It is easy to excuse Marybeth DiVincenzo’s potato chip vice given that she’s spent her whole life competing.  “I came from a family of athletes.  Mother played basketball, my father was a swimmer, and we all played a sport in every season.  I don’t know how my parents did it,” she said.

“I’m one of four – my brother Steve, me, my sister Sheilah, and my brother Paul so we went through so many athletic socks a week, that whoever was home on Friday nights had to fold socks.”    

The Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for the Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC) channeled that competitive spirit into a variety of positions.  “My first job was working at a community pool,” said DiVincenzo.

“We were all swimmers and divers, so it made sense to work at the pool.  I spent many years in that environment moving from concession stand, to lifeguard, to swimming instructor, coach and ultimately managing the pool.  It kept me employed most every summer while in high school, college and then while teaching.”

A Philadelphia native, DiVincenzo headed off to study physical education at Edinboro University.  “Growing up in a family of athletes, it seemed like a natural fit to teach sports,” she said.   “I had also been very involved with coaching several community sports, including swimming and diving.”

During her early career teaching in Catholic schools, “our staff was truly like a family,” said DiVincenzo.  “There were four of us who mentored and coached one another, and we have fortunately continued to remain close.”

Along the way, DiVincenzo took a summer temp job at a pharmaceutical company in public relations.  “Our corporate offices were under construction so they had to put me in the same office as the company’s helicopter pilot, which did not go over well initially,” she said.  “I was soon working on a Super Sunday project on the Ben Franklin Parkway and need to recruit some fellow staff as volunteers.  Gary (DiVincenzo) signed up to help and we’ve been together ever since.” 

We asked Marybeth a few other questions to help us get to know her a little better:

What is your guilty pleasure?  Potato chips and red wine

Where is your favorite weekend-getaway destination?  We are fortunate to have a home in Brigantine Beach.  It is a great place for family and friends. 

Who makes you laugh and why?  My family and friends.  We tend to joke around quite a bit, at each other’s expense but it’s all in good fun.  My family vacations together in the summer.  And believe it or not, I travel 2-3 times/year with a dozen girl friends from high school. 

What is your favorite movie?  Steel Magnolias.  I love the interplay between the characters.  They are each hysterical at different times.

What are five things you couldn’t live without?  Family, friends, the beach, red wine, and potato chips.