A note from the publisher From The Desk Of Margaret Spellings…
America is entering a new era of globalization made of equal parts opportunity and challenge. The last century saw America claim a position of global leadership. Now we see prosperity reaching a widening group of countries. They are ultimately America’s partners and competitors in the new globalization of manufacturing, information technology, and education. Globalization is also proving inherently disruptive to the old ways of doing things. Today, “Made in America” is increasingly synonymous with innovation and entrepreneurship. Advances in computing power are enabling the massive accumulation of information, and data is being shared and stored in new ways across the world. Just as globalization is breaking down the barriers between countries and economies, so it should be for the world’s best and brightest individuals. A country’s stock of human capital—people with all of their skills, talents, and abilities—represents its greatest competitive advantage. America’s business community depends on attracting, retaining, equipping, and deploying this immense resource. For 100 years, the U.S. Chamber has been standing up for American business. We have fought to ensure that the business community has a seat at the table, a voice in the debate, and a stake in the policy decisions that influence America’s future. We are strong, and we have been successful, because we have the strength of 3 million businesses behind us. Throughout this year, we will be celebrating our history. Yet our focus is really on the future. We face new challenges in the 21st century, and it will take the power of free enterprise and the initiative of businesses to overcome them. For the next 100 years, the Chamber will work to restore and strengthen America’s prosperity and competitiveness around the world, and we will continue to stand up for American business.
Sincerely,
PUBLISHER MARGARET SPELLINGS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF RICH COOPER ASSOCIATE EDITOR MICHAEL HENDRIX RESEARCH MANAGER CONTRIBUTING ROLES JACQUELINE CARL MARKETING MANAGER VANESSA LYON SENIOR DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS AND PROGRAMS KATHRYN TRAVER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, U.S. FORUM FOR POLICY INNOVATION AL MARTINEZ-FONTS VICE PRESIDENT, U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, U.S. FORUM FOR POLICY INNOVATION A special thanks to the rest of the NCF and Chamber team that made this publication possible through their creative contributions and hard work. Design & layout by Adfero Group
Margaret Spellings
Copyright © 2012 National Chamber Foundation