22nd Annual St. Barnabas CEO Leadership Conference to Address Taxation
Speakers include Congressman John Linder, author of "The FairTax Book"
Gibsonia, Pa. - June 24, 2008 - Five regional and national leaders will be the featured speakers at the 22nd annual St. Barnabas CEO Leadership Conference on Monday, Sept. 22 at The Washington Place at St. Barnabas, 5847 Meridian Road. The conference theme is "STAT: Standing Together Against Taxes."
Business leaders have long argued that their efforts to develop the Pittsburgh region are stymied by the tax structure on the local, state and federal levels. It is time for the business community to come together and fight for tax reform - the region has a tax structure that is driving away business and the need to act is now - STAT.
The theme was chosen to address Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania's tax structure and economic well being. The panelists - each with his own viewpoint and prospective solution - are:
Congressman John Linder, U.S. Representative for Georgia's 7th District. Linder literally wrote the book on tax reform. "The FairTax Book," which he co-authored with syndicated radio talk show host Neil Boortz, was a New York Times bestseller. The book is based on Linder's legislation, H.R. 25, known as the FairTax Act, which would abolish all federal income taxes, including payroll taxes, self-employment taxes, capital gains taxes, gift taxes and death taxes, and replaces them all with one simple, straightforward personal consumption tax. Linder states that the FairTax gives the American people control over their own lives again by allowing them to keep 100 percent of their paychecks and shielding their personal information from bureaucrats. Linder is a former dentist and businessman.
Patrick Toomey, President, The Club for Growth, Washington, D.C. The Club for Growth is America's leading limited-government, free-enterprise advocacy group. Toomey was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District for three terms, from January 1999 through January 2005. Toomey distinguished himself as one of Congress' leading advocates for limited government and personal freedom. He is also a former investment banker who has a great deal of business experience. He owned and operated four very successful, original-concept restaurants and bars in Allentown and Lancaster, Pa.
David C. Chavern, COO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce. As Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Chavern manages the day-to-day activities of the U.S. Chamber's finance, information technology, communications and human resources areas and serves as the chair of the Chamber's Management
Committee. He also has oversight responsibility for the National Chamber Foundation - the organization's public policy think tank - as well as relations with associates and state and local chamber members. Prior to joining the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, he served in several senior positions at the U.S. Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank, including deputy general counsel.
Matthew Brouillette, President and CEO, Commonwealth Foundation, Harrisburg. The Commonwealth Foundation is an independent, nonprofit public policy research and educational organization. dedicated to advancing state-level public policies based on the nation's founding principles of limited government, economic freedom, and personal responsibility. Brouillette is a prominent voice in statewide public policy debates bringing the free-market, pro-liberty perspective to today's political and policy discussions. In January 2007, the Commonwealth Foundation launched a talk radio media project, "The BOX: Inside o Outside o On with Matt Brouillette" (www.theBOXprogram.com), which airs weekly on Pennsylvania's largest talk radio station. Prior to his career in the world of politics and public policy, he taught history and coached football and baseball at the high school and middle school levels.
Glen Meakem, Co-founder and Managing Director, Meakem Becker Venture Capital. The co-founder of Meakem Becker Venture Capital, Meakem has earned a national reputation as a new economy leader and innovator. Prior to the creation of Meakem Becker, Meakem led Meakem Venture Partners. Meakem's entry into the venture capital industry was preceded by a widely chronicled role as co-founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of FreeMarkets Inc., which was the leading provider of Internet deployed software and services for automating the sourcing processes of Global 1000 companies. Earlier in his career, Meakem held positions with General Electric and Kraft-General Foods. Meakem is a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserves who voluntarily returned to active duty and served as a platoon leader in the First Gulf War, 1990-91.
Following a new format, each of the panelists will speak separately on the conference theme. At the conclusion of all five leaders' remarks, audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions of the panelists. Moderating the discussion will be James C. Roddey, former Allegheny County chief executive and one of the region's top businessmen. The conference will include opening remarks by William V. Day, president of St. Barnabas Health System. Serving as conference moderator will be David Johnson, WPXI-TV anchor.
The complimentary conference is open by invitation only to area CEOs and their seconds-in-command. The day will begin with a breakfast at 7 a.m., followed by the half-day conference at 8 a.m. A complimentary lunch follows the conference in The Washington Place's Mount Vernon Restaurant. An optional afternoon of golf to benefit the St. Barnabas Free Care Fund will take place at Butler Country Club. The cost for golf is $350 per person, which includes lunch at the country club and hors d'oeuvres following 18 holes of golf. To register, call 724-443-0700, Ext. 5258 or visit www.stbarnabashealthsystem.com. Reservations are due by Sept. 15.
The St. Barnabas CEO Conference has earned a reputation as a no-holds-barred, open discussion of issues vital to the business community. Additionally, St. Barnabas rolls out the red carpet for its guests on this day, serving an excellent breakfast and gourmet lunch and hosting the conference in the luxurious comfort of its 350-seat Kean Theatre.
Sponsors of St. Barnabas CEO Leadership Conference are Acusis, Geyer Construction, The HDH Group Inc., Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Hunter Associates Inc., K&L Gates LLP, Mt. Lebanon Office Equipment, NexTier Bank, Smart Business Pittsburgh, TRACO, UPMC Health Plan and WPXI-TV. Sponsors of Leading the Links Golf Open are Acusis, Hunter Associates Inc., and NexTier Bank.
About St. Barnabas, St. Barnabas Health System is the largest health care concern of its kind in Pennsylvania and offers service apart from the ordinary in a faith-based, non-denominational setting. Tracing its heritage back to 1900, the system serves approximately 900 inpatients and residents, plus 35,000 outpatients and home care clients. The health system is composed of the
St. Barnabas Communities, including The Village at St. Barnabas, The Washington Place at St. Barnabas and The Woodlands at St. Barnabas; St. Barnabas Clinical Services, including St. Barnabas Nursing Home, St. Barnabas Medical Center, Valencia Woods at St. Barnabas and The Arbors at St. Barnabas; the Kean Theatre; and St. Barnabas Charities, the fund-raising arm.
Contact:
Kathleen Brenneman
(724) 444-5530
kbrenneman@stbarnabashealthsystem.com
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