Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce hires Toni Barger Bahn for governmental affairs post
by December 15, 2016 3:38 pm 460 views
The Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce has hired Toni Barger Bahn as its new director of governmental affairs. She will start Jan. 3.
She is replacing Angela DeLille, who took a job recently as government and regulatory affairs manager for Cox Communications.
Bahn has spent the past 16 years working for the University of Arkansas as director of special events for the athletics department. Her final day there will be Dec. 22.
At the state chamber, Bahn will be in charge of lobbying efforts in the upcoming legislative session and during the interim.
“I had 16 wonderful years at Arkansas and did some amazing things, but my background is in public service and politics, so it will be nice to get back to that,” Bahn said. “I am very excited.”
A 2000 graduate of the University of Arkansas with degrees in political science and communications, Bahn has served on the Farmington Planning Commission since 2004, including eight years as secretary.
Bahn, originally from Jacksonville, was also elected president of Leadership Arkansas Class X earlier this year.
“We are pleased to add Toni to our government affairs team,” said Randy Zook, president and chief executive officer of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce. “Her work at the UA prepares her well to understand the regional needs in Northwest Arkansas and she certainly knows the territory. I am looking forward to her contributions to our efforts to improve the business climate in Arkansas.”
Bahn said she will continue to live in Northwest Arkansas but will be spending the majority of her time in Little Rock when the 91st General Assembly convenes Jan. 9.