WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 16, 2008 - The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC) today announced the election of Sari Macrie, vice president of corporate relations for Allstate Insurance Company, to serve as board chairman and Akhtar Badshah, senior director of community affairs for Microsoft Corporation, to serve as vice chairman.

'The BCLC Board of Directors have elected two outstanding leaders to advance the organization's mission of helping business make a positive impact on society," said Arthur J. Rothkopf, senior vice president and counselor to the president of the U.S. Chamber and executive vice president of BCLC.

Macrie and Badshah were voted in on Monday, July 14. BCLC's 23-person board of directors oversees the organization’s overall strategic direction and four programs: business and society, corporate community investment, disaster assistance and recovery, and global corporate citizenship.

"I am honored to chair the Business Civic Leadership Center's Board of Directors," said Macrie. "BCLC is a leading organization in the increasingly important field of corporate social responsibility. Everyone on the board is committed to furthering BCLC’s mission and effectiveness."

Diverse chambers of commerce and business industries are represented on the board, including accounting, aerospace, financial services, information and communications technology, insurance, mining, oil and gas, and pharmaceuticals.

"As a global company, it is in Microsoft's best interest to see an increase in the effectiveness of business engagement in society," said Badshah. "BCLC strives to achieve just that, and I am proud to serve on its board."

BCLC is a not-for-profit affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and is the Chamber's voice and resource for the social and philanthropic interests of the business community. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region. www.uschamber.com/bclc