Chris Mead is senior vice president of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, an organization representing 1,200 local, state, and regional chambers of commerce. He is responsible for membership, sponsorship, advertising, and development. He has initiated ACCE projects such as the Economic and Community Development Division, the Schapiro Group study on the value of being a chamber member, overseas tours, videos of well-known individuals promoting the idea of joining local chambers of commerce, and certificate of origin activities.

He also is executive director of the foundation affiliated with ACCE, Community Growth Educational Foundation (CGEF). CGEF works with Lumina Foundation, Hewlett Foundation, Carnegie Corporation, Pew Center on the States, MacArthur Foundation, and other institutions.

Chris has been with ACCE since November 2002. His previous experience includes serving as vice president of the Council for Urban Economic Development (now the International Economic Development Council).

Chris has written a book called The Magicians of Main Street: The Story of Chambers of Commerce in America, 1768-1945. An epilogue takes the story up to today. The book was published in the summer of 2014 and is available on Amazon.com.

Chris lives in Oakton, Virginia, and is married to Laura Lewis Mead and has two daughters and a son.