Press Release
Brouillette to Step Down as Commonwealth Foundation President for New Venture
Brouillette to Step Down as Commonwealth Foundation President for New Venture
14-Year Tenure Saw Exponential Growth of State’s Free-Market Think Tank
April 5, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—After 14 years of educating and advocating for free-market public policies as president and CEO of the Commonwealth Foundation, Matthew Brouillette will step down to launch a new endeavor in Pennsylvania, which will be announced in the coming weeks.
When Brouillette took the helm in February 2002, the Commonwealth Foundation had three employees and $350,000 in revenue in 2001. Today, it boasts 18 employees and an annual budget of more than $4 million with offices in Harrisburg and King of Prussia. And this growth has been reflected in better public policies in Pennsylvania.
“For the past 14 years, I’ve had the privilege to serve under an incredible Board of Directors and lead a dedicated group of teammates,” said Brouillette. “The beginning of my time here was marked by the disastrous 2003 tax and spending increases of Gov. Ed Rendell. I never could have imagined the progress we’ve made since those difficult days. Whether it is expanding educational opportunities for children trapped in failing schools or improving economic opportunities for the poor and formerly incarcerated, the Commonwealth Foundation is pursuing meaningful changes that will allow every Pennsylvanian to flourish.
“As the father of four children, I want nothing more than to see their futures filled with opportunity. I now see a bright future for Pennsylvania—one that I could not have imagined in 2002,” Brouillette said. “The Commonwealth Foundation will continue to work on the front lines to change the political culture of Pennsylvania for the benefit of all people. Our work in public policy is transforming the government of our commonwealth, and the ways of the past are no longer predicting the path of the future. Real change is happening, and the work of the Commonwealth Foundation is leading the way. I am honored to have played a part in pointing Pennsylvania in a more positive direction.”
Brouillette will remain Commonwealth Foundation’s president and CEO until June 30. The next steps in Commonwealth Foundation’s succession plan will be announced in the coming weeks.
David E. Barensfeld, chairman of the Commonwealth Foundation Board of Directors and president and CEO of Ellwood Group, Inc., issued the following statement:
Pennsylvania has long been starving for good and wise public policies, and Harrisburg has long been the place where such policies have gone to die. Thanks in significant part to Matt’s leadership and vision and the work of the Commonwealth Foundation, this state of affairs is changing. I speak for our entire board when I say we are privileged to be associated with Matt.
Matthew Brouillette is available for comment. Please contact Gina Diorio at 862-703-6670 or [email protected] to schedule an interview.
# # #
The Commonwealth Foundation transforms free-market ideas into public policies so all Pennsylvanians can flourish.
** The CF team takes a look at the milestones in Matt Brouillette's career at Commonwealth Foundation here.