Laura Huffman — Austin Chamber — Austin Ecosystem

**Laura Huffman** served as the President and CEO of the **Austin Chamber of Commerce** from 2018 to 2022, leading Austin's economic development strategy during the city's most explosive growth period (Tesla, Oracle, Samsung expansion). Previously, she was the Texas state director for The Nature Conservancy. She holds a BA from UT Austin and a JD from South Texas College of Law.\n\nLaura's tenure at the Chamber encompassed the COVID pandemic, the semiconductor shortage, the freeze of 2021, and the influx of California tech companies. She navigated the tension between Austin's progressive culture and its business-friendly growth.