More than 400 members and guests attended the local African American Chamber of Commerce’s recent Annual Business Meeting and Luncheon. Michael McGarry, Chairman and CEO of PPG Industries, was the keynote speaker. Allegheny County Executive Richard Fitzgerald and Mayor Bill Peduto provided greets.
Fitzgerald emphasized the importance of the African American Chamber to the community. “We are fortunate in this part of the world and in Western Pennsylvania to have so many partners and corporations to unify to collaborate to make this community as special as it can be and we must continue to work together,” he said.
“Pittsburgh has been in a pretty good place the past couple of years which is good to see the economics growth and development occurring throughout the city and this region,” said Mayor Peduto. “The next five years you are going to see it continuing as we are looking to invest millions of dollars in the city, but the cooperation and investments from companies like Uber and Google are just as important.”
Mayor Peduto also pointed out that this is the opportunity to see people that have not been part of the growth within the past 10 to 20 years to be involved. Specifically, small businesses being able to take advantage of opportunities because the city is working to change the rules to break down barriers. Corporations are aiming for the same goal. He said as the culture changes for contracting opportunities for small businesses, the accountability will be more centered on inclusiveness and that’s the goal to change the culture within the city. “For the first time in a long time there is going to be more work than people, so we are going to have to find, train and use more people to get what we want to get accomplished.”
Listed as the second-largest manufacturing firm and second-largest public company in the 2016-17 Pittsburgh Business Times Book of Lists, McGarry said PPG is very proud of what they do and attributes the company’s success to the staff working together as a team. The company employs 47,000 people worldwide and 18,500 in North America. Their global headquarters is located in Pittsburgh; the Coatings Innovation Center in Allison Park, the Business and Technology Center in Monroeville and the Industrial Coatings Center in Springdale. They also are listed among America’s Best Large Employers, according to a list published by Forbes Magazine.
Founded in 1883 as Pittsburgh Plate Glass, today the company is a global supplier of paints, coatings, optical products, specialty materials, and fiberglass. Initiatives mentioned that are making a great impact on the community include Colorful Communities, their STEM Initiative and the Supplier Diversity Program.
Launched in 2015, Colorful Communities is a 10-year commitment throughout its footprint around the world.
The project is a mix of four essential ingredients: a community need, a local partner, passionate PPG employees and PPG products. A part of their community engagement obligation, PPG and the PPG Foundation collaborates with employees and community partners to make their vision of bringing color and brightness to communities a reality. PPG dedicates its financial resources, applies their products and uses the power of their employee volunteers to address the needs of the communities and transform lives.
Strong believers in Innovation Science Education, their science, technology, engineering, and mathematics program is geared to plant seeds that supports programs that broaden access to education and strengthen skills in such fields. PPG’s strategy for support of STEM initiatives is defined by the emerging macro-trends such as energy, environmental, consumer, security and new materials which predicate their core markets, product offerings, and technology needs.
McGarry said they are agnostic about finding the best and brightest in creativity and ideas. With a new Global Supply Manager on board, he said they are interested in being more focused about their suppliers having a competitive advantage in helping them grow their future. “We look forward to broadening the diversity in our supplier base.”
Wanting to embrace the community, McGarry mentioned that due to the aging population of their painters, they are looking for help in suppling more work opportunities by hiring more of them.
McGarry joined PPG in 1981 as an engineer at the company’s Louisiana chemicals complex. He was named general manager, fine chemicals in 2000, and vice-president, chlor-alkali and derivatives, in 2004. McGarry was named executive vice-president in September 2012. In this role, his leadership responsibilities included the automotive refinish, aerospace, global architectural, and protective and marine coatings businesses, as well as Europe, the Middle East and Africa and Asia Pacific regions, and the EH&S and IT functions.
During the Chamber’s membership meeting, activities in the past year included an increase in membership, a new presidential roundtable member, and a capacity-building project, according to Chamber president and CEO Doris Carson Williams.
“Our membership increased by 11 new members and we thank Gateway Health and Marcia Martin for becoming a new presidential roundtable member,” said Carson Williams. She also thanked the members for participating in the membership survey which allows them to do their job better and to respond to the requests and needs of members. Results, she said, indicated that members continue to be interested in procurement and networking opportunities. The Power Breakfasts and Luncheons are important to the members, but there is a request for healthcare and access to capital workshops.
Other plans for the upcoming year entail continuing to update their digital archives, new member orientations workshops bi-annually, implementing requested workshops from membership surveys through the Business Institute, networking mixers and the seasonal celebration.
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