In fact, if you’re a business chief in the Philadelphia area, you already might be on the docket of Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who has scheduled a visit there late this month for the sole, expressed purpose of stealing companies and jobs out from under the nose of newly elected Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf.
Scott’s brazen move represents an escalation of this practice. He’s gone to other states before, raising the ire of fellow governors. Other governors who have gone on such adventures have included former Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s excursions into California to invite dissatisfied company owners to pull up stakes and relocate to the business-friendly Lone Star State, and outreaches to Illinois companies by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.
“Pennsylvania has a new governor who’s trying to raise income taxes,” Scott told CEO Briefing, referring to Gov. Wolf’s plan to raise his state’s flat 3.07-percent income tax. “That state’s corporate income taxes are nearly double Florida’s, and there’s a tax on inheritances and capital stock,” Scott said. “When [Pennsylvania has] a governor … wanting to raise business taxes, that highlights the opportunity for Florida. That’s helpful to us when he’s making it more difficult for Pennsylvania businesses.”
Wolf, a business builder himself and a former state revenue secretary, also proposed instituting mandated sick leave for some employers. Wolf’s office said that his focus will be “on rebuilding the middle class” and that he plans to offer “new and innovative ideas that support new manufacturing and growth industries.”
“I am a different kind of governor—one who has built and run a successful business,” Wolf said. “State government must play a strategic role in ‘setting the table’ for private-sector investments and economic growth, by [moves including] making key investments in education and workforce development, and 21st Century communications and trade infrastructure.”
In Chief Executive’s 2014 Best & Worst States for Business ranking, which came out prior to the mid-term elections, Florida ranked No. 2 and Pennsylvania ranked No. 42. Editorial note: The 2015 rankings of Best & Worst States for Business will be published May 2015.
Chief Executive Group exists to improve the performance of U.S. CEOs, senior executives and public-company directors, helping you grow your companies, build your communities and strengthen society. Learn more at chiefexecutivegroup.com.
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
