Westmoreland County Chamber Welcomes
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
I
n August of 2020 we regrettably announced to the membership that Chad Amond, President and CEO of the Westmoreland County Chamber, was diagnosed with Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA). PPA is a neurological syndrome in which language capabilities become slowly and progressively impaired. Unlike other forms of aphasia that result from stroke or brain injury, PPA is caused by neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease or Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration. People with PPA may eventually lose all speech and may not be able to understand written or spoken language.
continue to align within the association's strategic plan which is to “lead and cultivate a comprehensive regional network to address the opportunities and challenges of greatest importance to the business community.” The Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce is excited and pleased to obtain a candidate, Dan DeBone, who is dedicated to advancing the Chamber’s objectives
The Executive Director will assist, while working under Chad, to ensure current events, committees, and the organization’s platform will
Dan DeBone started his career at the Port Authority of Allegheny County and worked in a variety of leadership positions within the Operations, Marketing, and Communications Divisions. However, the vast majority of his professional career included government affairs, community outreach, and stakeholder relationship building. Dan was the Senior Government and Community Relations Officer for well over a decade before being promoted to Director of External Relations in 2020. This included a new strategic role to consult with the chief executive officer and members of senior staff on legislative, community initiatives, and capital projects at a local, state, and federal level with a concentrated effort to enhance the organization’s relationships with key stakeholder groups within Allegheny County and throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Chair of the Board, Christina Jansure, confirmed, “We are excited to welcome Dan DeBone to the Westmoreland County Chamber, and we are extremely impressed with his high level of experience that aligns with the executive director role and the Chamber’s mission.” Chad added, “I’m so pleased that we have hired Dan DeBone for the Executive Director position. He is a great person, and he works very hard. My Primary Progressive Aphasia is not curable now, but I hope it will be curable soon or that I can participate in a clinical trial that will cure other people with this diagnosis in the future. My goal is to continue to work with the Westmoreland County Chamber as long as I am physically able.”
In order to fully support Chad while also advancing the mission and objectives of the organization, the Westmoreland County Chamber is pleased to announce that the role of Executive Director has been added to the Chamber team.
Meet Dan DeBone
while demonstrating a comprehensive and high level of compassion to effectively work alongside Chad and the Board now and in the future.
Dan is extremely proud of his accomplishments within and outside of the organization but is especially fulfilled by his work and collaboration of efforts with state legislators, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), and the Keystone Coalition upon the passage of Act 89. Act 89 is one of the most comprehensive transportation bills ever approved by the legislature, providing a reliable source of funding for highways, roads, bridges, ports, aviation, and public transportation. Dan has been an active participant with various committees and boards that included the Mon Yough Area Chamber of Commerce, Junior Achievement, the Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association, the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s Transportation Revitalization
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Investment District Board, and the National American Public Transportation Association. Dan earned a Bachelor of Science and Marketing Degree in Business Administration from Robert Morris University, and a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership at Duquesne University. Dan recently graduated from Leadership Pittsburgh (Class 37), earned a master certificate in project management from the University of Pittsburgh (Katz School of Business), and holds a Pennsylvania Real Estate License through Berkshire Hathaway. Dan lives in Murrysville where he and his wife (Cheri) of 27 years raised both of their children, daughter Maria (23) and son Dominic (21).
