Maura Donahue is a highly visible and vocal advocate of small business issues, helping lead the Chamber's efforts to rein in skyrocketing health care costs, bring under control frivolous litigation, and reduce burdensome government regulations. She served on the Chamber's Council on Small Business for seven years, the last five as chair. She has also been instrumental in strengthening the Chamber Federation, helping to roll out a new U.S. Chamber membership program.

 

Donahue brings credibility to the debate on small business issues because of her success as a small business owner. She is president of DonahueFavret Contractors Holding Company and vice president of business development of DonahueFavret Contractors, Inc., a leader in the Gulf South construction industry. The company, which has served a variety of state and national clients for more than 25 years, performs a wide spectrum of building projects, including commercial, hospitality, health care, retail, educational, and institutional construction. Among its many achievements, DonahueFavret has won nine prestigious awards for Construction Excellence awarded by the National Association of Builders and Contractors.

 

Donahue has long been an active leader in local chambers and economic development organizations. She serves on the boards of Greater New Orleans, Inc., the St. Tammany Parish Economic Development Foundation, and Resource Bank. Formerly, she served on the board of the State of Louisiana Board of Commerce & Industry and chaired the board of the St. Tammany Parish Chamber of Commerce.

 

She is a graduate of Leadership St. Tammany West and was awarded its Leadership Alumni of the Year as well as Woman of the Year by the New Orleans Publishing Group. Donahue chaired a Woman Build home for the Habitat for Humanity in 2004 and was awarded Person of the Year by the Associated Builders and Contractors Bayou Chapter.

 

Donahue, a lifetime resident of Louisiana, and her husband, Jack, live in Covington, Louisiana. Their blended family includes 6 children and 14 grandchildren.