Featured Chapters: Twin Cities and New York Chapters

Earlier this year, we awarded the 2022 Chapter of the Year to the South Florida Chapter and shared their submission form with chapters to see their accomplishments. Since there are nearly 200 chapters worldwide, it is difficult to choose just one winner when there are so many deserving chapters. While we can only recognize one chapter with the award, I would like to recognize other chapters for their accomplishments in 2021. In October, we featured the South Africa and Dallas Area Chapters. This month, I would like to highlight the Twin Cities and New York Chapters.

Twin Cities Chapter #47
The Twin Cities Chapter held six virtual training opportunities, providing 22 CPE credits to local members and non-members. Their November 2021 event, co-organized with the South Florida Chapter, drew nearly 600 attendees and more than 60 participating chapters. It was the largest event co-hosted by ACFE chapters.

The Twin Cities Chapter is committed to reaching and providing anti-fraud training to members who do not have a local chapter. They used email and physical mailing campaigns to contact these members – with very positive results. Since 2020, the Twin Cities Chapter’s membership has increased by 32%, despite the pandemic. During our annual Chapter Leaders meeting, their chapter president, Jim Lund, CFE, shared his membership-building strategies with other chapter leaders.

Recently, the chapter also began reaching out to local colleges and universities to discuss the best ways the chapter can assist local students. These efforts have seen an increase in both student and associate chapter members. Also, due to the success of their November joint event, the Twin Cities Chapter made a $10,000 donation to the ACFE Foundation, whose mission is to support future anti-fraud professionals and increase the body of anti-fraud knowledge.

New York Chapter #14
The New York Chapter and its leaders stayed busy in 2021 by offering 10 training opportunities worth 27 CPE credits. Their (full day) fall conference was their first hybrid event, and it was very well-attended. The conference also featured a fireside chat with convicted fraudster Craig Stanland. The New York Chapter has held other fireside chats with fraudsters, and the audience seems to enjoy this format. Previously, the chapter hosted fraudster Tom Hardin, who was later featured at the ACFE’s 33rd Annual Global Fraud Conference.

The chapter offers numerous benefits to members, including reduced pricing, complimentary registrations to events as well as chances to win raffle items at some of their events. Additionally, the chapter subsidized the cost of their holiday networking event to make it affordable for members to meet in person. The New York Chapter also does a great job providing information on the group discounts available to chapters whose members attend the Global Fraud Conference. Last year, the chapter sent 34 members to the conference, saving on average $200 for each attendee.

Like many chapters, the New York Chapter has spent the past few years fostering relationships with many nearby universities and colleges. Their chapter leaders have given presentations to students on fraud-related topics and have met with professors to help promote the ACFE and explain why students should consider the CFE credential. The chapter was also one of six chapters that donated $10,000 or more to the ACFE Foundation in 2021.

The ACFE thanks both the Twin Cities and New York Chapters for the time spent finding creative ways to reach their members and creating unique event opportunities. We are proud to share what you have achieved and look forward to hearing more about your events, membership drives, community service projects and more.