Stephen Waguespack is acting president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform and Special Counsel, U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Prior to his appointment earlier this year, he was a Candidate for Louisiana Governor in 2023, finishing third as a first-time candidate in a crowded field of incumbent officeholders. Before running for office, he served for ten years as the President and CEO of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI). As the state’s chamber of commerce and manufacturer’s association, LABI is the largest business advocacy group in Louisiana, representing more than 2,200 business members and 324,000 employees.

With nearly three decades of experience in federal and state policy and politics, Stephen has earned a reputation as an active voice for reform and free enterprise in both Louisiana and amongst his national peers. Before joining LABI, Stephen served as a member of the Louisiana State Board of Education and as an executive counsel and chief of staff to former Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal. Prior to that, he spent 10 years working on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Stephen is a Louisiana native and holds a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and a law degree from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.