University of South Florida

Meisels Selected to Attend U.S. Chamber Business LEADs Seminar

TAMPA, Fla. (June 19, 2009) – Gerry Meisels, professor of chemistry and director of The Coalition for Science Literacy (CSL) at the University of South Florida, was selected by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for a Competitive Workforce to attend the Business LEADs Institute, a three-day seminar in Washington, D.C on July 13 – 15.  Selected for his leadership in the community, Meisels will join 36 other business leaders from around the nation to learn how the business community can utilize its assets to drive positive transformation in communities across America in education and workforce training. 

“Educating and training Americans for the jobs of the 21st century is essential to long-term economic growth in this country,” said Arthur J. Rothkopf, senior vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “This program will allow the business community to play an active role in improving student success and the United State’s ability to compete globally.”

The seminar, part of a $2.6 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,  is the first of five Business LEADs Institutes which will develop and train a network of business leaders on education issues, network organization, and communications to empower them to be effective advocates for improving America’s education system.

Dr. Meisels has proven to be deeply committed to the success of his community and its citizens,” said Rothkopf.  “The Business LEADs program will provide leaders like Dr. Meisels with the knowledge and resources to help prepare the next generation of young people for a rapidly changing world.” 

The Institute for a Competitive Workforce (ICW) is the non profit, non partisan, 501(c)3 affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. ICW promotes the rigorous educational standards and effective job training systems needed to preserve the strength of America's greatest economic resource, its workforce.