A Story of Transformation: The Allegheny
Conference on Community DevelopmentBarbara McNees, Executive Vice President, Allegheny
Conference on Community Development and President, Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce
August 2, 2012
A snapshot of the Pittsburgh Region
10 counties = 7,200 sq. mi
Population = 2.6 million
Gross Regional Product =
$115.752 billion
“Pittsburgh stands as a bold example of how to create
new jobs and industries while transitioning to a 21st
century economy. As a city that has transformed itself
from the city of steel to a center for high-tech
innovation... Pittsburgh will provide both a beautiful
backdrop and a powerful example for our work.”
-President Barack Obama,
Pittsburgh (G-20) Summit
Renaissance City 1940s-1970s
•Public-private partnership
•Smoke control
•Urban redevelopment
A story of civic leadership
The Renaissance began in the 1940s with the formation of
the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, a
non-profit organization designed to bring together private
sector leadership to work in partnership with government to
improve the region. Together they cleaned the skies and
rivers and transformed the city itself with the first urban
redevelopment programs in the United States.
The Steel Bust
•Foreign imports
•Industry restructuring
•National recession
•Regional depression
A big setback in the 1980s
Pittsburgh‟s economy boomed and busted through
much of its industrial history. But the mills always
reopened, until the late 1970s, when many mills
began to close for good. The collapse of its industrial
economy in the early „80s was among the worst
economic setbacks suffered by any region in the
United States in the second half of the 20th century.
How do rebuild our economy?
The charge to Carnegie Mellon
University President Mehrabian“Allegheny Conference leaders, noting that I was a relative newcomer to the region, asked me to take a fresh look at our civic infrastructure. The task was to recommend the forging of new and improved partnerships to enhance the region‟s economic performance.”
What President Mehrabian found…
“…It became clear that the principal issue
facing Southwestern Pennsylvania‟s
economy is not the quality and organization
of its civic agencies. A more fundamental
ingredient for regional success seemed to
be missing. This crucial ingredient is a
consensus about the economic future of
the region.”
The Conference’s challenge to our
community
“We need a new shared
vision, new strategies
and actions that can
address the demands of
a rapidly changing
global economy.”
We organized regionally – 1990s
• 10 counties; one state
• Regional structures
created: PRA, RASP,
T-CAP and SWPA
Growth Alliance
A great American comebackTotal employment 1970-2011
1,050,000
1,100,000
1,150,000
1,200,000
1,250,000
1,300,000
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
How do we take it to the next level?
Our organizational transformation
• A collaborative planning process
• Joint Venture agreements (1990‟s)
• Affiliation structure (2000)
– Integrated board leadership, administration,
funding and personnel
– More nimble structure that supports
organizational innovation
– Four branded organizations
Our model for 21st century civic
stewardshipThe Conference is the parent organization for its three affiliates – the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance (PRA), the Greater
Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce and the Pennsylvania Economy League of Southwestern Pennsylvania – that share a
strategic vision and work together for regional improvement, setting the 21st-century standard for civic stewardship:
Pittsburgh
Regional Alliance
Marketing
Pennsylvania Economy League of Southwestern
Pennsylvania
Research & Analysis
Greater Pittsburgh
Chamber of Commerce
Advocacy
Regional Investors Council
Providing time, talent and resources to
advance the agenda
Economic Development Wins
2002 - 2011
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Projects
Major accomplishments since 1990
• Regional Asset District creation and funding
• County government reform – Home Rule and
Row Office
• Brownfield and riverfront development
• African American Chamber of Commerce
formed
• Business in Our Sites program
• Business/tax climate improvements
• Successful Pittsburgh 250 and G-20
Our core competencies
• Leadership engagement
• Convening and coalitions
• Shared communications and capacity
building
• Advocacy, direct service provision,
research and fact-finding, marketing
Today we are an integrated
leadership organization
• 314 Regional Investor Council member
organizations (corporate & foundation
leadership)
• The Allegheny Conference Board of
Directors and 3 affiliate boards (Chamber,
Regional Alliance and League)
• Committees & work groups as needed
• Professional staff
ACCD Chair & Vice Chairs
Allegheny
Conference
Chuck Bunch, Chair
Enhance Opportunity
Dave Malone,
Vice Chair &Chair,
Pittsburgh Regional
Alliance
Strengthen
Communities
Laura Ellsworth,
Vice Chair & Chair,
PA Economy
League SWPA
Energize Tomorrow’s
Economy
Greg Babe,
Vice Chair &Chair,
Greater Pittsburgh
Chamber of Commerce
Conference Leadership
Transportation
&
Infrastructure
Committee
Greg Jordan,
Chair
Secretary
Michele
FabriziWorkplace
Committee
David Porges,
Chair
Treasurer &
Chair,
Audit Committee
Kimberly Tillotson
Fleming
Personnel &
Compensation
Committee
Morgan O‟Brien,
Chair
2012-2014 Agenda
Sustainable Prosperity: “Doing it right”Our region has achieved a remarkable comeback over
the past 30 years. Yet our region is not the nation’s most
livable for everyone here. People and places have been
left behind by our region’s economic recovery.
Our leadership and membership have asked us to do
more to work together with our many partners to support
job growth and a high quality of life that will lead to
sustainable prosperity for everyone.
Strategic Priorities 2012-2014
Enhance Opportunity
Strengthen Communities
Energize Tomorrow’s Economy
Lessons Learned
• Transformation takes time
• Take advantage of opportunities,
timing and transitions
• Continuous improvement is the goal
More information
Barbara McNeesExecutive Vice President, Allegheny Conference on
Community Development
President, Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce
11 Stanwix Street – 17th floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
412-281-1890
www.alleghenyconference.org
