Risk is everywhere. It doesn’t sleep. It often shows up uninvited and at the most inopportune time. Manufacturers most trusted resource, the NIST-Manufacturing Extension Partnership, provides a step-by-step roadmap to help manufacturers address risk, increase visibility and create supply chains that function at optimum capacity.
We’ll show you how to apply constraint theory concepts that address risk, and account for total cost of ownership, so you may make informed sourcing decisions that increase the flow of products from suppliers to customers, using a value system model.
Governor Carney and DuPont employees, both past and present, pose for a photo with former colleague and 2023 Josiah Marvel Cup recipient, Stacey J. Mobley, Esq.
EDITORIAL
Nick Lambrow Chair Michael J. Quaranta President Kelly Basile Editor Christina Jones Graphic Design
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CHAIR
Nick Lambrow M&T Bank
VICE CHAIR
Marie Holliday, CPA
Cover & Rossiter
Catherine M. Bassett
Michael J. QuarantaThe financial health of Delaware’s state government is quite strong thanks in part to Governor Carney’s steadfast resolve to not add structural and ongoing obligations to the State operating budget, and the General Assembly for going along with that plan. The influx of federal dollars has been of benefit to the state capital budget and projects that could have taken years to complete—a new state hospital in Smyrna, new courthouses, libraries, and more— saw their schedules accelerated and these improvements will become a reality soon.
On the personal tax side of things, the state will usher in the first increase in the standard deduction in decades. This will be of benefit to middle- and lower-income Delawareans who previously were itemizing their taxes. The refundable Earned Income Tax Credit will be adjusted too and be of benefit to recipients.
Included in the 2024 capital budget is another proposed $10 million for site readiness. This investment helps the Delaware Prosperity Partnership market “ready site” locations for business growth or expansion. In his capital budget, the Governor also proposes to spend $25 million on Strategic Fund Investments for jobs in Delaware, another $10 million for graduation lab space, and $10.3 million on research collaborations. Other dollars are set aside for roads and important infrastructure upgrades. For example, the federal dollars that the State received will be used, in part, to finish the installation of broadband services to much of Kent and Sussex counties.
Despite inflation, higher borrowing costs, and workforce shortages, State finances are strong and the FY24 budget has priorities most businesses would agree are strategic.
Mountaire Farms
Steve Chambliss Brookfield Properties
Andrew Cottone, Ph.D. ADESIS
Jason D. Gonzalez DuPont
John C. Gooden
M. Davis & Sons, Inc.
Dr. LaVerne T. Harmon Wilmington University
Tony Allen, Ph.D.
Delaware State University
Pierre Anderson
Artesian Water Company, Inc.
Steve Baccino
Chesapeake Utilities
Chris Baker
George & Lynch, Inc,
Greg Ballance
Diamond Technologies
Mike B. Berardi
Wohlsen Construction Co.
Robert A. Book II
Delaware Electric
Cooperative
Julian H. “Pete” Booker
Delaware Public Media
Jennifer Gimler Brady
Potter Anderson & Corroon
LLP
Dr. Mark T. Brainard
Delaware Technical Community College
Beth G. Brand
University of Delaware
Kevin C. Broadhurst Comcast
Robert L. Byrd
ByrdGomes
Patrick Callihan Tech Impact
Stuart Comstock-Gay Delaware Community Foundation
Charlie Copeland Associates International, Inc.
Pam Cornforth
Ronald McDonald House of Delaware, Inc.
Barry Crozier
Belfint, Lyons & Shuman, ret.
Joseph Cruise
GT USA Wilmington
Jason Danner
Kelly Benefits Strategies
Rick Deadwyler
Corteva Agriscience™
Marta DeLisi
Beasley Media Group
Ernest Dianastasis The Precisionists, Inc.
Tom Horne JPMorgan Chase
Natalie Keefer Bank of America
Rodger Levenson WSFS Bank
Barbara McCullough
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
Brian DiSabatino EDiS Company
Walter Donaldson Freeh Sporkin & Sullivan, LLP
Denis Dunn AT&T, Delaware
Thère du Pont Longwood Foundation
Jerry Esposito
Espo Enterprises, LLC
G. Kevin Fasic, Esq.
Offit Kurman
Michael T. French
Belfint, Lyons & Shuman
Don Fulton
Weiner Benefits Group
Martha S. Gilman
Cornell Property Management Corp.
Joseph A. Giordano*
Whisman Giordano & Associates, LLC
A. Richard Heffron
Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, ret.
Kirsten Higgins
Tidewater Utilities, Inc.
Michael Houghton Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell, LLP
Tim Houseal
Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP
Mark Hutton M&T Bank
Mona Jantzi
Barclays US Consumer Bank
LeVar Johnson
Novo Nordisk
Jeffrey Joseph PNC Bank
Christopher L. Kenny ShopRites of Delaware
Matthew Lantagne
TD Bank
Richard H. LaPenta
CBM Insurance
Stephan Lehm VanDemark & Lynch, ret.
Michael A. Meoli
The Meoli Group
Nicholas A. Moriello, RHU
Highmark BCBS Delaware
Janice Nevin, M.D., MPH ChristianaCare
Alan Levin
SoDel Concepts
Andy Lubin
Delaware Financial Group
Mac Macleod
Carvertise
Scott Malfitano
CSC
William E. Manning
Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr
Guy Marcozzi
Verdantas
Paul M. McConnell McConnell Development, Inc.
Jeff Mitchell Siegfried Advisory
W. Douglas Mokoid
Delmarva Power
Chad Moore Beacon Hospitality
LaKresha R. Moultrie, Esq.
Delaware State University
Mark Mumford Nemours Children’s Health System
Terry Murphy Bayhealth Medical Center
Chris O’Neill
PSCI
Jed Patterson LabWare
Chris Perdue Perdue Farms
Robert W. Perkins
Brandywine Public Strategies
Colleen Perry Keith, Ph.D. Goldey-Beacom College
Theodore J. Prushinski
Citizens Bank
Michael Ratchford
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
Robert (Rob) Rider, Jr.
O.A. Newton
Bettina Tweardy Riveros
ChristianaCare
Melissa Brayman Office Administrator
Ken Evans Account Executive
Kelly Basile Vice President, Strategic Communications
Regina Donato Manager, Program & Communications
Tyler Micik Director, Public Policy & Government Relations
Salvatore J. “Chip” Rossi Bank of America
James J. Roszkowski
Discover Bank
Rhett Ruggerio
Ruggerio Willson & Watson
Dennis M. Salter
Edinburgh Capital Management LLC
Greg Sawka
Bancroft Construction Company
Chris Schell Schell Brothers
Fred C. Sears II Delaware Community Foundation, ret.
Greg Smith
The Chemours Company
Michael Smith
Navient
Robert S. Smith
Santora CPA Group
William Smith
Environmental Alliance
Mark Stellini Assurance Media
David Tam, M.D.
Beebe Healthcare
Jim Taylor
Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr
James Tevebaugh Tevebaugh Architecture
Jana Tidwell
AAA Club Alliance
Michael S. Uffner AutoTeam Delaware
Rebecca Veeneman, Ph.D. Agilent Technologies
Ann B. Wayne, BSN, RN
SUN Behavioral Delaware
Robert W. Whetzel
Richards, Layton & Finger
Katie K. Wilkinson
Fulton Bank
Robert Wirth DuPont Country Club
Kevin M. Wolfgang
Evergreen Apartment Group
*Treasurer
Fred Miller Advertising/Retention
Helana Rodriguez Director, The Partnership
Kerri Welcher Events Manager
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY returns to session this month after a five-week break for Joint Finance Committee (JFC) hearings. Prior to the break, several business-related bills were introduced or passed, and many others are awaiting introduction.
