Satell White Papers and Business Publication Articles

Madeline Bell, President & CEO, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Madeline Bell is the President and CEO of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)

one of the top-ranked children’s hospitals in the United States. A bold and visionary leader, Bell champions change with empathy and integrity, inspiring the nearly 20,000 employees in the hospital’s $3.2-billion-a-year health system and research institute to create breakthroughs that have worldwide impact.

Bell began her career as a pediatric nurse at CHOP in 1983, later leaving the organization to move into hospital administration. She returned to CHOP in 1995, and has since held a number of leadership positions, advancing from Vice President to Senior Vice President to Executive Vice President to Chief Operating Officer. In 2015, she assumed the title of President and CEO.

Bell has made numerous contributions to CHOP, including the development of one of the largest pediatric ambulatory care networks in the country, the expansion of the hospital’s 4-million-square-foot campus, and the development of many nationally recognized clinical care programs. She has also secured many philanthropic gifts to help further the institution’s mission.

Bell is Chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia’s Board of Directors and serves on the boards of Comcast-NBCUniversal, the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, and Solutions for Patient Safety, and on the executive committee of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. She is a member of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia and of The Economic Club of New York. She is also an adviser to numerous international hospitals and frequently lectures on the topics of children’s healthcare and women in leadership.

Bell has received many awards and accolades, including The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Industry Icon Award and the Philadelphia Business Journal’s Most Admired CEO Award. She was named one of Modern Healthcare’s “100 Most Influential People in Healthcare” in 2017, 2018 and 2019, one of its “Top 25 Women Leaders” in 2019, and one of its “50 Most Influential Clinical Executives” in 2020. She was also included on WomenInc.’s 2018 list of “Most Influential Corporate Directors.”

Bell is the author of the blog Heels of Success, which offers guidance to women on how to elevate themselves in the workplace, and the host of Breaking Through with Madeline Bell, a podcast that features interviews with CHOP doctors and scientists, as well as philanthropists, innovators, and business and civic leaders. She holds a bachelor of science in Nursing from Villanova University and a master of science in Organizational Dynamics from the University of Pennsylvania.

Learn more about Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

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Nicholas Bertram, President, The GIANT Company

Nicholas Bertram is president of The GIANT Company, an omnichannel grocer known to customers as GIANT, MARTIN’S,

GIANT Heirloom Market, GIANT Direct and MARTIN’S Direct that has been proudly serving families across Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia since 1923.

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David Adelman, CEO, Campus Apartments; Co-Founder, FS Investments; Founder, Darco Capital

David J. Adelman is a Philadelphia-based entrepreneur and active private investor. Adelman made his first investment more than thirty years ago,

investing just two-thousand dollars in Campus Apartments, a student housing business. Since then, under his leadership, Campus Apartments has become a leader in the industry with more than two-billion dollars in assets under management across 18 states.

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Chris Franklin, Chairman & CEO, Essential Utilities, Inc.

A fixture of the Essential leadership team, Christopher Franklin is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE: WTRG).

Essential is one of the largest publicly traded water, wastewater, and natural gas providers in the U.S., serving approximately 5 million people across 10 states. He has served as CEO since July 2015, and as chairman since December 2017.

Since being named CEO in 2015, the company’s market capitalization more than doubled, to more than $11 billion. Through the company’s growth-through-acquisition program, customer count nearly doubled and total return to shareholders was more than 100%.

In 2018, the company welcomed its 1 millionth customer, and in 2019, it announced what will be the largest municipal acquisition in the company’s history – an agreement to acquire the wastewater assets of the Delaware County Regional Water Quality Control Authority (DELCORA), adding 165,000 new customers.

These successes are attributed to Franklin refocusing the company on growing its regulated business, purchasing municipal water and wastewater systems, and shedding its under-performing unregulated businesses. The company then broadened its strategy by adding a natural gas platform with the $4.3 billion purchase of Pittsburgh-based Peoples.

The accomplishment of which Franklin is most proud is building a strong management team. He has worked deliberately to bring diversity to the company’s board of directors, employee base and management team. In fact, Franklin has appointed nine women to leadership roles in the company since being named CEO. Under Franklin’s leadership, the company has been recognized by the Forum of Executive Women in Philadelphia for recruiting a Board of Directors that is comprised of at least 30 percent women.

Additionally, Franklin was named one of the Philadelphia Business Journal’s Most Admired CEOs in 2017 for his “strong record of innovation, outstanding financial performance, commitment to quality, a strong vision, a commitment to diversity in the workplace and contributions to the Greater Philadelphia region.” In 2019, Franklin was recognized by EY (formerly Ernst & Young) with their “Entrepreneur of the Year” award for his innovative vision of the Peoples acquisition and many years of successful leadership in the utility industry.

