Thomas Young, President & CEO, World Trade Center Greater Philadelphia

Following a sold-out forum with Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton, the Philadelphia Committee on City Policy continues its 2025–2026 season with a timely conversation on global trade, investment, economic development, and Philadelphia’s expanding international profile.

This luncheon will feature Thomas Young, President and CEO of the World Trade Center Greater Philadelphia, whose leadership brings a rare blend of international experience, public-sector expertise, and local civic engagement. A Philadelphia native, Young played professional basketball in Germany before returning to the United States. In the decade-plus since, he has built a career working at the intersection of government, policy, and economic development.
Prior to leading the World Trade Center Greater Philadelphia, Young served as Chief of Staff to State Representative Donna Bullock and worked at the Philadelphia-based lobbying and advocacy firm Bellevue Strategies. There, he managed a portfolio of minority-owned businesses seeking procurement opportunities, helped secure more than $27 million in state funding for local capital improvement projects, advocated for policy change on behalf of nonprofit organizations, and served as Chair Liaison for Chairwoman Cherelle Parker at the Delaware River Port Authority.

In August 2023, Young was named President and CEO of the World Trade Center Greater Philadelphia, becoming the first Black leader to head the organization. Since its founding in 2002, the World Trade Center Greater Philadelphia has helped local companies generate more than $2.5 billion in export sales and supported the creation of over 27,000 jobs across the region.

The timing of this discussion is particularly significant, as Thomas Young will offer insights into the upcoming Global Business Forum (GBF), the World Trade Centers Association’s annual international gathering, set to take place in Philadelphia this April as part of Philadelphia 250. The forum is expected to bring hundreds of business, trade, and investment leaders from 90+ countries to the city, creating new opportunities for international partnerships, investment, and market expansion for Philadelphia-based businesses and institutions.

Attendees can expect insights into what this global convening means for Philadelphia, how international trade and diplomacy intersect with local policy and economic growth, and how civic and business leaders can engage with this moment of unprecedented global attention.

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