Annie Vogt new vice president of communications, Grace Appelbe new director of policy & government affairs, Garrick Taylor to transition to consultant role
PHOENIX (November 30, 2021) – The Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the state’s most influential advocacy organization for job creators, today announced that it is welcoming two new members to its team and that a longtime staff member is transitioning to a new role.
Annie Vogt joins the Chamber as vice president of communications. She was previously an associate director for Veridus – a prominent Arizona government relations and public affairs firm – where she provided public relations and strategic communications guidance for some of the state and country’s highest-profile companies and organizations. Before joining Veridus, Vogt served as press secretary under Govs. Doug Ducey and Jan Brewer, where she was responsible for the messaging and drafting of official statements, press releases, opinion columns, public remarks, social media content and other external communications on behalf of the Governor’s Office.
“Annie has served two governors and delivered top-notch communications services for a wide variety of industries and companies,” Arizona Chamber President and CEO Danny Seiden said. “The Chamber and our members are so fortunate to be able to welcome someone with her reputation and acumen aboard. Her career has been marked by managing challenging Arizona issues in pressure-packed environments. The state’s job creators couldn’t ask for a better advocate in the court of public opinion.”
Grace Appelbe is the Chamber’s new director of policy & government affairs. She joins the Chamber from the Office of Gov. Ducey where she was a policy adviser on issues that included housing, real estate, pensions, workforce, administration, and financial institutions. Prior to joining the Governor’s Office, Appelbe was the external relations manager for the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, a leading biotechnology industry advocacy group, and a legislative clerk for the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
“Grace’s wide-ranging experience on issues important to Arizona’s business community makes her a perfect fit to oversee our policy committees, help advance our pro-economic-growth agenda at the Capitol, and work with our members to address any regulatory and legislative hurdles they might face,” Chamber Vice President of Government Affairs Courtney Coolidge said. “Grace is fast becoming a respected professional in Arizona public policy and we couldn’t be happier that she’ll be joining our efforts to help make Arizona the best state to do business.”
Appelbe started in her new role this week, and Vogt will join in December.
The Chamber also announced that Garrick Taylor will be departing his role as executive vice president. Taylor will continue to serve as a consultant to the Chamber under the auspices of his new public affairs firm.
“For more than a decade, Garrick has been an invaluable part of the Chamber’s major policy wins that have made Arizona more competitive in the global economy,” Seiden said. “While his position might be changing slightly, he’ll continue to play a central role in advancing the Chamber’s mission on behalf of the state’s job creators and our future successes.”
Taylor joined the Chamber in 2009 and has overseen the organization’s communications, policy development, advocacy, and political activity.
“I’m looking forward to continuing to advocate for the Chamber’s agenda in whatever forum it’s called for and to help the team be successful,” Taylor said. “Over the span of just a few months, Danny has assembled a talented group of professionals committed to growing the Arizona economy and making the Chamber the best organization of its kind in the country. I’m privileged to have been a part of the Chamber over the last several years and I am fortunate to continue to work alongside its members and team in this new role. I anticipate only great things for the Arizona Chamber in the years to come.”
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The Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry is committed to advancing Arizona’s competitive position in the global economy by advocating free-market policies that stimulate economic growth and prosperity for all Arizonans.
