PIDC APPOINTS NEW CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AND DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES

by PIDCphila
February 22, 2017

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Thomas A.K. Queenan and Marquis Upshur
Thomas A.K. Queenan and Marquis Upshur

New additions to leadership team build capacity at PIDC and embrace mission to drive growth  throughout Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (February 21, 2017) – PIDC, Philadelphia’s public-private economic development partnership focused on energizing business growth and development throughout the city,  today announced the hiring of Thomas A.K. Queenan as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, and Marquis Upshur as Director of Human Resources. The additions will support PIDC’s continued growth with a focus on maintaining and building the organization’s capacity, efficiency, and services.

“We are delighted to have Thomas and Marquis join PIDC and our senior management team,” said John Grady, President of PIDC. “The experience and knowledge each of them brings from their respective fields will be a great asset to PIDC as we continue to grow as an organization, developing new resources and innovative products to support the growth of our clients and creating impact around the city.  I look forward to working with Thomas and Marquis and supporting them in their efforts to grow our organization, and as a result, continue to advance our mission to drive economic growth throughout Philadelphia.”

As Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), Mr. Queenan will lead all of PIDC’s finance, accounting and business operations, ensuring that the organization is well-positioned with the resources, technology and capacity to support its continued growth and the growth of its clients.  Mr. Queenan brings more than 30 years of diverse project, finance and operations experience to his new role, including ten years as an architect; ten years in public finance, both in the private sector and for six years in City Government as Assistant Treasurer and City Treasurer during the Rendell Administration; and the last 13 years in senior finance and operations roles at Temple University Health System, Dickinson College and the Milton Hershey School and Trust.

A native and life-long resident of Philadelphia, Mr. Queenan has a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University in architecture, a master’s degree in architecture and city planning from Columbia University and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Queenan is a Certified Treasury Professional and a registered architect in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

“I am pleased to join the leadership team of PIDC at this exciting time in the organization’s development,” said Thomas Queenan. “Having worked with PIDC in various professional capacities over my career and having served on the Board of Directors for the past five years, I know the outstanding reputation the organization enjoys locally and nationally as a leading economic development partnership and am excited by this unique opportunity to join the team as we build a platform for greater innovation and success internally and for our clients.”

As Director of Human Resources, Mr. Upshur will lead efforts to attract, develop and retain the talent needed for PIDC to expand its reach and impact, including all hiring, training, and professional development. He has more than 15 years of experience managing human resource programs support for both for-profit and non-profit employers.

“I love Philadelphia,” said Marquis Upshur. “I am thrilled to bring my human resources experience to PIDC, an organization so committed to the growth and development of our city, and to have the opportunity to support the expansion and impact of our team and our work here.”

Prior to his role with PIDC, Mr. Upshur served as the Vice President of Human Resources for Philabundance, where he lead human resources program and operations planning for the nonprofit food bank. Also a native of Philadelphia, Mr. Upshur earned a bachelor’s degree from Albright College, a master’s degree from Duquesne University, and a MBA from the University of Phoenix.

About PIDC

PIDC is Philadelphia’s public-private economic development corporation. A non-profit founded in 1958 by the City of Philadelphia and the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, PIDC’s mission is to spur investment, support business growth, and foster developments that create jobs, revitalize neighborhoods, and drive growth to every corner of Philadelphia. Over the last 59 years, PIDC has settled over 6,900 transactions with a diverse range of clients – including nearly $15 billion of financing and more than 3,100 acres of land sales – which have leveraged over $26 billion in total investment and assisted in retaining and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs in Philadelphia. For more information about PIDC, visit www.PIDCphila.com and follow us @PIDCphila on Twitter.

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