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Mind the Gap

Speed networking was derived from the concept of speed dating, a practice that was started by Rabbi Yaacov Deyo. This process was a way for Jewish singles to meet. The activity was later introduced to the corporate world, and is still used today!

 

Trivia:

In what year was the concept of speed networking first introduced in the United States?

a) 2007                b) 1998                 c) 2003

The first person to submit the correct answer to babc@babcphl.com will receive one complimentary ticket to our Need for Speed event on April 25, 2019.


New Members

Club Level Member:

Citrin Cooperman
Leon Dutkiewicz
Partner, Practice Leader International Tax
1800 JFK Boulevard
20th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
P: 215-545-4800
E: ldutkiewicz@citrincooperman.com

It’s not easy running a business — long hours, tough decisions and increasingly complex challenges fill your days. Citrin Cooperman understands this. We can help you examine your business’s financial structure and provide new perspectives on the strategies that will help you succeed.

We are a top-25 nationally recognized full-service assurance, tax, and advisory firm with offices conveniently located throughout the Northeast. Since 1979, we have steadily built our business by helping companies and high net worth individuals find smart solutions. Whether your operations and assets are located around the corner or across the globe, we can provide new perspectives on strategies that will help you achieve your short- and long-term goals.

Our daily mission is to enhance the businesses and personal lives of our clients through our services, guidance, and enthusiasm for building long-standing relationships. We’re driven to meet this mission by our passion for providing clients with an objective viewpoint and insightful advice on whatever challenges they bring to the table. Finding innovative solutions is what drives our professionals and helps our clients succeed.

Corporate Members:

DLA Piper LLP
Stuart Brown
Partner
1201 North Market Street
Suite 2100
Wilmington, DE 19801
P: 302-468-5640
E: stuart.brown@dlapiper.com
www.dlapiper.com

DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers located in more than 40 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, positioning us to help clients with their legal needs around the world.

We strive to be the leading global business law firm by delivering quality and value to our clients.

We achieve this through practical and innovative legal solutions that help our clients succeed. We deliver consistent services across our platform of practices and sectors in all matters we undertake.

Our clients range from multinational, Global 1000, and Fortune 500 enterprises to emerging companies developing industry-leading technologies. They include more than half of the Fortune 250 and nearly half of the FTSE 350 or their subsidiaries. We also advise governments and public sector bodies.

Miramar Global Executive Search
John R. Hodge
Managing Partner, US
1023 Baltimore Pike
Suite 215
Media, PA 19063
P: 484-442-8150 ext. 204
E: john.hodge@miramar.global

Miramar works with businesses around the world to identify and acquire the most qualified individuals for executive leadership positions. We have experienced executive search Consultants and practice Directors in energy, telecoms, media and technology, life sciences and the industrial sectors.

Since 2009 we have been performing transparent, efficient and solution focused executive searches to meet the individual requirements of modern business. Our strong track record in acquiring specialist skills for clients is bolstered by our reputation of challenging the status quo in order to get tangible results.

We combine specialist knowledge and global insight with an in-house research team, which allows us to streamline the search process and more quickly meet executive leadership requirements.

With the cutting edge online workspace technology, you’ll know how far through the hiring request we are, every step of the way.

With a team of sector Directors and executive search Consultants, Miramar has successfully partnered with a range of high profile clients and global businesses. From oil, gas and energy to chemicals, materials and biotech, we have provided researched-led executive search services across a wide variety of sectors.

We’ve helped to create relationships between influential businesses and the most qualified executives in order to fulfil leadership requirements.

Educational, Arts & Charitable Institution Member:

University of Delaware – Horn Entrepreneurship
Dan Freeman
Director
132 E. Delaware Avenue
Newark, DE 19711
P: 302-831-6158
E: freemand@udel.com

Horn Entrepreneurship is the creative engine for entrepreneurship education and advancement at UD.

