Stephen Waguespack, who stepped down as the head of Louisiana's largest business organization to unsuccessfully run for governor, has been hired by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Waguespack will serve as a special counsel to the chamber, according to a news release sent out Thursday evening. He will work on projects related to his expertise such as energy, insurance, legal reform, workforce development, small-business issues, and state-level advocacy.
"I have always been driven to bring people together to find substantive solutions, grounded in the principles of free enterprise, to everyday challenges," Waguespack said in a text message. "This is a great opportunity to do just that."
He said he will remain based in Louisiana, working remotely and making trips to Washington, D.C.
Waguespack was president and CEO of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry for nearly 10 years, before he resigned in March to run for governor. The Baton Rouge Republican finished third in the race, garnering nearly 6% of the vote.
Before being selected as head of LABI, Waguespack was chief of staff for former Gov. Bobby Jindal. He also served on the staff of U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas.
Suzanne P. Clark, president and CEO of the chamber said in a statement that Waguespack's expertise and relationships were "a tremendous asset."
Waguespack earned a bachelor's in mass communications from LSU and a law degree from The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law.