Most new members are relatively new to leadership of their associations; Bentsen, Durbin, Freeman, Nelson, Resch and Welch tapped

Bentsen

Durbin

Freeman

Nelson

Resch

Welch

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has added six new chief executives to its invitation-only Association Committee of 100:
• Former U.S. Rep. Ken Bentsen (D-Texas), Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association;
• Marty Durbin, America's Natural Gas Alliance;
• Geoff Freeman, American Gaming Association;
• Former U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), National Association of Insurance Commissioners;
• Rhone Resch, Solar Energy Industries Association;
• Peter Welch, National Automobile Dealers Association.

Most are relatively new to the top job at their associations.

Bentsen became president and CEO of the $61 million-revenue SIFMA in December 2013. After starting with the association as executive vice president of public policy and advocacy in 2009, Bentsen was named acting president and CEO in February 2013 on the departure of former CEO Tim Ryan. But Bentsen was passed over for the permanent CEO job in favor of former Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) in May 2013. Instead, Bentsen remained president of the association. When Gregg stepped down after just seven months on the job, Bentsen added CEO to his title. Bentsen also is the former president of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association.

Durbin, former executive vice president at the $238 million-revenue American Petroleum Institute, has been president and CEO of the $77 million-revenue ANGA since May 2013.

Geoff Freeman took over as president and CEO of the $9 million-revenue AGA in July 2013.

Nelson, who also had been a Nebraska governor, joined the $81 million-revenue NAIC as CEO in January 2013.

Welch, former head of the California Auto Dealers Association, has been president of the $45 million-revenue NADA since February 2013.

Resch is the exception. He has been president and CEO of the $9 million-revenue SEIA since 2004.

The Committee of 100 is a sought-after affiliation for many association CEOs for networking and prestige purposes. The Chamber does not publicize the cost of membership. Dues are thought to be in the tens of thousands of dollars and vary by organization size.