Education
Allegheny College.
Allegheny College.
The district he represented includes portions of Montgomery, Berkshire, Lehigh and Northampton Counties and includes the population centers of Easton, Lansdale, and Emmaus. He resigned his seat on July 28, 2009 to become President and Chief Executive Officer of the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce (GPCC). As GPCC president and Chief Executive Officer, Rob Wonderling leads a business advocacy organization of member companies that promotes growth and economic development in the 11-county Greater Philadelphia region.
He also serves as chairman of the Chief Executive Officer Council for Growth, the governing board of Select Greater Philadelphia.
He has an impressive record of private-sector executive experience as well as distinguished public service. Previously, Mr. Wonderling worked for Bentley Systems, Incorporated. and Allentown-based Air Products and Chemicals, Incorporated.
From 2002 to 2009, Mr. Wonderling served in the Pennsylvania State Senate, where he first served as chairman of the Communications and Technology Committee and then as chairman of the Transportation Committee.
He also served in the executive branch of state government in the Ridge Administration as Deputy Secretary of Transportation.
In recognition of his community involvement, he was awarded the 2011 Service to Humanity Award and was also named "State Public Official of the Year" by Pennsylvania Biology in 2009. He recently served on the Philadelphia School Reform Commission Search Committee for a new Superintendent of Schools and currently serves as the Chair of the Pennsylvania Governor's Commission on Postsecondary Education. In the 1990s, Wonderling served as Deputy Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation under Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge.
After leaving the Ridge Administration, he served as Vice-president of Bentley Systems.
In 2002, Wonderling received the Grand Old Party nomination to run for the Senate to replace the retiring Senator Editor Holl. Behind the scenes, his nomination caused a split in the Republican establishment.
Wonderling went on to defeat Maza in the general election with 55% of the vote. Senator Wonderling was Chairman of the Senate Communications & Technology Committee and Vice Chairman of the Game & Fisheries Committee.
He also served on the Aging & Youth, Public Health & Welfare and Rules & Executive Nominations Committees.
Wonderling hosted an annual charity event in Montgomery County called "Wonder Wing" which includes a contest for the best wing recipe in the area. Proceeds from his event support Meals on Wheels. Wonderling resigned from his Senate seat on August 1, 2009 to become President of the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.
He was succeeded by fellow Republican Bob Mensch.
In 2010, Politics Magazine named him one of the most influential Republicans in Pennsylvania.
Wonderling successfully defended his seat in 2006 with 56% of the vote over Democrat Dave Wilsey, a Quakertown borough councilman.