Fellowship Provides State and Local Business Leaders with Opportunities to Engage Nationally on Critical Education and Workforce Issues
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Friday, September 20, Andrea Pfennig, Director of Government Affairs of the Greater North Dakota Chamber (GNDC) graduated from the ninth cohort of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s premier business leadership program, the Business Leads Fellowship Program. The Business Leads Fellowship Program trains and equips leaders from state and local chambers of commerce, economic development agencies, and trade associations with resources, access to experts, and a network of peers to build their capacity to address the most pressing education and workforce challenges.
"Workforce continues to be identified by our members as the top public policy issue facing North Dakota. Because of this, I was honored to participate in the U.S. Chamber Foundation Business Leads Fellowship Program," shared Pfennig. "It provided me with a wealth of information about the underlying factors that impact workforce and potential policy solutions for our members."
“We created the Business Leads Fellowship Program in response to the needs of our state and local chamber partners,” says Caitlin Codella Low, Vice President, Policy and Programs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. “They, better than anyone, see the critical link between education and economic development, and we are glad to be able to support them as they take on this critical leadership role in their community.”
Following a competitive application and selection process, Pfennig was selected along with 34 other state and local chamber executives, economic development professionals, and association leaders to participate in the ninth cohort of this program. The six-month program, consisting of both in person and virtual meetings, covered the entire talent pipeline, including early childhood education, K-12, postsecondary education, and workforce development.
Arik Spencer, GNDC CEO and President remarked: ""Andrea's engagement with the U.S. Chamber Foundation's Business Leads Fellowship Program is a significant honor for GNDC and for North Dakota as a whole. Her participation ensured that our state is not only represented on a national stage but that we are also actively engaged in critical conversations about education and workforce development. The insights and connections she gained through this fellowship will strengthen our ability to address these challenges locally while aligning with best practices nationwide."
Upon graduation, Business Leads Fellows join the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s dedicated network of over 360 chambers of commerce and statewide associations from around the nation who regularly engage on education and workforce initiatives.
For more information on the Business Leads Fellowship Program, visit the
program’s website.
