[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 171 (Saturday, November 22, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2396]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       RECOGNIZING COLIN A. HANNA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM GERLACH

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 21, 2003

  Mr. GERLACH. Mr. Speaker. I rise today to recognize Colin A. Hanna 
for his eight years of service as commissioner of the Chester County 
Board of Commissioners.
   Colin Hanna was first elected Chester County Commissioner in 
November 1995 and ran successful races to serve as Chairman of the 
Chester County Board of Commissioners in 1998, 1999, 2001 and this 
year, 2003. After only six months, he was elected by his colleagues to 
represent the County on the Delaware Valley Regional Planning 
Commission, which he chaired for two terms spanning four years from 
1996 to 2000. He was also appointed Chairman of the Housing Authority 
of Chester County where he saved the agency from insolvency by 
undertaking an extensive reorganization process. During his tenure, the 
nationally-acclaimed County comprehensive plan, ``Landscapes,'' was 
adopted and Chester County achieved its first bond-rating increase in 
28 years, bringing it to the second highest in the Commonwealth. Mr. 
Hanna is a two-time recipient of the Governor's Award for Local 
Government Excellence--once with his commissioner colleagues and once 
individually.
   Mr. Hanna has lived in Chester County virtually his entire life and 
chose to attend college at the University of Pennsylvania in nearby 
Philadelphia where he met his wife Pricie in 1967. After graduating 
from the University in 1968, Colin was commissioned an officer in the 
U.S. Navy. When his military service ended, he became employed with the 
CBS network in New York before returning to Chester County in 1972. He 
continued his work with CBS in Philadelphia before becoming President 
of Industrial Advertising Incorporated, which at the time was Chester 
County's largest advertising agency. Eventually, he would sell his 
ownership in the agency and pursue work in the marketing field as a 
management and executive search consultant. He continued his consulting 
work until 1991 when he founded PC Helper, a computer support and 
maintenance firm specializing in small business networks. In 1996, 
Colin Hanna sold his firm and chose to devote his time and energy to 
public service and the job of County Commissioner where he has remained 
a tremendous asset to the community. Mr. Hanna brings with him to the 
Chester County Board of Commissioners years of hard work, experience 
and leadership that has allowed him to be a driving force in making 
Chester County a better place for all of its residents.
   I ask that my colleagues join me today in recognizing Colin Hanna 
for his exemplary citizenship and service to our community. His 
enduring devotion and unwavering support has made him a man for which 
Chester County and our entire nation can be proud.

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