Luke Bernstein will be the next president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry Board of Directors, the organization announced Tuesday.
Bernstein was appointed after a five-month search by a seven-person search committee comprised of representatives of Chamber’s member businesses from across the state. The committee, led by PA Chamber Board of Directors Chair Nicholas Bertram, who also serves as president of The GIANT Company, and Vice Chair Brion Lieberman, who is chief human resources officer at Geisinger, said Bernstein’s experience and leadership were key to his selection.
“When we began the search for Gene’s successor, we knew it would not be an easy task,” said Bertram. “First and foremost, we were looking for an accomplished leader with a deep-rooted love of the Commonwealth, its business community, and families and vast experience in the private and public sectors. Finally, we wanted someone with a visionary mindset, a transformational thinker with the ability to build consensus among multiple audiences and cement Pennsylvania’s reputation as a forward-thinking and frontline advocate for businesses. That individual is, unequivocally, Luke, so it is no surprise that he has the unanimous support of both the search and Chamber executive committees. I’m looking forward to working with him as he champions Pennsylvania’s economy and workforce nationally and globally.”
Bernstein previously served as executive vice president and chief operations and technology officer at Orrstown Financial Services, where he was corporate spokesperson since 2017. Before that, he served as the senior vice president of external affairs at the Pennsylvania Bankers Association and as deputy chief of staff for former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett. Bernstein has worked at the federal level, serving as an appointed advisor in President George W. Bush’s administration and as an aide in the U.S. Senate. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and policy studies from Dickinson College.
“The opportunity to lead and work with the Chamber team and serve Pennsylvania businesses is an incredible honor,” Bernstein said. “I love Pennsylvania. I have devoted the better part of my professional career to serving the Keystone State because I believe it is as essential to our nation today as it was when it was founded. I’m eager to get started and to continue the incredible work done during Gene’s tenure to accelerate our post-pandemic recovery with a focus on attracting and retaining both world-class employers and skilled employees, which are vital to creating the competitive and thriving economy we know the Commonwealth can, should, and will be.”
Bernstein replaces Gene Barr, who announced his retirement in November.