MDC’s Mitchell Swann, PE has been selected to participate in the 2014 Greater Philadelphia Leadership Exchange. This year’s Leadership Exchange program will take the Philadelphia contingent to Boston, MA from October 5 – 8, 2014. The program will focus on an information and experience exchange along with “lessons learned” between two metro areas which have a lot in common. Program details include:
Getting things done in an old place: Boston and Philadelphia are of a similar historic vintage. While that’s great for tourism, it presents challenges for improving infrastructure, managing redevelopment, and updating a region’s image.
Boston in the vanguard: Massachusetts led the way on healthcare reform and offers a look into the possible future of Obamacare. Boston was the first (and last?) city to submerge a highway running right through its heart with the Big Dig. And sustained education reform efforts have MA students now leading the nation in reading and math.
Evolving leadership: Boston has its first new mayor in 20 years, leading to seismic changes in the local power landscape. A new generation of political and civic leaders is emerging and reshaping Boston’s reputation for diversity and tolerance.
Economic reinvention: Both of our regions have similar core assets – Northeast location, eds and meds strengths, history and culture. Participants will trade notes on how to develop stronger growth trajectories and foster higher levels of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Support for Gateway Cities: Greater Boston is home to several early mill towns and midsize urban centers facing economic and social challenges similar to places like Chester, Camden, Phoenixville, and Pottstown in our region. We’ll visit a couple and learn how they are banding together for economic growth.
Participation in the Leadership Exchange is a competitive process with a goal of representing the geographic, demographic, sector, and industry diversity in the region. To be eligible, applicants must live and/or work in the Greater Philadelphia region and serve in a leadership role in a business, nonprofit, or government organization.
The Greater Philadelphia Leadership Exchange is an initiative of the Economy League to develop leaders of business, civic, and government organizations into visionaries dedicated to making Greater Philadelphia a world class region. Through in-region programming and out-of-region learning visits, the Leadership Exchange exposes leaders to best practices, forges new connections across sectors and industries, and deepens participants’ understanding of Greater Philadelphia’s potential.
