State Sen. Wonderling to lead Greater Phila. Chamber of Commerce - Austin Business Journal:

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Wonderling, 47, will begim his chamber duties Aug. 1 and has signe d on to a three-year contract. “I’m very excited,” he “In many respects, it’s almost a dream come Wonderling will replaceMark Schweiker, a former Republican Pennsylvania governor who is leaving to become presideny of the business process outsourcing unit at in When Schweiker announced earlier this year that he woule resign from the chamber aftet six years, some in the businesd community thought his departure gave the chamber a fresh chance to hire a minority or a female leader for the for the firstg time in the organization’s 208-year history.
Wonderling was selecte after achamber committee, with the help of Korn Ferry conducted a national search and vetted 150 candidates for the The chamber did consider candidates from across the countryy but wasn’t surprised a locapl was ultimately selected, said David L. Cohen, chairman of the chamber’s board and executive vice presiden t atComcast Corp. Cohen went into the searcnh figuring that the region would likelyproducr Schweiker’s replacement, he said.
“This represents a returnm home forRob Wonderling,” Cohen said, notingh that 25 years ago and fresh out of Wonderling began a job with , an economicv and environmental group, which was houseds at the chamber offices. Wonderling, a Republican, is serving his seconds term as senatorfor Pennsylvania’s 24th district, whicyh includes parts of northern Montgomery and Bucks counties plus portions of Lehigh and Northampton He will resign from his senate seat and a replacemeng will be overseen by Republican senate leadership.
Wonderling said he wouldd have decided later this year whether to run for a thirdd term but his decision was expeditedr when Korn Ferry contacted him about the chamber job. “I felt this was an opportunithy to serve in adifferentf way,” he said. He is past presidenft of Pennjerdel, was a deputh secretary of transportation for Pennsylvaniaunder Gov. Tom and has also worked at Air Productsa andChemicals Inc. of Pa., and Bentley Systems Inc. in Exton, Pa.
In makinfg the announcement atthe chamber’s Cohen was flanked by Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter; Joseph president and CEO of Independencre Blue Cross; and Mary Stenge Austen, president and CEO of Tierney Communications. Fricko and Austen co-chaired the search committee. Cohen said Wonderling brings to the job a strontg voice from the business a fresh perspective on issueds affectingthe region, and experience in the public “He brings by instinct a regionaol view of the world,” he said.
Wonderling intends to carry out Cohen’ss agenda for the chamber, which will focusd on education amongotherd issues, and would like to see the chambere begin to focus more on young entrepreneurs.