Dennis Shaul is the Director of Commerce for the state of Ohio. In 1966, Mr. Shaul began to work in numerous community and political ventures while practicing law in Akron, Ohio. In 1969, he was elected City Councilman, and in 1971 he was narrowly defeated as the Democratic candidate for Mayor. He joined Governor Gilligan's cabinet as Director of Commerce in 1972 and has served there since. Some of Mr. Shaul's earlier experiences include service as National President of the U.S. National Student Association in 1962 and 1963, work on the 1960 and 1964 presidential campaigns, and service as counsel to the Democratic Platform Committee at the 1968 convention.