Fellowship Provides State and Local Business Leaders with Opportunities to Engage Nationally on Critical Education and Workforce Issues

Washington, D.C. (June 8, 2021) – The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation today announced Tanelle Smith, Manager of Workforce and Industry Programs at Greater Louisville Inc. (GLI), was selected to participate in the fifth 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.

Following a competitive application and selection process, Smith was selected along with 34 other state and local chamber executives and association leaders to participate in the fifth class of this program. The yearlong virtual program, which concludes with an in-person meeting in June 2022, will cover the entire talent pipeline, including early childhood education, K-12, higher education, and workforce development.

“I am excited to learn innovative tactics and strategies for reshaping how workforce partners prioritize their relationships with education partners. Through my work with GLI, I have found that educational partners are instrumental to addressing workforce challenges in our community and have developed an understanding of the challenges these partners face in working with the business community to develop talent.” said Smith. “This program will allow me to share my insights with peers and obtain new perspectives that will ultimately help grow GLI’s workforce development and talent initiatives.”

Tanelle Smith, GLI’s Manager of Workforce and Industry Programs

“We are delighted Tanelle was selected for this elite opportunity where she will learn valuable skills and insights that will shape GLI’s workforce development initiatives in the future. She has a strong passion for this work, and we are looking forward to her showcasing her talents on a national stage,” said Sarah Davasher-Wisdom, President and CEO of GLI.

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 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.”

For more information on the Business Leads Fellowship Program, visit the program’s website.

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About Greater Louisville Inc.

Greater Louisville Inc. - the Metro Chamber of Commerce is focused on growing the regional economy. As the region’s largest convener of business leadership, GLI leads economic and global outreach strategies focused on business attraction; nurtures the entrepreneurial eco-system; and champions the development of the community’s talent base.  As the voice of Greater Louisville’s business community, GLI advocates for a pro-business environment and facilitates businesses engagement on issues that impact regional competitiveness.  For more information, visit www.greaterlouisville.com.