The Kansas Chamber of Commerce

****JavaScript based drop down DHTML menu generated by NavStudio. (OpenCube Inc. - http://www.opencube.com)****

The Kansas Chamber News Release

The Kansas Chamber
News Release

For more information contact:
Amy J. Blankenbiller
President/CEO
The Kansas Chamber
785-357-6321
amyb@kansaschamber.org

Kansas Chamber Selects Senior Director of Legislative Affairs

TOPEKA, KAN. (August 7, 2008) The Kansas Chamber is very pleased to announce that Rachelle Colombo will be joining our staff as the Senior Director of Legislative Affairs. In this position, Rachelle will work to strengthen the Chamber’s position within the policy arena and at the Statehouse.

Ms. Colombo brings with her significant legislative experience and will be responsible for promoting policies that will make Kansas the best state in America to do business.

“We are thrilled that Rachelle is joining the Kansas Chamber,” said President and CEO Amy Blankenbiller. “She has a wealth of legislative experience at the Statehouse and has developed extensive relationships with legislators and staff, which will be instrumental as a key lobbyist on the Chamber’s core business issues.”

Prior to joining the Chamber, Colombo most recently served as the Chief of Staff to Kansas House Majority Leader Ray Merrick. In addition, Rachelle has also served as Political Director for Majority Leader Merrick and worked in the Kansas House Speaker’s office as Communication Director and Executive Assistant.

Rachelle will join the Chamber staff in September. Upon Rachelle’s departure, the Majority Leader’s former Chief of Staff, Peter Freund, will return to that position. The Chamber looks forward to working with Peter and continuing its positive relationship with Majority Leader Merrick’s office.

Colombo holds a bachelor’s degree in speech communications and English literature from Baylor University. She currently lives in Topeka, Kan., is married to Jeff, and has two small children, Maxwell (4) and Kaitlyn (2).

The Kansas Chamber, with headquarters in Topeka, is the leading statewide pro-business advocacy group moving Kansas towards becoming the best state in America to live and work. The Chamber represents small, medium and large employers all across Kansas. For more information on the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, go to www.kansaschamber.org.