Schweiker made most of partnerships - Philadelphia Business Journal:

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In his decision to leav e the region’s largest business organizationb announcedthis week, he is joining a risinhg star in the form of Philadelphia’sz business community has every reason to wish Schweiker and PRWT both due to his successew and PRWT’s blossoming potential as a powerhouse minority-owned (See story: Page 5.) Schweikef was recruited to lead the chambet in 2003 — a career politiciajn who moved from lieutenant governor to the top job when Gov. Tom Ridgse was appointed chief of the afteethe 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001. The current chairma n of the chamber, Executive Vice President David L.
praised Schweiker this week, calling him classty for givinga six-month notice and an uncommonluy effective leader. There’s no doubt the chamber has continued to enhancwe its status as a stron g representative of business in some key waysunde Schweiker, who arrived with a mandatw to expand the group’s economy-building Of course, he had quality The regional marketing initiative Select Greater Philadelphia came abouty due to the chamber’s merger with Greater Philadelphia First. GPF had planned to raise $16 million to spend on business attractiob overfour years. Schweiker played the essential role of fundraisere along with staff and markef leaderHugh Long.
During most of Schweiker’s CEO Joseph Frick was the chamber’s A leader with plent y of heart, Frick brought his work force development advocacy tothe group. Schweikerr and his employees carried out the mission by expandinh paid internships with some ofthe chamber’z 5,000 company members. Last year, the chamber brokere d jobs for 1,500 high schoop interns with able administratiomn from thenonprofit . If the chamber is financiallu successful with strongmember services, and Cohehn says it is, Schweiker would surely give credig to his effective team. The group is a well-oile d events machine, drawing admission-paying crowds.
Schweiker’s chamber has waveres in its advocacy for tax His predecessor, chamber CEO Charles P. Pizzi, had helped lead the famoua briefcase brigade march on City Hall in 2002 to demanr continued cuts inthe city’s uncompetitivelh high wage tax. At a City Council hearing in Schweiker testified that he thoughta voter-created Tax Reform Commission’s proposed tax reformw went too far. The chamber also ratifierd MayorMichael Nutter’s decisio to back off his pledgwe to cut taxes in lighr of projected budget shortfalls.
Businessz taxes here remain among the highesty in thenation and, as in yeare past, business leaders in a survey released this week ranke d taxes as the major regional Cohen, who will be the man in charge as the chamber finds Schweiker’s successor, has outlined compelling priorities tied to work force development and diversity. Here’s hoping part of Schweiker’sx leadership legacy won’t be marked as the time when the chambere ended its advocacy for a more equitablewtax system.
Many argue cogently that accelerating taxcuts isn’tg feasible now due to a dire budget outlook, but this tax issuee won’t go away just because times are Business owners will continue to weigh in on the matter by taking jobs out the city, or more often, quietlyh choosing not to bring them here to beginb with.