James Wordsworth Selected Vice Chairman for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Southeastern Region

WASHINGTON, DC—The United States Chamber of Commerce has selected Jim Wordsworth as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for its southeastern region. The southeastern region includes: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Mississippi.

Wordsworth is also Chairman of the Chamber's Small Business Council, and its Labor Relations Committee.

"The Chamber is fortunate to have a regional Vice Chairman with such broad first hand knowledge of how to run and successfully grow a small business," said Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue. "Jim will provide invaluable leadership and vision in advancing our initiatives and small business agenda."

Wordsworth is the owner of a number of businesses in the hospitality and food services industry. His award winning restaurants have served customers for more than 30 years. He owns J.R.'s Stockyards Inn restaurant in McLean, Virginia, and J.R's Custom Catering Inc. His businesses are one of the largest private employers of young adults in the Northern Virginia area.

Wordsworth is Director Emeritus of the National Restaurant Association and serves on the board of directors of a number of Hospitality, Travel and Tourism organizations. He was a national finalist for the National Restaurant Association/American Express/America's Promise Humanitarian Award for 2004 and 2005. He was also named one of "America's Top Tables" by Gourmet magazine.

A North Carolina native, Wordsworth holds a computer science degree from the Southern Methodist University (SMU). Wordsworth currently resides in Oakton, Virginia, with his wife Karen.

The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

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