Of the bills that have seen movement thus far, several are noteworthy. First, House Bills 1 and 2 were introduced to legalize recreation marijuana. HB1 removes all penalties for possession of one ounce or less of marijuana and HB2 is the “regulation and tax” piece. The State Chamber testified in opposition to HB2 as written when the bill was heard in the House Revenue and Finance Committee. We requested the agreed upon language relating to the impact of legalization and regulation on employers and employees from last year be added back into the bill. The amendment gives employers the flexibility to keep and maintain their policies regarding drugs and alcohol. Representative Osienski—the bill sponsor—agreed to add the language back into the bill after the hearing. HB1 now moves to the House for a full vote and HB2 has been assigned to House Appropriations.
Senate Bill 35, Mini-Bond, was signed by the Governor in late January. Unlike years past, controversy over the bill ensued because the bill’s epilogue language called for the creation of a pilot program under the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT), who mandates project labor agreements (PLAs) on state funded construction projects. The bill targets six projects: Hodgson school; DNREC Lab; Hospital for the Chronically Ill; OMB Food Building; and two DelDOT projects which have not been identified yet. All four OMB projects contain PLAs, while only one project (Hodgson) included a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) requirement.
The State Chamber worked with the Associated Builders and Contractors Delaware and the Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce to push for several amendments such as removing the PLA requirements, placing DBE requirements on all projects, and requiring that all projects be completed by bona fide legal residents of the State to ensure Delawareans were the ones benefiting from the projects, but all amendments were defeated.
Other bills that were introduced that the State Chamber continues to monitor include HB 41, Digital Right to Repair; HB 36, Realty Transfer Tax; and House Bill 55, Homeless Bill of Rights. Additionally, the State Chamber is engaged in conversations at both the State and County levels around the Delaware Climate Change Solutions Act—referred to last session as Senate Bill 305, New Castle County’s 2050 Economic Development Plan, and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) plans to adopt regulations that all new passenger cars, trucks, and SUVs sold in Delaware will be required to be zero-emission vehicles by 2035.
The decisions made between now and June 30th could change the way you run your business, interact with your customers, manage your employees, and more. As the General Assembly reconvenes in March, it’s important for businesses to pay attention and engage with policy makers in Dover.
Testify at a committee hearing, meet with members of the General Assembly, join a State Chamber committee, and attend a State Chamber event. Events like our Spring Manufacturing and Policy Conference on March 28 and Small Business Day in Dover on May 4 provide opportunities to connect, learn, and share ideas. Working together matters because more dialogue means more solutions.
IN 2022, the Delaware Office of Management & Budget (OMB) released a disparity study with sobering results. The 300-page study confirmed what many have known anecdotally for decades; Delaware does an abysmal job of hiring minority-owned contractors to perform public works projects. Between 2015 and 2020, Delaware allocated billions of taxpayer dollars to support our infrastructure and facilities. Our study showed that during that time only 2% of those contracted funds went to Hispanic-owned businesses and 0.2% went to AfricanAmerican-owned businesses.
After decades of inaction in Delaware, while surrounding states and the federal government have implemented minority business goals, Governor Carney decided to act. OMB was tasked with developing a two-part pilot with the purpose of building a system to support broad implementation of Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goals and to increase minority and local workforce participation on state construction projects. We’ve selected the new Hodgson Vocational High School as our DBE pilot. We’ve partnered with the New Castle County Vo-Tech School District to ensure a successful pilot and speedy development of their new $135 million school. To build an effective statewide DBE program, we will need to establish a pre-qualification process for DBEs; technology to facilitate contractor certification and identification; a sound methodology to establish achievable goals for projects; and a system of accountability to ensure the program operates the way it’s intended. We are also excited to share that this pilot will include a cooperative agreement allowing Vo-Tech students to work on the project, promoting long-term career opportunities for our kids.
Ensuring that Delaware does business with companies that reflect our great diversity is long overdue, but it’s not enough. For years, many have lamented the lack of diversity in the construction workforce. By working in collaboration with contractors, unions, and community organizations, Delaware can play a major role in spurring greater participation by training Delawareans in lucrative careers and providing expanded opportunities for work.
As a result, the second part of this pilot will test a new approach to include workforce participation goals for state construction projects.
We’ve selected three separate workforce pilot projects totaling $125 million. These projects will include Community Workforce Agreements ensuring participation from the community at large. These agreements will encourage labor unions and local contractors to recruit and train a more diverse workforce and report on outcomes. The Delaware Department of Transportation has also selected two projects to test similar workforce goals. These goals will require and encourage the participation of women, minority, local, and union workers on statefunded projects.
The disparities we are attempting to correct through these pilots are not just a matter of fairness, but given Delaware’s ranking as the sixth state with the highest percentage of African-Americans (23%), if left unaddressed, these disparities could become an anchor to Delaware’s overall economic growth. These pilots will provide us with much needed data and practical experience that we can use to recommend permanent policy solutions. We are obligated to respond to these problems, and we are required to solve them. n
IN JANUARY, Senate Bill 35 was signed by Governor Carney into law. The law establishes a pilot program under the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT), which mandates Community Workforce Agreements (CWAs) on state-funded construction projects. The program targets six projects: Hodgson Vo-Tech High School; DNREC Lab; Hospital for the Chronically Ill; OMB Food Building; and two DelDOT projects which have not been identified yet. All four OMB projects contain CWAs, while only one project (Hodgson) included a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) requirement and both DelDOT projects will contain CWA’s and DBE requirements.
A major challenge with this law is that CWA’s limit black- and minority-owned contractors’ ability to participate and compete for statefunded construction projects. All projects should be inclusive of DBE requirements, not just select projects. A unified approach—incorporating all enterprises (DBE and otherwise)—ensures that a level playing field exists for all Delaware businesses and their employees.
The bill passed the Senate by a party line vote. It was debated for several hours in the House the evening before the General Assembly adjourned for break. House Republicans offered several amendments— which the Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce (DEBCC)
BY AYANNA KHAN
supported—such as placing DBE requirements on all projects, removing the CWA requirements, and mandating that all projects be completed by bona fide legal residents of the state. All amendments were defeated. Like the Senate, the bill passed the House by a party line vote aside from Representative Chukwuocha who voted against the bill for the same reasons the DEBCC opposed this measure.
The amendments proposed by House Republicans and supported by the DEBCC would have created more equity for Delawareans, especially black- and minority-owned businesses.
Statements like those found on lines 144 through 145 in the bill, such as “There will be two different approaches: 1) Community Workforce projects and 2) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)” do not create equal opportunity for all. They divide DBEs and organized labor, in which many black- and minority-owned contractors do not participate.
In fact, approximately 80% of the construction in Delaware is completed by non-union labor. So, why does this bill prioritize CWAs, limit the number of DBEs to certain projects, and grant state contracts to out-of-state workers while Delaware Blacks and minorities are left on the sidelines?
There should be one unified approach wherein all Community Workforce Projects should be inclusive of DBE requirements. A unified approach—incorporating all enterprises (DBE and otherwise)—ensures that a level playing field exists for all businesses, their employees, and communities. This is what the DEBCC desires, while recognizing that racial disparities need to be addressed, and equitable economic opportunities for minority businesses need to be enhanced.
When a fair field for all Delaware contractors exist, we will truly realize a Delaware business economy that is equitable, improved, and works for all Delawareans. n
The purpose of these articles is to provide the platform for two perspectives to be shared. The views are that of the authors.
