Building his commitment to create a “Government That Works,” Gov. Tom Wolf has elevated the administration’s efficiency initiatives to an executive level office by creating the Office of Performance through Excellence. The office will lead Wolf’s ongoing efforts to bring private sector organizational strategies and processes to state agencies.
Neil Weaver, a 2000 graduate of Clarion University with a degree in communications,
will lead the office. A member of the university's council of trustees since 2017,
Weaver most recently served as executive deputy secretary for the Pennsylvania Department
of Community and Economic Development. He has more than a decade of experience in
government management and operations.
"State government employees are incredibly dedicated to public service, and Gov. Wolf is making sure that they have the tools and management to improve customer service and make agencies more efficient and accessible," Weaver said.
"In my business, I constantly looked to make our organization more efficient while improving customer service," Wolf said. "This new office brings that private sector philosophy to state government. We have already saved $373 million over the past three years by streamlining government and cutting waste, and now we are taking the next step by using proven strategies to change the culture of state government."
The OPE will combine the previous efforts of the Governor's Office of Transformation, Innovation, Management and Efficiency with performance data metrics and the administration's use of lean management. It will engage the commonwealth's workforce to modernize operations, maximize efficiency and provide the highest quality services to the people of Pennsylvania.
Weaver, a native of Bellefonte, has served in many capacities as a communications and government relations executive, including: northeast manager for government affairs for Resource Environmental Solutions; director of communications and press secretary for DCED; deputy press secretary for the Department of Environmental Protection; director of client services for a private environmental engineering firm; national fundraising manager for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation; and chief of staff to gubernatorial primary candidate Kathleen McGinty.