Built and actively supported by successful entrepreneurs, Horn Entrepreneurship empowers aspiring innovators as they pursue new ideas for a better world.

Horn Entrepreneurship is committed to supporting student success and cultivating a lifelong community of collaboration, connections and impact.

 


Human Interest Feature

Espionage and Endangerment: BABCPHL Member William (Bill) Wheatley Publishes First Novel

By Emma Silverstone, BABCPHL Coordinator and Senior at Temple University

Bill’s relationship with the BABCPHL dates back to 1998, when the company he was partnered with was expanding overseas. The company opened an office in London, creating Bill’s connection to the UK. In the late 1990s, Bill was concurrently working with the CIA along with British intelligence. Bill visited the London office and while he was there, he met with the MI5, an intelligence agency.  Later, when he left the company, Bill formed Wheatley UK Limited. In his new novel, The Man Who Was Never There, Bill tells the story of Arthur Cornwallis Harris III, a young man who joins the Navy and encounters great danger and adventure. Influenced by much of Bill’s personal experience, the character goes through the twists and turns of an exciting action packed life.

When Bill was a child, he read books that told stories of spies and naval officers. It was then that he decided he wanted to move in similar circles. He took classes to learn how to analyze aerial photos. That knowledge was particularly useful when Bill was sent to Guantanamo in his freshman year of college, where he did analysis for the Navy. He also had the chance to fly in a Navy jet to help with surveillance in Cambodia, even though there was no official record of him ever being there.

Bill currently works as an architect, but he wasn’t always in that line of work. He was inspired by his father, who was an engineer. Bill received a scholarship to the renowned Julliard School to focus on composition, but ultimately decided to study architecture at Rice University. Bill chose architecture as a way to combine engineering, which his parents wanted him to pursue, and art, which was his real passion.

Bill spent some time working for the Navy, and after his unit was downsized, he began a career as an architect. Bill requested the Navy send him to work under the CIA umbrella to continue the work that he had been doing during his time in the Navy.

Although the novel was recently published, Bill explained the writing process began 20 years ago while he was working on a project that uncovered crime and espionage. The information he discovered inspired him to write a total of approximately 500,000 words. Bill wrote enough to create at least five sequels, and he mapped out a series of seven books. Before seeking a publisher he had to send his manuscript to the government for permission to expose the details, since he was dealing with sensitive information. The Government told him he needed to change certain things, which led to a re-write of the entire novel. The main character was based on Bill’s experience, with some added details to make him “a little bit more of a hero.”

During the interview, Bill explains, “the BABCPHL has given me wonderful networking opportunities with companies that do work all over the world.” Attending events and meeting new people has helped Bill gain connections that lead to new work.

Bill is currently writing the sequel to his first novel, which is more fiction than it is influenced by his own life, dissimilar to the first book. However, Bill’s ties to the UK have some influence on the sequel. He says, “[the BABCPHL] has broadened my world tremendously.”

William Wheatley’s novel, The Man Who Was Never There, is published by W & B Publishers (Argus Books) and is available for purchase from the publisher or from Amazon.


Event Recaps

GlobalConnect

A Musical Adventure with the British American Business Council and the Philadelphia Orchestra

Welsh Minister Visits Philadelphia

8th Annual New Jersey Networking Event & Dinner


Upcoming Programs

Need for Speed – Around the World in 90 Minutes

Thursday, April 25, 2019
6:00-8:00 pm
The Trestle Inn, Philadelphia, PA

The Death of LIBOR Not SOFR Away…Are You Ready? Secured Overnight Financing Rate: The New Benchmark – Expectations & Implications

Thursday, May 16, 2019
8:00-10:00 am
Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA


Club Level Feature – McConnell Johnson Real Estate, LLC

BABC member, McConnell Johnson Real Estate, Earns Delaware’s first WiredScore Platinum Certifications

McConnell Johnson Real Estate and WiredScore, the pioneer behind Wired Certification, the international standard for cutting-edge internet connectivity in office buildings, recently announced the first certified properties in the state of Delaware.

