Moving In and Taking Over

by Mary F. Patel

The ranks of aging city powerbrokers and dealmakers will eventually have to relinquish their positions. With that in mind, more than 250 young professionals packed Mayor John Street's City Hall reception room in City Hall to network with the mayor and members of his cabinet.

Organized by Shawn Fordham, Street's 38-year-old senior advisor, and Micah Majoubian, the 30-year-old deputy secretary of external affairs, the event was geared to young professionals who want to learn more about the ins and outs of city government. And, of course, towards those want to make the right connections.

Guests talked amongst themselves and mingled with the likes of administration officials George Burrell, and Stephanie Naidoff, as well as Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson.

"What you will notice," said Majoubian, "is that it's well mixed. I've been to many young professional events that are mostly white or mostly black or mostly gay, but this is a diverse group."

After the mayor paid for the wine and snacks, the caterer ran out of glasses in the middle of the event. Later, there were no more plastic cups available.

"Am I here to advance my career? Yes," asked and answered Alan Nochumson, a 30-year-old real estate attorney at Funk & Bolton P.A. "But I also like to get out and meet people and help them connect. And it helps business-wise."

Nochumson worked on Street's re-election finance committee and hosted young professional events last year that helped bankroll the mayor's candidacy. More recently, he made money calls for Street's big fundraisers last Tuesday evening: a $5,000 a person event at the Visitors Center and a subsequent $1,000-a-person reception at the National Constitution Center.

"Young people can raise a lot of money," Nochumson pointed out.

Majoubian said more than 300 e-mail invites from various lists were sent out and 250 showed up.

Young professional events like this are generally big with young future political candidates. Street's City Hall shindig was no different.

Dan Anders, 35, who practices law at Pepper Hamilton, said he makes such appearances because he intends to run for Common Pleas Court in a few years. "I plan to run as an openly gay judicial candidate," he said.

Also in attendance was John Hawkins, the 33-year-old legislative consultant to state Sen. Vincent Fumo and City Councilman Jim Kenney, who's stepping down as chairman from Young American PAC (YAP).

YAP, the first young professional bipartisan organization in the city to focus on getting young people involved in the political process, was founded eight years ago by Eric Weinberg, a legislative director for Fumo, and David Urban, the former chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter. (Both Weinberg and Urban capitalized on their contacts and now have their own lobbying firms.)

It's no secret that Street and Kenney have been at opposite ends of the spectrum on issues for several years. That friction got to the point that Kenny was considering not running for office again under the Street administration, but that didn't stop his top aide from being invited to, and attending, the Mayor's soiree.

Hawkins said that having good relationships is important, with whomever they may be. "Sen. Fumo pays me to get things done," he noted.

In a city where bipartisan usually means Street's people are getting along with Fumo's people, those relationships can be important. To that end, Darwin Beauvais, legislative assistant to City Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, is close friends with Hawkins though their bosses do not get along.

Networking with Republicans can be equally as important.

Sean Reilly, former state director to U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum who's now a lobbyist, and Jeff Jubelirer, a consultant and son of Robert Jubelirer, the Senate President Pro-Tempore, frequent these young professional events.

It's interesting to note that federal probes, tax problems and city budgets are not discussed at these networking socials.

"Young professionals improve the city and getting involved is important," said Troy Madres, the 26-year-old borough manager of Rockledge and YIP founder who got his job through his connections with YIP. "YIP tries to look for ways to improve the city."

YIP has advocated for skateboarding in Love Park after 5 p.m., bringing Real World back after union interference and is now rallying for more funding for SEPTA.

Madres said that YIP would rather see energy spent beefing about city dilemmas turn into efforts to solve problems.

"If we want to be the leaders of tomorrow, we have to right the wrongs of today," he said.

Sheila Squillante, who heads up the Social Mission Programs at Blue Cross and who was formally chair of the Young Professionals in the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, said it's important for younger people to make their mark early.

"You meet so many different leaders and political figures at these events," said Squillante. "It is also a good way to promote yourself." Jennifer Blum Feldman, an attorney at Wolf Block, said that she likes to attend young professional events because she meets people other than lawyers.

"It's great exposure," she said.