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Jennifer Barrera took over as president and CEO of the California Chamber of Commerce on October 1, 2021. She has been part of the CalChamber team since 2010 and stepped into the top position after serving as CalChamber executive vice president, overseeing the development and implementation of policy and strategy for the organization, as well as representing the CalChamber on legal reform issues. Barrera is well-known for her success rate with the CalChamber’s annual list of job killer legislation, efforts to reform the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) and leadership working with employers on critical issues, including most recently those arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, she advises the business compliance activities of the CalChamber on interpreting changes in employment law. Barrera earned a B.A. in English from California State University, Bakersfield, and a J.D. with high honors from California Western School of Law. See full bio

CalChamber and Strategic Partners Secure Big Wins for Business

On September 30, Governor Gavin Newsom concluded review and action on more than 1,200 bills sent to his desk as part of the 2024...

Celebrating 134 Years of Leadership

February 20 marked the 134th anniversary of CalChamber’s work on behalf of the state’s businesses and job creators. We are grateful for the opportunity...

Remembering Allan Zaremberg

Sunday, February 4th, marked the one-year anniversary of Allan Zaremberg’s passing. The day caused me to pause, again remembering and recognizing Allan’s legacy. A...

California Law Helping Workers File Labor Claims Needs Reform

Eight billion dollars. That’s the amount of money trial attorneys have leveraged from California employers over the last six years in Private Attorneys General...

Voters Should Reject Proposition 30

The California Chamber of Commerce is urging all Californians to vote NO on Proposition 30. California’s ability to compete depends on attracting and retaining...

Wage Theft Does Not Define California’s Private Sector Employers

The issue of “wage theft” has recently gotten some renewed attention in the news. Unfortunately, reporting on this issue often results in creating an...

California Needs a Digital Trade Deal

It’s no secret that technology is the backbone of California’s economy. In fact, despite the roadblocks posed by the pandemic, the tech sector helped...

Record Budget Surplus Calls for Tripling Down on UI Fund Offset

Californians have traveled a bumpy road to post-pandemic recovery, with healthy employment and wage growth on the one hand, but soaring inflation and cost-of-living...

State Must Act Now to Pay Down Unemployment Insurance Debt

This pandemic created unprecedented unemployment, which was not only devastating to thousands of Californians and their families, but also drained the state’s unemployment insurance...

Moderate Democrats Show Influence in Key Economic Recovery Policy Areas

In a democracy, it’s the votes that count. No matter what the polls say before election day, or the pundits say about the make-up...

CalChamber Endorses Effort to Open Schools Safely/Soon

The time has come for the Legislature to join Governor Gavin Newsom in finalizing an agreement to reopen California public schools. Governor Newsom has laid...

Job Killer Rehiring/Retention Mandate Moves in Senate

A California Chamber of Commerce-opposed job killer bill that will unnecessarily slow the ability of certain businesses to reopen following a state of emergency...

CalChamber Announces Leave Mandate as Job Killer

The California Chamber of Commerce this week announced that SB 1383 (Jackson; D-Santa Barbara) has been identified as a job killer bill. The bill...

Key to Reopening—Liability Protection

As businesses throughout the state start to reopen, there is a looming question as to whether it is safe. Consumers want to resume a...

CalChamber Recommends Ways to Fire Up Economy

Setting liability limits for employers facing lawsuits over COVID-19 exposure, postponing the 2021 minimum wage hike, and expediting retraining programs for unemployed workers are...

Assembly Committee Moves Job Killer Bills to Next Stage

A job killer bill that will significantly restrict Californians’ ability to access home and auto loans by placing onerous burdens on lenders, which will...

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program Provides Benefits to Employees Who Have Symptoms or Are Ill with the Coronavirus

As a part of his roadmap to reopening the economy, California Governor Gavin Newsom recently raised the issue of a wage replacement mandate on...