Chamber of Progress, a center-left tech industry association launched one year ago in March 2021, announced the addition of two new team members with experience in municipal politics, and public interest organizations. The organization also announced an expansion of its work promoting “civic innovation” – transformational technology services that improve people’s lives in cities and communities.

“Tech-driven services have changed the way we live in cities and communities, but innovators sometimes face NIMBY opposition to transformative ideas,” said Chamber of Progress CEO Adam Kovacevich.  “We are proud ‘innovation YIMBYs’ and will be expanding our work promoting safer, greener, more equitable cities with a better quality of life, thanks to new technology services.”

As part of its expanded focus on civic innovation, Chamber of Progress will deepen its federal, state, and local advocacy on behalf of autonomous vehicles; delivery and sharing services; telehealth technology; “proptech” housing services; and innovative transportation modes like scooters, drones, and electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOLs).  Kovacevich authored a blog post with more detail here.

Jamie Pascal has joined the organization to lead its work in these areas, as Director of Civic Innovation Policy. Pascal worked for five years at the African American Mayors Association (AAMA) and most recently as Legislative Affairs Specialist at the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). As Director of Policy and Programs at AAMA, Pascal helped to lead a number of tech-focused initiatives, including research on the future of work and promoting broadband access. Pascal graduated from Howard University and received her Masters in Public Policy at George Washington University.

In addition, Sade Bruce recently joined Chamber of Progress as Operations & Partner Manager, overseeing the organization’s administrative functions and management of partner relationships. Previously, Bruce was an operations manager for the Better Life Lab at New America; and an AmeriCorps volunteer with the social service organization LIFT.  Bruce graduated from the University of Maryland and earned her Masters in Public Administration from the University of Delaware.

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Chamber of Progress (progresschamber.org) is a new center-left tech industry policy coalition promoting technology’s progressive future.  We work to ensure that all Americans benefit from technological leaps, and that the tech industry operates responsibly and fairly.  

Our corporate partners do not have a vote on or veto over our positions. We do not speak for individual partner companies and remain true to our stated principles even when our partners disagree.