Utah attorney Jacey Skinner has been announced as the new General Counsel and Vice President of Public Policy for the Salt Lake Chamber, replacing Abby Osborne who left the Chamber earlier this summer to become the Chief of Staff for the Utah House of Representatives.
Skinner has held a variety of senior leadership roles in Utah state government and is currently an attorney at Ballard Spahr, LLP, where she focuses on government relations, public policy, administrative law, election law and litigation. She will continue her relationship with that firm. Skinner served as General Counsel to Gov. Gary Herbert from 2013 to 2017. In that role, she negotiated legislation, oversaw the Governor’s legislative review and bill signing, coordinated litigation with the Attorney General’s Office, advised the Governor, his cabinet, and the Lieutenant Governor on legal, policy, and ethical issues, and oversaw Gov. Herbert’s judicial appointment process.
“Jacey will elevate the role and impact of the Salt Lake Chamber on Capitol Hill,” said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber. “Jacey’s extensive background in government relations and public policy makes her an immediate asset to our organization as we continue to successfully execute our mission. We look forward to her leadership, during the legislative session and throughout the year.”
Skinner also served as the Deputy State Court Administrator for the State of Utah, where she facilitated policy development and managed relations with the state legislature, executive branch agencies, the Utah Judicial Council, and the Utah Supreme Court.
Skinner said, “the Chamber is an important voice on the most pressing issues facing our state. For the past decade, I’ve appreciated opportunities to sit at the table with Chamber leaders as they represented the priorities of the business community to the Governor and the Legislature. I am honored to have the opportunity to work closely with our state and city leaders, on behalf of the Chamber’s members, as we ensure that Utah remains the place we all want to live and work.”
Her experience includes serving as Director of the Utah Sentencing Commission and President of the National Association of Sentencing Commissions, where she oversaw sentencing guidelines, assisted with judicial appointments, and advised the legislature, judiciary, and Governor’s Office on sentencing policy. Skinner was a Deputy District Attorney from 2003 to 2009 at the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s office, where she tried both felony and juvenile cases and oversaw policy development and advocacy as Vice Chair of the Statewide Association of Prosecutors Legislative Action Committee.
She currently serves as a Trustee for Utah State University and a member of the Boards of Directors for And Justice for All and the Utah Center for Legal Inclusion.
Skinner took on the new role of General Counsel and VP of Public Policy of the Salt Lake Chamber on August 6, 2019.
ABOUT THE CHAMBER
The Salt Lake Chamber is Utah’s largest and longest-standing business association. A statewide chamber of commerce with members in all 29 Utah counties, the Chamber represents the broad interests of the state’s 63,000-plus employers, which employ more than 1.4 million Utahns. This includes thousands of Chamber members and their employees. With roots that date back to 1887, the Chamber stands as the voice of business, supports its members’ success and champion’s community prosperity.
