Named 2026 Chamber of the Year

The Florida Association of Chamber Professionals recognized the Manatee Chamber and its president and CEO Jacki Dezelski for 2026.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Philanthropy

Manatee Chamber Named 2026 Chamber of the Year

The Manatee Chamber of Commerce was named the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals 2026 Chamber of the Year, and Manatee Chamber President and CEO Jacki Dezelski was named FACP 2026 Chamber Executive of the Year. The Manatee Chamber is the only chamber to have received the distinction six times.

Why it matters

The awards recognize the collective dedication, leadership and commitment that drive the Manatee Chamber's work throughout the community. Dezelski is the first Florida chamber professional to receive both the Chamber Professional of the Year and Chamber Executive of the Year awards.

The Manatee Chamber has received the Chamber of the Year distinction six times, more than any other chamber in the association. Dezelski received the inaugural FACP Chamber Professional of the Year award in 2015 and celebrated 30 years in the chamber industry.

The players

Manatee Chamber of Commerce

A chamber of commerce serving Manatee County, Florida, founded in 1889 and recognized as the only chamber to receive the FACP Chamber of the Year distinction six times.

Jacki Dezelski

President and CEO of the Manatee Chamber of Commerce, who has spent 30 years in the chamber industry and was the first Florida chamber professional to win both FACP top professional awards.

Florida Association of Chamber Professionals

A statewide association that honors chamber of commerce professionals and chambers across Florida through its annual awards program.

The details

The Florida Association of Chamber Professionals announced the honors for the Manatee Chamber, which was founded in 1889, and for Dezelski as its executive. The association also recognized Kaylee Carpentier, Member Events Coordinator, and Liza Minteer, Member Development Representative, each of whom celebrated five years as a chamber professional.

1889: Manatee Chamber of Commerce is founded.
2015: Dezelski receives the inaugural FACP Chamber Professional of the Year award.
2026: Manatee Chamber is named FACP 2026 Chamber of the Year.

Legacy Recognition

Dezelski's 2026 Chamber Executive of the Year award builds on her 2015 selection as the inaugural FACP Chamber Professional of the Year. Together the two honors make her the first Florida chamber professional to win both top awards the association offers.

Residents and businesses in Manatee County may see the chamber's programming and member services continue under the leadership recognized by this award. The honors reflect the chamber's sustained role in local business support across the county.

The takeaway

Recognition from a statewide association highlights how sustained local leadership can strengthen a chamber over decades. Readers interested in business support organizations can look to chambers' long records of service as a measure of community commitment.