Monique Thierry
- Vice President, Congressional and Public Affairs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Monique Thierry is vice president of the Congressional and Public Affairs Southwest-South Central Regional office, which represents eight states. She leads the region’s efforts in developing and implementing a strategic agenda to strengthen operational initiatives and relationships with elected officials, chambers of commerce, member businesses, and associations.
Thierry collaborates with diverse communities within the region to cultivate long-term solutions and creative strategies to advance pro-business policies. Accordingly, she works with individuals, member organizations, and elected officials on pivotal policies and programs that are relevant to local and national solutions. This requires her to develop and maintain legislative, political, and grassroots resources that advance the U.S. Chamber’s public policy goals.
Thierry is a believer in the art of diplomacy in policy and communication and frequently serves as an instructor to empower chamber partners to build effective foundations that include advocacy and governance programs.
As vice president of the Southwest-South Central region, Thierry brings to her position strong roots and a wealth of experience in the business community to help advance the needs of chambers and business leaders in the region.
Throughout her academic and professional careers, she has been revered for her professional excellence. Thierry has been committed to service, community development, and diplomacy working with like-minded organizations and entities. She has successfully built partnerships across different ideologies and bridged deep divides to drive policies that benefit all entities.
Previously, she served as the first vice president of government affairs at the Chamber Southwest Louisiana. There she used her platform to reach state and federal agencies and elected officials on behalf of the five parishes she represented. She also developed a blueprint for its first-ever advocacy program and helped secure its first five-star U.S. Chamber Accreditation.
Thierry was at the forefront of revitalizing the area after Hurricane Rita. She earned statewide and national recognition while advocating for policy issues benefiting the economic interests of Southwest Louisiana while the area was recognized as a vital region of the state. Her philosophy of inclusive leadership resulted in pioneering legislation that had far-reaching significance. Working with the CEO of the Chamber Southwest Louisiana, she helped develop long-term regional strategies for environmental and energy issues, offshore oil revenue sharing, taxation, infrastructure, hurricane recovery, and coastal protection and restoration.
To elevate awareness of the regional and national economic importance, she created the Southwest LA and Southeast Texas first anniversary trail ride events, which brought together the governor, the White House federal recovery coordinator, the U.S. Defense Department general commander of relief operations, and congressional and state leaders. Her vision as creator of Legis Gator, the preeminent comprehensive legislative wrap-up in the state, and Chamber SWLA Day/Shrimp Boil helped cement her proficient reputation and that of the region.
During the 2011 redistricting process, Thierry was praised for skillfully leading advocacy efforts to keep the historic Acadiana region along the Louisiana I-10 corridor intact as one congressional district. The region was the only area in the state to retain a majority of its original district.
Before joining the Chamber Southwest Louisiana, Thierry held various leadership roles in state and federal politics, including serving in the administrations of former Governor Kathleen B. Blanco and current National Urban League President and former New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial. She also served as a member of former Governor Bobby Jindal’s transition team.
A graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana, she is also an alumna of Leadership Louisiana and a graduate of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Organization Management (IOM) and the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s Education and Workforce Business Leads program.
Additionally, Thierry was one of a few instructors selected by Coca-Cola Enterprises to advance its diversity, equity, and inclusion culture in select Louisiana plants and has worked on campaigns as well as with manufacturing and energy companies on implementing effective strategies for success.
She previously served on the U.S. Chamber’s Small Business Council and Energy and Environment committees and was a founding board member of Ellevate Louisiana. Thierry served as a board member on the Council for a Better Louisiana that merged with the Louisiana Committee of 100 to form the prestigious Leaders for a Better Louisiana. She was selected to continue her service as a board member of the new organization. Thierry also serves on the Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana, and the North Texas Commission Government Affairs Committee. She is a member of the Mystick Krewe of Louisianians.
Thierry served on the Super Bowl LIX host committee and was an adviser to the U.S. Chamber Women Taking the Lead initiative.
