(April 20, 2007) The California Chamber of Commerce yesterday announced that Robert Lapsley has joined CalChamber as Vice President of Public Affairs.

Lapsley will oversee the CalChamber's public affairs activities, including its Advocacy Council, a political advisory committee made up of major members; its candidate recruitment and support program; and its political action committees —ChamberPAC, which supports pro-jobs candidates, and CalBusPAC, which qualifies, supports and/or opposes ballot initiatives. He also will serve as the CalChamber liaison to JobsPAC, a broad, employer-based committee that supports pro-jobs candidates.

"By identifying and helping elect pro-jobs candidates to local and state office, the employer community can ensure it has representation at all levels of government, as well as a future bench of candidates for higher office," said CalChamber President Allan Zaremberg. "Robert Lapsley brings to the CalChamber the experience and tools necessary to work collaboratively with the business community and identify and support candidates who want to improve California's business climate. Success in these efforts is essential to making California an even more attractive state for business and the economy to thrive."

Robert Lapsley

Lapsley brings over twenty years of public affairs and business experience to the CalChamber. Most recently, Lapsley was president of RCL Consultants, a firm specializing in business, regulatory, political and public affairs consulting. Previously, Lapsley served as vice president of Arnel Development and was responsible for new business projects in the company's commercial, retail and multi-family portfolio, including federal, state and local government relations, project entitlements and project pro-forma analysis.

As a presidential appointee, Lapsley served as special assistant to U.S. Ambassador to Spain George Argyros. While with the U.S. State Department and in addition to his diplomatic duties, Lapsley coordinated strategies with private sector firms and the U.S. Department of Commerce in the Spanish-American and European Union business arenas on matters pertaining to capital investment and overseas trade, including restructuring of the American Business Council and American Chamber of Commerce.

A long-time policy and political aide to former Secretary of State Bill Jones, Lapsley served as Undersecretary of State from 1995-1998 and from 1999-2001; he also managed both of Jones's successful campaigns for that constitutional office. Previous experience includes serving as legislative director for CalEPA in the Wilson Administration, and with the Assembly and Senate Campaign Committee and the Assembly Republican Caucus.

Lapsley graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and political science from Illinois State University. He was also a graduate public affairs fellow with the Coro Foundation and is a veteran of the United States Air Force.

Staff Contact: Vince Sollitto