Power Moves: New civic and DEI leadership for Philly’s Chamber of Commerce

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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Last week, the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia announced that Ken Anderson would be joining the org as its VP of civic affairs, leading civic engagement and its diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. That includes advancing the Chamber’s Roadmap to Growth Action Team, a group of business, civic and community leaders committed to inclusive growth for the citizens of Philadelphia.

Anderson comes to the org from the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, where he served as VP of business development for six years, and brings years more experience in setting strategy, building relationships and leading teams for various for-profit and nonprofit organizations with him to the Chamber.

“We are truly honored to have such an accomplished professional joining our team at this extraordinary time in our city, region, and nation’s history,” said CEO and President Rob Wonderling of Anderson’s role. “His tremendous achievements and talents will undoubtedly advance the important work of equitable and inclusive growth throughout our city’s commercial corridors and neighborhoods.”

In addition to his work with various organizations, Anderson is also the owner of KA Consulting Strategies Group, LLC., a boutique consulting firm that provides strategic business consulting services, and serves on the board of directors of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.

“I am excited to join the team and to build on the Chamber’s commitment to inclusivity, social responsibility and partnerships as we meet this significant moment in our city, region and nation,” Anderson said.

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Relay Network, a Radnor-based customer engagement company which late last year raised $30 million, said this week it was adding two new people to its leadership team.

Derek Bluestone is joining Relay as its chief product officer and Frank McAnally will serve as its chief financial officer, the company announced Monday. The pair have a combined 45 years of product management and finance knowledge. McAnally joins Relay from another Philly tech company — InstaMed, where he was CFO and which was acquired last year by JPMorgan Chase.

Relay Network’s 2019 growth capital raise was meant to accelerate innovation of Relay’s breakthrough CX channel, the Customer Feed, and growth within its primary vertical markets: healthcare, financial services and insurance. (Customers include Comcast, Independence Blue Cross and Citizens Bank.) These hires will further that growth, the company said.

“Relay is at a pivotal point in our business as we continue to build the foundation of our team with senior leaders who share our vision for scale and growth,” said Matt Gillin, CEO and cofounder, in a statement. “Derek and Frank bring deep knowledge and expertise within their respective fields, along with the passion that it takes execute our vision. We are thrilled to have them in these roles as they lead our team into the future.”

Check out what Gillen had to say about company leadership starting at the top, from September’s Introduced by Technical.ly conference.

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Chariot Solutions CMO and TechGirlz founder Tracey Welson-Rossman was recently honored with the 2020 Advocate of the Year Award from the international group Women in IT Awards. She was recognized for her work in supporting the cause of getting more women and girls into the field of technology.

Welson-Rossman has evolved into a national advocate for bringing and keeping more women into the field of technology, and through TechGirlz’s programming, has extended the possibility of a career in tech to more than 20,000 girls, Women in IT said.

“Technology is not just about coding. That is only one piece,” Welson-Rossman said in a statement. “We need to do a better job bringing technology learning into all aspects of education so girls and young women understand that technology is part of their future and our future, too. We have certainly learned from the pandemic how important tech is to all aspects of our lives.”

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Blue Bell-based digital business solutions company Anexinet Corporation announced Wednesday that it had appointed Michael Cirafesi to the role of EVP and general manager. He comes to Anexinet from Accenture, where he served as the North America lead for SAP supply chain and customer and growth capabilities and led digital strategy and transformation engagements for large enterprise clients.

In his new role, Cirafesi will lead Anexinet’s digital business unit, and will be functionally responsible for sales, delivery, pre-sales and partnerships.

“The appointment of Michael Cirafesi represents an important new hire for the Anexinet family,” CEO Todd Pittman said in a statement. “As we continue to broaden our digital transformation and consulting capabilities, his deep experience will be invaluable for clients and instrumental in guiding our strategic direction.”

At the end of October, Anexinet also announced it was acquiring Atlanta area-based engineering and IT solutions firm SereneIT.

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Former Female Professionals Collective organizer and Data Jawn participant Karin Wolok announced on Twitter late last month that after nearly four years as program manager of community development and enablement for San Fran-based Neo4j, she’d be leaving her post.

She followed up her initial tweet with a snippet of info — she’ll be taking a role with “an early-stage startup in open-source developer tools.”

Today is my last day at Neo4j.
A blend of emotions, but mostly gratitude, for everything Neo4j community, colleagues, and friends have given me. I have grown as a person, both professionally and personally and this is due to the incredible people in my life. Thank you, friends.

— Karin Wolok (@karinwolok) October 30, 2020