››CEOs and other top business leaders from central Delaware recently the formed the Kent Sussex Leadership Alliance (The Alliance), a nonprofit membership organization focused on identifying emerging community, social, and economic issues, as well as implementing projects that address the challenges to improve quality of life for residents of Kent and Sussex counties. The Alliance launched as a strategic expansion of the former Greater Kent Committee, building on its strong foundation of successful endeavors, experience, and an established partnership network to further empower businesses and create thriving communities throughout downstate Delaware. Currently, The Alliance has almost 100 active members—70% of whom are engaged in business in both Kent and Sussex counties—who represent top business executives in their company or organization.
“Over the past several decades, the Greater Kent Committee has engaged in collaborations that have successfully identified and addressed many critical challenges in central Delaware,” said David Blaeuer, president of the Kent Sussex Leadership Alliance and executive director of First State Orthopaedics. “The expanded scope of The Alliance
will truly transform the ways we strategize, uncover and leverage opportunities, advance business goals, and achieve our mission.”
The Alliance structures its mission on being Delawarecentric, data-driven, and partnershipdedicated to ensure its involvement will effect measurable and meaningful change for a significant portion of the community. Because the organization now unites business leaders from both counties, it has the resources to more effectively identify and address many critical issues as well as increase its political and strategic influence on decisions that impact local businesses and residents. Three key growth areas achieved by The Alliance are:
• Increase presence in Delaware’s General Assembly to protect business interests
• Take on bigger projects that will lead to greater economic impact
• Focus on tackling one of the biggest challenges faced far and wide—fortifying the workforce
As The Alliance assesses and strategizes for upcoming initiatives, it does so backed by a track record
of taking the right kind of action to support economic development. Recent successes include creating DE Turf, a sports complex serving as an economic engine for the community; supporting the establishment of the CenDel Foundation, which significantly increased the availability of low-rent space for nonprofits; and leading the charge to reorganize and find new leadership for Choose Central Delaware.
“Kent and Sussex counties have entered a pivotal new chapter—united in voice, action, and progress for the businesses and people of Delaware,” said William J. Strickland, past president of the Greater Kent Committee and president and principal of L&W Insurance. “As we grow our membership, The Alliance will create a continuum of advocacy and action, helping to make a substantial impact on the lives of our families, friends, and neighbors throughout downstate Delaware.”
Learn more at www.KentSussexLeadershipAlliance.com.
››In this day and age, differentiation propels a business to succeed, whether it be demonstrated through a company’s products and services, industry qualifications, or customer service.
Promo Victory checks off each of these categories as a uniquely distinguished promotional marketing company that strategically helps businesses, nonprofit organizations, schools, and government agencies market their brand with creative and innovative merchandise.
As she approaches her 15 year anniversary, President and Founder Vicki Lam has single handedly grown the company from the ground up—literally, because she stands as the company’s sole employee. Lam launched Promo Victory after realizing that she was underappreciated, undervalued, and underpaid for the work that she was providing at her place of work. Rather than convince clients from her old company to switch over, she was determined to begin anew: “I really started from scratch to prove I could make it on my own because it is so much more meaningful and rewarding when you earn your client base.”
As one would expect, the benefits of acting as a one-woman show are in abundance, beginning with the fact that there is no need to bypass a middleman; Lam explains, “It’s easier and better because clients work with me exclusively, whereas with most companies people only get to work with a sales rep or customer service who may not have any credentials.” At Promo Victory, each client can interface directly with the owner and receive the best experience and the best expertise. Lam is brand-focused, strategy-focused, and customer-focused.
Promo Victory also boasts both industry-specific and diversity-based accreditations that effectively differentiate its work from competitors. Lam is a certified advertising specialist, of which represents only a small percentage within the promotional industry. Certified Advertising Specialist certification includes taking 70 courses, passing a 3-hour exam, and requires re-certification every three years—and Lam is the only CAS in the state.
Additional layers in her qualifications further enhance her distinct skillset as Lam is also not only recognized as a minority-owned and woman-owned business in Delaware, but by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) as well. WBENC Certification validates that a business is at least 51%
aged by a woman or women, and it is considered the gold standard for women-owned business certification.
Moreover, Promo Victory was named Superstars in Business by the Delaware State Chamber in 2018 for excellence and outstanding achievements. Each of these accreditations on their own is highly impressive, but when put together, Lam stands out from the rest. She explains, “I work very hard to differentiate myself from other competitors. When people come to my website, they know exactly why my company is different and why they need to work with me. I think that is key to a successful and sustainable business.”
She concludes, “I’m a firm believer of Coco Chanel’s quote: ‘In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different.’”
Get listed as a diverse supplier! Many companies in Delaware and beyond are actively seeking certified diverse businesses to integrate into their supply chains. Help them find you by increasing your visibility as a diverse supplier! Contact Kelly Basile at kbasile@dscc. com to get listed on the State Chamber’s diverse supplier directory at www.DSCC.com.
There is one word the Brown Advisory Delaware office embraces: Community. As a Delaware native himself, Porter Schutt, partner and head of the Delaware office, lives by it and made sure it was the emphasis when they opened ten years ago. “We built our business by supporting the leaders of nonprofits in our community,” Porter says. “Creating real impact for the communities in which Brown Advisory colleagues live and work has been an essential part of Brown Advisory’s DNA since its beginnings. Giving back is our office credo. It’s more than a motto. It’s woven into the fabric of our culture,” he added.
Brown Advisory, a Baltimore-founded independent investment management and strategic advisory firm, centers its business around the notion of ‘thoughtful investing,’ an approach that builds trust and provides its clients with confidence that their capital is being invested capably and with integrity. The firm ensures all 16 offices operate with that same principle in mind while positively impacting the communities in which they are based. “That’s why we make it our mission to host a different Delaware nonprofit organization each year at our annual Oyster Roast,” says Porter. “That’s just one way we can help provide an organization with broader exposure, introducing them to a wider audience, as our clients/guests are from all three counties in Delaware,” he added.
Reflecting on the growth of the Delaware office, which started with just two employees and is now 20, Porter explains that the Delaware team follows the ‘acorn to oak’ philosophy. “Twothirds of our colleagues here are under 40. We want our people to make our
BY GEORGE STEWARTally and professionally. Being part of investing in the community and contributing directly to the future of where they work and live is the essence of the roots of the oak. That’s why we ask every team member to sit on at least one board.” Porter continues, “I was born here, and am happy my career path led me back home. It’s important to me that each Delaware colleague feels the same sense of belonging in this office. It takes an investment on their part to be active and integrated in the greater community. I’m proud to say, each has fully leaned-in.”
“Employees are attracted to the Delaware office because of our unique personality here. But we also have the strength of a global firm behind us, supporting us and providing expertise and reach—to our colleagues and even more so, to the clients we serve. So, we bring an amazing global network to bear for every client situation, providing excellence
want to work with anyone who wants to see communities in Delaware thrive. So, we seek out relationships with changemakers, whether they are organizations or people,” Porter added.
“Our unmatched blend of experienced investors, seasoned client service colleagues and thoughtful strategic advisors is potent and leads to unique solutions for our clients. We’ve found that when our clients are successful the communities in which they live and work benefit in turn. Thus, further supporting our philosophy that being present, and contributory, leads to better outcomes. It’s truly what everyone here at Brown Advisory strives for.”
BY RICK GEISENBERGER
››The State’s fiscal condition is arguably in its best shape in decades—a far cry from the $400 million budget deficit facing Delaware when Governor Carney took office in 2017.
It’s no accident. Since 2018, the Governor and General Assembly have partnered to stabilize State finances; benchmark operating budget growth at economically sustainable levels; create accessible reserves to help weather future downturns; and steer “extraordinary” revenue to one-time expenditures and capital investments.
The Governor’s FY 2024 financial plan continues these efforts with proposed 7.4% operating budget growth—slightly above the advisory benchmark growth rate set by DEFAC. The plan fully funds the Budget Stabilization Fund at $421 million and again sets aside 1% of the budget to strengthen the State retiree health care (OPEB) trust fund. The plan dedicates $665 million of “extraordinary” revenue to job creating, and a $1.3 billion capital budget for school, transportation, and infrastructure projects statewide.
