Jim Leonard, Senior Vice President, Government Relations

Jim joined the staff of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce in January, 1995, as Vice President of Government Relations. Jim is the chief lobbyist for the Chamber, and is responsible for directing and coordinating all legislative and grassroots activities on behalf of the employers of the state.

Prior to his current position, Jim worked in Washington, D.C., for the American Medical Association, serving as Regional Political Director. In this capacity, Jim coordinated all political and grassroots communication between state medical societies, physician leaders and their respective Congressional Representatives in twelve states. He was also responsible for grassroots field operations, organizing legislative and political field activities, screening political candidates, providing support to candidates backed by the American Medical Political Action Committee, and developing and maintaining coalitions to raise the profile of the Association.

Before Washington, Jim was Executive Director and Senior Manager of Legislative and Political Affairs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce - Eastern Regional Office, located in New York City. Duties included development, coordination and implementation of all legislative strategy and political activities for the Eastern Region of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (Maine to West Virginia). Additionally, Jim was responsible for working with local and state chambers of commerce to assist then in their grassroots political and legislative lobbying activities.

A native of Skaneateles, New York (one of the finger lakes in Central New York), Jim graduated from the State University of New York, College at Geneseo, with a degree in Speech Communication and Public Relations.

Jim currently serves on many boards and commissions including serving as Vice Chairman of Health Sense New Jersey and as Vice Chairman of the State Police Memorial Association Board. In addition, Jim holds elected office on the Township Committee for Branchburg Township (Somerset County), New Jersey, where he, his wife Patty and their daughter Elizabeth reside.