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Renaming the 1400 block of Sansom Street “Judith M. von Seldeneck Way”, in honor of Judith M. von Seldeneck, Founder and Chair of the esteemed Diversified Search Group, a leading executive search firm committed to advancing women into leadership positions across both local and global sectors.
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WHEREAS, Judith M. Von Seldeneck began her career as an assistant to then-Senator Walter F. Mondale in Washington D.C.; and
WHEREAS, In the early 1970s, she made a pivotal decision to invest in a small Philadelphia firm dedicated to placing women in professional roles, thus laying the foundation for her future in executive search; and
WHEREAS, After acquiring her partners’ shares in 1974, von Seldeneck dedicated several decades to building Diversified Search Group into one of the top ten executive search firms in the nation, earning a reputation for excellence and innovation; and
WHEREAS, Throughout her distinguished career, von Seldeneck held positions on numerous public, private, and non-profit boards including Citizens Financial Group, Tasty Baking Company, Teleflex Incorporated, CoreStates Financial Corporation, Meridian Bancorp, and AAA Mid-Atlantic; and
WHEREAS, Judith M. von Seldeneck is widely recognized within the executive search industry as a pioneering figure, setting standards for retained executive search and advocating for greater representation of women in leadership; and
WHEREAS, Diversified Search Group is celebrated as the largest women-founded and women-led search firm in the United States, reflecting von Seldeneck's commitment to empowering women in the workforce; and
WHEREAS, In recognition of her outstanding contributions, she was awarded the William Penn Award in 2015, the highest honor given by Philadelphia's business community; and
WHEREAS, She established the JVS Philadelphia Fund for Women, which provides essential funding for women-owned startups and early-stage companies, furthering her commitment to economic empowerment; and
WHEREAS, In 2021, she announced a partnership between her JVS Philadelphia Fund and Ben Franklin Technology Partners to invest in women-led businesses throughout the region; and
WHEREAS, In 2022, she was honored as a member of Forbes' 50 Over 50 List, celebrating women who are breaking new ground and making significant impacts in their fields; and
WHEREAS, Judith M. von Seldeneck has dedicated her life to dismantling barriers for women in the workplace, tirelessly working to ensure they can achieve leadership roles and professional success; and
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby renames
The 1400 Block of Sansom Street “Judith M. von Seldeneck Way”, to honor her remarkable contributions to women's advancement in professional spaces.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Judith M. von Seldeneck as a token of the sincere admiration of this legislative body.
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