COLUMBUS, OH – Derrick R. Clay, Senior Vice President of Shumaker Advisors, has been selected to serve as Vice Chair of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He will serve a two-year term, which puts him in line to hold the board chair position in 2025. A member of the board since 2020, Derrick was selected by the Board Chair, outgoing Vice Chair, Governance Committee Chair, and President and CEO of the Columbus Chamber Don DePerro.
“Derrick Clay distinguishes himself by his work every day,” said Columbus Chamber President and CEO Don DePerro. “While leading our Chamber’s Government Affairs Steering Committee, Derrick helped us make great strides in supporting and defeating proposed legislation that impacts our business community. Derrick is respected and highly regarded throughout the Columbus Region.”
“I am excited that Derrick will continue to serve in a leadership role within the Columbus Chamber,” said Tony Ruscilli, President of Ruscilli Construction Company and outgoing Vice Chair of the Columbus Chamber. “He has been an outstanding board member and will make a great chair in the upcoming years.”
With more than 2,000 members, the Columbus Chamber’s mission is to help the Columbus Region grow and thrive, acting as the voice of the business community through distinct pillars of strategic business solutions, connections, government relations, and talent and workforce.
“It is an honor to serve as Vice Chair of the Columbus Chamber’s Board of Directors, working alongside such a distinguished group of community leaders,” said Derrick. “The Chamber is a driving force in the Columbus region, advocating for moving it into the future.”
Derrick’s leadership skills and strong public policy background make him an effective and efficient advocate when assisting clients with government and regulatory affairs. Drawing from his combined experience working with legislative and regulatory matters, Derrick guides his clients through the complexities of the social, economic, and political landscape of government.
Prior to joining Shumaker Advisors, Derrick spent nearly two decades with the government relations and lobbying firm New Visions Group, where he started as Vice President and Partner in 2004 and moved into the position of CEO when he acquired the firm in 2014.
Derrick’s previous experience also includes serving as Midwest Political Director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Ohio State Director for the Gore-Lieberman 2000 Presidential Campaign, a member of the historic Florida Recount Committee, and Executive Director of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC), among other leadership roles.