GtrPhilaBiz

Tomorrow, hundreds of business leaders will gather for the 2nd Annual A Conversation with the Governor, featuring The Honorable Edward G. Rendell at 4:30 p.m.

Governor Rendell will address the regional business community about his plans for the coming year.  After that, he will sit down for an informal interview with WHYY’s Radio Times host Marty Moss-Coane, answering pre-submitted questions from the audience.

This is a great opportunity to network with the Chamber’s Board of Directors, the event sponsors, and other regional business leaders in the dramatic backdrop of the Kimmel Center’s Perelman Theater.

Last year, the event occurred right after the announcement of Prescription for Pennsylvania, Governor Rendell’s healthcare plan.  It was the first time Rendell spoke publicly about his plan, and made for a compelling program.  To view photos from last year’s event, click here.

There’s still time for you to attend!  For more information or to register, click here or call 215-790-3603.

• Young Professional Network Professional Development Program on Career Advancement TODAY at 6 p.m.
• A Conversation with the Governor at the Kimmel Center for Performing Arts 1/30
• New Castle County Breakfast at the Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington, DE 1/31

For more information on all upcoming events, visit the Chamber’s event calendar.

From time to time, GtrPhilaBiz posts job openings from our member companies.  If you would like us to post your job opening, send it here. 

• Accountemps, a division of Robert Half International Inc. is looking for a staffing manager

Full job description after the jump. (more…)

Submitted by Peter Shrier, SSH Real Estate

Another full house at Tangerine for YPN’s January event!! It was great to see such a large crowd out on a Wednesday night and furthermore, still networking well past eight o’clock.

Bradley Bartram, VP of Restaurant Development for the Starr Organization, reflected on the success and impact they have had in Philadelphia over the past decade. Beginning in 1995 with Continental Old City, Stephen Starr has been a huge part of the reason Philadelphia is now considered one of the top restaurant cities alongside of San Francisco, Chicago, Miami to name a few. It was also great to hear about Bradley’s own success moving up within the organization.  View more photos of the event here.

I’m looking forward to seeing everyone soon at the Chamber for the Professional Development Program on Monday, January 28th.  Click here for more information on this event.

Want to learn more about YPN?  Click here.

Yesterday, I attended a press conference where Comcast Spectacor unveiled plans to develop a retail and entertainment district next to the Wachovia Center in the South Philadelphia sports complex area.

While it may take more than a year for specific plans to be in place, it seems like this complex, which is being called Philly Live!, will have a very positive effect on our region’s economy. Currently, people go to sporting events in the area, but few come early or stay late after a game. This project will change that by creating a year-round entertainment destination in South Philadelphia.  Also, the prospect of a hotel anchoring Philly Live! will help keep visitors in South Philadelphia longer than just a quick stop at a ball game.

Even more important for our economy are the thousands of jobs this project will create – there will be temporary construction jobs and numerous permanent jobs in the stores and restaurants that will make up the complex.

Right now, everything is very preliminary–I’ll be very interested to find out more specific details when they come out.  Above is an aerial view of the proposed project.

• Young Professionals Network at Tangerine Restaurant 1/23
• Internet Marketing–What’s Next? Educational Workshop at the Chamber 1/24

For more information on all upcoming events, visit the Chamber’s event calendar.

Every Friday, we post events put on by our member companies.  If you’d like to see your event posted, email it to us with Member Event in the subject line. 

• Executive Women’s Healthy Heart Tasting at the Ritz Carlton in Center City Philadelphia 1/24 (For more info, email Jana Wilcox at jwilcox@viziongroup.net or by calling 610-540-0184 ext 1
• Six Steps to Massive Results for Your Business workshop presented by ActionCOACH at 123 S. Broad St, Philadelphia 1/29
• 2008 Building Industry Symposium presented by Associated Builders & Contractors at the Union League 1/30

Members, post events, announcements, job opportunities and more on the member’s only bulletin board.

“There’s a real sense of teamwork, of synergy between people who want to succeed, want each other to be successful, and want the region to flourish. It is a great place to do science and to build business.”

So says Carol Fisher, the editor of a supplement in The Scientist magazine that focuses on the life sciences in our region.  This must-read piece provides an in-depth look into the local life science community, highlighting exciting new discoveries and the vast resources available in Greater Philadelphia.   

 Check out the feature here.

Economic Outlook pics are up on our Flickr page.  Click here to see them.

