How is business investing in education? This section contains a nationwide directory with information on the education policies, programs and personnel of state chambers of commerce in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia. To view this website's frontpage click on the IC icon at page top or the Earth icon at page bottom.
       AK AL AR AZ CA CO CT DC DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MS
         MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VA VT WA WI WV WY
Alabama
Business Council of Alabama - www.bcatoday.org
-Education Committee Chairman: Tim Lewis, T.A. Lewis & Associates Inc. Vice Chairman: Ted Kennedy, BE&K Inc.
-Education initiative: http://www.bcatoday.org/Initiatives.cfm?id=65
-Contact: Victor Vernon, Director of Education and Work Force Development, 334-240-8722, victorv@bcatoday.org

Alaska
Alaska State Chamber of Commerce - www.alaskachamber.com
-2004 Legislative Priority: Develop a Superior Education System http://www.alaskachamber.com/artman/publish/prior04/2.pdf
-Contact: Francy Bennett, Vice President, 907-586-2323

Arizona
Arizona Chamber of Commerce - www.azchamber.com
-Education Committee Co-Chairmen: Jim Bush of Fennemore Craig and John Kelly of Intel
Committee goals: http://www.azchamber.com/commerce/2003_ACCEPT/Ed_2003.pdf
-Contact: Carie Mudgett, Manager of Programs & Outreach, 602-248-9172 ext. 114
cmudgett@azchamber.com

Arkansas
Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Arkansas - www.statechamber-aia.dina.org
Education Committee Chairman: John Riggs IV, J. A. Riggs Tractor Company
-Education policy: http://statechamber-aia.dina.org/news/revisededreform.html
-Contact: Bill Paddack, Vice President for Communications & Events, State Chamber/AIA, 501-374-9225, bpaddack@ascc-aia.org

California
California Chamber of Commerce – www.calchamber.com
-Education policy: http://www.calchamber.com/biz%20issues/2004/education04.pdf
-Contact: Yolanda Benson, Legislative Advocate, 916-444-6670, yolanda.benson@calchamber.com

Colorado
Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry - www.cochamber.com
-Higher education policy: http://www.cochamber.com/pdf/higheredspeech.pdf
-Contact:  Heidi Heltzel, Director, Government Affairs, hheltzel@COchamber.com

Connecticut
Connecticut Business & Industry Assocation - www.cbia.com
-Education Policies & Practices: http://www.cbia.com/ed and http://www.cbia.com/gov/Issues/Education.htm
--Employer Involvement in Education: http://www.cbia.com/ed/Employers/default.htm
-Contact: Lauren Kaufman, Executive Director, CBIA Education Foundation, 860-244-1900, kaufmanl@cbia.com

Delaware
Delaware State Chamber of Commerce - www.dscc.com
-Implementing Public School Reforms: http://www.dscc.com/state_chamber/gov_affairs/Legislative_agenda.htm
-Contact: Rich Heffron, Chief Government Affairs Officer, 302-576-6563, rheffron@dscc.com

District of Columbia
D.C. Chamber of Commerce - www.dcchamber.org
-Workforce and Education policy: http://www.dcchamber.org/site/docs/pdf/policy%20agenda22.pdf
-Workforce Development programs: http://www.dcchamber.org/page.jsp?page=Workforce+Development
-Contact: Margaret Singleton, Director of Workforce Development, 202-638-7336, msingleton@dcchamber.org

Florida
Florida Chamber of Commerce – www.flchamber.com
-Education and Workforce priority: http://www.flchamber.com/home/policystatement04.asp
-Intellectual Infrastructure summary: http://www.newcornerstoneonline.com/body_infrastructure.html
-Intellectual Infrastructure report: http://www.newcornerstoneonline.com/PDFs/FLCor_Brochure_Chap3.pdf
-Contact: Paul Ledford, Senior Vice President for Public Policy, 850-521-1251, pledford@flchamber.com

Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce - www.myjaxchamber.com
-Education & Workforce Development Department information: http://www.intellcap.com/jaxchamber.html
-Contact: Paula Chaon, Senior Director, Education/Workforce, 904-366-6651, paula.chaon@myjaxchamber.com

Georgia
Georgia Chamber of Commerce - www.gachamber.com
-Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education: http://www.gpee.org
-Contact: Stephen Dolinger, President, 404-223-2280, sdolinger@mindspring.com

