TCCE 2024 Annual Conference
Marvin Hurley Award
The Marvin Hurley Award is named after Marvin Hurley, CCE, who was the former CEO of the Houston Chamber from 1951-1966. Marvin Hurley was considered to be one of the most influential Chamber of Commerce leaders in the state of Texas. This award is the highest honor to a Texas Chamber professional by our association.
Hurley authored three books on chamber operations. Prior to Texas, Hurley served chambers in Tulsa, OK (1935) and Lincoln, NE (1941). He joined the U.S. Army and served from 1943-45 and served nationally in the chamber industry as ACCE Chairman of the Board in 1957-58. At the 1955 ACCE Annual Convention, Hurley gave a moving speech entitled “This I Believe.” In this speech, Hurley set forth a set of core beliefs that still resonate today.
The TCCE Marvin Hurley Award is presented annually to an individual for chamber-related career accomplishments and exceptional contributions to the Chamber of Commerce profession as a whole. The items that may set an individual apart and make eligible for consideration include extraordinary service to their chamber, exemplary contributions (locally, regionally, or nationally) to building the chamber industry and service to TCCE and/or other professional associations/programs (i.e. Institute, ACCE, etc.) and outstanding career accomplishments in program development, public policy, organization development, etc.
Cindy DeWease
2024 Marvin Hurley Award Winner
Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce
Cindy Dewease joined the staff of the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce in 1983 as the bookkeeper. Through the years she held several positions within the organization then in 2008 was named the President/CEO. Cindy completed the U. S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organization Management at Southern Methodist University in 1993. Cindy’s chief responsibilities are to accomplish the goals set forth by the Board of Directors in the annual Program of Work and 5-Year Strategic Plan, oversee the Chamber professional staff and its property and facilities, as well as implement and enhanced Chamber programs to insure value for our members and our community.
Cindy’s efforts go further than our community as she served as the 2013 President of the Gulf Coast Chamber Executives (regional professional organization), the 2020 Chairman of the Board of the Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives (the State Chamber industry organization) and served on the Board of Directors for the Texas Association of Business (the State Chamber of Commerce) from 2017 to 2020. Currently serving on the Center for Chamber Excellence Advisory Board (a educational partnership between Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives and Texas A&M University).
Cindy has been recognized by her colleagues around the State of Texas by receiving the Arthur A. Roberts Award for Distinguished Service in 2018 and again in 2022. As a resident of the Clear Lake Area since 1974 Cindy finds time to serves her community on the Board for the City of Nassau Bay Economic Development Corporation, an Ex-Officio Director of the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership, and the Advisory Board for the Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theatre.
