CONCORD — The Business & Industry Association, New Hampshire’s statewide chamber of commerce and leading business advocate, announced the addition of Carole Alfano to its staff.

Alfano will serve as director of member relations, a newly created position within the BIA, and will be responsible for coordinating the association’s outreach, recruitment and retention of member businesses across New Hampshire.

BIA represents nearly 400 member companies in a variety of industries that employ over 100,000 people throughout the state and contribute $5 billion annually to New Hampshire’s economy.

Alfano previously worked as a communicator and speech writer for the state Senate, the state Supreme Court, and the Pease Development Authority as well as at Nashua City Hall and on Beacon Hill. She is an award-winning journalist with stops at WMUR-TV, WNDS-TV, New Hampshire Public Television and WGIR-AM.

Alfano is a graduate of Syracuse University College of Law, Boston’s Northeast School of Broadcasting and William Woods College in Fulton, Missouri, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in history.