Quaker Fabric Head Liebenow Elected Vice Chairman of U.S. Chamber

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States Chamber of Commerce board of directors has elected Larry Liebenow, president, CEO and director of the Quaker Fabric Corporation, as Vice Chairman for 2001-2002. Quaker Fabric, located in Fall River, Mass., is one of the largest producers of upholstered fabrics in the world and sells its products in some 45 countries.

"Larry brings a good combination of business expertise, political insight and broad international experience to this position," said Thomas J. Donohue, Chamber president and CEO. "He will be an excellent advocate for the Chamber on pro-business issues and policies."

As Vice Chairman, Liebenow will work with Donohue and new Chairman Steve Van Andel of Alticor, Inc., traveling the country and addressing state and local chambers and other business groups to advance the pro-business agenda. 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.

Liebenow has served on the Chamber board since 1996, most recently as chairman of the International Policy Committee. He also serves as director of the American Textile Manufacturers Institute and on the advisory board of the Council of the Americas. Since 1997, 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.

Liebenow has a bachelor's degree from Willamette University in Salem, Ore., and holds a master's in business administration from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

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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