State Sen. Wonderling to lead Greater Phila. Chamber of Commerce - Business First of Buffalo:

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Wonderling, 47, will begijn his chamber duties Aug. 1 and has signed on to a three-yea r contract. “I’m very excited,” he said. “In many it’s almost a dream come true.” Wonderling will replacer Mark Schweiker, a former Republican Pennsylvania governor who is leaving to becomr president of the business process outsourcing unit at in When Schweiker announced earliert this year that he would resign from the chambefr aftersix years, some in the businesss community thought his departure gave the chamber a fresh chancw to hire a minority or a femalee leader for the for the firsty time in the organization’ws 208-year history.
Wonderling was selected after a chamber with the help of Korn Ferry conducted a national search and vetted 150 candidates forthe post. The chamber did consider candidatees from across the countrybut wasn’ty surprised a local was ultimately selected, said David L. Cohen, chairman of the chamber’sa board and executive vice president atComcast Corp. Cohen went into the search figurinh that the region would likelyproduce Schweiker’s replacement, he “This represents a return home for Rob Cohen said, noting that 25 years ago and fresh out of college, Wonderling began a job with , an economicf and environmental group, which was housed at the chamber Wonderling, a Republican, is serving his seconxd term as senator for Pennsylvania’s 24th district, whicgh includes parts of norther n Montgomery and Bucks counties plus portions of Lehigh and Northamptonn counties.
He will resign from his senate seat and a replacement will be overseen by Republicansenate leadership. Wonderlingt said he would have decided later this year whetherf to run for a third term but his decisioj was expedited when Korn Ferry contactes him about thechamber job. “I felt this was an opportunity to serve in adifferent way,” he said. He is past presidenr of Pennjerdel, was a deputy secretary of transportation for Pennsylvaniqunder Gov. Tom Ridge, and has also worked at Air Productds andChemicals Inc. of Allentown, Pa., and Bentley Systems Inc. in Pa.
In making the announcemen t atthe chamber’s offices, Cohenb was flanked by Schweiker; Philadelphiaq Mayor Michael Nutter; Joseph Frick, president and CEO of Independenc e Blue Cross; and Mary Stengel president and CEO of Tierney Communications. Frick and Austem co-chaired the search Cohen said Wonderling brings to the job a stronfg voice from the business a fresh perspective on issues affectintgthe region, and experience in the public “He brings by instinct a regional view of the he said.
Wonderling intends to carry out Cohen’s agendq for the chamber, which will focus on educationm amongother issues, and woulsd like to see the chamber begin to focus more on younfg entrepreneurs.