Husted to join Dayton chamber
Friday, January 30, 2009
DAYTON — State Sen. Jon Husted has been hired by the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce to oversee its workforce development efforts, the organization said Friday, Jan. 30.
Husted, R-Kettering, will serve as director of workforce education and employer services for the chamber's Education and Public Improvement Foundation while also continuing as a state senator.
Phil Parker, the chamber's president, said Husted will join the organization on Feb. 1. Husted was one four people interviewed for the job, which attracted more than 60 applicants, Parker said.
Husted will report to Parker and will focus on recruitment, retention, education and training of the local workforce, according to a news release.
"Workforce development is the single most important initiative to our members and Jon is uniquely qualified to lead this effort for the chamber and the region," Parker said. "His experience and his connections to people and resources locally and in state government are invaluable."
Husted spent eight years in the Ohio house of representatives, most recently as speaker. He left because of term limits.
The move marks a return to the chamber for Husted. Until 2005, he worked part-time for the organization as executive director of its foundation, leaving that job when he became house speaker. Between 1997 and 2000, he was the chamber's vice president of economic development.
Husted said he applied for the job in part because it touches on two areas that interest to him, education and economic development.
Husted said many of Ohio's legislators hold other jobs outside elected office, and he sees no conflict between his role as a legislator and his work with the chamber.
"I'm advocating for macro issues that are good for the community in my role in the chamber, not anything specific to a business or anything like that," he said.
As a state senator, Husted has a base salary of $60,583.70.
Parker and Husted declined to say how much the chamber job will pay.
William Hershey contributed to this report.
