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The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation recently announced Allyson Gutwein, Executive Director of the Zionsville Chamber of Commerce was selected to participate in the sixth cohort of its premiere business leadership 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.
“This is the preeminent program in the United States designed to help Chamber of Commerce leaders address workforce development challenges,” Gutwein says. “I am honored to have been selected to learn from the U.S. Chamber and bring these tools back to Central Indiana to help our community.”
“We created the Business Leads Fellowship Program in response to the needs of our state and local chamber partners,” says Cheryl Oldham, Senior Vice President of the Center for Education and Workforce. “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, Executive Director Gutwein was one of 34 selected from across the U.S., including other state and local chamber executives, economic development professionals, and association leaders to participate in the sixth class of this program. The yearlong virtual program, which concludes with an in-person meeting, will cover the entire talent pipeline, including early childhood education, K-12, postsecondary education, and workforce development.
Upon completion, Business Leads Fellows will join the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s dedicated network of more than 200 chambers of commerce and statewide associations from around the nation who regularly engage on education and workforce initiatives.
