CELEBRATING A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE
Just over a half century ago, 683 business leaders gathered in a room at
the Lansing Civic Center to organize what eventually would become the strongest
advocate and voice for business in the state: the Michigan Chamber of Commerce.
On December 9, 1959, the Chamber's first members laid down the
foundation for the organization and began charting a different course for
Michigan businesses and the state's economic future. It was a time when
organized labor dominated the agenda in Lansing. And it was a time when laws and
regulations were not favorable for business.
Now—roughly five decades after that first meeting—the Michigan Chamber
of Commerce has a far-reaching influence that extends well beyond Lansing. With
more than 7,000 member firms, 260 volunteer leaders, 84 board members, four
policy committees, and 40 employees, the Michigan Chamber is one of the largest
state chambers in the country. Adding to its clout, the Chamber also operates
state and federal political action committees that help keep Michigan business
interests front and center for lawmakers at all levels. The Chamber's state
political action committee ranks 20th among the 150 largest PACs in Michigan.
The Michigan Chamber also provides health insurance for employees
and member firms, seminars/webinars on a variety of business-related topics, information
through its Web site and publications like Michigan Forward Quarterly, and HR- and
employment-related documents and services.
Unlike many other organizations these days, the Michigan Chamber has
only had three presidents and CEOs in its entire 50+-year history. Harry Hall,
who was the Chamber's first president, served until 1976. Jim Barrett then
became the country's youngest Chamber president and CEO—a position he held for
32 years until his retirement in June, 2008. Upon Barrett’s retirement, veteran
employee Rich Studley assumed the Chamber’s top spot.
Notes Studley: “It is our history and tradition of leadership
and accomplishment that give us good reason to be optimistic about the future.
One of the secret advantages we have is that we work for over 7,000 risk-takers
who are chronically optimistic people—people who believe in themselves and their
employees, and people who are strongly committed to our state and moving
Michigan forward. We're an organization that has a bias for action.”
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