• Supplier Network Winter Series at the Chamber 1/16
• Bucks County Breakfast at the Pen Ryn Mansion in Bensalem 1/16
• International Networking Reception at the Studios of CBS 3 1/18

For more information on all upcoming events, visit the Chamber’s event calendar.

For your Friday viewing pleasure, our new Mayor, DJ Michael Nutter, rapping to the oldies.

Every Friday, we post events put on by our member companies.  If you’d like to see your event posted, email it to us with Member Event in the subject line. 

• Empowerment Group is hosting a Spring Business Course for aspiring and new business owners.  Info sessions are being held 1/14-1/17
• Protectionism and its Risk to Global Growth Featuring Richard W. Fisher, President, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas (Part of the Global Interdependence Center’s Central Banking Series) at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia 1/17
• Fitness in the Real World Seminar hosted by Excel Physical Therapy and Fitness at The Mission Grille in Philadelphia 1/17
• Executive Women’s Healthy Heart Tasting at the Ritz Carlton in Center City Philadelphia 1/24 (For more info, email Jana Wilcox at jwilcox@viziongroup.net or by calling 610-540-0184 ext 1

Members, post events, announcements, job opportunities and more on the member’s only bulletin board.

Despite the bleak outlook for the United States economy in 2008, things don’t look as bad for Greater Philadelphia, or so predicts Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody’s Economy.com, who delivered the keynote address at our 10th Annual Economic Outlook Breakfast yesterday morning. More than 460 people attended the breakfast at the Hyatt at the Bellevue.

According to Zandi, our region has the right mix of industries. He mentioned that the health care, education and financial industries will be significant growth engines for Greater Philadelphia. And because our housing prices didn’t rise as fast as they did in some parts of the country, Zandi thinks they hopefully won’t fall as fast either.

In addition to Zandi’s keynote address, Sovereign Bank released the results of their annual economic survey and there was a panel discussion with experts from a variety of key fields.

The press was all over the event. Below are links to some of the articles. How do you think Philadelphia will fare in a nation-wide recession?

Differing economic concerns for consumers, business

Shopping as the economy’s dropping

Recession talk includes local bright spots

Economic Outlooks differ at Phila. Chamber event

To listen to Zandi’s speech click here.

You can even download the mp3 and listen to it on your iPod! (just right click on the link and then hit “save target as”) Keep your New Years fitness resolution while getting smarter!

No one wants to hear it, although all of the pundits love talking about it. Is America heading into a recession? If it happens, how will it affect our region? Luckily, Philadelphia is for the most part managing to skirt by the mortgage crisis. Will we be so lucky next time?

Tomorrow, the Chamber is putting on Economic Outlook 2008 at the Park Hyatt Philadelphia at the Bellevue. The event’s keynote speaker, Mark Zandi, Chief Economist & Co-Founder, Moody’s Economy.com, Inc., has recently been quoted in tons of articles pertaining to the r-word, including a very interesting read in the New York Times today.

The Debate Over How and How Long  New York Times (free subscription required)
Housing Forecast: Dreary Inquirer
Economy May Force Fast Action Gloucester County Times
Job Slump Latest Omen of Recession Los Angeles Times
Consensus lacking on ‘08 outlook for housing Inquirer

To learn more about the Economic Outlook Event, click here.

• Economic Outlook at the Park Hyatt Philadelphia at the Bellevue 1/9
• Supplier Network Winter Networking at Triumph Brewery 1/10
• Flyers Luncheon at the Wachovia Center 1/12

For more information on all upcoming events, visit the Chamber’s event calendar.

Have you heard of Working Solutions? It’s the Chamber’s workforce development initiative. Last summer, in a push facilitated by the Chamber, the business community provided 1,049 summer internships to young people in Philadelphia through WorkReady, a comprehensive public-private partnership dedicated to building the region’s workforce.

These paid internships were supported by 143 regional businesses, foundations, and non-profit organizations and represented more than a 100% increase in WorkReady’s internship opportunities from 2006, when 441 qualified youth were placed in summer internships, while over 400 qualified youth remained on a waiting list.

Mayor Michael Nutter also endorses summer internships for youth and is advocating for an increase the number available for next summer and beyond. In fact, as a candidate he wrote about it in the Nutter Plan for Economic Development. (more…)

From time to time, GtrPhilaBiz posts job openings from our member companies.  If you would like us to post your job opening, send it here. 

• Chesapeake Embroidery & Promotions Philadelphia Regional Office has an creative sales job opening.
• Concorde Inc. is seeking an experienced Sales Executive to assist in the growth of the company’s background screening services. 

 Full job descriptions after the jump. (more…)