WEST CHESTER, PA — For the first time, four of Chester County’s prominent organizations are jointly hosting a milestone gathering of industry leaders to pinpoint the pivotal issues shaping Southeastern Pennsylvania’s economy and future.
An esteemed panel of CEOs from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), CTDI, Vanguard and Wawa will be presented by the Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry (CCCBI), Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC), Transportation Management Association of Chester County (TMACC) and West Chester University. “Executive Insights: A Panel of Visionary CEOs” will take place at West Chester University’s Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall on Friday, March 14, 2025, bringing together business leaders, policymakers, educators and community stakeholders
The event will feature 6ABC’s Tamala Edwards as the moderator, leading a dynamic discussion on critical issues including economic growth, workforce development, sustainability, education, transportation and corporate responsibility.
“This event exemplifies the power of collaboration in Chester County,” said Laura Manion, President of CCCBI. “Uniting these four organizations alongside such a distinctive panel of CEOs highlights our collective dedication to advancing economic growth, sparking innovation and equipping our workforce to meet the opportunities and demands of the future.”
“CCEDC is proud to be part of the partnership that is bringing this important conversation to our business community, and we are honored to feature influential CEOs from four of our region’s most recognizable and global companies,” said Mike Grigalonis, President and COO of CCEDC. “It promises to be a thoughtful dialogue that will provide businesses, educators and policymakers from across the region with important perspectives as we plan for 2025 and beyond.”
Key issues covered include:
- Economic Growth and Regional Impact – Insights into how these organizations are shaping the region’s economy through innovation and strategic leadership.
- Workforce Development – Strategies for addressing workforce challenges and fostering talent pipelines.
- Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility – How businesses are integrating sustainability and community impact into their operations.
- Education and Transportation – The role of partnerships with educational institutions and transportation infrastructure in supporting business and community growth.
“We anticipate welcoming more than 400 business leaders, entrepreneurs, economic development professionals, educators and local government representatives to join us for this impactful conversation,” said Dr. Laurie Bernotsky, President of West Chester University. “As a university dedicated to fostering engaged citizenship and preparing students to serve the common good, we take pride in providing a platform for vital discussions that inspire meaningful progress and strengthen the economic and social fabric of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”
Date: Friday, March 14, 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Location: Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall at West Chester University
Tickets: Link for Tickets
Madeline Bell is the President and CEO of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), which is one of the top-ranked children’s hospitals in the United States. CHOP is consistently recognized as best-in-class – from the U.S. News & World Report ranking as one of the Best Children’s Hospitals in the nation, to achieving Magnet status for Nursing Excellence, to being named No. 1 on Forbes’ 2022 list of America’s Best Large Employers and among Forbes’ best employers for diversity for 11 years in a row.
Chris Gheysens is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Wawa, a chain of more than 1,100 convenience stores located in nine states in the Mid-Atlantic region, Southeast region and Washington, DC. Wawa is a family and associate-owned, privately held company with more than 45,000 Wawa associates serving almost 2 million customers every day. Wawa ranks 22nd on Forbes’ annual ranking of America’s Largest Private Companies, top 6 Convenience Retailer in the country, among the top ten largest Employee Stock Ownership Plans in the country in terms of participants and is one of Forbes Best Brands for Social Impact in 2023.
Leo Parsons, President & CEO, is building on CTDI’s 50-year legacy of technological innovation, industry-leading repair and technical supply chain solutions through investment in customer relationships and the continued evolution of CTDI’s culture. Founded in 1975, CTDI is a full-service, global engineering, repair and logistics company that provides best-cost solutions to the communications industry. CTDI’s customers include the major telecom carriers, cable service providers and major OEMs from around the world. Their corporate headquarters is located in West Chester, PA, and they support an expanding customer base of more than 20,000 employees in 100 facilities worldwide.
Salim Ramji is chief executive officer of Vanguard and a member of the firm’s board of directors. Founded in 1975, Vanguard is one of the world’s leading investment management companies. The firm offers investments, advice and retirement services to tens of millions of individual investors around the globe—directly, through workplace plans, and through financial intermediaries. Vanguard operates under a unique, investor-owned structure where Vanguard fund shareholders own the funds, which in turn own Vanguard. As such, Vanguard adheres to a simple purpose: To take a stand for all investors, to treat them fairly, and to give them the best chance for investment success.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.