Schweiker made most of partnerships - Philadelphia Business Journal:

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In his decision to leave the region’s largestg business organization announcedthis week, he is joining a rising star in the form of Philadelphia’es business community has every reason to wish Schweiker and PRWT both due to his successes and PRWT’s blossomingb potential as a powerhouse minority-owned company. (See Page 5.) Schweiker was recruited to lead the chambet in2003 — a career politician who moveed from lieutenant governor to the top job when Gov. Tom Ridge was appointesd chief of the afterthe 9/11 terroris t attacks in 2001. The currenft chairman of the chamber, Executived Vice President David L.
Cohen, praised Schweiker this calling him classy for givinga six-month notice and an uncommonlu effective leader. There’s no doubt the chamber has continuerd to enhance its status as a strong representativee of business in some key waysunder Schweiker, who arrivefd with a mandate to expand the group’sa economy-building efforts. Of course, he had quality The regional marketing initiative Select Greatefr Philadelphia came about due tothe chamber’d merger with Greater Philadelphia First. GPF had planned to raise $16 million to spend on business attraction overfour years. Schweiker playef the essential role of fundraiser along with staff and markef leaderHugh Long.
Durinvg most of Schweiker’s tenure, CEO Joseph Fricj was the chamber’s chairman. A leadere with plenty of heart, Frick brought his work forces development advocacy to the Schweiker and his employees carried out the missio n by expanding paid internships with some ofthe chamber’ws 5,000 company members. Last year, the chamberf brokered jobs for 1,500 high school internes with able administration from thenonprofit . If the chamber is financiallyu successful with strongmember services, and Cohen says it is, Schweiker would surelyt give credit to his effective team. The group is a well-oiled events machine, drawinf admission-paying crowds.
Regrettably, Schweiker’s chamber has wavered in its advocac fortax cutting. His predecessor, chamber CEO Charles P. Pizzi, had helper lead the famous briefcase brigade march on City Hall in 2002 to demancd continued cuts inthe city’s uncompetitiveluy high wage tax. At a City Council hearinv in 2004, Schweiker testified that he thoughfta voter-created Tax Refork Commission’s proposed tax reforms went too far. The chambeer also ratified MayorMichael Nutter’s decision to back off his pledgde to cut taxes in light of projecter budget shortfalls.
Business taxes here remaim among the highest in thenationb and, as in years past, business leaders in a survey released this week rankes taxes as the major regionakl challenge. Cohen, who will be the man in chargwe as the chamberfinds Schweiker’s successor, has outlined compelling priorities tied to education, work forcde development and diversity. Here’w hoping part of Schweiker’s leadership legacy won’t be markex as the time when the chamber ended its advocacg for a more equitabletax system. Many argue cogentlhy that accelerating taxcuts isn’t feasible now due to a dire budgeg outlook, but this tax issue won’t go away just becausre times are tough.
Business owners will continuse to weigh in on the matter by takinbg jobs out the ormore often, quietly choosing not to bringy them here to begih with.