About Us

David E. Black

President & CEO
Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC

David E. Black serves as President & CEO of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and Capital Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC). Since taking this position in July of 2001, he has recruited a quality team, re-focused the organization and with that team created a first class organization for members, economic development clients and the region. The organization has experienced over 25% membership growth, developed a solid reputation for quality events, member services, legislative advocacy, and initiated projects with over $100M in economic impact, creating and retaining over 4,900 jobs in Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry Counties.

Before joining the Chamber & CREDC, Dave served in several key roles for Governor Tom Ridge including Chief Operating Officer of Team Pennsylvania, Deputy Secretary in the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), where he led the development and implementation of several innovative programs including the Keystone Opportunity Zones. Prior to DCED, he served as Acting Secretary and Deputy Secretary in the former Department of Community Affairs (DCA), which he played a leadership role merging DCA programs with the Department of Commerce to form DCED.

He is native of Clarion County in Northwestern Pennsylvania where he served as a County Commissioner and was heavily involved in regional economic development activities in counties throughout Western Pennsylvania. He was first elected to countywide office at the age of 26 and successfully mounted three more countywide campaigns, serving for two terms as Chairman of the Clarion County Commissioners. He also served as Vice President of First American Municipals, a public finance firm headquartered in Bucks County before joining the Ridge Administration. Dave has a B.A. from Westminster College and did graduate work towards his M.S.A. in Public Administration at Slippery Rock University.

Dave and his wife, Shirley, reside in Cumberland County . They have two children, Erin, and Jonathan.