ABOUT THE CHAIRMAN'S LEADERSHIP FORUM: a non-profit, nonpartisan, educational association for all legislative leadership, committee chairs and ranking members of state legislatures to provide leadership training, negotiation skills and consensus building.

There are a number of organizations for state legislators but none that directly addresses the leadership needs of key state legislators. In a time of new state legislative leadership, budget deficits and term limits which can place first term legislators in positions of power, the Chairman’s Leadership Forum provides professional training that will enhance the leadership role of key legislators and promote more effective policy making.

ABOUT JOY NEWTON: Prior to founding The Chairman’s Leadership Forum in 2008, Joy Newton was the founder and Executive Director of Women in Government, a bi-partisan, nonprofit, educational association for all elected women in state government. The mission of the association is to promote the leadership role of elected women through issue education and leadership training. Joy served as Executive Director from 1988-2005.

Other positions held by Joy include fourteen years as a Senior State Government Representative for JCPenney and four years as Corporate Program Director for the Republican Governors’ Association.

Since her semi "retirement" to Tucson in 2005, Joy has served on the boards of TIEMPO (a Tucson business and women’s association) and president of WOSAC (The women’s studies department of the University of Arizona). She has also been a consultant to the Southern Arizona Children’s Advocacy Center (a center for abused children).

Joy received her B.A. in political science from Wilson College, Chambersburg Pennsylvania.