Philly Power Moves: Nico Westerdale is the new CTO for IndeVets

IndeVets, which makes a scheduling platform for veterinarians, announced that Nico Westerdale is now the company’s full-time CTO after working as its fractional CTO.

Westerdale previously led the consumer product engineering teams at Gopuff and was the CTO for the wellness startup IncentFit. He spent the last two years with IndeVets building up the company’s software engineering team. He now leads a team of eight full-time employees.

“At IndeVets, I set the strategic direction for our technology solution, allowing doctors and hospitals to work together seamlessly using our web and mobile apps,” Westerdale’s bio reads on IndeVets’ website.

Read his How I Got Here interview from 2021.

Chamber of Commerce announces new board of directors and executive committee members

The Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia announced new 2023-2024 board of directors and executive committee members.

Here are the new board of directors members:

• Neeli Bendapudi, president, Pennsylvania State University
• Elizabeth Campbell, EVP and chief legal officer, Cencora
• John Collier, chief information officer, Wawa
• Rob Curley, regional president of metro PA/NJ, TD Bank
• John Grady, SVP of NE region executive, Wexford Science & Technology
• David Greed, managing partner of the Philadelphia hub, KPMG
• Jodie Harris, president, Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation
• Mike Kerlin, senior partner, McKinsey & Company
• Clint Lewis, CEO, Agrofresh
• Chauncey McIntosh, VP and GM of integrated warfare systems and sensors, Lockheed Martin
• Don Mueller, president and CEO, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
• Sandy Pfeffer, managing director of Greater Philadelphia Marketplace, Deloitte
• Ron Phillip, CEO, Spark Therapeutics
• Marcel Pratt, managing partner  at the Philadelphia office, Ballard Spahr
• Shawnna Regan, diversity and inclusion manager, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney (YPC chair)
• Prince A. Sanders, area managing director, The Bellevue Hotel / Switch House at the Battery
• Seth Shapiro, president and CEO, Philadelphia Gas Works
• Bernie Shields, regional president of Philadelphia and South Jersey, M&T Bank
• Dan Tropeano, segment president SE PA, Highmark Blue Shield
• Clyde Woltman, CEO, Leonardo Helicopters US
• Chuck Zwicker, president and COO, Weidenhammer

And the new executive committee members:

• Michael Araten, president and CEO, Sterling Drive Ventures
• Emily Bittenbender, managing partner, Bittenbender Construction
• John Gattuso, president and CEO, Gattuso Development Partners
• Susan Hardwick, president and CEO, American Water
• Rodger Levenson, chairman, president and CEO, WSFS Bank
• Fred Massanova, east region managing partner, Baker Tilly

Board members have an advisory role and help advocate for public policy and retain and attract Chamber members. The executive committee is responsible for approving strategies, policy decisions, managing funds, and considering affiliations and partnerships.

“These leaders represent some of the region’s strongest and most impactful business and civic organizations,” Chellie Cameron, president and CEO of the Chamber, said in a written statement. “I look forward to collaborating with them as we work to realize our vision of positioning Greater Philadelphia as a top global destination for business and a leader in inclusive growth.”

PECO recognizes employees at annual innovation awards

PECO hosted its annual Innovation Week last week, which included the Innovator of the Year ceremony aiming to “recognize both innovators for their contributions and employees who pave the way for innovation,” according to PECO.

Here are this year’s award winners:

• David Reino — Innovator of the Year
• Iris Boci — Innovation Champion
• John Doherty — Innovator of the Field
• Marsiana Hoxholli — Innovation Lead Ambassador of the Year
• Greg Cundari — Innovation Lead Ambassador of the Year
• Jeremy Sharkey — Most Courageous Thinker (for the project 3D Printing Lab)
• David Reino, Dustin Nace, Luke Benedict — Best Collaborator (for the projects Underground and Submersible Automatic Transfer Switch Pilot and 3M Antenna 9’ Road-Rated Neenah Lid)
• Chris DiValentino, Shannon Hackney — Best Adapter (for the project Damage Prevention Camera Truck for Locating of Mains, Services and Stubs)
• Mike Barth — Best Implementer (for the project PECO Priority Customer Outage Dashboard)

Vertex appoints new CSO

King of Prussia-based tax technology company Vertex announced Chirag Patel as the company’s new chief strategy officer.

“Vertex’s appointment of a CSO represents their commitment to driving excellence, prioritizing innovation and adapting to the dynamic landscape of tax technology,” Patel said in a written statement. “As the future of tax services changes, Vertex solutions will be at the forefront of that evolution.”

Patel was previously leader of the EY Foundry at Ernst and Young, as well as the cofounder and managing director of Highnote Foundry, a VC and venture development firm. Previous roles also include product engineer at IBM, VP at Merrill Lynch Capital Markets and venture partner at Trident Capital.

“Bringing to the table his vast innovation experience and leadership capabilities, we’re confident in [Patel’s] ability to help Vertex scale for future growth and deliver sustained value to our customers, partners and shareholders,” David DeStefano, CEO of Vertex, said in a written statement.

More Power Moves

• Eliza Erickson started a new role as the director of permit, license and certification innovation within Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Office of Transformation and Opportunity. Erickson was previously the VP of innovation at Coded by Kids and the director of innovation at the City of Philadelphia.
• Ray Smeriglio announced he was leaving his role as first deputy and chief of staff for Rebuild Philadelphia. He will be joining Comcast to expand the company’s Lift Zones as part of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team.