The budget reflects the Administration’s major priorities—attracting and retaining state workers and educators, investing in Delaware’s children, and improving access to affordable housing.
As Delaware schools compete with neighboring states to attract the best educators and many state agencies confront historically high vacancy rates, Governor
Carney proposes to boost teacher wages by 9% and state worker wages by 3% to 9% with lower wage workers receiving the highest percentages.
The budget targets the needs of at-risk children with $15 million of additional Opportunity Funding to support educational programs for low-income and English learners, $30 million for elementary and middle school mental health services, $3 million to the Wilmington Learning Collaborative, and $16 million for early childhood education and childcare assistance.
Delaware businesses tell us that many employees struggle to find affordable housing. The Governor’s plan invests a historic $101 million to attract matching private investment to redevelop vacant and blighted properties, build new affordable rental units, and maintain existing units through repairs, rehabilitation, and financial restructuring.
The plan invests in Delaware’s environment and cultural assets—$26 million to the Clean Water Trust; $28 million to
protect farmland, open space, beaches, and waterways; and $43 million for libraries, historical sites, and park improvements.
The Governor’s plan supports job growth with $60 million for strategic economic development investments and research collaborations plus another $60 million for capital and technology projects at our three major higher education institutions.
The Governor proposes $56 million of tax relief for working families. The State’s standard deduction would increase by 75% to $5,700 ($11,400 for a couple) while the refundable Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) would rise to 7.5% of the federal credit. The proposal will lift takehome pay, incentivize work, and simplify tax preparation for 370,000 tax filers while dropping up to 20,000 Delawareans from the tax rolls.
As Yogi Berra famously said, “It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future.” But I will make one here. If we stick to the fiscal principles that have served us well these past six years, Delaware’s long-term economic and fiscal outlook will remain strong for many years to come.
››Solving some of our state’s workforce development issues can sometimes feel like calculus, when really all we might need to use is basic arithmetic. Let me explain.
I recently had the opportunity to speak to members of the State Chamber’s Delaware Young Professionals Network (DYPN) at one of their 2023 planning meetings. I was impressed by their professionalism, connectivity with each other, and the questions they asked. It was clear they were eager to learn and grow.
At some point during the conversation with the ~20 members of DYPN’s planning committee, it struck me: I’m looking at the future of our workforce here in Delaware. These are the future leaders of our businesses, community, and government.
For those who aren’t familiar with the DYPN, it is a network of ambitious young professionals whose mission is to provide professional development opportunities through business networking, civic engagement, guest speakers, and events. They build leadership skills, learn about challenges and opportunities facing Delaware’s business community and, of course, expand their networks. This group is not only the State Chamber’s future, but also your company’s future.
Helana Rodriguez, who manages the DYPN, told me: “Don’t underestimate us. We’ll surprise you.”
Perhaps that’s what we’ve done for some time now. Perhaps we’ve underestimated the people under our noses.
When searching for top talent or needed skills, we often look outside our organizations to find the answer. Sometimes those searches take us outside Delaware
or even the mid-Atlantic. Instead, the answers to those staffing challenges could be sitting inside our own organizations, waiting for an opportunity to show they can learn, lead, and serve.
To be sure, the struggle to recruit and maintain a talented workforce is real. And yes, sometimes it does require us to look outside the boundaries of our state and search far and wide to find the right candidate. Some jobs require that level of recruitment. But many of them don’t.
My visit with DYPN reminded me that leaders of Delaware’s businesses today must continue to support and foster the growth of their talented employees now. We can’t overlook or underestimate the impact our employees can make on Delaware’s workforce today and in years to come.
We all know the State Chamber plays an important role in helping develop Delaware’s workforce. The DYPN is one way they are doing that. Intern Delaware is another.
If your business doesn’t have an intern participating in Intern Delaware or doesn’t have a young professional in the DYPN, consider how you can get your business and your employees involved. At M&T Bank, we’ve supported Intern Delaware for years and benefited from the growth our interns have experienced through the program.
When you do the math, the numbers will tell you that developing your own talent is cheaper than losing an employee and going outside the organization to find a replacement. Next time you need to solve for a talent or skills gap in your business, start by considering whether a simple equation will result in the right answer.
The Joint Military Affairs Committee (JMAC) of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce and New Castle County Chamber of Commerce named Orth Financial Group and Bloom Energy as the 2023 recipients of the Delaware Warrior Friendly Business Award. This honor recognizes businesses’ efforts to support service members, veterans, and their family members through workplace initiatives.
Orth Financial Group
(Under 50 Employees):
Orth Financial Group is a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise
Financial Services, LLC, based in Wilmington. The company not only hires military members, but they also provide services to clients who served in the military and in government roles.
Orth Financial prides itself on offering a paid leave policy specifically for employees who are members of the military that helps them complete their ongoing military obligations. In addition, financial advisors at Orth Financial Group work closely with clients to understand the unique complexities and opportunities that accompany benefits programs for service members and government employees.
“The men and women of the armed
forces make tremendous sacrifices to protect our freedoms, and we all owe them our thanks and gratitude. We feel fortunate to be in a position to offer resources to our military employees and clients of our firm that help them maximize the value they receive from their service and related benefits,” said Kimberlee Orth, CEO of Orth Financial Group and a Certified Financial Planner®. “Today’s military and government employee benefits programs can be incredibly complex. We view our role helping vets and their families understand these programs as the right thing to do, given all they have done on our behalf.”
Energy
Bloom Energy is a leading Delaware green energy technology company. As of 2023, 6% of Bloom Energy’s US workforce are veterans, and the company is incorporating additional strategies in fulfillment of their pledge to increase this count. Moreover, the company is committed to training their workforce, offering their employees the opportunity to participate in job-specific skills training.
In the community, Bloom Energy raised awareness and funds by hosting the inaugural Stars and Strides Delaware Charitable 5K Race in November 2022. Proceeds from the race directly supported the Delaware Center for Homeless Veterans and the Delaware National Guard Youth Foundation.
“At Bloom, we are especially inspired by the legacy of the late General Colin Powell—our former chief mission and values officer and Vietnam War veteran— whose memory continues to empower us to act with compassion, courage and strength, and whose time served protecting our country inspires us all to be better people,” says KR Sridhar, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Bloom Energy. “Bloom appreciates the recognition and honor of being named a Warrior Friendly Business. But even more, Bloom appreciates our veterans who are true models of what it means to put everything on the line to protect and serve those we hold close. We thank the men and women of the Delaware National Guard for fight ing for our freedoms, for protecting our families, and for keeping Delaware and this nation safe.”
The honorees were recognized at the JMAC’s State of the Guard Address on Friday, February 24, which includes the annual State of the Guard briefing to the community on current missions, operations, and people of the Delaware National Guard.
BY TYLER MICIK
››The Delaware Manufacturing Association (DMA), an affiliate of the State Chamber, met in early February for their quarterly meeting.
The DMA was joined by Charles Madden, director of existing business engagement and talent services for the Delaware Prosperity Partnership (DPP). Madden shared about the DPP’s focus on attracting, growing, and retaining businesses in Delaware and how the manufacturing sector can help support that mission.
The committee also discussed several policy issues that either passed in January or remain pending before the General Assembly. Of note was HB1 and HB2, legalization of recreational marijuana; SB35, Mini-Bond; and the Climate Change Solutions Act— commonly known last session as SB305.
