2025 Chapter of the Year Awards: Twin Cities and Heartland

The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) annually presents the Chapter of the Year Awards to ACFE chapters that went above and beyond to grow and serve their memberships. These awards are decided by members of the Chapter Leaders Committee and presented to one chapter located in traditionally large markets and another serving communities in a traditionally small market. 

Large Market 

The 2025 Chapter of the Year Award (Large Market) recipient is the ACFE Twin Cities Chapter. This chapter consistently demonstrated their dedication to their membership, serving 328 ACFE members in Minnesota and providing eight training events with 20.5 CPE credits— including 4.5 in ethics credits — over the last year. 

The Twin Cities Chapter hosted impactful events featuring well-known speakers, including ACFE President John Gill, J.D., CFE, drawing hundreds of attendees. Additionally, their chapter actively engages with its members through a strong presence on platforms like LinkedIn, fostering growth and communication within their community. 

Beyond serving their direct members, the ACFE Twin Cities Chapter actively contributes to broader anti-fraud efforts. They conduct impactful community outreach initiatives to raise fraud awareness among various groups, including a fraud information campaign geared towards educating adults and children by handing out infographics amongst nursing homes and school programs across Minnesota. Their chapter has demonstrated leadership within the ACFE community by extending their footprint and serving members in Manitoba. The chapter generously contributed $15,000 to the ACFE Foundation in 2024 and provided CFE Exam Prep Course scholarships to students, giving out seven scholarships in 2023, six in 2024 and planning out 10 more in 2025.  

Congratulations to the ACFE Twin Cities Chapter! 

Small Market 

The 2025 Chapter of the Year Award (Small Market) recipient is the ACFE Heartland Chapter. This chapter has shown remarkable dedication to its 286 members and the future of the anti-fraud profession. They organized five training sessions offering 20 CPE credits and actively support students through initiatives like high school mentorship programs and scholarships. Offering a CFE Exam Scholarship and a $1,000 scholarship each year, the ACFE Heartland Chapter is nurturing the next generation of Certified Fraud Examiners (CFEs). The ACFE Heartland Chapter also engages with their local community by addressing important issues such as elder fraud, including hosting five trainings at independent living facilities in Omaha, Nebraska.  

By fostering strong networking opportunities through bi-monthly luncheons and a college student networking event with the local Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) and Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) chapters, the ACFE Heartland Chapter provides significant value to its membership. They actively promote the CFE credential to students through networking events and joint initiatives with other organizations. Additionally, their commitment extends to the wider ACFE community, such as attending the annual ACFE Chapter Leaders Summit to share best practices and donating $5,000 the previous two years to support the ACFE Foundation.  

Congratulations to the Heartland Chapter!