“All the support in the world doesn’t matter if you can’t support yourself.”
~ David Binswanger – December 21, 2011
At the final luncheon event of 2011, the Jewish Business Network (JBN) welcomed David Binswanger, President and CEO of Binswanger Companies, on Wednesday, December 21 at Noon at Temple University’s Center City location (1515 Market Street) – and the menu featured the scrumptious catering of Mama’s Vegetarian.
As the December 21 date coincided with the first night of Hanukkah, Rabbi Menachem Schmidt, Executive Director of Jewish Heritage Programs, outlined some holiday practices from the past and compared them to the present. In particular, he spoke of the lighting of the menorah. Traditionally, there were seven branches all seven of which were lit every day during the daylight hours, and the menorah was located inside a structure. Today’s tradition is that the menorah is lit during the evening hours and located outside, perhaps in a courtyard, with the branches being lit one at a time increasingly each day. Rabbi Schmidt’s Hanukkah message outlined that each one of us is like a candle in helping to light the darkness and encouraged us to increasingly do better in our own lives each day.
Next, as part of the luncheon format, Harris Gubin, Lead Ambassador of JBN and Account Executive at First Contact HR, led the monthly tradition of having guests introduce themselves. After that, remarks were made regarding the benefits of joining JBN and the details of the 8th Night Hanukkah Party on Tuesday December 27 at Mission Grill were announced.
After being introduced by Gubin, the guest of honor – David Binswanger – took the podium, joking that Gubin had “given three-quarters of his speech” with the introduction, going on to say that Binswanger was surprised to be invited to speak on the first day of Hanukkah noting that well at least “everything goes up from here.” He got a good chuckle out of the luncheon attendees with those opening remarks!
Binswanger Companies was founded by Binswanger’s grandfather Frank Sr. during the Great Depression (1931), and David has held his current position since 1997. The ownership is with his cousin in overseeing 33 offices in the United States, noting that they did business in 42 states last year. They are considered the “eyes and ears” of real estate regarding building, buying, valuing and strategizing – to name a few.
Locally Binswanger noted working with such projects as Comcast and the Philadelphia Media Group (Inquirer/Daily News) and the potential Gallery expansion and Convention Center connector.
But, let’s get back to Grandfather Binswanger who “back in the day” was appointed by then Governor of Pennsylvania (at the time of the repeal of Prohibition), to select future sites for liquor stores in the eastern half of the state – making him a “very popular person” according to David. As there were many vacant bank buildings due to the economic fallout at that time, Grandfather Binswanger selected those locales, among others, as they already had the vaults to safely store the liquor.
David also noted that his Grandfather had helped to develop the site we were all occupying for the luncheon event (1515 Market Street) – the Penn Center properties along Market Street.
Moving through the decades of the business, and citing a variety of ventures and industries, David expanded on a story from the ’80s regarding a partnership with Japan in moving automobile inventory across the United States. As part of their token of thanks to their Japanese counterparts they brought mini- replica Liberty Bells (60 in total) to Japan for an event they were attending only to discover upon arrival that there were going to be 1,000 guests in attendance – a shortage of “only” 940 mini-replica Liberty Bells. “We spent all night getting the bells… [and did so]…thanks to Fed Ex,” stated Binswanger.
Celebrating their 80th year in business in 2011, Binswanger cited “family, community and business,” as the basis of the organization, while noting that success can be attributed to “building a network of professionals.”
Binswanger’s thoughts on business in today’s economic climate included “corporations can’t continue to do noting,” and “technology has changed the world.” He cited that manufacturing is coming back to the United States (vs. overseas), and the changes in distribution channels are more direct than before.
Before breaking for questions from the audience, Binswanger disclosed to the crowd that he has the ability to change a light bulb in one continuous circular motion (demonstrating his mechanical hand and wrist). He lost his right arm 16 years ago in a boating accident while snorkeling in the Galapagos Islands (a boat ran over him), and said he “would not trade the experience in a million years.” He furthered he is happy to be alive and feels he has the ability to humanize any situation making things more approachable, adding “all the support in the world doesn’t matter if you can’t support yourself.”
Binswanger concluded with “We have a great city [Philadelphia].”
We couldn’t agree more Mr. Binswanger.
Here’s to a healthy, happy and prosperous 2012!
Liz Galantino, Senior Associate
Metrospective Communications
Marketing, Public Relations and Strategic Communication
