Steve Shivak has been named the new president of the SMC Business Councils after a three-month search that included reviewing about 20 candidates. Shivak succeeds Tom Henschke, who resigned in late March. Shivak, who will be SMC’s fifth president, said he is eager to work with the 60-year-old Pittsburgh-based organization that helps Pennsylvania businesses grow.

“My role is to take that storied history and bring it back so that whether you’re a small business or you’re a manufacturer you’ll look to SMC to help you succeed,” Shivak said.

Originally from Chicago, Shivak moved to Pittsburgh in 1990, relocated to Houston, but returned to the Pittsburgh area 10 years ago, spending part of that time as the Executive Director of the Diabetes Association of Pittsburgh. Dan Galbraith, SMC Business Council Chairman, said that Shivak’s experience in the health care realm was one reason he was chosen over the other candidates.

“He has a track record of success within the association world,” Galbraith said. “He has connections with the advocacy side. SMC is a big advocate of health care issues, [and] he comes from the health care side as well.”

Galbraith said Shivak is a dynamic person with a lot of connections in the state. Shivak will start his position as the president of SMC Business Councils on July 9th.