Geri Swift founded and ran a successful small business for many years, making her a natural to establish and run the Women’s Business Development Center as President.

Swift is an early authority and trainer in supplier diversity. Former Pennsylvania Governor Robert Casey appointed her to his Advisory Council on Minority/Women Business Enterprise in the 1980s. During his first year in office, Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell invited her to join a committee to advise on how to increase MWBE spend. Within a year, the committee’s recommendations resulted in MWBE spend increasing from 2 percent to 10 percent of the state’s $4 billion budget.

In 2000, The Women’s Business Development Center expanded its programs and Swift established the Women’s Business Enterprise Council (WBEC) PA-DE-sNJ. Under her leadership, WBEC’s corporate council has grown to 35 sponsors. WBEC now has 583 certified WBEs employing 17,334 and contributing $3.11 billion to the U.S. economy. A total of 1500 individuals are helped by its programs annually.

Favorite Quote: “One woman’s perspective: Be grateful for your gifts, follow your passion, never compromise your core values and respect your life’s purpose.”

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