Aaron Merchen serves as the Executive Director of the Chamber Foundation’s early childhood education portfolio leading efforts to educate policy makers, state and local chambers and early education advocates on business’ role in early education to promote investments in the workforce of today and tomorrow.

Before joining the Chamber Foundation, Merchen worked at the National Association for the Education of Young Children as assistant director of federal policy. There he led the association’s engagement with Congress and efforts to elevate the voices and needs of the early childhood workforce.

Merchen holds degrees from South Dakota State University and the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education and lives in Charlotte, NC with his wife and two child care-age sons.