New Chairman and Vice Chairman of the GPCC Small Business Board

The Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce appointed a new Chairman and Vice Chairman of its Small Business Board (SBB) to serve a one-year term leading the regional small business community.

Joel F. Smith, principal and co-founder of The People Source Group, a generalist consulting firm based in Dresher, Pa., will assume responsibilities of SBB Chairman from Dennis Powell, president of Massey Powell Enterprises, on September 1, 2006.  Michael K. Pearson, president of and majority shareholder in Union Packaging, LLC (UP) of Yeadon, Pa., will replace Mr. Smith as Vice Chairman for the 2006-2007 year.   

The SBB is a group of nearly 40 small business owners throughout Greater Philadelphia.  It acts as an advisory council to the Chamber to promote programs, services, and pro-business legislation to meet the needs of small companies throughout the region. Small businesses that have 100 or fewer employees make up 85 percent of the Chamber membership.

"I believe that this will be a breakthrough year for the Small Business Board.  We plan to be more involved in explaining the impact of politics and legislation on small business,” said Mr. Smith.  “Additionally, we will provide support for the Chamber’s diversity initiative.  These initiatives and ongoing program development will provide our Small Business Board members and the general Chamber membership with more opportunities to get involved and make a difference.  I look forward to working with the vice chair, Mike Pearson, and the rest of the Small Business Board to advance the Chamber's mission."

With more than 20 years of general management experience, Mr. Smith has run businesses and turnarounds from early stage to Fortune 500 companies.  He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and BioStrategy Partners. Mr. Smith has more than 30 years of experience in product and process development in the textile, paper, industrial equipment, industrial and commercial electronics, and machine design industries.

Mr. Pearson is dedicated to manufacturing paperboard packaging for the food, personal care, and pharmaceutical industries. UP has made career opportunities available for a diverse workforce of more than 80 people. With annual sales surpassing $20 million, UP is one of the fastest growing minority-owned packaging companies in the U.S.  In 2005, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Philadelphia District Office selected Mr. Pearson as Eastern Pennsylvania Small Business Person of the Year.

For more information on the Small Business Board, please contact Alicia Muller at 215-790-3780.