Power Moves: Campus Philly finds a new president in this former Drexel exec

Power Moves is a column where we chart the comings and goings of talent across the region. Got a new hire, new gig or promotion? Email us: philly@technical.ly.

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A few months after Deborah Diamond announced she was leaving her post as president of Campus Philly after a decade, the org has found a new leader.

Jennifer Kebea, a longtime Drexel University employee who spent eight years leading the Lindy Center for Civic Engagement, took charge of the college student engagement nonprofit this summer. Kebea previously worked with Campus Philly, too — first as an intern, then as director of career programs from 2008 to 2009. She said she was an undergraduate student when the org was first founded in 2005, and it piqued her interest even then.

“I was deeply drawn to the organization’s mission, serving first as an intern and eventually as the inaugural Director of Career Programs in 2008,” Kebea said in a statement this week. “Just over a decade later, I am delighted to return and lead this dynamic organization into its next phase of growth.”

At the Lindy Center for Civic Engagement, Kebea developed four core civic priorities for the org — community-engaged learning, civic leadership, public service and community partnerships — and led more than 30,000 undergraduate students in the curriculum during her tenure there, per a press release.

Kebea also serves as faculty for both Drexel’s Goodwin College of Professional Studies and the School of Education, and will continue to do so. She has lived in the Philadelphia region her whole life and holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and master’s degree in the administration of human services from Chestnut Hill College, plus a doctoral degree in educational leadership and management from Drexel.

“Jennifer’s commitment to Philadelphia and knowledge of the city, corporate, and higher education communities will be invaluable as we continue to further our legacy of connecting people and helping them realize their dreams in the city we love,” said Michael Scales, Campus Philly board chair and AVP of business services at Temple University.

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The Wistar Institute, which specializes in early-stage discovery science in the areas of cancer, immunology and infectious disease, recently announced the addition of Italo Tempera as its director for cancer research and career enhancement at its Cancer Center.

Tempera — also an associate professor in the org’s gene expression and regulation program — is charged with leading the educational mission of Wistar and its cancer center to train future scientists and create workforce development programs in the life sciences. He will be working with Cancer Center faculty and the dean of biomedical studies to boost partnerships for high school, undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral training programs in cancer biology.

Wistar currently offers a handful of training and educational programs, including its Biomedical Technician Training Program, which is built to train students in specialized lab skills. In the spring, this program received a $600,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, that went toward expanding the program with new curriculum and with the inclusion of more community colleges.

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76 Forward has completed its search for a new Pennovation Center campus director. The incubator network wrote this about new director Kirsten King:

“After a decade of serving as the manager of the Clyde F. Barker Penn Transplant House, kirsten comes to us with a strong background in operations and community relations. She is excited to be a part of the Pennovation and 76 Forward team, and to use her skills and experience to help benefit our community. kirsten grew up in Oregon, but has lived in Philadelphia for just over two decades now. When not at work, she loves spending time with her amazing son, playing outdoors, and loving on people with her baking skills.”

And shoutout to two companies that placed in the Pennovation Accelerator’s virtual Pitch Day in August, which closed out its six-week bizdev program. REGO was named the overall 2021 Pennovation Accelerator Winner, while Shinkei Systems was awarded Best Pitch.

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Lance Bachmann, cofounder of 1SEO Digital Agency, announced his departure from his role as CEO of the organization and named his sister-in-law, CJ Bachmann, as his replacement.

Lance Bachmann and his sister, Jolin Bachmann, founded the company in their townhome in 2009. The digital agency uses analytics and conversions for improved user experience to help clients achieve greater ROIs. The firm offers services including web design, content creation and social media campaigns.

CJ Bachmann CJ Bachmann formerly held the role of VP of operations and COO before stepping into the CEO role this month. She said in an announcement video that Lance Bachmann will remain active in the agency.

“I’d like to thank you for the opportunity to carry the torch and pave the way for our team and 1SEO’s future,” CJ Bachmann said.

https://t.co/HTOjwaheSb@1SEODigital, a prominent organization specializing in SEO, PPC, website design, and social media services, has announced the appointment of @cjbachmann1seo as the company's new Chief Executive Officer. #Read more.#themediabulletin pic.twitter.com/PpIpkU73Pe

— The Media Bulletin (@tmb_futuretech) August 27, 2021

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We’ll be keeping our eyes on locally founded coffee empire La Colombe, as cofounder Todd Carmichael hinted that there are changes coming down the pipe for him (and others?). In an Instagram post from earlier this week, he wrote:

“Many of you have heard that after 30 years I’ve elected to greatly down shift my responsibilities at La Colombe — and I have,” he said. “Know that my insides, even given my love of coffee, especially after this last year and a half, drive me to start again, this time to change the world of ALL beverages. Count down November. Join hands, start over, join the imagination revolution.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CTushpWp8tP/