These bills and others will be highlighted at the DMA’s annual Spring
Manufacturing and Policy Conference. Making a return to an in-person format, the event will be held on Tuesday, March 28 at Delaware Technical Community College in Dover. The goal of the morning will be to explore policy priorities to improve Delaware’s economic climate and encourage manufacturers to both relocate and grow in our state.
Today, manufacturers depend on more than just what they can control in their organization. Fluctuating energy prices, growing inflation, and resource scarcity are all contributing to massive supply chain issues. This halfday conference will address the top economic pressures facing the industry with keynotes Governor John Carney and Bill Keller, managing director and senior investment strategist at Bank of America. You can register on the State Chamber’s website at www.dscc.com.
Children enter the world with the right to experience a loving and caring environment, and this exemplary nonprofit organization does just that. With roughly 550 children currently in Delaware’s foster care system, Kind to Kids Foundation’s mission is to provide children in need with education and skills for a bright future.
Established in 2008 to help children in foster care, President and Founder Caroline Jones explains, “It has been a journey of hope and inspiration, and to see how our services impact the children we serve makes it all worth it.” Kind to Kids became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2011 and has since served over 17,000 children in foster care and poverty. The nonprofit offers two signature programs that encourage success in the children’s futures, and ease the pain of
entering foster care.
Kind to Kids’ UGrad Academy is a case management program that helps children and youth in foster care succeed in school, graduate from high school, and obtain higher education opportunities such as college and trade school. Oneon-one tutoring and individualized guidance coupled with a highly trained staff are the source for the program’s 97% graduation rate—a feat to boast about. Jones says, “UGrad Academy is a solution that drives collaboration and efficiencies across the child welfare and educational systems to support Delaware’s most vulnerable children.”
Moreover, Kind to Kids recently expanded UGrad’s reach to include the first grade. Jones explains, “The earlier we can help the children to give them a strong foundation, the more impactful it
is. It’s dramatic when you see just how much the program helps them succeed. Making those strides is really exciting.”
When first entering foster care, Jones notes that many of the children are frightened as social workers and police come to remove them from their homes to safety. They come with a trash bag for the children to place their personal items. To ease this transitional period, Kind to Kids started the My Blue Duffel program in 2012 to provide a child with a comforting blue duffel bag to hold their belongings, a blanket, book, stuffed animal, socks, crayons, and more. Each year over 500 of these duffels are handed out to children entering foster care by social workers, first responders, and hospital emergency rooms, spreading the message that they are wanted and loved. Jones remarks, “I realized that we
need to do more as a society to help the children, and the duffels give them a message of hope, love, and compassion when they’re being taken out of their abusive or neglectful home.”
What some take for granted may be
foreign for children in foster care, like celebrating birthdays or graduations. Kind to Kids works to ensure that each milestone is not only acknowledged but celebrated with cake, gifts, and people who care. For UGrad students, graduation is hosted each June to commemorate a culmination of dedication and perseverance to one’s studies. Birthday celebrations are also held to the utmost importance as a means to reassure the children of their worth and spread some much-needed joy and happiness. Above all else, the Kind to Kids Foundation is changing lives, one child at a time.
Amanda Schimmel currently serves as a communications and events assistant at the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce. Graduating from the University of Delaware in spring 2023, she is pursuing an Honors Economics and English degree.
››Governor John Carney, Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long, New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer, the National Park Service, and other dignitaries joined the Friends of Hockessin Colored School #107 (”FOHCS”) to cut the ribbon on the newly completed HS #107c Center for Diversity, Inclusion & Social Equity (“CDISE”).
The one-room school building is more than 100 years old and sits on just over five acres of property at 4266 Mill Creek Road. The building was saved from a sheriff’s sale in 2012 by the FOHCS and underwent a $1.7 million redevelopment process in 2022.
The former school has a monumental history as the setting for one of the five cases (Bulah v. Gebhart) that became Brown v. Board in 1954. To make the ribbon cutting ceremony extra joyful, ten former students who attended the school between 1937 and 1952—including members of the Bulah family—realized their lifelong dream of “walking through the door again” with their families.
The property became the 250th park in the New Castle County system in 2020
and was designated as a Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park by President Biden on May 12, 2022.
The mission of the Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Equity is to be a place of community engagement around:
• Teaching the history of HS 107c’s role in history as part of the social studies and civics curriculum at public and private schools in Delaware and the region
• Presenting workshops and speaker series on building greater cultural competency that transform human relations
• Being a safe place for community dialogue around contemporary social issues challenging our society
• Developing innovative social infrastructure strategies (affordable housing, education, health care and wellness, food security, public safety, social justice, entrepreneurship, and public-private partnerships) that are catalysts for shared prosperity
The HS 107c Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Equity is a public charity and welcomes community members to join in our mission by visiting www.hockessincoloredschool107.org.
››“Everything is negotiable. Whether or not the negotiation is easy is another thing.” – Carrie Fisher
Many people enter the landlord-tenant relationship as entrepreneurs, but some enter for other reasons—inability to sell a house, a solution to a problem in the short or long term, a kind gesture for a friend. No matter how you get involved in that relationship, like any relationship, sometimes things go wrong. But the concept that everything is negotiable holds true even in the landlord-tenant relationship.
Unfortunately, if you are considering eviction, something has gone wrong. It could be anything, but usually the tenant has failed to pay rent or there has been a rule violation. Landlords who adopt a negotiation mindset regarding the eviction process will probably have better results. But first, the landlord will want to take steps to preserve rights—which underscores the first phase of any negotiation—preparation.
How do landlords preserve rights?
Typically, this is accomplished by sending a letter or communication to the tenant. You will want to familiarize yourself with the rules of your jurisdiction for what constitutes acceptable notice. In Delaware, the statute provides that if a tenant has failed to pay rent, a notice of nonpayment of rent must be sent. If the tenant has violated certain rules, a notice of rules violation(s) must be sent. There are procedures for how and when to send the communication. After proper notice is established, you can begin to negotiate.
How do landlords begin to negotiate? The second part of any negotiation is an information expedition. In certain circumstances it makes sense to interview the tenant. Utilize effective communication, be approachable, ask questions, determine timelines, and identify the real issue(s). The eviction process seems adversarial, but you should avoid starting negotiations from a hostile position. The notice may have put your tenant on edge. Be prepared to let them know you are willing to talk and be prepared to make the first move towards that conversation. Having a negotiation mindset allows landlords and their tenants to create solutions.
What are some creative solutions?
With the information you have acquired, you can help to create solutions. Negotiations can be as flexible as you can imagine but they must be reasonable, cannot conflict with the landlord tenant code or other statutes or laws meant to protect a tenant’s rights, and must be made in good faith. We will typically see deals struck that range from simple to complex. For example: A property manager offers to set up the trash pick-up with the city if the tenant throws out a couch; the parties change the date rent is due to coincide with the tenant’s bi-weekly income payments; the landlord agrees to certain repairs and a schedule of back payments is entered; workarounds to avoid evictions are extended in exchange for an agreement to leave
peacefully by a certain timeframe. What if negotiation fails? Because you preserved your rights, you can file for summary possession (eviction). Recognize that filing also presents you with another opportunity to negotiate. If the parties come to an arrangement, it is incredibly important to memorialize the agreement.
A stipulated agreement filed with the court allows the landlord to preserve its rights for a specified amount of time. If the tenant violates the terms of the agreement, the landlord may file an affidavit of breach, allowing the landlord to immediately return to court and obtain the sought relief, such as possession.
Kristen Swift, Esq. is partner and George Williams, Esq. is an associate at Weber Gallagher.
*Though Kristen and George are lawyers, this article does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such.
