WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors today elected Maura W. Donahue, president of DonahueFavret Contractors Holding Company, as chairman. Donahue succeeds Tom Wilson, chairman and CEO of The Allstate Corporation.
“Maura Donahue is a seasoned business leader who has built a company from the ground up. She understands the challenges businesses face and how the Chamber can help them grow and succeed,” said Thomas J. Donohue, CEO of the U.S. Chamber. “Over the years she has tirelessly contributed her time and talents to the Chamber, and the American business community is stronger for it.”
DonahueFavret is a commercial contractor providing high-level expertise and experience as the Greater New Orleans area general contractor of choice serving Louisiana and the Gulf South. Celebrating its 40th year, the company has earned 19 national Excellence in Construction awards from Associated Builders and Contractors. Donahue joined the company in 1981, and assumed her current position in 2010.
“I am honored to take on this role with the U.S. Chamber, especially at this time. With a business leader in the White House, America has a historic opportunity to advance a pro-business, pro-innovation agenda. During my tenure, the U.S. Chamber will capitalize on this opportunity to further pro-growth progress,” said Donahue.
“Maura’s return to the role of chairman is an important part of our efforts to build a strong pipeline of volunteer leaders to help carry the Chamber’s mission forward,” said Suzanne P. Clark, president of the U.S. Chamber. “She brings energy, enthusiasm, and experience to our board and will be a valuable partner as we continue to strengthen and modernize the Chamber for the future.”
Demonstrating a steadfast commitment to volunteer leadership, Donahue has been an active and engaged member of the U.S. Chamber Board since 1998, including a previous term as chairman in 2005-2006.
She is also an active leader in local chambers and economic development organizations, including as former chair of the Board of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI), chair of Greater New Orleans Inc., and as a director of the Resource Bank, the Northshore Community Foundation, and Legatus Northshore. Her community involvement has been widely recognized: she was awarded Person of the Year by Associated Builders and Contractors Bayou Chapter in 2004; honored as Woman of the Year for St. Tammany West Business and Professional Women in 2007; inducted into the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame in 2008; named Corporate Executive of the Year by the Louisiana Center for Women in Government & Business; and in 2016, received the Ed Steimel Achievement Award from LABI.
A native of Louisiana, Donahue graduated from the University of Southwest Louisiana at Lafayette. More on her background is available here and a high-resolution photo may be found here.
The U.S. Chamber Board today also elected Christopher B. “Chris” Lofgren, Ph. D., to a one-year term as vice chairman. Recently retired as the president and CEO of Schneider National, a premier transportation and logistics provider, Chris is a technologist, globalist and governance expert. As he puts together his own entrepreneurial venture, he has committed to making the Chamber a major part of his next chapter.
