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Whitney Theriot Graduates from U.S. Chamber Foundation Education and Workforce Fellowship Program Fellowship Provided State and Local Chambers with Opportunities to Engage Nationally on Critical Education and Workforce Issues The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation recently announced that Whitney Theriot, Director of Communication and Marketing, of the Temple Chamber of Commerce graduated from its premier business leadership program. The inaugural Business Leads Fellowship Program trained and equipped 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. “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 bring innovative practices from experts and peers nationwide back to Temple, and to improve existing practices and introduce new practices to ensure we have a competitive, skilled workforce to meet the needs of our business community.” “As clearly displayed throughout this program, state and local leaders know better than anyone the critical link between education and economic development,” says Cheryl Oldham, senior vice president of the Center for Education and Workforce. “Not only did the Fellows gain a network of peers and experts in the field, the program is designed to help these leaders find opportunities to develop initiatives that will continue to advance the growth of their local economy and put education policy into practice.” Following a competitive application and selection process, Theriot was selected along with 32 other state and local chamber executives to participate in the second cohort. The four-month program covered the entire talent pipeline, including early childhood education, K-12, higher education, and workforce development. Upon completion, Business Leads Fellows 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.