EUPHORIC HERBALS EXPANDS BUSINESS AND LOOKS TO FUTURE
EUPHORIC HERBALS EXPANDS BUSINESS AND LOOKS TO FUTURE
EUPHORIC HERBALS EXPANDS BUSINESS AND LOOKS TO FUTURE
Since 2010, Euphoric Herbals has served over 60,000 people to support their health through proprietary herbal products. CEO, founder, certified herbalist, and certified lactation counselor Cindy Collins developed her first lactation blend after giving birth to her third son. She then expanded the line with new blends, herbal teas, and salves for the childbearing years.
While the line originally offered healing for her community and doula clients, Collins opened her online shop in 2010 on Etsy to help even more people along their journey to holistic health. In 2018 she opened Euphoric Herbals Apothecary to serve the community.
The company runs two stores in Delaware and Maryland and also maintains a thriving online business. There are currently eight employees working in the business.
As Euphoric Herbals has evolved to include retail locations, the company needed assistance with in-house manufacturing operations. Collins searched for and purchased a larger facility to ensure enough capability to support growth. Based on experience with the Delaware Manufacturing Extension Partnership (DEMEP) through the Exportech international trade program, Collins turned to DEMEP for help setting up the new facility.
DEMEP is a federally and state funded non-profit organization committed to helping Delaware’s manufacturers improve their global competitiveness. DEMEP is the official representative of the MEP National Network in Delaware. The MEP National Network™ is a unique public-private partnership that delivers comprehensive, proven solutions to U.S. manufacturers, fueling growth and advancement.
DEMEP operates as a grant sub-recipient through Delaware Technical Community College in partnership with the United States Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Delaware Division of Small Business, and the Delaware State and local Chambers of Commerce. Through these partnerships, DEMEP draws its resources from local and national universities, community colleges, research institutions, private consultants, and a network of 51 MEP Centers located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. With these unique relationships, the Delaware MEP can provide its clients confidential access to their industries’ best practices, processes, and business improvement methodologies.
DEMEP educated Euphoric Herbal’s team on how to evaluate the company’s manufacturing operation and create flow, making the work more efficient by using the principles of Lean manufacturing. Implementing Lean techniques such as 5S standardized work and visual controls and mapping current and future processes allowed the team to visualize the most efficient set-up of equipment. Euphoric Herbals then redesigned the flow of materials to make the manufacturing process run quickly and smoothly.
As a result of their work with DEMEP, Euphoric Herbals was able to achieve measured results including:
. Elimination of unnecessary walking from various processes by as much as 67%.
. Reduction of processing times as much as 57%.
. Continued growth due to a culture of Lean manufacturing and the buy-in of every employee.
When you create a community business, its magical.”
“After working with DEMEP, I am more cognizant workflow systems and processes,” said Collins. “If there bottlenecks or inefficiencies, I can now problem fix those. I am forecasting inventory ahead. I teach my employees the concepts, and have process improve.”
“After working with DEMEP, I am more cognizant workflow systems and processes,” said Collins. “If there bottlenecks or inefficiencies, I can now problem fix those. I am forecasting inventory ahead. I teach my employees the concepts, and have process improve.”
life continues to evolve, so does her business. three boys have grown, and the pandemic allowed for more in-person business, Collins is considering franchising the storefront apothecaries. preparation, she has begun standardizing and documenting her work processes to make them
“After working with DEMEP, I am more cognizant of workflow systems and processes,” said Collins. “If there are bottlenecks or inefficiencies, I can now problem solve and fix those. I am forecasting inventory ahead. I am able to teach my employees the concepts, and have their work process improve.”
“After working with DEMEP, I am more cognizant of workflow systems and processes,” said Collins. “If there are bottlenecks or inefficiencies, I can now problem solve and fix those. I am forecasting inventory ahead. I am able to teach my employees the concepts, and have their work process improve.”
life continues to evolve, so does her business. three boys have grown, and the pandemic allowed for more in-person business, Collins is considering franchising the storefront apothecaries. preparation, she has begun standardizing and documenting her work processes to make them
As Collins’ life continues to evolve, so does her business. As her three boys have grown, and the pandemic has allowed for more in-person business, Collins is considering franchising the storefront apothecaries. In preparation, she has begun standardizing and documenting her work processes to make them replicable.
“Documenting and standardizing jobs will help get new employees up to speed and trained quickly,” said Pete Ciamaricone, DEMEP Business Advisor who has worked company.
As Collins’ life continues to evolve, so does her business. As her three boys have grown, and the pandemic has allowed for more in-person business, Collins is considering franchising the storefront apothecaries. In preparation, she has begun standardizing and documenting her work processes to make them replicable.
“Documenting and standardizing jobs will help get new employees up to speed and trained quickly,” said Pete Ciamaricone, DEMEP Business Advisor who has worked company.
“Documenting and standardizing jobs will help get new employees up to speed and trained quickly,” said Pete Ciamaricone, DEMEP Business Advisor who has worked with the company.
keep expanding,” said Collins. “I’d like to open corporate location in Delaware and potentially the store.” She said her customers often travel hours away to visit her store, and express that they was a store near them.
“Documenting and standardizing jobs will help get new employees up to speed and trained quickly,” said Pete Ciamaricone, DEMEP Business Advisor who has worked with the company.
“I want to keep expanding,” said Collins. “I’d like to open another corporate location in Delaware and potentially franchise the store.” She said her customers often travel from hours away to visit her store, and express that they wish there was a store near them.
keep expanding,” said Collins. “I’d like to open corporate location in Delaware and potentially the store.” She said her customers often travel hours away to visit her store, and express that they was a store near them.
“I want to keep expanding,” said Collins. “I’d like to open another corporate location in Delaware and potentially franchise the store.” She said her customers often travel from hours away to visit her store, and express that they wish there was a store near them.
business concept is important to Collins. small businesses hire and create jobs. When you community business, its magical.”
business concept is important to Collins. small businesses hire and create jobs. When you community business, its magical.”
The small business concept is important to Collins. “Local small businesses hire and create jobs. When you create a community business, its magical.”
The small business concept is important to Collins. “Local small businesses hire and create jobs. When you create a community business, its magical.”
~ Cindy Collins, Euphoric Herbals
“Local small businesses hire and create jobs. When you create a community business, its magical.”Customers enjoying fresh made herbal beverages.
~ Cindy Collins, Euphoric Herbals
“Local small businesses hire and create jobs.
When you create a community business, its magical.”Customers enjoying fresh made herbal beverages.
~ Cindy Collins, Euphoric HerbalsCustomers enjoying fresh made herbal beverages.
~ Cindy Collins, Euphoric Herbals
“Local small businesses hire and create jobs.
When you create a community business, its magical.”Customers enjoying fresh made herbal beverages.
AVELO AIRLINES
www.AveloAir.com
(404) 310-6036
12 Greenway Plaza, Ste. 400
Houston, TX 77046
The Avelo story begins with a simple purpose—to inspire travel. Avelo Airlines is now flying out of Wilmington airport to five destinations in Florida.
BLUE CRAB TRAVEL
www.bluecrabtravel.com
(240) 861-5999
17 Village Dr. Smyrna, DE 19977
Escape the everyday and plan your dream vacation with Blue Crab Travel.
CAESAR RODNEY INSTITUTE
www.caesarrodney.org
(302) 273-0080
420 Corporate Blvd.
Newark, DE 19702
The Caesar Rodney Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan, and Delaware-based public policy think tank committed to protecting individual liberties.
THE CARLIN COLLABORATIVE
www.thecarlincollaborative.com
(856) 390-0011
702 Rockland Rd.
Rockland, DE 19732
The Carlin Collaborative is your solution-driven project and pro cess manage
ment partner. They will become a seamless extension of your team to deliver successful projects and operational optimizations.
DELAWARE FIRST HEALTH
delawarefirsthealth.com
750 Prides Crossing
Newark, DE 19713
Delaware First Health has a commitment to improving the health of the community one individual at a time through affordable and reliable health care plans.
