Jim Welty

As vice president of legislative and corporate affairs for the Pennsylvania of Chamber of Business and Industry, Jim Welty oversees the day-to-day lobbying operations and serves as the liaison for Investor-level members. He also is responsible for coordinating Chamber policy on issues of concern to PA businesses and advocates for those matters on Capitol Hill in Harrisburg, along with the rest of the Chamber’s government affairs team. Jim’s primary issue responsibilities include legal reform and taxation.

Jim previously served as director of government affairs for the PA Chamber, and was responsible for key business-related issues, including health care, labor issues and legal reform.

As state director for the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), Jim was the chief lobbyist for the organization at the state Capitol, coordinating all government affairs activities, including direct lobbying, grassroots, political action and media relations. Prior to his stint at the NFIB, he was director of legislative issues and research for the Pennsylvania Bankers Association where, in addition to his lobbying duties, he coordinated one of the largest statewide PAC operations in the Commonwealth.

Recently, Jim received recognition as one of the Central Pennsylvania Business Journal’s Forty Under 40. He also has been cited as one of the Harrisburg Patriot News’ up-and-coming lobbyists as named by his peers.

Jim serves on the state’s Unemployment Compensation Advisory Council, the state board of the YMCA and is an active member of the Central Pennsylvania United Way Focused Care Council for Children and Youth. He previously served as a member of the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute and volunteered as a soccer coach for both age group and adult teams.

Jim is an alumnus of Westminster College in New Wilmington, PA, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science. He earned his law degree attending night school at Widener University School of Law in Harrisburg.

Jim enjoys sailing, surfing and golfing, and he is an avid Jimmy Buffet and Pittsburgh sports fan. He happily resides at the foot of the Appalachian Trail in Boiling Springs with his trusty companion, a yellow lab named Lambert-Stiller.