Prior to his role as CEO, Franklin was president and chief operating officer. A 27-plus-year veteran of the company, Franklin has held executive roles in public affairs, customer service and operations.

In addition to serving as the chairman of Essential’s board of directors, Franklin is active in the community and serves on the boards of the National Association of Water Companies, The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, Allegheny Conference on Community Development, University of Pennsylvania Board of Trustees, West Chester University’s Council of Trustees, and The Franklin Institute.

Franklin earned his bachelor’s degree from West Chester University and his MBA from Villanova University.

Learn more about Essential Utilities, Inc.

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Chris Gheysens, President and CEO, Wawa, Inc.

Chris Gheysens is President and CEO of Wawa, a chain of more than 900 convenience stores located in five Mid-Atlantic States, Florida and Washington, DC.

Wawa is a family and associate-owned, privately-held company with more than 36,000 Wawa associates providing convenient and friendly experiences for over 1.6 million customers every day.

Wawa ranks 23rd on Forbes’ annual ranking of Largest Privately Held Companies, ranks 33rd in Nation’s Restaurant News’ 200 Largest Restaurant Chain in America and ranks among the top ten Employee Stock Ownership Plans in the country. The company began in the early 1800’s in New Jersey with an iron foundry and a cotton and textile mill, and eventually migrated to Pennsylvania with the opening of a dairy plant in 1902. Wawa’s original dairy was built on land located in a rural section of Pennsylvania called “Wawa” which was named from local Native Americans in honor of their favored game – the Canada goose. As home delivery of dairy declined and supermarkets became more abundant in the early 1960’s, the concept to open Wawa convenience stores became a reality with the first store opening in Folsom, PA on April 16, 1964.

Gheysens is proud to have served Wawa associates for more than twenty-four years, previously holding the position of Chief Financial and Administrative Officer from January 2007 to December 2011, with responsibility for all Financial, Legal and Human Resource functions. As President and CEO since 2013, Gheysens is committed to protecting and fostering the Wawa culture of private ownership and shared ownership, and carrying on the strong tradition of servant leadership. Prior to joining Wawa, Gheysens worked in the audit practice at Deloitte and Touché, LLP in Philadelphia. During his four years with Deloitte, he focused primarily on the retail industry, serving clients such as Reading China and Glass, The Wall Music, Pep Boys, and Wawa.

Gheysens graduated from the Villanova University School of Business with a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy in 1993. He obtained his Master of Business Administration from Saint Joseph’s University and was a Certified Public Accountant in New Jersey. He graduated from Saint Augustine Preparatory School located in Richland, New Jersey. In 2019, Gheysens was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Leadership from Saint Joseph’s University.

Gheysens joined the Villanova University Board of Trustees in 2021, previously chairing the Dean’s Advisory Council for the Villanova School of Business. He serves on the WSFS Bank Board of Directors, where he chairs the Audit Committee. In 2017, Gheysens joined The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Board of Trustees and in 2020 was appointed as the Chairman of the Board. He also led the formation of their first Corporate Council.

Learn more about Wawa.

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With Special Remarks From:

Erika H. James, Dean, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

Erika H. James became the dean of the Wharton School on July 1, 2020. Trained as an organizational psychologist, Dean James is a leading expert on crisis leadership, workplace diversity and management strategy.

Prior to her appointment at Wharton, James was the John H. Harland Dean at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School from 2014 to 2020. An award-winning educator, accomplished consultant and researcher, she is the first woman and first person of color to be appointed dean in

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Tuesday, May 4, 2021, 9:00 to 11:00 am

Join Us In-Person at the Franklin Institute or via Livestream

Who's Attending?

See what CEOs think about our hallmark Peer-to-Peer Idea Exchange

Join the Satell Institute

Spring 2021 CEO Conference Committee

Conference Chair

Marc Brownstein

CEO, Brownstein

Partner, Vinland Ventures

President, Campus Apartments

President & CEO, Graduate! Philadelphia

CEO, The Mann Center for the Performing Arts

Chairman, Advertising Specialty Institute

Managing Partner, PwC (ret.)

Urban League of Philadelphia

CEO, Main Line Chamber of Commerce

CEO, Vertex, Inc.

President, Tozour Energy Systems

President, Citizens Bank

President & CEO, American Heritage Federal Credit Union

CEO, Essential Utilities, Inc.

CEO, Mill Creek Capital Advisors

CEO, PECO

CEO, Philabundance

Founder, Michael Kelly Philanthropy

President & CEO, Image Studios

VP, Philadelphia Phillies

President & CEO, Main Line Health

Founder & President, Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School

CEO, PRWT Services, Inc.

