Ambassador Mel Sembler, Chairman Mel Sembler is the Chairman of the Board of the Sembler Company, a real estate and shopping center development company. He served as United States Ambassador to Italy under President George W. Bush from 2001 through the summer of 2005.  Upon Sembler's nomination, President Bush praised him as “a successful business leader and an experienced diplomat.”  He previously served as U.S. Ambassador to Australia and Nauru under former President Bush.  An active participant on the Republican political scene, Sembler was Finance Chairman of the Republican National Committee from 1997 to 2000; Florida's National Committeeman to the RNC from 1994 until 2000; Finance Co-Chairman of The American Bicentennial Presidential Inaugural in 1988; and a major fund raiser for the party for many years. Because of his nationally recognized stand as an activist in the anti-drug campaign, President Reagan appointed him to the White House Conference for a Drug Free America.  Sembler was an advisor on drug policy to former President Bush and former Florida Governor Bob Martinez.  As a developer, Sembler is recognized for building The Sembler Company into one of the country's most highly recognized shopping center development firms.  He is presently on the boards of the International Council of Shopping Centers, American Commerce Bank, American Enterprise Institute, American-Australian Education Leadership Foundation, George Bush Presidential Library Foundation, Republican Jewish Coalition, and the Moffitt Cancer Center.  Sembler is a resident member of the Florida Council of 100, a business advisory council to the Governor of Florida.  Sembler is a graduate of Northwestern University.  He and his wife Betty have three sons and eleven grandchildren. Return to Committee List