Chester County Commissioner Michelle H. Kichline will step into the role of co-chair of the VISTA 2025 Executive Alliance, serving as the public sector chair alongside private sector chair Tom Fillippo, the county announced on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Kichline was selected last month by the Chester County bench to join Terence Farrell and Kathi Cozzone on the board of commissioners. She filled the vacancy that was created when former County Commissioner Ryan Costello became a U.S. representative for the Sixth Congressional District. Costello previously served as public sector chair of the alliance.
Organized around five key sequential elements — Vision, Ideas, Solutions, Teams and Actions — VISTA 2025 is a Chester County public-private partnership effort focused on creating an economic development strategy that will guide economic growth over the next 10 years to promote a successful and sustainable county economy.
Commissioner Kichline’s experience is relevant to many of the issues that are the focus of VISTA 2025, the press release said. In addition to her role as county commissioner, she serves as a commissioner and chair of strategic planning for the Delaware River Port Authority, and is a board member of the Transportation Management Association of Chester County as well as the Paoli Transit Task Force.
In addition, Kichline is a lawyer with experience representing municipalities and school districts, and her former public office experience includes serving as chair of the Tredyffrin Township Zoning Hearing Board and the Tredyffrin Township Board of Supervisors, during which time she spearheaded the formation of the Business Development Advisory Committee, the release said.
“I am excited about the VISTA 2025 focus on a balance of progress and preservation, and I am impressed with the quality of work that has been completed on the strategy so far,” Kichline said. “VISTA 2025 is an excellent platform that will guide our actions in support of Chester County’s economy for years to come, and I look forward to working with my fellow co-chair and the entire Executive Alliance team.”
