GPCC President Mark Schweiker to Step Down in June

Mark S. Schweiker, whose six-year tenure as President & CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce (GPCC) has been defined by large-scale innovation and an aggressive and successful regional economy-building agenda, announced he will step down when his contract ends on June 30, 2009.

Mr. Schweiker will join PRWT Services, Inc. as President of the enterprise’s Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) line of business. PRWT, the largest minority-owned company headquartered in Greater Philadelphia, is a diversified enterprise of pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution, business processing services, facilities management and related businesses.

"While it is never easy to leave a position that one loves, this is the right time for me to depart the Chamber and take on a new professional challenge," said Mr. Schweiker. "We have been remarkably successful in achieving our paramount objectives of promoting regional growth and economic development, advocating for business-friendly public policy, and enhancing our strong member services and programs."

David L. Cohen, chairman of the GPCC Board of Directors and Executive Vice President, Comcast Corp., thanked Mr. Schweiker for his leadership.

"I congratulate Mark for his vision and execution in positioning the Chamber as the preeminent catalyst for regional business leadership," said Mr. Cohen. "This organization has a respected voice in City Hall, the region’s state capitals — Harrisburg, Trenton, and Dover — and in Washington, D.C. In addition, because of Mark’s leadership, Greater Philadelphia is competing successfully in the global marketplace like never before.

"We are disappointed that Mark is leaving but we wish him continued success at PRWT — which is, of course, a Chamber member."

Mr. Cohen also noted that a formal search process will be initiated to identify Mr. Schweiker’s successor, who will lead the 208-year-old organization that has 5,000 member companies in the 11-county Greater Philadelphia region.

"When PRWT approached me, I recognized this as a unique opportunity to put to mutual advantage my strong nation-wide relationships in both the public and private sectors as well as marketing and executive leadership skills in order to drive corporate growth," said Mr. Schweiker.

"Furthermore, I have long admired PRWT Chairman Willie Johnson and his executive team, who have grown this company from a small firm to a company with 1,500 employees and operations around the country."

Mr. Schweiker joined the Chamber in February 2003 after serving as the 44th Governor of Pennsylvania. Through his direction, Select Greater Philadelphia, an economic development marketing affiliate, was created and funded with an initial $16 million investment by the region’s business leaders.

Select, now in its second funding round, launched the region’s first large-scale, comprehensive effort to brand and market Greater Philadelphia to a national and international audience as a first-tier place to do business.

So far, Select has helped more than 40 companies establish new operations in this region, adding more than $566 million to the gross regional product.

In the public policy realm, Mr. Schweiker directed the Chamber’s support of projects and proposals vital to the economic growth of this region. With his leadership, the Chamber was instrumental in keeping business leaders and government officials focused on the Pennsylvania Convention Center expansion project and helping to bring the $700 million project to fruition.

The Chamber also successfully advocated for business tax cuts and for dedicated funding for public transit and transportation improvements.

As chairman of the CEO Council for Growth, the governing board of Select Greater Philadelphia, he has led efforts to secure reliable annual federal funding for Amtrak, which has three station stops — Wilmington, Philadelphia and Trenton — in this region. The CEO Council also has long advocated for public and private improvements to Philadelphia International Airport.

As part of the Chamber’s support for workforce development, Mr. Schweiker directs the GPCC’s initiative to connect Philadelphia youth to paid summer internships within the business community. Over three summers, the program increased three-fold to 1,500 positions.

Through Mr. Schweiker’s guidance, the Chamber has produced two of the best years financially in its 208-year history. Also, he directed the diversification by race and gender of the GPCC Board of Directors, Executive Committee and its top executive team.

From the area’s largest corporations to the smallest entrepreneurs, Chamber members participate in informational programs and networking opportunities, and take advantage of GPCC Benefit Services.

The Chamber’s programs range from free events and seminars for small business owners to signature events that have grown in attendance during Mr. Schweiker’s tenure. The Annual Meeting and Mayor’s Luncheon have attracted capacity crowds of more than 1,800 business executives, and the Paradigm Award luncheon and William Penn Award Gala are equally successful.

Recent speakers at GPCC programs have included NBC broadcaster Tom Brokaw; Jonathan Tisch, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Loews Hotels; and most recently Abby Joseph Cohen, President of the Global Markets Institute and Senior Investment Strategist at Goldman Sachs.

Prior to joining the Chamber, Mr. Schweiker served as the Governor of Pennsylvania — the only governor in the nation to hold the position as a direct result of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. He had served as lieutenant governor since 1995.

During his tenure, Governor Schweiker created the School Reform Commission to govern the School District of Philadelphia as oversight of the School District shifted to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

He directed the dramatic rescue of nine miners trapped at Quecreek in western Pennsylvania.

Mr. Schweiker earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Bloomsburg University in 1975. He also holds a master’s degree in administration from Rider University.