Show-Me State Times

Daniel P. Mehan has announced his retirement from his role as president and CEO of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry after nearly three decades at the helm of Missouri’s largest business association.

A Missouri native who grew up in St. Louis, Mehan joined the Missouri Chamber in 1995 and became president and CEO in 1998. Over his 29-year tenure, he transformed the organization into a prominent voice on legislative, regulatory, and judicial issues.

“I am very proud of the accomplishments of the Missouri Chamber during my tenure. It would never have happened without the support of our Board of Directors and the membership at large. We have also been blessed by having some of the best people in the business on our team who executed so well,” Mehan said.

As president, Mehan built the Missouri Chamber Political Action Committee and the Missouri Chamber Political Institute, which have played key roles in securing a pro-business majority of lawmakers in the Missouri General Assembly.

In 2015, he led the implementation of a 15-year strategic plan called Missouri 2030: An Agenda to Lead, which focused on improving Missouri’s workforce readiness, economic competitiveness, infrastructure, and overall economic strength. Some significant policy changes in recent years can be tied to that plan.

Through his leadership, the Missouri Chamber has supported employers through extensive workforce and leadership development programs, including Leadership Missouri.

Mehan’s work extended to serving on several boards and commissions aimed at bringing economic growth to Missouri, including the Midwest Cargo Hub Commission and the Missouri Hawthorn Foundation.

Under his leadership, the Missouri Chamber was named State Chamber of the Year by the Council of State Chambers in 2019.

“I know the Missouri Chamber, as one of the premier state business organizations in the nation, is in a strong position to continue its mission into the future,” Mehan said.

The search for his successor will begin in coming weeks under guidance from Executive Committee members on Board of Directors.