CalChamber Execs Ranked Among California’s Top Political Influencers
Two CalChamber executive team members earned spots on an annual list honoring the most influential figures in California politics and public policy.
The Top 100 list revealed this week by Capitol Weekly showed CalChamber President and CEO Jennifer Barrera as No. 7 and CalChamber Senior Vice President of Political Affairs Liz Snow as No. 71.
Each year, the independent online news organization recognizes individuals who devote their careers to making an impact on state politics and public policy. Elected officials are not included on the Top 100 list, which has been published since 2009.
This year, Capitol Weekly highlighted how Barrera “blends a wealth of political smarts and strategic skills with wonky-in-a-good-way knowledge of policy and its impact on California companies large or small.”
The publication noted Barrera “is adept at threading the needle on complex high-stakes issues” with this year featuring CalChamber being “elbows deep in a wide range of ballot measures” in addition to the usual legislative battles over regulations and labor laws, and such.
“In short,” the publication wrote, “whether it is under the Capitol dome or at the ballot box, Barrera and the Chamber are primed to battle against anything they see as being bad for business.”
Snow, who joined the CalChamber team last September, has appeared on the Top 100 list multiple times previously while holding other roles. She has been chief of staff to Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and chief operating officer of the California Dental Association.
For this year’s list, Capitol Weekly notes that in addition to overseeing ChamberPAC, JobsPAC, and CalBusPAC, Snow has been “instrumental in getting the Chamber involved in independent expenditure campaigns to bolster business-friendly candidates and ballot measures around the state.”
The publication points to Snow’s “vast experience, exceptional political instincts, strategic skills and trove of relationships in the Capitol” as adding to her influence.