About the Lecture

Schedule

Sponsor & VIP Reception: 6 pm
Generously underwritten by Wells Fargo Bank

Program: 7 pm

About the Speaker

The Honorable Elaine L. Chao, the 24th U. S. Secretary of Labor who served from 2001-2009, is the first American woman of Asian heritage to be appointed to the President’s Cabinet in American history.

An immigrant who arrived in America at the age of eight speaking no English, Secretary Chao’s experience transitioning to a new country has motivated her to devote most of her professional life to ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to build better lives.

Secretary Chao has served with distinction in a number of leadership positions in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. As the first Secretary of Labor in the 21st Century, she focused on increasing the competitiveness of America’s workforce in a global economy and achieved record results in workplace safety and health.

Prior to the Department of Labor, Secretary Chao was President and Chief Executive Officer of United Way of America where she restored public trust and confidence in one of our nation's premier institutions of private charitable giving after it had been tarnished by financial mismanagement and abuse. As director of the Peace Corps, she established the first programs in the Baltic nations and the newly independent states of the former Soviet Union. Her government service also includes serving as Deputy Secretary at the U.S. Department of Transportation and Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission. She has also worked in the private sector as Vice President of Syndications at BankAmerica Capital Markets Group and Citicorp.

Secretary Chao earned her MBA from the Harvard Business School and an economics degree from Mount Holyoke College. Recognized for her extensive record of accomplishments and public service, she is the recipient of 35 honorary doctorate degrees.

A popular speaker on jobs, the economy, and U. S. competitiveness, Secretary Chao is Chair of the Ruth Mulan Chu Chao Foundation. She currently serves on a number of nonprofit and corporate boards including News Corp; Wells Fargo; Ingersoll Rand; Vulcan Materials Company; New York Presbyterian Hospital; the Institute of Politics, Harvard Kennedy School of Government; Harvard Business School Board of Global Advisors; Harvard Business School Board of Dean’s Advisors.

She is married to the Majority Leader of the United States Senate Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. Her website is: www.Elainechao.com.

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