President, BB&T / Truist Bank

Director of Institutional Giving, Franklin Institute

Chairman EAAmeritus, Stradley Ronon

Regional President, M&T Bank

Founder, Tansey Family Fund

CEO, Caron Foundation

CEO, UGI Corporation

President, Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation, and Exec VP & Chief Diversity Officer, Comcast Corporation

Managing Director, JP Morgan Chase

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The Satell Institute thanks our host, The Franklin Institute and President & CEO Larry Dubinski

Spring 2021 CEO Conference Attendees

Here is what past participants have said about the Candid CEO Idea Exchange

The breakout sessions at the conference capture the essence of the Satell Institute. For me, they provide a unique opportunity for leaders to share ideas, learn from each other and explore the potential for collaboration as we strive to address the most critical issues facing our communities and our companies.

Where else can you network with nearly 200 CEOs and learn best practices about corporate philanthropy? Satell Institute is so unique and so powerful for our community.

While I was certainly aware of the Satell Institute, it wasn’t until I attended their CEO Conference as a guest that I was truly blown away by the caliber of the CEOs involved. I signed up on the spot. I have a decent amount of years ahead of me in my career, and I feel like it’s important to never stop learning. I also believe that in order to do big things, you have to partner together to have a greater impact. Dan Tropeano, CEO United Healthcare PA & NJ

It was great for me to be around other leaders and to hear their philosophies about why they give and how they live. I had never run an organization this size before, and it was great being around other CEOs who care and have the heart to do something positive.

If you want to make a difference and an impact in your community, these members are already doing it and it’s a great place to hear about how they’ve done it. Just being in the same room with those people is inspiring. It’s a place where people understand that to get anything done in the community, you need the money and insight from the private sector.

The Satell CEO Breakouts are a real highlight of our conference as they allow business leaders to share ideas and issues that they deal with daily. Given the current obstacles impacting business and our region today, I’m looking forward to collaborating with other leaders so we can come together to speed up the recovery process, while helping to strengthen our non-profits that are so critical to our region.

As we work to ensure that the promise of the American Revolution endures, our success depends on collaboration with corporate and foundation leaders who understand that healthy, strong and engaged communities are good for business and for people. The Satell Institute is such a powerful and effective force for bringing nonprofit and for-profit enterprise together. There could be no better example of how 1 + 1 can equal 3.

DAN TROPEANO

CEO In PA & DE

United Healthcare

While I was certainly aware of the Satell Institute, it wasn’t until I attended their CEO Conference as a guest that I was truly blown away by the caliber of the CEOs involved. I signed up on the spot. I have a decent amount of years ahead of me in my career, and I feel like it’s important to never stop learning. I also believe that in order to do big things, you have to partner together to have a greater impact. That’s the real value of the Satell Institute – it’s a collective force that can really create change. At UHC, we’re accustomed to longer-term engagements with our nonprofits, so the multi-year commitment required for Satell Institute members felt natural. And while we tend to have national partnerships, we know that all things happen at a local level.

Spring 2021 Private CEO Conference

Satell White Papers and Business Publication Articles

Madeline Bell, President & CEO, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Madeline Bell is the President and CEO of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)

Nicholas Bertram, President, The GIANT Company

Nicholas Bertram is president of The GIANT Company, an omnichannel grocer known to customers as GIANT, MARTIN’S,

David Adelman, CEO, Campus Apartments; Co-Founder, FS Investments; Founder, Darco Capital

David J. Adelman is a Philadelphia-based entrepreneur and active private investor. Adelman made his first investment more than thirty years ago,

Chris Franklin, Chairman & CEO, Essential Utilities, Inc.

A fixture of the Essential leadership team, Christopher Franklin is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE: WTRG).

Chris Gheysens, President and CEO, Wawa, Inc.

Chris Gheysens is President and CEO of Wawa, a chain of more than 900 convenience stores located in five Mid-Atlantic States, Florida and Washington, DC.

With Special Remarks From:

Erika H. James, Dean, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

Erika H. James became the dean of the Wharton School on July 1, 2020. Trained as an organizational psychologist, Dean James is a leading expert on crisis leadership, workplace diversity and management strategy.

Tuesday, May 4, 2021, 9:00 to 11:00 am

Join Us In-Person at the Franklin Institute or via Livestream

Who's Attending?

See what CEOs think about our hallmark Peer-to-Peer Idea Exchange

Join the Satell Institute

Spring 2021 CEO Conference Committee

Conference Chair

Marc Brownstein

The Satell Institute thanks our host, The Franklin Institute and President & CEO Larry Dubinski

Spring 2021 CEO Conference Attendees

Here is what past participants have said about the Candid CEO Idea Exchange

DAN TROPEANO

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