Alticor Chairman Van Andel Elected Chair of U.S. Chamber of Commerce

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States Chamber of Commerce board of directors today named Steve Van Andel as its Chairman for 2001-2002. Van Andel is chairman of Alticor, Inc., the parent company of Amway Corp., Quixtar Inc. and other businesses.

Van Andel has served on the Chamber's board of directors for five years, most recently as Vice Chairman in 2000-2001. He has also served on the board of the Center for International Private Enterprise, a Chamber affiliate that works to build democracy and market economies globally.

During his one-year term as Chairman, Van Andel will travel extensively across the country and around the world, meeting with state and local chambers and other groups educating business leaders on critical issues such as trade, tax relief and improving the image of business.

The Chamber's outlined priorities for the upcoming year include reducing the number of Americans without adequate health insurance, tax breaks for small businesses, blocking frivolous class-action lawsuits against legitimate companies and industries, eliminating tariffs and barriers to international trade, and working with lawmakers to devise an effective and comprehensive national energy strategy.

"Steve's experience as a business leader and dedication to the goals of the Chamber will help us bring the message of free enterprise around the nation," said Thomas J. Donohue, Chamber President and CEO. "He will play an active role in educating the Chamber's federation members on issues critical to business."

In addition to his work with the Chamber, Van Andel has served on the boards of Operation Enterprise - American Medical Association and Michigan-based groups including the Borgess Metro Health Alliance, Metropolitan Hospital, and the Grand Rapids John Ball Zoo Society.

Van Andel graduated from Hillsdale College in Michigan and has a master's in business administration in marketing from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation, representing more than three million businesses of every size, sector and region.

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