The pair of office towers on Wilmington’s North Market Street joins the more than 1,700 Wired Certified buildings worldwide that offer top-notch tech capabilities. The designation was assigned upon review of the buildings’ best-in-class connectivity, technological infrastructure and readiness to adopt to emerging technologies. Both office towers, 1201 & 1313 North Market Street achieved the certification’s highest level, Wired Certified Platinum.

Platinum Wired Certification represents the best-in-class standard of in-building connectivity, infrastructure, and readiness. The Empire State Building, Willis Tower in Chicago, and the Shard in London are some of the world-class properties that have achieved this recognition. Collectively encompassing nearly 1 million rentable square feet, these properties offer a range of amenities to tenants including generous floorplates, on-site conference and fitness amenities, abundant parking and walkable access to nearby retail amenities.

These properties benefit from an extensive investment in fiber-optic expansion in the State of Delaware fueled by private investment and grants provided by DEDO and DTI to help accelerate deployment of key fiber-optic routes. This combined investment has created a dense fiber-optic network in Delaware with 1201 & 1313 North Market Street acting as a key HUB site with strategic access to domestic US routes and trans-Atlantic cable landing point on the east coast.

The establishment of a hub for carrier routes at 1201 North Market Street allows for fiber-optic connectivity to a broad range of key markets as well as significant local and regional connectivity. In addition to over 250+ fiber miles in the State of Delaware and extensive reach in New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties. 1201 N Market also acts as a regional HUB for connectivity to 2000+ miles of fiber in bordering PA and NJ with critical low latency routes south to key data centers in N Virginia, north to Philadelphia, NYC and Boston, west to Pittsburgh, Chicago and the west coast.

“The WiredScore Platinum independent certifications for 1201 and 1313 creates better transparency for those tenants that are dependent on the digital economy for future growth,” said Scott Johnson, Partner of McConnell Johnson Real Estate.

“We’ve now clearly entered a time in which an uninterrupted digital experience has become non-negotiable for office tenants to feel empowered and productive,” said Arie Barendrecht, CEO and founder of WiredScore. “As the first properties in the state of Delaware to pursue and earn Wired Certification, 1201 and 1313 North Market Street stand out as forward-thinking properties in the region and can clearly demonstrate a commitment to digital connectivity.”

In pursuing Wired Certification, the properties underwent a comprehensive certification process that evaluated the aspects of digital infrastructure that enable a seamless connectivity experience in which office tenants are able to stay online and maintain productivity levels.

Upon review of the project’s technical elements including: internet service providers available to tenants, infrastructure redundancy, connection access points, and readiness to meet future tenant needs, a Wired Certification level is assigned based on the official standards developed by WiredScore and its connectivity advisory board with representatives from Google Fiber, Rudin Management, Arup, WSP / Parsons Brinckerhoff, and Zayo Group.

ABOUT MCCONNELL JOHNSON REAL ESTATE

McConnell Johnson Real Estate is a leading acquisition, development, and management company with commercial and industrial properties throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. The company’s unwavering commitment to service excellence has attracted and retained first-class tenants, and McConnell Johnson prides itself on a strong dedication to fostering respect and stewardship for business, economic, and community leadership.  In 2018, McConnell Johnson Real Estate’s 1201 N. Market Street and 1313 N. Market Street properties received the area’s first platinum ratings from WiredScore, recognizing its dedication to next-generation connectivity needs. For more information about McConnell Johnson Real Estate, please visit McConnellco.com or call (302) 421-2000.

ABOUT WIREDSCORE

WiredScore is the organization behind Wired Certification, the internationally recognized digital connectivity rating system for commercial real estate that helps landlords design and promote buildings with powerful digital connectivity.

