NEW ORLEANS — Maura Donahue, executive vice president of DonahueFavret Contractors, has been recognized for her contributions and leadership during her service in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Donahue has served as chairman of the board twice, first in 2005-2006 and again in 2019-2020.
“Maura was not only one of our most passionate advocates for small business and civic engagement during her many years of service on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, but she was also a two-time board chair and the first woman to ever hold that position. We are so grateful for her good counsel and expertise over the years and appreciate Maura’s unwavering commitment to the chamber and its mission,” said Suzanne P. Clark, president of the U.S. Chamber.
Her leadership extends beyond milestones, having served twice as board chair during periods of great national and regional challenges, including Hurricane Katrina and the global COVID-19 pandemic.
“Maura Donahue is a seasoned business leader who has built a company from the ground up. She understands the challenges businesses face and how the chamber can help them grow and succeed,” said Thomas J. Donohue, CEO of the U.S. Chamber. “Over the years she has tirelessly contributed her time and talents to the chamber, and the American business community is stronger for it.”
“I first joined the board way back in 1998, the same year DonahueFavret Contractors joined the chamber,” said Maura Donahue. “During my first term as chairman of the board, I focused heavily on legal reform, healthcare and deregulation.”
“To serve in this role a second time was the ultimate compliment and a tremendous opportunity. I dedicated my experience and institutional knowledge to helping build a pipeline of volunteer leadership that I believe will serve the chamber well for years to come,” she added.
Her roles included service on the Executive Committee, the Nominating Committee, participation on the Small Business Council (which she chaired) from 2000-2005, and membership on the Accrediting Committee since 1998.
As chair, her primary objectives were to highlight the role small businesses play in the country’s economy, emphasizing the need for engagement at local, state, and national levels.
“We need to rely on our membership in the state, local, and national chambers and economic development organizations to be our voice in our absence,” she said.
DonahueFavret is a 44-year-old general contracting corporation with annual revenues over $100 million.
