Danaka Bunch, membership relations executive for the Moore County Chamber of Commerce, has been awarded a Sam's Club scholarship to start a program by the Institute for Organization Management.

The institute is the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Given to only 20 chamber of commerce professionals across the country, the Sam's Club scholarships recognize individuals who exhibit excellent chamber management practices in several areas, including involvement in professional industry organizations, community involvement and demonstrated leadership, a news release said.

Since 1921, chambers of commerce and associations have used the U.S. Chamber's Institute program as a training platform for the professional development of their top talent.

The curriculum consists of four, weeklong sessions at five different university locations throughout the country. Each week, participants receive training in leadership, advocacy, finance, membership, emerging technologies and many other organization management competencies

"The institute provides the most comprehensive professional development available in our profession," said Patrick Coughlin, president and CEO of the Moore County Chamber of Commerce. "The program allows attendees to share today's best practices in an ever changing economic environment. The training received at the institute provides critical educational lessons and tools that will directly apply, benefit and impact the Moore County Chamber of Commerce, its members and the community.

"The board is honored to have Sam's Club support Danaka as she starts this journey to completing her IOM recognition."

Each of the Sam's Club scholarship recipients will attend one of the institute's four sessions this summer. After completion of the four-year curriculum, each of the recipients will receive the IOM graduate recognition, signifying completion of 96 hours of course instruction in nonprofit management and their commitment to the industry

Coughlin and Linda Parsons, vice president of the Moore County Chamber of Commerce, have both completed this intense training.