January 31, 2006 - Providence, RI  -  Kimberly I. McCarthy, Esq. has been named Chair of the Chamber Coalition Government Affairs Committee.  The Committee studies, analyzes, and formulates positions on issues of interest to over 6,800 businesses represented by the Chamber Coalition’s eight members: the Central Rhode Island, East Bay, East Greenwich, Narragansett, North Central, North Kingstown, Northern Rhode Island and South Kingstown Chambers of Commerce.

Ms. McCarthy is a partner of Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP and concentrates a significant portion of her practice advising clients on federal and state tax law, employee benefits, and health care regulatory implications of business decisions.  Additionally, she provides executive and legislative lobbying advice and services to area businesses and nonprofits.  Ms. McCarthy is admitted to practice in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, and before the U.S. Tax Court, the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. District Courts, and the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals.  Ms. McCarthy obtained her LL.M. from Boston University School of Law, her J.D., magna cum laude, from Boston College Law School, and her A.B., magna cum laude, from Brown University.  She is Vice President of the Board of Directors of Children’s Friend and Service, and a member of the Board of Girl Scouts of Rhode Island.  She also was recently named one of the State’s 40 top young businesspeople by the Providence Business News in its first annual “40 Under Forty” awards.  Ms. McCarthy and her family are residents of Cumberland, Rhode Island and are active participants in the local community.  

The selection of Ms. McCarthy as Committee Chair met with a very positive response.  John C. Gregory, President /CEO of the Northern Rhode Island Chamber, stated: "With the growth of the Chamber Coalition and the increased involvement in advocacy by our members, we are very pleased to have a person of Kim McCarthy’s caliber leading our committee. Her experience representing client interests at the Rhode Island State House, her knowledge of the business community and her credibility statewide are all examples of why the Chamber Coalition Government Affairs Committee believes she is an excellent choice for Chair."

Lauren E.I. Slocum, President /CEO of the Central RI Chamber of Commerce noted, "The selection of Kim McCarthy as chair of the Chamber Coalition Government Affairs Committee will serve to strengthen our credibility as the state's largest business advocacy organization. She is highly intelligent, energetic, well respected by the people she deals with, and quite personable. I am very confident she will move our collective 6,800 member businesses best interests forward, and will help provide the type of leadership that our Chamber Coalition members expect."
 
The first public event to introduce both the Chamber Coalition and Ms. McCarthy in her new role as Chair will be the Legislative Reception on March 10, 2006 from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the Rhode Island State House – Governor’s State Room and Statehouse Rotunda.