Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett and the six longest-serving member companies of the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce (GNPCC) were honored Nov. 27 at the 90th Anniversary Accolades Celebration at Parx East in Bensalem.

Gov. Corbett was presented with the Crystal Vision Award by GNPCC Chairman Kent C. Lufkin, president and chief executive officer of 3rd Fed Bank, and GNPCC President Al Taubenberger for his support of businesses throughout the region.

PECO is the business organization’s oldest active member, having joined the GNPCC a year before it was chartered in 1922 in the Frankford section of Philadelphia. Kingsbury, Inc., a manufacturer of thrust bearings, has been a member for 89 years, followed by National Airoil Burner (NAO) (78 years), M&T Bank, originally Frankford Trust Company (75 years), 3rd Fed Bank (61 years), and Beneficial Bank (58 years).

Gov. Corbett set aside prepared remarks and spoke informally to an audience of about 160 people of the need to “get government out of the way so that businesses can prosper.”

“We have to look for (business owners) to bring us out of the economic doldrums that we have been in,” he said.

One area of particular concern, Gov. Corbett said, is when industry regulations hamper a business’ ability to operate effectively and grow.

“Some (regulations) are useful; some not so useful,” he said. “We had to level the playing field.”

Pennsylvania has helped to create 105,000 private sector jobs in less than two years, Gov. Corbett said. He cited the work his administration has done with the natural gas industry in northwest Pennsylvania and the oil refineries in the southeast.

“We had to get the private sector—not government—to invest in saving Sunoco,” he said. The Corbett administration has been widely praised for their work here, as well as their ongoing investment to deepen the Delaware River shipping channel to 45 feet.

Gov. Corbett has received high marks for balancing the state’s budget after facing a $4 billion deficit when taking office in 2011, Mr. Lufkin, the GNPCC chairman, said. Additionally, he has not raised taxes and has been a staunch supporter of business, said Mr. Lufkin in his introduction of Gov. Corbett.

Mr. Taubenberger, GNPCC president, prompted a promise from the Governor to “cut the ribbon” at the opening of a new book store in Northeast Philadelphia, something the GNPCC is interested in helping to find.

“I’ll do it on one condition,” Gov. Corbett said. “That it contains a children’s section.”

Craig L. Adams, executive vice president of Exelon and president and chief executive officer of PECO, accepted the award on behalf of the company. William D. Strecker, president and chief executive officer of Kingsbury, Inc.; Andrew L. Tryens, treasurer and Nancy Tryens, director of HR/owner of NAO; Robert T. Medlock, vice president of M&T Bank; Elizabeth Kaspern, senior vice president and chief retail officer of 3rd Fed Bank; and Charles Kueny, branch manager and assistant vice president of Beneficial Bank each accepted awards.

The Accolades Celebration is one of the GNPCC’s signature events along with the spring Crown Holdings “Business is Blooming” Expo and fall PECO Golf Outing. This year’s event was chaired by Rosemarie McMenamin, vice president business development of 3rd Fed Bank.

Photo here.