Hawaii
Chamber of Commerce Of Hawaii - www.cochawaii.com
-Education Council Chair: David McClain
-Contact: Randall Hiyoto, Government AffairsVice President, 808-545-4300 x310, randall@cochawaii.org

Idaho
Idaho Association of Commerce & Industry - www.iaci.org
-Education Committee Chair: Neil Colwell
-Education policy: http://www.iaci.org/iaocommerce/Policies/2004%20POLICIES_ED.doc
-Contact: Teresa Molitor, Vice President for Human Resources, 208-343-1849, tmolitor@iaci.org

Illinois
Illinois State Chamber of Commerce - www.ilchamber.org
-no specific policy or program
-Contact: Todd Maisch, Vice President for Government Affairs, 217-522-5512, tmaisch@ilchamber.org

Indiana
Indiana State Chamber of Commerce - www.indianachamber.com
-Education policy: http://www.indianachamber.com/pdf/legislative_business_issues.pdf
-Contact: David Holt, Director, 317-264-6883 or 800-824-6883, dholt@indianachamber.com

Iowa
Iowa Association of Business and Industry - www.iowaabi.org
-Education programs: http://www.iowaabi.org/abif.asp
-School To Work/Workforce Preparation committee: http://www.iowaabi.org/committee_school_to_work.asp
-Contact: John Gilliland, Vice President for Public Policy, 515-235-0566, jgilliland@iowaabi.org

Kansas
Kansas Chamber of Commerce & Industry - www.kansaschamber.org
-no specific policy or program
-Contact: Marlee Carpenter, Vice President for Government Affairs, 785-357-6321, mcarpenter@kansaschamber.org

Kentucky
Kentucky Chamber of Commerce - www.kychamber.com
-Education and Workforce Development policy:
http://www.kychamber.com/kycchw/hw.dll?page&file=politicsadvocacy&t=EMZissues3&p1=51
-Contact: Joy Freeman, Director of Political Affairs, 502-695-4700, jfreeman@kychamber.com

Louisiana
Louisiana Association of Business and Industry - www.labi.org
-Education policy: http://www.labi.org/assets/docs/news/DecEnterprise2003Web.pdf; pages 21-23
-Contact: Brigitte Nieland, Director of Education Council, 225-928-5388 ext. 270, brigitten@labi.org

Maine
Maine State Chamber of Commerce - www.mainechamber.org
-no specific policy or program
-Contact: Chris Hall, Vice President & General Counsel, 207-623-4568 ext.18, cjhall@mainechamber.org

Maryland
Maryland Chamber of Commerce - www.mdchamber.org
-Education policy: http://www.mdchamber.org/leg_issues/2005budget.htm
-Contact: Heather D. Hamilton, Vice President for Government Affairs, 301-261-2858 or 410-269-0642, hhamilton@mdchamber.org

Massachusetts
Associated Industries of Massachusetts - www.aimnet.org
-no specific policy or program
-Contact: Robert Ruddock, Executive Vice President for Government Affairs, 617-262-1180, rruddock@aimnet.org

Michigan
Michigan Chamber of Commerce - www.michamber.com
-Education Quality legislative priority: http://www.michamber.com/ba/edq.asp
-Contact: Jim Sandy, Director, Education Excellence Program, 1-800-748-0344, jsandy@michamber.com

Minnesota
Minnesota Chamber of Commerce & Industry - www.mnchamber.com
-Education Policy Committee Chair: Kevin Pitzer
-K through 12 policy: http://www.mnchamber.com/priorities/k12.cfm
-Higher Education policy: http://www.mnchamber.com/priorities/highered.cfm
--More information: http://www.mnchamber.com/priorities/K_12education_bkgd.pdf and http://www.mnchamber.com/priorities/higher_education_bkgd.pdf
-Contact: Staff: Laura Bordelon, Education Policy Committee staff, 651-297-4682, lbordelon@mnchamber.com

Mississippi
Mississippi Economic Council - www.msmec.com
-M. B. Swayze Educational Foundation: http://www.msmec.com/swayze/index.html
-STAR program: http://www.msmec.com/swayze/star.html
-Contact: Peggy Howard, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the M.B. Swayze Education Foundation, 1-800-748-7626, phoward@msmec.com

