The business
of growing

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

Jim Tyrrell has been in the banking and finance field for more than 30 years, so he’s seen the ups and downs of the economy.
Tyrrell, senior vice president at Citizens Bank, seemed to be a good choice to address business folks at an event last week sponsored by the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, Cardone Industries and the Salvation Army of Greater Philadelphia.
The topic of the speech was, Growing Your Business During an Uncertain Economic Climate.
One of his messages to fellow business people was to come to the office early and stay late.
"In these times, we have to work harder," he said. "There’s no doubt about that."
The April 16 luncheon event was titled Building Connections and was planned to give local businesses a chance to network with one another.
Guests heard from Maj. Andrew Murray, commanding officer of the Salvation Army Philadelphia Citadel Corps Community Center at 5830 Rising Sun Ave.
Murray, joined by Sgt. Maj. Joseph Deininger and the Philadelphia Citadel Corps Band, showed a video about the Salvation Army and described how the agency partners with the most effective organizations around the world.
Michael Cardone, chairman and CEO of Cardone Industries, also spoke as the host. His company is the world’s largest remanufacturer of auto parts and employs 4,000 people — or "factory family members," as they are referred to at Cardone — making it Philadelphia’s largest manufacturing employer.
The main headquarters for Cardone Industries is at 5501 Whitaker Ave., but there are two other sites in Lawndale and one each in Olney and Feltonville.
The biggest challenge for Cardone comes from China, but the company maintains a successful strategy of providing a high-quality product and staying responsive to customers.
Al Taubenberger, president of the local chamber of commerce, is proud of big employers such as Cardone and smaller firms.
"The more people employed in this city, the better off we’ll all be," said Taubenberger, the Republican candidate for mayor last year.
Mike Kowalski, an East Torresdale resident who works for the city Department of Commerce, has high hopes that Philadelphia’s employment picture will improve.
Kowalski senses that Mayor Michael Nutter and Andrew Altman, the commerce director and deputy mayor for planning and economic development, are committed to improving customer service standards for businesses. The commerce department will work closely with the City Planning Commission and the Department of Licenses and Inspections in that area.
"It will be the basics of making it easier for businesses to interact with the city — everything from zoning to loans to getting permits so businesses don’t go through hoops," Kowalski said.
Taubenberger is glad to hear that. His address, Who’s Looking Out for You: The GNPCC, was geared to some of his 900-plus member businesses.
In difficult economic times, he often sees an increase in membership because businesses are looking to take advantage of the assistance the group provides.
"The philosophy of the chamber is, ‘You don’t join us; you hire us,’ " he said.
Taubenberger facilitates meetings for members, lobbies elected and appointed officials on behalf of issues such as zoning and tax reductions and organizes large-scale events, such as the chamber’s annual business exposition, which took place last week at CORA Services.
The business leader is a big believer in the free enterprise system and told the story of his late father, Alfred, who left Germany in 1930 and later operated a successful family deli in Burholme.
"Freedom will always bring prosperity," he said.
While Taubenberger discussed his father, Tyrrell spoke of a wildly successful entrepreneur named Charlie.
Tyrrell relayed to the business people the advice Charlie gave him, and that is to surround yourself with good people — employees, lawyers, accountants, insurance agents and bankers.
"Talk to them early and often. They have great advice," he said.
Tyrrell mixed old-fashioned advice — "Make sure you have money put away for a rainy day" — with some of the basics of the business world. Companies should have a written business plan and a diversified customer and supplier base, he said.
And in tough times, Tyrrell suggested, do as Confucius says.
"Don’t change the goals; change the plans." ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com