Wired Certification champions cutting-edge technology in commercial real estate by providing the only certification for rating the infrastructure, connectivity and technological capacity of commercial buildings. WiredScore launched Wired Certification in 2013 in partnership with Mayor Bloomberg and the City of New York; in October of 2017, an investment group led by Bessemer Venture Partners and Fifth Wall acquired the company’s majority share.

In an increasingly tech-driven economy, connectivity is fast becoming the most critical factor for tenants when selecting office space. The widely recognized Wired Certification seal is a trusted symbol that identifies buildings that have been independently certified to provide the best-in-class connectivity infrastructure that businesses require to thrive. For more information on Wired Certification or to find Wired Certified buildings, visit: http://wiredscore.com/

 

 

 


President’s Letter

Dear BABCPHL Members and Friends,

Happy Spring!

Our members are what make the BABCPHL a vibrant organization, and the ability of each of you to reach out to your counterparts is a key to our success. Currently, we are in the process of gathering information for our 2019-2020 Annual Membership Directory.  We provide this valuable information to all members, assisting each of you in enhancing your networks and building business.  Members should have received their listing material along with promotional spec details.  Please contact us by Thursday, April 11 with updated information.  If you are considering membership, now is the time to join!  Contact us for additional information to be included in this book of business.

As our fiscal year draws to a close I reflect upon the success we have experienced during the past twelve months: offering more than a dozen programs and events; welcoming new members; and enhancing our relationship with strategic government and other organizations on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

Have you recently attended a BABCPHL event? We are hosting a few more programs between now and the end of the summer.  Scroll through this newsletter for details and links to register.  We hope to see you soon.

Sincerely,

Michael J. Pedrick

President, British American Business Council of Greater Philadelphia


President’s Letter

Dear BABCPHL Members and Friends,

Happy New Year! I am pleased to report we had a full house at our Signature Annual Holiday Lunch in December.  It was a great event, and it was wonderful to see many new and old faces.  BABCPHL definitely ended the calendar year on a high note, and January is off to a strong start.

Networking opportunities abound! We are offering approximately one program per month from now through the end of our fiscal year, with a wide variety of venues and activities.  We hope you and your colleagues join us for face-to-face engagement to help you build business, create valuable connections, and learn about pressing issues affecting commercial ties on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

The BABCPHL is honored to collaborate with regional organizations and chambers representing the global marketplace. Read on and click through this newsletter for details about our upcoming programs.  Did you miss an event or want to see if you are featured in a photo?  Enjoy recaps of recent past activities, and browse our photo stream.

We look forward to seeing you soon. Cheers to you and yours for a wonderful start to the New Year!

 

Sincerely,

Michael J. Pedrick

President, British American Business Council of Greater Philadelphia


Upcoming Programs

GlobalConnect

Thursday, January 31, 2019
5:00 – 7:00 pm
1313 Innovation Center, Wilmington, DE

A Musical Adventure with the British American Business Council and the Philadelphia Orchestra

Tuesday, February 28, 2019
6:00-10:00 pm
The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia, PA

8th Annual New Jersey Networking Event & Dinner

Thursday, March 7, 2019
6:00-8:00 pm
The British Chip Shop, Haddonfield, NJ


Event Recaps

Great British American Pub Night: QUIZZO – Test Your Knowledge of UK & US Trivia

Department for International Trade Advamed MedTech Conference – UK Reception

How to Survive and Thrive in the Changing Times – Leap Hurdles & Grow Your Business 

Brits, Beer & Bites Meetup 

2018 Signature Annual Holiday Luncheon – PHL International: Regional Economic Engine Connecting Philadelphia to the World

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The BABCPHL recognizes our Club Level Members:

  • Almac
  • American Airlines
  • Baker Tilly
  • Cigna
  • Cigna
  • Duane Morris
  • EisnerAmper LLP
  • Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
  • Forensic Resolutions
  • Johnson, Kendall & Johnson, Inc.
  • Morgan Lewis
  • Penn Medicine
  • https://www.santanderus.com/
  • Welsh Government