20th Annual “Friend of Chile” Awards Luncheon
Friday, November 17, 2017
The Union League of Philadelphia | 140 South Broad Street | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Chilean Wine Tasting & Reception 11:30 a.m.
Luncheon & Awards Celebration 12:00 Noon
Receiving the 20th Annual “Friend of Chile” Award: The Honorable Tom Wolf, Governor of Pennsylvania
Governor Tom Wolf grew up in south central Pennsylvania in a small town in York County, where he continues to live today.
Tom studied Government while Dartmouth College. Before graduation, Tom decided to join the Peace Corps where he would serve two years in a small village in India. After his service, Tom returned to Dartmouth College to finish his undergraduate degree, and would later go on to earn graduate degrees from both the University of London and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Tom was sworn in as Pennsylvania’s 47th governor on January 20, 2015, and has since devoted himself to working tirelessly to help the people of the state of Pennsylvania.
In addition to his work with the middle class, education, and healthcare, Tom’s economic development team has made major accomplishments in regards to Pennsylvania business relocation and expansion projects.
Last November, Governor Wolf announced plans to invest $300 million in the Port of Philadelphia as part of a comprehensive Capital Investment Program. This investment works to improve the port’s facilities, and therefore invest in our region’s trade partnership with Chile. Tom’s belief in the Port of Philadelphia has allowed the port to double its container capacity and increased its capability to work more efficiently with more opportunities for growth in the future, all while creating thousands of jobs in the process.
The investment is one of the largest among east coast ports and raises Philadelphia’s prominence in the shipping world. Chile is the Port of Philadelphia’s 5th top trade partner; from January to August in 2016 trade with Chile rose 3.05 percent to over $850 million. With the new improvements and expansion to the Port of Philadelphia, the region’s trade with Chile and the economic benefits associated with commerce will only continue to rise.
Receiving the 2017 “Lifetime Achievement” Award: Robert Palaima, President of Delaware River Stevedores, Inc.
As President of Delaware River Stevedores, Inc., Robert W. Palaima has forged his company into a vital force along both sides of the Delaware River. Deeply committed to the success of the Ports of Camden, Philadelphia, and Wilmington, Robert has played a significant role in negotiating labor agreements to dramatically increase port competitiveness.
A native of Chicago, Robert attended Colgate University as a War Memorial Scholar, graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. Since 1988 he has worked for Delaware River Stevedores, Inc. (DRS), becoming President in 1990. He was responsible for leading his company into dramatic reorganization in 1992, transforming it into a major stevedore of bulk, breakbulk, perishable and containerized cargoes.
In 1993, Robert was recognized by the Philadelphia Business Journal as a recipient of the inaugural Forty Under Forty award. In 1997, he received the Scout Mariner Award from the Cradle of Liberty Council, Boys Scouts of America; in 1998, he was honored as Man of the Year by the Port of Philadelphia Maritime Society. In 2000 he was honored by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey for his work in the Port of Camden and in 2007 he was the recipient of the Friend of Chile Award from the Chilean American Chamber of Commerce, where he presently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Traffic Club of Philadelphia named him Person of the Year in 2013 and most recently, he received The Legion of Honor Humanitarian Award from The Chapel of Four Chaplains.
Long active in civic and maritime affairs, Robert serves on the Board of Governors of the Philadelphia Maritime Society and the Board of Managers of the Seamen’s Church Institute. He also chairs the Executive Committee of the Philadelphia Marine Trade Association, served on Liberty Mutual’s PA Advisory Board as well as on the Board of Governors of the Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay, and has helped raise scholarship funds for the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.
Among his accomplishments, Robert has been a key player in retaining important commodities for the Port including cocoa beans, Chilean fruit, steel, plywood, wood pulp, automobiles, and project cargoes.
For more information or to register for this event, click here.