As 2009 comes to an end, beleaguered non-profit PhillyCarShare is hoping to put the troubles it’s had over the last year or so to bed once and for all with the naming of new executive director Gerald A. Furgione (pictured). Furgione replaces interim executive director Eli Massar, who oversaw what might charitably be called the car-sharing outfit’s darkest days. (Massar will now resume his position on PCS’s board of directors.) If resumes are anything to go by, Furgione might be the man to finally bring back up to speed a company that once easily dominated the Philly car-sharing market but has, in the last two years, been challenged by a variety of factors, including newly established direct competitors like Zipcar. PhillyCarShare still leads the market here, and with Furgione’s associations — he’s Vice Chairman of the Ambassador’s Committee of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Steering Committee of The Greater Philadelphia Green Business Commitment, a member of the Transportation Committee of the Next Great City initiative, a member of the Center City Proprietors Association’s Green Committee and is one of the founders of the Philadelphia Green Office Pledge — he’s got the relationships in place to see PCS not only stabilize, but also grow. On the other hand, he’s got his work cut out for him; over the last 18 months, tales of PCS woe (both in-office and among customers) have been legend. Here’s hoping he’s the guy to finally turn it around.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 at 1:43 pm.