Rob Wonderling

As chamber president and CEO,{{Cite web|url=http://www.chamberphl.com/about/the-president|title=About the President|website=www.chamberphl.com|access-date=2017-08-12}} Wonderling leads a business advocacy organization of member companies that promotes growth and economic development in the 11-county Greater Philadelphia region. He also serves as chairman of the CEO Council for Growth,http://www.chamberphl.com/about/affiliates-associates/ceo-council-for-growth-members{{dead link|date=August 2017}} the governing board of Select Greater Philadelphia. Previously, Wonderling worked for Bentley Systems and Allentown-based Air Products and Chemicals. From 2002 to 2009, Wonderling served in the Pennsylvania State Senate, where he first served as chairman of the Communications and Technology Committee and then as chairman of the Transportation Committee. He also served in the executive branch of state government in the Ridge Administration as Deputy Secretary of Transportation.{{Cite web|url=http://www.greaterphilachamber.com/about/the-president|title=About the President|website=www.greaterphilachamber.com|access-date=2017-08-12}} In recognition of his community involvement, he was awarded the 2011 Service to Humanity Award{{Cite web|url=http://www.marchofdimes.org/chapterassets/chapterFiles/news_release_2011_Service_to_Humanity.pdf|title=March of Dimes announces 2011 Service to Humanity Recipients|last=|first=|date=2011-02-07|website=March of Dimes|access-date=2017-08-12}} and was named "State Public Official of the Year" by Pennsylvania Bio in 2009.{{Cite web|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20090305006195/en/Pennsylvania-Bio-Honors-Policy-Leadership-Annual-Dinner|title=Pennsylvania Bio Honors Policy Leadership at Its Annual Dinner & Awards Celebration|date=2009-03-05|website=www.businesswire.com|language=en|access-date=2017-08-12}} He recently served on the Philadelphia School Reform Commission Search Committee for a new superintendent of schools{{Cite web|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/school_files/Philly-superintendent-search-committee-formed.html|title = Philly superintendent search committee formed}} and currently serves as the chair of the Pennsylvania Governor’s Commission on post-secondary education.{{Cite web|url=http://www.education.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/pde-acpse/20753/members/1112190|title=Pennsylvania Department of Education|website=www.education.state.pa.us|language=en-us|access-date=2017-08-12}}

In the 1990s, Wonderling served as the deputy secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation under Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge. After leaving the Ridge Administration, he served as vice-president of Bentley Systems.

In 2002, Wonderling received the GOP nomination to run for retiring Ed Holl's Senate seat. Behind the scenes, his nomination caused a split in the Republican establishment. Former Reagan Secretary of Transportation Drew Lewis had pushed his son, Andy, for the seat, and the 24th district was shifted northward into the Lehigh Valley in the 2001 redistricting.{{cite web|last=Neri|first=Al|date=May 2004|title=Showdown in Norristown|url=http://www.insiderpa.com/archive/insider5-2004b.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519014307/http://www.insiderpa.com/archive/insider5-2004b.htm|archive-date=2011-05-19|work=The Insider|authorlink=Albert J. Neri}} Andy Lewis decided not to run and, after Wonderling won the nomination, Drew formed a group called "Republicans for Maza" to support the Democratic nominee Jim Maza.{{cite web|last=Neri|first=Al|date=October 2002|title=State Senate Update|url=http://www.insiderpa.com/archive/insider10-2002c.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030622144205/http://www.insiderpa.com/archive/insider10-2002c.htm|archive-date=2003-06-22|access-date=2017-08-12|work=The Insider|authorlink=Albert J. Neri}} Wonderling defeated Maza in the general election with 55% of the vote.{{cite web |url=http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=13&ElectionID=7&OfficeID=12 |title=Pennsylvania Department of State, Election Returns, 11/5/2002 |work=www.electionreturns.state.pa.us |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501023625/http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=13&ElectionID=7&OfficeID=12 |archivedate=2008-05-01 |accessdate=2017-08-12}}

Wonderling successfully defended his seat in 2006 with 56% of the vote over Democrat Dave Wilsey, a Quakertown borough councilman.{{Cite web |url=http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=13&ElectionID=24&OfficeID=12 |title=Pennsylvania Department of State, Election Returns, 11/7/2006 |access-date=2008-06-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529013727/http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=13&ElectionID=24&OfficeID=12 |archive-date=2008-05-29 |url-status=dead }}

Wonderling was chairman of the Senate Communications & Technology Committee and vice chairman of the Game & Fisheries Committee. He also served on the Aging and Youth, Public Health and Welfare, and Rules and Executive Nominations Committees.

Wonderling hosted an annual charity event in Montgomery County called "Wonder Wing" which included a contest for the best chicken wing recipe in the area. Proceeds from this event support Meals on Wheels.

Wonderling resigned from his Senate seat on August 1, 2009, to become president of the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia.{{cite press release |title=Pennsylvania Senator Rob Wonderling To Resign From Senate |publisher=Pennsylvania Senate Republican Caucus |date=2009-06-01 |url=http://www.senatorwonderling.com/newsreleases/default.asp?NewsReleaseID=1992&SubjectID= |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20090602153506/http://www.senatorwonderling.com/newsreleases/default.asp?NewsReleaseID=1992&SubjectID= |archivedate=2009-06-02 |access-date=2009-06-02 |url-status=live }} He was succeeded by fellow Republican Bob Mensch.

In 2010, Politics Magazine named him one of the most influential Republicans in Pennsylvania.{{Cite news| last = Roarty| first = Alex| author2 = Sean Coit| title = Pennsylvania Influencers| newspaper = Politics Magazine| pages = 44–49| date = January 2010| url = http://politicsmagazine.com/uploads/Image/Politics_PA_influencers_web.pdf| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20091229023006/http://politicsmagazine.com/uploads/Image/Politics_PA_influencers_web.pdf| archivedate = 2009-12-29| access-date = 2010-02-08| url-status = dead}}

Wonderling has served on the board of trustees of Ursinus College since 2014. In January, 2017, he was named chair of the board.{{cite news|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/education/Chamber-CEO-to-lead-Ursinus-board.html|title=Business leader to head Ursinus board|author=Susan Snyder|date=2017-01-23|newspaper=Philadelphia Inquirer|accessdate=2017-01-23}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20081220044302/http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/senate_bio.cfm?id=1008 Pennsylvania State Senate - Robert C. Wonderling], official PA Senate profile (archived)
• [https://archive.today/20240524094005/https://www.webcitation.org/5hEYnelm2?url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php%3Fcan_id=47190 Biography] at Project Vote Smart

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{{succession box | before= Edwin Holl | title= Member of the Pennsylvania Senate for the 24th District | years=2003–2009 | after=Bob Mensch}}

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{{s-ttl|title=President and CEO of Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce|years=2009–present}}

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Category:Republican Party Pennsylvania state senators

Category:Living people

Category:Fels Institute of Government alumni

Category:Allegheny College alumni

Category:Politicians from Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

Category:1961 births

Category:21st-century members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly