Philly Power Moves: You might recognize these names on Cherelle Parker’s transition team

With just a few weeks to go before her tenure begins, Mayor-Elect Cherelle Parker announced the members of her transition team last week. This includes a leadership team, senior advisors, a steering committee, 13 sub-committees and a transition staff.

“I have said that I will bring together the best and brightest from within City government, across Philadelphia and the region, and across the country; and crafting the policies that will create tangible results out of our promises on the campaign trail: to make Philadelphia the safest, cleanest and greenest city in America with economic opportunity for all,” Parker said in a written statement about the news. “The lift of the transition will be heavy, but this will be the team to do it.”

Parker’s transition leadership team will be led by Ryan Boyer, business manager for the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council, as the chair. Della Clark, president of the Enterprise Center, and Gregory Segall, founder and chairman of Versa Capital and Mantis Group, are the vice chairs.

Other notable names of the list include these Philadelphia tech and business leaders:

• Anne Gemmell, principal of A. Gemm Consulting, is the vice chair of the City Administrative Services sub-committee and chair of the Technology and Implementation sub-committee.
• Paul Levy, outgoing president and CEO of Center City District, is the vice chair of the Commerce and Economic Development sub-committee and on the Public Safety sub-committee.
• Margaret Berger-Bradley, VP of strategic initiatives at Ben Franklin Technology Partners, is on the Commerce and Economic Development sub-committee.
• Michelle Freeman, CEO of Witty Gritty, is on the 2026 Preparation sub-committee.
• Alex Hillman, partner and director of strategy for 10k Independents Project, is on the Commerce and Economic Development sub-committee
• Sheila Ireland, president and COO of Philadelphia OIC, is on the Commerce and Economic Development sub-committee.
• Kenyatta James, program director at the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia, on the Commerce and Economic Development sub-committee.
• Nikki Pumphrey, senior managing director in Philadelphia at Per Scholas, is on the Education sub-committee.
• Tiffany Wilson, president and CEO of the University City Science Center, is the vice chair of the Technology and Implementation sub-committee
• Chris Alfano, CEO of Jarvus Innovations, is on the Technology and Implementation sub-committee.
• Jeff Friedman, strategic account sales manager for Rekor, is on the Technology and Implementation sub-committee.
• Kiera Smalls, executive director of the Running Industry Diversity Coalition, is on the Technology and Implementation sub-committee.
• Jeff Hornstein, executive director of the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia, is on the Fiscal Stability sub-committee.
• Holly Flanagan, managing director of Gabriel Investments, is on the Commerce and Economic Development sub-committee.

PA has a new chief information security officer

James Sipe was chosen to be the State of Pennsylvania’s new chief information security officer. He started the role at the end of November. This role manages cybersecurity for the Commonwealth’s IT systems and data. The CISO’s office also works with local governments to improve their cybersecurity.

Sipe was previously the security practice leader for strategic accounts at Amazon Web Services. Before that, he held multiple IT and compliance roles, including VP of compliance and IT security for MessageBird.

“I am excited to bring my 20-plus years of experience leading, advising, and working on cybersecurity and compliance for some of the world’s largest companies to my new role as CISO for the Commonwealth,” Sipe said in a written statement. “I look forward to building on the strong foundations of collaboration and leadership that are already in place to keep Pennsylvania at the forefront among states for cybersecurity.”

Exyn Technologies welcomes new CEO

Brandon Torres Declet. (Courtesy Exyn Technologies)

Brandon Torres Declet is the new CEO of Exyn Technologies, a robotics company that developed a mapping aerial robot for GPS-denied environments.

Declet has experience in the drone industry and as an entrepreneur, board director and C-suite executive. Before this role, he was the CEO and board director of AgEagle Aerial Systems, and previously founded the aerial intelligence company MEASURE.

Former Exyn CEO Nader Elm stepped down from the company this year.

“It’s a great time to join Exyn Technologies. The company is well-established and has earned a solid reputation as a market leader in robotics and autonomy,” Declet said in a written statement. “I’m excited to build on this foundation and help drive increased value for our customers. Given my background and experience, I have a strong appreciation for what it takes to take a company, and particularly start-ups, like Exyn to the next level. I look forward to collaborating with the entire team to plan to ensure Exyn’s success.”

More Power Moves:

• Data analytics company dbt Labs announced Brandon Sweeney would be its new president and COO.
• Brent Pfeiffenberger is the new CEO of and member of the board at biotech company Century Therapeutics.
• Ross Jaffe is the new director of business development for the cybersecurity firm SEVN-X.
• The Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia announced that Madeline Bell, president and CEO of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, won the 2023 William Penn Award and Susan Jacobson, CEO of Jacobson Strategic Communications, won the 2024 Paradigm Award.
• The Philadelphia Robotics Coalition named Krystle Birdsall, Paula Don, Youngmoo Kim, Aaron Silvers and Neferteri Strickland as new board members.
• Kiersten Mailler left her role as GPLEX director at the Economy League of Philadelphia and started the role of knowledge community director at Wexford Science and Technology. Kejsi Shahaj is the new GPLEX program director.
• Eric Corkhill, CEO of Neuralert Technologies, was awarded 2023 CEO of the Year at the PCI Ventures at Pennovation Works Showcase.
• dbt Labs, Harmony Biosciences, AscellaHealth, Aclaris Therapeutics, Harbor Compliance and Accolade made it onto Deloitte’s Philadelphia/PA Fast 500 list.
• Temilaya Butler, Gregory Chen, Barbara DelleMonache, Kadidja Dosso, Sarah Beth Gleeson, Shoshana Weintraub, Julia Yan, Josh Fields, Wawa Gatheru, Philomina Kane and Victoria Leary are all Philadelphia-area pros named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list.
• Finally, call this an anti-Power Move: Wharton grad Charlie Javice was on Forbes 30 Under 30 Hall of Shame. Javice was sued for allegedly defrauding JPMorgan Chase, which acquired her former startup darling, Frank.