Trish McFarland, President of Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, talks with DELCO Today about growing up in Drexel Hill, her extended family’s passion for service and how she and her husband Dan are passing that passion on to their three daughters, how each of her jobs prepared her for her to be chamber president, why she took the leadership role at the Chamber in 2015 and what she and her team are doing to enhance chamber membership and ensure her organization remains a vibrant force in Delaware County’s economy and community.

Where did you grow up Trish?

I was born and raised in Drexel Hill, living in St. Dot’s Parish for most of my childhood. I am the middle of three children. My mom was a school teacher; my father worked for Conrail for 28 years before taking a job as the chief administrative officer for Upper Darby Township.

What memories do you have of growing up in Drexel Hill?

Playing outside in the neighborhood and being able to walk anywhere are two memories that stick with me. We lived near Pilgrim Gardens so we walked there all the time with my friends.

What were you involved with at O’Hara?

I was involved with community service clubs and student council.

Where does that passion for the community come from Trish?

The drive to make my community a better place came from my parents and grandparents. They taught me it was the little things that impact people’s lives. Being involved, having a say, making things happen and helping people is part of our family’s DNA.

How old were you when you realized you had a passion for service?

I’ve always had it, but it wasn’t until recently that I realized my level of interest in what was happening in the community was any different than everyone else.

Were your parents both that way?

Certainly, my father was, but I wouldn’t be where I am without my mother. She taught school at St. Charles until they closed and still works part-time at the church. She continues to help me with my girls. Our family was always doing something in the community. It wasn’t even volunteering for us, it was just something we did.

Now that you’re a parent, are you and your husband passing you passion along to them?

Yes, and it’s so much fun! My daughters come to chamber and ribbon cutting events with me and know I may call on them to pitch in.

I was home & school president at one of the girls’ schools last year, and they came to realize we had to ‘work’ some school events and not have the fun they might see other kids having. We get to events early to help set up, there’s work to do during the event, and then we stay late to clean up and take things down.

My three daughters are right there helping out. They know firsthand the hard work that goes into pulling off an event where all their friends’ families can have fun.

What was your first job?

I worked at Rita’s Water Ice in Drexel Hill. My parents stipulated that if we wanted to drive, we had to pay our own car insurance. So earning enough money to pay my insurance was my motivation.

What lessons did you take from your experience at Rita’s that stay with you today?

The value of customer service without a doubt. Learning to be pleasant even if a customer was in a bad mood and to always ask rather than assume! Rita’s water Ice remains my top choice for dessert!

Why did you go to West Chester University?

I was a good student in high school. I wasn’t the valedictorian or anything, but my grades were decent. I visited West Chester once and knew it was the school for me. My parents told me I had to look and apply to other schools. In the end, though I loved the campus, how close it was to home and I found West Chester University a good value.

Looking back, was West Chester a good choice for you?

It was! I made a lot of great friends and made some great connections.

So you graduate from West Chester, then what?

My first “real job” was at the Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry. Rob Powelson, who is now PUC Commissioner, hired me a couple of months out of college. I only stayed six months or so, until a job opened up at the Delaware County Chamber, but I enjoyed the experience.

In 2003, I was hired to be program coordinator at the Delaware County Chamber and was involved in coordinating events, managing government affairs, etc. Whatever no one else wanted to do, I did. When I left nine years later, I was vice president of the Chamber.

Why did you leave what must have been the dream job for you?

I loved my work at the chamber but the nights, the early mornings and trying to balance a family life, with two small kids and a husband who worked shifts, proved to be too much for me. I took a job at the Delaware County Transportation Management Association (TMA) where I stayed for two years until my third daughter Alexis was born. I was able to take a three-month maternity leave before taking a job in workforce development for Delaware County working at the CareerLink in Chester.

Each of your jobs prepared you to be Chamber president.

I never realized it at the time, but yes, each of my jobs, pieced together, prepared me to lead the chamber. I learned about the transportation issues facing the County at TMA. At CareerLink, I realized how to marshal business resources to solve employment challenges.

How did the chamber job come about?

When Alex Charlton, my predecessor, took a job in Senator McGarrigle’s office, several Chamber board members reached out and encouraged me to apply. I was hesitant at first, knowing what I was getting into. The job has so many demands and my family needed me more than ever.

I’m the kind of person who needs to commit 100 percent to something. If I took the chamber job, I didn’t want to do it halfway. My husband urged me to apply for the opening, telling me I was happiest when I was there and helping people.

Coming back to the chamber was a team decision. I have a lot of support from them in helping to make it work.

What challenges and opportunities do you see for the chamber for the rest of 2016 and into 2017?

Finding a work-life balance that allows my team and me to work and play hard. My staff works so hard, but we always try to have fun. We want to retain our current members, as well as, attracting new businesses to our membership roles. We’re always hosting networking, member, and annual events, so there’s little down time.

In a world full of technology, we fight hard to remain relevant. When I came back to the chamber, I looked at businesses who had not renewed their membership and asked why. How did we lose them and what can do to get them back? I want our members to feel like they’re getting something out of their chamber membership.

We also like to incorporate the Chamber as an integral part of the community by hosting different events, like tailgating outside of Talen Energy Stadium before a Philadelphia Union game.

How is your team adding value to chamber membership?

We are here to help our members grow their businesses and make connections. A strong business environment is good for everybody. The best thing we can do is remind people what a chamber of commerce does and that we’re not just an institution. We want businesses to feel that even though it’s intangible, Chamber membership is nonnegotiable, a must have! One of the day-to-day initiatives we take is stressing ‘members first.’ When our members are selecting a vendor to buy supplies or services from, we want them to give preference to another Delaware County Chamber members first.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received?

The advice my close circle gave me to take the leadership position at the chamber. I’m fortunate to have a great support system and people around me to guide me through decisions.