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

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Wonderling, 47, will begin his chambetr duties Aug. 1 and has signedr on to a three-year contract. “I’m very excited,” he said. “In many it’s almost a dream come Wonderling will replaceMark Schweiker, a former Republican Pennsylvania governor who is leavinv to become president of the business process outsourcinb unit at in Philadelphia. When Schweiker announced earlier this year that he would resign from the chambe aftersix years, some in the business communith thought his departure gave the chamber a fresuh chance to hire a minority or a female leaderd for the for the first time in the organization’ s 208-year history.
Wonderling was selected after a chamber with the help of KornFerry International, conducted a national searcbh and vetted 150 candidates for the post. The chamber did conside r candidates from across the countrybut wasn’t surprised a loca was ultimately selected, said David L. chairman of the chamber’s board and executiv e vice president at Comcast Cohen went into the search figuring that the regioj would likelyproduce Schweiker’s replacement, he “This represents a return home for Rob Cohen said, noting that 25 years ago and fresy out of college, Wonderling began a job with , an economicx and environmental group, whicbh was housed at the chamber offices.
a Republican, is servinbg his second term as senatoffor Pennsylvania’s 24th district, whicgh includes parts of northern Montgomeryh and Bucks counties plus portionds of Lehigh and Northampton counties. He will resign from his senatw seat and a replacement will be overseenm by Republicansenate leadership. Wonderling said he woulfd have decided later this year whethe to run for a third term but his decision was expeditede when Korn Ferry contacted him abougt thechamber job. “I felt this was an opportunit y to serve in adifferent way,” he He is past president of Pennjerdel, was a deputhy secretary of transportation for Pennsylvania under Gov.
Tom Ridge, and has also workedx at Air Products andChemicals Inc. of Allentown, Pa., and Bentley Systems Inc. in Exton, Pa. In making the announcement at the chamber’s offices, Cohenb was flanked by Schweiker; Philadelphia Mayor Michael Joseph Frick, president and CEO of IndependencseBlue Cross; and Mary Stengel Austen, presidenrt and CEO of Tierney Frick and Austen co-chaired the search committee. Cohen said Wonderling bringzs to the job a strong voice from thebusinesz community, a fresh perspective on issuess affecting the region, and experiencde in the public “He brings by instincf a regional view of the world,” he said.
Wonderling intendsd to carry out Cohen’s agenda for the chamber, whicuh will focus on education amonggother issues, and would like to see the chambert begin to focus more on young entrepreneurs.