Missouri
Missouri Chamber of Commerce - www.mochamber.org
-Education Foundation: http://www.mochamber.org/education.htm
-Contact: Dave Lankford, Vice President for Education, 573-634-3511, dlankford@mochamber.org

Montana
Montana Chamber of Commerce - www.montanachamber.net
-High School Business Challenge:
http://www.montanachamber.net/ws/aboutus3.php?page_id=2974&PHPSESSID=8645657aa55adb1ca974d33f9790cd01
-Kerry Schaefer, 406-463-2370, schaefer@3rivers.net

Nebraska
Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry - www.nechamber.com
-Nebraska Chamber Education Council: http://www.nechamber.com/council.html
-Contact: Donald J. Mihovk, Vice President for Public Affairs, 402-474-4422, dmihovk@nechamber.com

Nevada
Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce – www.lvchamber.com; no state chamber
-Workforce 2010 - http://www.lvchamber.com/workforce2010/index.htm
-WE CARE program - http://www.ccsd.net/jobs/LLPweCare.htm
-Contact: Susan Sheridan, 702-735-2043, ssheridan@lvchamber.com

New Hampshire
Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire - www.nhbia.org
-no specific policy or program
-Contact: David Juvet, Vice President for Economic Development and Fiscal Policy, 603-224-5388, djuvet@nhbia.org

New Jersey
New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce - www.njchamber.com
-Business Coalition for Educational Excellence - http://www.bcee.org
--corporate sponsors: http://www.bcee.org/Sponsors/2003%20Contributors.pdf
-School Counts: http://www.schoolcounts.org
-Contact: Dana Egreczky, Vice President for Workforce Development, 609-989-7888, dana@njchamber.com

New Mexico
Association of Commerce & Industry of New Mexico - www.aci.nm.org
-Education policy: http://www.aci.nm.org/pdfs/2004%20Legislative%20Agenda.pdf
-Contact: J.D. Bullington, Vice President for Government Affairs, 505-842-0644, jdaci@aol.com

New York
The Business Council of New York State - www.bcnys.org
-Education/Job Training Committee: http://www.bcnys.org/inside/educcom.htm
-Engage New York: http://www.bcnys.org/inside/educ/engagenyb.htm
-Pathfinder Award: http://www.bcnys.org/inside/educ/pathinfo.htm
-Contact: Margarita Mayo, Director of Education & Training, 518-465-7511, margarita.mayo@bcnys.org

North Carolina
North Carolina Citizens For Business And Industry - www.nccbi.org
-Education Committee: http://www.nccbi.org/resources/Education%20Committee%20positions.doc
-Contact: Leslie Bevacqua, Vice President for Governmental Affairs, 919-836-1406, lbevacqua@nccbi.org

North Dakota
North Dakota Chamber of Commerce - www.ndchamber.com
-New Economy Initiative, Talent Action Team: http://www.ndchamber.com/neweconomy
-Contact: Dave MacIver, President, 701-222-0929, dave@ndchamber.com

Ohio
Ohio Chamber of Commerce - www.ohiochamber.com
-Education & Workforce Development agenda: http://www.ohiochamber.com/governmental/pdfs/AgendaEducation.pdf
-School Funding Recommendations: http://www.ohiochamber.com/governmental/schoollfunding.asp
-Education and Workforce Development committee: http://www.ohiochamber.com/governmental/standcommittees.asp
-Contact: Tony Fiore, Director of Labor and Human Resources Policy, 614-228-4201 or Toll Free 800-622-1893, afiore@ohiochamber.com

Oklahoma
The State Chamber, Oklahoma's Association of Business & Industry - www.okstatechamber.com
-Education agenda: http://www.okstatechamber.com/2004-LegisAgenda.pdf; pages 7-8
-Education and Workforce Development Committee: http://www.okstatechamber.com/agenda/2003poa.htm#education
-Contact: Matt Robison, Vice President for Small Business and Workforce Development, 405-235-3669, mrobison@okstatechamber.com

Oregon
Associated Oregon Industries - www.aoi.org
-Education and Technology Policy Council: http://www.aoi.org/public/ppteched.asp
-Contact: Harvey Mathews, Legislative Representative for Education and Technology, 503-588-0050, harvey@aoi.org

Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Chamber of Business & Industry -  www.pachamber.org
-Education and Workforce Development directory: http://www.pachamber.org/ba/LegislativePriorities/EducationAndWorkforce/main.asp
-Public Education legislative priorities: http://www.pachamber.org/ba/legislativepriorities/EducationAndWorkforce/edu_policies.asp
-Contact: Stephanie Larkin, Director of Government Affairs, 717-255-3252 ext. 5570, slarkin@pachamber.org

Rhode Island
Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce - www.provchamber.com; no state chamber
-Textron/Chamber of Commerce School: http://www.chamberschool.com/index1.htm; charter high school sponsored by
the Chamber and its members
-Contact: Bethany Costello, Director of Public Relations & Public Policy, 401-521-5000, bcostello@provchamber.com

South Carolina
South Carolina Chamber of Commerce - www.scchamber.net
-Education policy: http://www.scchamber.net/bizagenda04/PP-Education1.htm
-Education initiatives: http://www.scchamber.net/Education/Education.htm
-Contact: Margaret Torrey, Associate Vice President for Education Policy, 1-800-799-4601, peggyt@scchamber.net

South Dakota
South Dakota Chamber of Commerce & Industry - www.sdchamber.biz
-Technology in Education Awards: http://www.sdchamber.biz/default.asp?pageid=34
-Contact: Mary Anne Boyd, Vice President of Program Services, 605-263-0040 or Toll Free 877-817-8215, maryanneb@sdchamber.biz

Tennessee
Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry - www.tnchamber.org
-Education programs: http://www.tnchamber.org/education/index.html
-Tennessee State Scholars program: http://www.tnchamber.org/education/TN%20Program%20Facts.pdf
-Contact: Ruth Woodall, Director, Tennessee Scholars Program, 615-256-5141, ruth.woodall@tnchamber.org

Texas
Texas Association of Business - www.txbiz.org
-Education/Workforce Development policy: http://www.txbiz.org/Gov_issues/education/education.html
-Education Legislative Priorities: http://www.txbiz.org/PubDocs/LP2003_Edu.html
-Contact: Jack Campbell, Governmental Affairs Manager, 512-477-6721 x116, jcampbell@txbiz.org

Utah
Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce - www.saltlakechamber.org; no state chamber
-Education/Workforce Development Committee: http://www.saltlakechamber.org/chamber_info/Committees.htm
-Employer’s Education Coalition final report: http://www.intellcap.com/SaltLakeEECFinalReport121302v19a.doc
-Contact: Robin Riggs, Vice President and General Counsel, 801-328-5080, rriggs@saltlakechamber.org

Vermont
Vermont Chamber of Commerce - www.vtchamber.com
-Education and Training agenda: http://www.vtchamber.com/lobbying/104.html#2
-Business-Education Partnership: http://www.vtchamber.com/business/VCCBEP.html or http://www.vccbep.org
-Contact: Robin Morton, Executive Director, Business-Education Partnership, 802-223-0603, mortons7@aol.com

Virginia
Virginia Chamber of Commerce - www.vachamber.com
-Education advocacy: http://www.vachamber.com/Grassroots/Iss_Education.htm
-Education committee: http://www.vachamber.com/about_us/committees.htm
-Contact: Keith Cheatham, Director of Government Affairs, 804-644-1607, k.cheatham@vachamber.com

Washington
Association of Washington Business – www.awb.org
-Public Charter Schools legislative initiative: http://www.awb.org/policy/2004lo/CharterSchools.html
-Contact: Gary Chandler, Vice President for Governmental Affairs, 360-943-1600 or 360-943-5811, GaryC@awb.org

West Virginia
West Virginia Chamber of Commerce - www.wvchamber.com
-Education Committee: http://www.wvchamber.com/chamber_committees.htm
-Contact: Tom Boggs, Vice President, 304-342-1695, tboggs@wvchamber.com

Wisconsin
Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce - www.wmc.org
-Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Foundation: http://www.wischamberfoundation.org
-Education legislative agenda: http://www.wmc.org/display.cfm?ID=72
-Education documents: http://www.wmc.org/issues.cfm?Issue=education
-Contact: Joan Hansen, Director of Tax and Corporate Policy, 608-258-3400, jhansen@wmc.org

Wyoming
Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce - www.cheyennechamber.org; no state chamber
-Education policy: http://www.cheyennechamber.org/pdfs/visionsmallfinaldraft.pdf; page 14
-Contact: Larry Atwell, President, 307-778-1406, larrya@cheyennechamber.org