CCCBI Spearheads Landmark Event with CEOs of CHOP, CTDI, Vanguard and Wawa
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On Friday, CCCBI hosted our highly anticipated Executive Insights: A Panel of Visionary CEOs in partnership with the Chester County Economic Development Council, Transportation Management Association of Chester County and West Chester University.
Over 550 stakeholders, government officials and professionals from across the region gathered to hear from four powerhouse CEOs:
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Madeline Bell - Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Chris Gheysens - Wawa, Inc.
Leo Parsons - CTDI
Salim Ramji - Vanguard
"This event exemplified the power of collaboration in Chester County,” said Laura Manion, President of CCCBI. “Bringing together these influential organizations and leaders demonstrates our shared commitment to advancing economic growth, fostering innovation, and preparing our workforce for the future.”
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The panel discussion, moderated by 6abc anchor Tamala Edwards, covered a range of topics from economic growth to workforce development to education and transportation.
Our key takeaways included:
💡Holding to company foundations and crafting forward-thinking strategies will support resilience in navigating an ever-changing economic climate.
💡Workforce education, training and teamwork will create dynamic business environments and workplace harmony, all of which help to promote strong cultures.
💡Investing in the next generation of our workforce and our leaders needs to include more than just a traditional education. Our leaders need emotional intelligence, financial literacy, artificial intelligence integration and more to drive success.
As quoted in the Daily Local News, Salim Ramji said, "Every era has had trying times, every era has had great moments. Whatever the moment is, it's trying to find the goodness in it." Each CEO echoed that company culture and purpose was pivotal for a business' success; a sentiment that we want to make sure each and every CCCBI Member hears.
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Despite an uncertain economic climate, Chester County is attracting new businesses, new residents and new talent. This discussion was a true testament to the positive impact these businesses are having on our community and the example they set forward for others to follow; especially companies like Vanguard and CTDI who are celebrating their 50th anniversaries in 2025. Our region's potential is growing. "We're the wealthiest, smartest, most educated county in Pennsylvania," said Manion. "We need to attract more businesses to come here."
This historic morning would not have been possible without the support of our partners, CCEDC, TMACC and WCU. Thank you to Madeline, Chris, Leo and Salim for offering their significant insights, our moderator, Tamala Edwards, and finally thank you to the 550+ people who joined us for an event we won't forget.
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You can read more about these CEOs and the dynamic discussion from several media outlets below. Thank you to all who provided such in-depth coverage of these important topics.
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Board Meeting at Greencastle Consulting Welcomes PHL Airport CEO
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At our latest Board of Directors meeting, CCCBI welcomed Philadelphia International Airport CEO, Atif Saeed, who shared the significant impact PHL and PNE have on our local and regional economy.
PHL is more than an airport, it’s a key driver of economic growth in Chester County and beyond.
PHL's Impact By the Numbers:
- $618M in economic impact for Chester County
- 3,330 jobs created in Chester County
- $18.7B in regional economic activity
- $547 million in annual state and local tax revenue
- 102,600 total jobs supported
Airports are economic engines, driving jobs, business growth, and tourism. In 2024, PHL welcomed 30M+ travelers, cementing its role as a gateway to opportunity. With 400+ daily flights, PHL and PNE connect Chester County businesses to new markets, expand the workforce, and strengthen communities. As travel demand grows, we look forward to greater opportunities and continued growth for Chester County.
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After Atif's informative presentation, our Board of Directors had the chance to network and enjoy the hospitality of Greencastle Associates Consulting, the nation’s premier strategy execution firm that’s 100% veteran-owned and entirely veteran-operated, bringing a wide breadth of experience to clients with expertise spanning strategy execution, operations consulting, and data and analytics.
Special thanks to Philadelphia International Airport, Atif and his team, and our hosts: Greencastle Consulting for making our first evening meeting a success.
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We’d love to hear from and highlight your business! We are seeking member spotlight stories to include in our weekly newsletter!
Email your news to abby@chescochamber.org
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