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Whitney Theriot Selected for U.S. Chamber Foundation Education and Workforce Fellowship Program Fellowship Provides State and Local Chambers with Opportunities to Engage Nationally on Critical Education and Workforce Issues WASHINGTON, D.C. – On April 24, 2019, The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation announced that Whitney Theriot, Director of Communication and Marketing, of the Temple Chamber of Commerce, was selected to participate in the third cohort of its premiere business leadership program. The Business Leads Fellowship Program trains and equips leaders from state and local chambers of commerce with resources, access to experts, and a network of peers to build their capacity to address the most pressing education and workforce challenges. Following a competitive application and selection process, Whitney was selected along with 33 other state and local chamber executives to participate in the third class of this program. The four-month program, which concludes in September 2019, will cover the entire talent pipeline, including early childhood education, K-12, higher education, and workforce development. “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.” Upon completion, Business Leads Fellows will join the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s dedicated network of 200 chambers of commerce and statewide associations from around the nation who regularly engage on education and workforce initiatives. “We cannot be prouder of Whitney’s selection to the US Chamber’s Fellowship Program” noted G. Roderick Henry, Chamber President. “She has excelled in so many ways not only in Communications & Marketing but also in taking the Chamber’s Workforce Readiness Network to a new level.” Theriot has led the chamber’s efforts in the area of workforce readiness and education for the past two years. She represents the Temple Chamber on the P-20 Central Texas Regional Council, the Temple High School Career and Technical Education Business and Industry Advisory Council, and the Belton High School Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee. Theriot was responsible for the development of a joint grant application with Temple College two years ago to introduce the LaunchMyCareerTX.org career exploration website to Central Texas. “The business community is the end-user of our education system, at all levels from K-12 through the incumbent worker being reskilled or upskilled. As a champion for business, the Temple Chamber facilitates dialogue between our local education institutions and business community in order to equip both our current and future workforce with skills needed for our ever-changing economy,” said Theriot. “I’m excited to learn more about innovative practices from peers nationwide and see how the Temple Chamber can improve existing, or introduce new, practices to ensure we have a competitive, skilled workforce to meet the needs of our business community.” For a full list of participants in the Business Leads Fellowship Program, visit the U.S. Chamber Foundation https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/Fellowship-Program.