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

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Wonderling, 47, will begin his chamber duties Aug. 1 and has signecd on to a three-year contract. “I’m very he said. “In many respects, it’s almost a dreaj come true.” Wonderling will replace Mark Schweiker, a forme Republican Pennsylvania governor who is leaving to become president of the business process outsourcing unit atin Philadelphia. When Schweiker announcec earlier this year that he wouldf resign from the chambe r aftersix years, some in the business community thought his departure gave the chamber a fres chance to hire a minority or a femald leader for the for the first time in the organization’z 208-year history.
Wonderling was selected after a chamber with the help of KornFerry International, conducted a nationak search and vetted 150 candidates for the The chamber did consider candidates from acrossw the country but wasn’t surprised a local was ultimatelh selected, said David L. Cohen, chairman of the chamber’s boarcd and executive vice president atComcast Corp. Cohen went into the searchj figuring that the region woulxd likelyproduce Schweiker’s replacement, he said. “Thix represents a return home for Rob Cohen said, noting that 25 years ago and fresh out of Wonderling began a job with , an economic and environmental which was housed at the chambee offices.
Wonderling, a Republican, is serving his second term as senatoffor Pennsylvania’s 24th district, which includes parts of northernm Montgomery and Bucks counties plus portion s of Lehigh and Northamptonm counties. He will resign from his senate seat and a replacemenrt will be overseen by Republican senate Wonderling said he would have decideed later this year whether to run for a thire term but his decision was expedited when Korn Ferruy contacted him about thechambert job. “I felt this was an opportunityu to serve in adifferent way,” he said. He is past presidentr of Pennjerdel, was a deputu secretary of transportation for Pennsylvaniaundef Gov.
Tom Ridge, and has also worke d at Air Products andChemicals Inc. of Allentown, Pa., and Bentleyh Systems Inc. in Pa. In making the announcemen at the chamber’s offices, Cohen was flanked by Philadelphia MayorMichael Nutter; Joseph president and CEO of Independence Blue Cross; and Mary Stengepl Austen, president and CEO of Tierney Frick and Austen co-chaired the search Cohen said Wonderling brings to the job a stronyg voice from the busineses community, a fresh perspectivw on issues affecting the region, and experiencwe in the public sector. “Hse brings by instinct a regionalp view ofthe world,” he said.
Wonderling intends to carry out Cohen’s agenda for the which will focus on education among other and would like to see the chamber begin to focusw more onyoung entrepreneurs.