DELAWARE LEGISLATIVE STRATEGIES
(302) 383-0503
5197 Summit Bridge Rd. Middletown, DE 19709
Delaware Legislative Strategies is a lobbying firm that provides business development, government affairs, and health care consulting services.
EDWARD J. HENRY & SONS
www.henryautobody.com
(302) 658-4324
2300 W. 4th St.
Wilmington, DE 19805
Edward J. Henry & Sons Auto Body has been serving Wilmington, DE, and its surrounding areas with professional and reliable auto body services since 1943.
HYATT PLACE WILMINGTON
RIVERFRONT
https://www.hyatt.com/ en-US/hotel/delaware/hyattplace-wilmington/phlzw
(302) 803-5888
760 Justison St.
Wilmington, DE 19801
Hyatt Place Wilmington / Riverfront makes special events a cinch, with more than 6,088 square feet of event space, including a separate banquet center. A stay here puts you close to must see attractions, trendy shopping, and dining along the picturesque Christina River.
ILA LOCAL 1694
www.ila1694.org
(302) 652-5204
200 S. Claymont St.
Wilmington, DE 19801
KEYLENT, INC.
www.keylent.com
(302) 844 8300
1000 N. West St., Ste. 1200
Wilmington, DE 19801
Keylent provides software development services to small, medium, and large businesses. They specialize in custom projects, cloud enable legacy systems, maintain and manage software systems.
THE LEARNING LINKAGE INC.
(302) 367-4604
2713 Duncan Rd.
Marshallton, DE 19808
The Learning Linkage offers special education consulting,
linking language and literacy to learning and life.
SOCIAL INK, LLC
www.socialinkllc.com
(760) 822-3004
16406 Buck Dr. Lewes, DE 19958
Social Ink has writing solutions for every stage of your “it”. Their professionals specialize in grant writing and management, strategic planning and program design, donor and media outreach, and more to help you plan, develop, review, write, do, and evaluate whatever your “it” is.
STAYBRIDGE SUITESDOWNTOWN WILMINGTON
www.ihg.com/staybridge/ hotels/us/en/wilmington/ ilgst/hoteldetail
(302) 777-5900
1220 N. Market St.
Wilmington, DE, 19801
Staybridge Suites Wilmington Downtown is the city’s new extended stay hotel located two blocks from Market Street.
THE VOICE RADIO NETWORK
www.thevoiceradionetwork.com
(302) 228-8942
20254 DuPont Blvd.
Georgetown, DE 19947
The Voice Radio is a locally owned company serving all communities with multicultural platforms.
With 1,100 business, community, and government leaders gathered in one room, the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce’s 186th Annual Dinner was an evening to remember. Quite simply, the success of our signature event came to fruition with the support of our sponsors, speakers, attendees, and distinguished guests for joining us at the Chase Center on the Riverfront.
PHOTOS BY DICK DUBROFF / FINAL FOCUS PHOTOGRAPHY
THE DELAWARE STATE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE awarded its prestigious Josiah Marvel Cup to Stacey J. Mobley, Esq. Established in 1951, the Marvel Cup honors a Delawarean who has made an outstanding contribution to the state, community, or society. The State Chamber’s highest honor is named in memory of the Honorable Josiah Marvel, who reorganized and served as the first president of the State Chamber in 1913. As a tradition, the recipient of the Marvel Cup is kept secret until the night of the dinner.
Described as a trailblazer ahead of his time, Stacey Mobley was senior vice president, chief administrative officer, and general counsel of DuPont—a global innovation leader with technology-based materials and solutions that help transform industries and everyday life—until his retirement in 2008. He originally joined the DuPont Legal Department in 1972. He was named director of federal affairs in the company’s Washington, D.C. office in 1983 and promoted to vice president of federal affairs in 1986, returning to the company’s headquarters in Delaware in 1992 as vice president of communications in external affairs. Named chief executive administrative officer in May of 1999, Mobley became general counsel for DuPont in November of 1999.
Mobley has always been a champion of workplace diversity, encouraging employers—specifically in the legal sector—to “draw upon the perspectives of people who come from a variety of backgrounds and cultures.” In a 2004 interview with Corporate Counsel Business Journal, he stated: “[DuPont has] seen firsthand that when you use a diverse law firm, you get better solutions to your legal problems. This is because people from different backgrounds and cultures provide special insights that otherwise would not be available. Their life experiences alter the lenses through which they see problems.”
“He led in diversity, equity, and inclusion before we all really knew what it was,” said Thère du Pont, president of Longwood Foundation. “Stacey was the leader in helping DuPont make it a competitive advantage.”
Mobley served as an example to those around him, practicing a leadership style many cited as one they aspired to implement when it became their turn to lead. “He was a force of nature. You could feel his impact wherever you went in the company and the community,” said Ellen Kullman, former chair and chief executive officer of DuPont. “In my earlier years, I would watch in awe of how he maneuvered very difficult situations. He did it with grace and a strong center for the company.”
“Stacey is someone that would support you from the background while also willing to mentor you from the front,” said Doneene Damon, chief diversity director at Richards, Layton & Finger.
He served in leadership roles for many philanthropic, educational, and policy organizations, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and chairman emeritus of the Board of Trustees at Howard University. Mobley earned a B.S. degree from the Howard University School of Pharmacy, a J.D. degree from the Howard University School of Law, and an honorary doctorate degree from Howard University in 2022. Among many others, he also received the Howard University Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award.
“He led in diversity, equity, and inclusion before we all really knew what it was. Stacey was the leader in helping DuPont make it a competitive advantage.”
—Thère du Pont, President of Longwood Foundation
DR. DAVID TAM, president and CEO of Beebe Healthcare, opened his presentation by sharing the tremendous growth Sussex County is undergoing as a destination for people to live, work and visit. It is one of the fastest growing counties in the mid-Atlantic region and there is greater diversity than ever before as people from all parts of the nation choose Sussex County as a place to call home.
And in response to this growth, Beebe Healthcare is also growing and evolving rapidly.
In 1916, James and Richard Beebe opened the county’s first hospital, which included three beds. Today, Beebe Healthcare is now a modern regional community health system with two hospitals, multiple free standing emergency departments and cancer centers, over 30 medical office facilities, a new community mobile health clinic, and four healthcare campuses staffed by a medical staff of almost 500 providers supported by over 3,000 employees.
A lot has happened in over a century. But Beebe Healthcare today is
still guided by the legacy handed down from the Beebe brothers—a commitment to bring the highest quality of healthcare to the community of Sussex County. That legacy lives today in their motto—Sussex County is Our Specialty.
As Sussex continues to face a growing and evolving community, Dr. Tam stressed the importance of exploring new ways to create greater opportunities for physician and advanced practitioner workforce development to address the physician and nursing shortage.
He closed by requesting that Delaware’s business and government leaders commit themselves to identifying new ways to increasing the number of physicians and nurses to Delaware. “Having a robust healthcare workforce is the best way to ensure economic growth, lowering healthcare costs, and—most importantly—keeping our communities vibrant and healthy,” said Tam. “Let’s embrace our legacy of working together. Commit to exploring new paths to make things better. And focus our efforts on serving our growing and evolving community.”
The following business leaders were elected to the State Chamber’s Board of Governors:
Colleen Perry Keith, Ph.D., Goldey-Beacom College
Matthew Lantagne, TD Bank
Jeff Mitchell, Siegfried Advisory, LLC
Jed Patterson, LabWare
Michael Smith, Navient
Jana Tidwell, AAA Club Alliance
Rebecca Veeneman, Ph.D., Agilent Technologies
Members joining the Board of Directors are: Andrew Cottone, Ph.D., Adesis
Dr. LaVerne T. Harmon, Wilmington University
“On behalf of the Delaware State Chamber and its Board, we welcome these representatives from DSCC member companies. We look forward to working with them to promote Delaware’s business community and allow all Delawareans to prosper.”
