David Black has been the president and CEO of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC since 2001. PHOTO/PROVIDED
David Black, the longtime president and CEO of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC, will retire in the middle of next year, it was announced Monday.
Black joined the Chamber & CREDC (which stands for Capital Region Economic Development Corp.) in 2001.
“On behalf of CREDC Chair Ben Dunlap and myself, I want to thank Dave for his steady hand as steward of the ship,” Chamber Board Chair Tom Sposito said in a release. “Dave was likely challenged more in 2020 than in any other year during his tenure. Over his nearly two decades of service, Dave has helped to guide and grow the Chamber & CREDC as the go-to organization serving our business community and the region as a whole.”
Black is credited with building a talented staff and increasing the capacity to serve Chamber members, CREDC clients and the larger community; as well as advocate for public policy and collaborate to position the organization and region (Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties) for the longer term.
The announcement said the the Chamber & CREDC were accredited with five stars from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a distinction awarded to less than 2% of chambers across the nation.
According to his Chamber & CREDC bio, before joining the organization in 2001, Black helped Gov. Tom Ridge with the merger of the Department of Community Affairs with the Department of Commerce, creating the Department of Community and Economic Development. He also served as chief operating officer of Team Pennsylvania, helping Ridge restructure it as a long-term public/private sector tool for economic development in the state.
“Every great region has a great organization, and the Chamber & CREDC has been this region’s great organization since 1884,” Black said in the release. “It has been my pleasure to serve for nearly 20 years. My goals have always included making a difference. Together with great volunteers, staff, supportive members and donors, this organization has done just that. I’ve been fortunate to be a small part of the success and growth of the organization and region. Many thanks to people from all sectors of the region and beyond for the support, collaboration and friendship. I look forward to the successful transition of leadership in the months ahead. …”
A national search for Black’s replacement will begin in early 2021. Jorgenson Consulting, an executive search firm with expertise in chamber of commerce and economic development corporation searches, has been chosen to lead the process.
Black is a native of Clarion County, where he served as a county commissioner. He and his wife, Shirley, live in Cumberland County and have two children and three grandchildren.
