The Kansas Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors on Tuesday named longtime lobbyist Eric Stafford as its new president and chief executive officer.
Stafford succeeds former Wichita business executive Coleen Jennison, who had served the as the interim president and CEO since last July.
Stafford had most recently served as the chamber’s vice president of government affairs.
He joined the chamber as the senior director of government affairs in January 2011.
Before going to work at the chamber, Stafford served as the director of government affairs for the Associated General Contractors of Kansas for six years.
With AGC, Stafford lobbied on behalf of the commercial building construction industry. He also oversaw the organization’s communications and public relations efforts.
“For more than two decades, I have had the privilege of working alongside Kansas employers to strengthen our state’s business climate and expand opportunities for growth,” Stafford said in a statement.
“I look forward to building on that work, partnering with our board and membership, and ensuring the chamber continues to deliver strong advocacy, innovative programming, and meaningful leadership for Kansas businesses.”
As president, Stafford will oversee the chamber’s statewide operations, strategic initiatives, advocacy efforts and member engagement.
“The board is confident that Eric Stafford is the right leader to guide the Kansas Chamber into its next chapter,” said Kansas City real estate attorney Korb Maxwell, chair of the Kansas Chamber Board of Directors.
“Eric’s deep understanding of Kansas business needs, his long-standing commitment to effective advocacy, and his proven ability to bring together diverse stakeholders made him the unanimous choice of the board after conducting a rigorous search,” he said.
The chamber reported about $3.1 million in revenue during 2023, according to federal tax records.
It also has an independent political action committee that spent about $822,000 in 2024 helping Republicans expand their supermajority in the Legislature.
The chamber had been searching for a new president since last summer after Alan Cobb stepped down after a little more than eight years in the position.
