U.S. Chamber Elects New Chairman

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Chamber of Commerce board of directors named Jeffrey Crowe, chairman and CEO of Landstar System, Inc., as its Chairman for 2003-2004. Landstar is one of the largest non-asset-based transportation capacity providers in the U.S., with a network of more than 7,200 business capacity owners (small business contractors who supply the company with the equipment used to haul freight), 14,000 third party truck capacity providers and 1,000 independent agent locations. Landstar has been named one of "America's Best Big Companies" by Forbes magazine for four consecutive years.

"Jeff is a distinguished member of the business community and his experience running one of the country's premier transportation companies will serve him well as Chairman," said Thomas J. Donohue, Chamber President and CEO. "He will play a significant role in educating our members on critical business issues and leading the charge at the grassroots level."

Crowe has served on the U.S. Chamber's board since 1998, working on both the Transportation and the Education, Employment and Training committees. He's also served as a board director for the National Chamber Foundation, the Chamber's public policy think tank.

During his one-year term as Chairman, Crowe will work closely with state and local chambers, and with other groups to educate business leaders on issues such as national defense and homeland security challenges, tort reform, and promoting corporate citizenship.

The Chamber's priorities for the upcoming year include addressing the rising cost of healthcare and pursuing medical liability reform, pushing for public-private partnerships in the protection of the nation's infrastructure and homeland security, promoting steady economic growth through tax relief, lobbying for full reauthorization of critical transportation investment measures, and electing pro-business representatives to Congress.

A graduate of Drake University, Crowe has served as chairman of the National Defense Transportation Association since 1993, and also serves on the boards of SunTrust Bank of North Florida and the ENO Transportation Foundation, among others. He has been recognized with numerous awards, including the National Transportation Award in 1996 and Financial World Magazine's Transportation CEO of the Year in 1995.

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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