Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker recently launched a new business-roundtable initiative that leverages the expertise and influence of prominent local leaders in order to capture the voice of the business community and ultimately improve the ease of doing business in Philadelphia.

There are nine different sector roundtables, each focused on some industry or aspect of doing business in and with the city.

Firstrust Bank Owner and Executive Chairman Richard J. Green was tapped by the mayor to be the Chairman of the Sports and Entertainment Roundtable, which aims to promote a sector that attracts, entertains, and employs residents and visitors in Philadelphia.

As an entrepreneurial leader of a family-owned business with a 90-year legacy of cultivating prosperity for local communities and customers, Green brings much to Mayor Parker’s roundtable. He recently won one of Ernst & Young’s esteemed Entrepreneur of the Year 2024 Greater Philadelphia Awards for his ability to create long-term value through his entrepreneurial spirit. In February, he was named one of the 150 Most Influential Philadelphians by Philadelphia magazine.

Green represents Firstrust’s third generation of family leadership, having served as Chief Executive Officer and Board Chairman until 2023, when he became Executive Chairman. Green has lived Firstrust’s mission during his 46 years with the company, which launched in 1934 with $7,500 in deposits and has since grown to approximately $5 billion in assets.

“Richard is a proven leader whose vision has propelled Firstrust forward,” said Tim Abell, CEO and President of Firstrust Bank. “His leadership and legacy have resulted in steady transformation, consisting of successful pivots, always positioning Firstrust to be uniquely global in capability, technology, and innovation, while remaining local and personal in service to customers.”

It’s the type of experience that will prove invaluable to a Sports and Entertainment Roundtable tasked with the following objectives:

1. Support facilities and cultural venues that enhance Philadelphia’s reputation as a premier destination for entertainment.
2. Create an environment to attract major sporting events, concerts, and festivals to public spaces that drive tourism and economic activity.
3. Identify and support policies that promote accessibility and inclusivity in the sports and entertainment industry, restaurants, and nighttime economy, ensuring that all residents can participate and enjoy cultural offerings.
4. Identify and leverage business services that will grow the nighttime economy to be as inclusive, vibrant, and resilient as it is before the sun sets.
5. Identify best practices for developing innovative and entertaining cultural offerings that focus on resident retention and attraction to Philadelphia.

“We are going to remove the red tape and streamline processes by listening to the people who have the real-life experiences of making the payroll and running the businesses that keep our city afloat,” said Mayor Parker.

Having ushered Firstrust along its path to becoming the region’s largest family-owned financial institution, Green’s wisdom will undoubtedly contribute to the roundtable’s efforts to create a more dynamic and prosperous business environment.

Learn more about Firstrust Bank, a family-owned bank founded in Philadelphia that has helped other family businesses like it succeed across the region for generations.