— Nick Lambrow, Board Chair
GOVERNOR JOHN CARNEY opened his remarks with a message of gratitude towards the business community: “What you do matters. You provide good jobs for workers so they can put food on the table for their families.”
He focused his comments around the new labor landscape and the need to provide the necessary skills to Delawareans so they can fill available jobs. “My entire career in public service has been focused entirely on creating jobs. We’ve always had more people than jobs available,” said Carney. “Today, we have thousands more open positions than we have people looking for work.”
To address this issue, Carney stressed that working together is both the effective way to govern and the best way to “get things done.” Partnerships he highlighted included:
• The creation of the Delaware Prosperity Partnership, a public-private initiative to attract, grow, and retain businesses to Delaware
• Delaware colleges and universities’ role in partnering with businesses to provide students opportunities to study alongside professionals— specifically mentioning the innovations occurring at the University of Delaware’s STAR Campus
• Working with members of the General Assembly to create and maintain a sustainable state budget
EACH YEAR, a board member is recognized by State Chamber staff as Board Member of the Year. Katie Wilkinson of Fulton Bank is this year’s honoree for her leadership as the organization’s first female chair in its 186-year history. The staff recognized her for her servant leadership when she led the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic. Katie has been a member of the Board of Governors since 2012. She joined the Board of Directors in 2014 and served as chair in 2020 and 2021.
“This event is always a great annual tradition. I, for one, look forward to it every year. It’s an opportunity to get together before the legislative session in Dover. I want to thank the State Chamber team for everything you do to advocate for business in our state.” — Governor John Carney
Presenting
Belfint, Lyons & Shuman, CPAs
Blackwell HR Solutions Brown Advisory
CBM Insurance
Colonial Parking, Inc.
Cover & Rossiter
DE Cadillac, DE Subaru & Kia of Wilmington
Delaware Electric Cooperative
Delaware Prosperity Partnership
Diamond Technologies, Inc.
Ronald
Santora CPA Group
VanDemark & Lynch, Inc.
Weiner Benefits Group, LLC
Whisman Giordano & Associates, LLC
IT’S IMPOSSIBLE to discuss Delaware Statutory Trusts without talking about 1031 Exchanges first. A 1031 Exchange gets its name from Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). In general, a 1031 Exchange allows an investor to defer paying capital gains tax on a property sold by subsequently using the proceeds to purchase another “like-kind” asset. There is no limit on how often a taxpayer can utilize a 1031 Exchange. The gain can be rolled over from one piece of investment real estate to another multiple times. Although the taxpayer may profit on each transaction, they will avoid paying tax until it is ultimately sold for cash down the line. This appealing tax strategy has many rules that need to be followed to ensure the transaction is valid and qualifies for tax deferral, thus making it important to consult with a CPA prior to any action. One thing to acknowledge is that not long ago, there was speculation that President Biden had plans of repealing the current 1031 Exchange laws and pulling the rug out from under real estate investors. However, after Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act without proposed
changes to Section 1031 of the IRC, it became likely that 1031 Exchanges are not going anywhere.
Cash flow analysis and forecasting is an essential aspect of managing a growing business. It is the process of examining and projecting the inflow and outflow of cash in a company, and it helps business owners and managers understand their financial position and make informed decisions. One of the key benefits of cash flow analysis and forecasting is that it allows businesses to anticipate and plan for potential cash shortages. Incorporating tax planning into cash flow analysis and forecasting can also help businesses make better investment decisions. By understanding the tax implications of different investments, businesses can choose the ones that are most likely to generate positive cash flow and minimize taxes. For example, businesses can take advantage of tax-deferred investment options like a 1031 Exchange, which allows them to defer capital gains
taxes on the sale of a property. A 1031 Exchange can be a powerful tool to help businesses improve their cash flow while growing their operations.
A Delaware Statutory Trust (DST) is a legal Delaware entity that provides ownership in commercial real estate investment.
A DST can hold any type of commercial property: retail space, office buildings, industrial parks, apartments, etc. A single DST can hold multiple properties at one time and allows multiple investors to each hold an undivided beneficial interest in the trust. The reason why DSTs are so attractive to real estate investors is because in 2004, the IRS ruled that a DST is eligible as replacement property in a 1031 Exchange. This means that investors who sell property can defer tax on the gain by investing the proceeds into a DST. Essentially, a DST qualifies as a “like-kind” investment for 1031 Exchange purposes and is an alternative to a direct purchase.
Along with tax-deferral, a DST provides many attractive benefits. As real estate investment goes, the barriers to entry are fairly low. Investors can generally participate in a DST with $25,000 cash or $100,000 if participating in a 1031 Exchange. The structure of a DST takes the responsibility of managing the property and making decisions out of the hands of investors and transfers that responsibility to professional management. A DST offers diversification. Instead of restricting investor capital to one property, a DST allows an investor to expand investment to varying geographical markets. A DST also offers liability protection and shields investors from any liabilities involving the individual properties. These tax-deferral vehicles can be advantageous for many investors. DSTs and 1031 Exchanges can be complex and have many requirements that need to be met. Investors should consult with their CPA for expert guidance prior to any action. n
Along with tax-deferral, a DST provides many attractive benefits. As real estate investment goes, the barriers to entry are fairly low.
TAX CREDITS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES have existed for years, but they’ve been revamped with the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA). Globally, electric vehicles made up 10% of all new car sales in 2022. Adoption of electric vehicles is expected to continue to rise in 2023. With more mainstream and affordable options than ever before, more Americans are serious about making the switch. The EV tax credit attempts to ease the financial burden, but with the changes from the IRA, both the buyer and the vehicle must meet some rather rigid requirements starting in 2023.
The credit is up to $7,500 for a new vehicle and up to $4,000 for a used vehicle. The following qualifications must be met for new vehicles:
• MSRP on vans, SUVs, and pickup trucks capped at $80,000
• MSRP on sedans and passenger cars capped at $55,000
• Modified adjusted gross income of the taxpayer is capped at $300,000 if married filing jointly and $150,000 if single
• Final assembly of the vehicle must be in North America
• Batter y manufacturing and source materials must meet certain
BY LAURA LLOYD, CPAUS/North America levels (more information to come from Treasury Department and not enforced until it does)
Used vehicles must meet the following additional requirements:
• Purchase price of $25,000 or less
• Plug-in electric or fuel cell vehicle
• Eligible only on the first transfer of the vehicle
• Car model must be at least two years old
• Modified adjusted gross income of taxpayer is capped at $150,000 if married filing jointly and $75,000 if single
The IRS has reclassified several vehicles as SUVs from cars to help them qualify under the price limitations. Only six vehicles remain classified as cars: the BMW 330e, Chevy Bolt, Chevy Bolt EUV, Nissan Leaf, Tesla Model 3, and Volvo S60. The credit has been extended to 2032 and unlike the previous version, there are no longer manufacturing limits of 200,000 vehicles per manufacturer.
Made it this far and still hopeful that your EV purchase will lead to a credit? The IRS has a list of manufacturers and models that could qualify.
You’ll have to also verify with the Department of Treasury’s site on electric vehicles with final assembly in North America. At present, specific VIN numbers need to be researched as the same make and model of vehicles could have some meeting the North American assembly requirements and others not. To make matters more confusing, once the Treasury Department releases guidance around battery requirements, several vehicles will no longer qualify at their current manufacturing method.
Businesses can get in on the action too. Credits for electric vehicles over 14,000 pounds are up to $40,000. Credits for installing EV charging stations are up to $100,000. The Delaware Clean Vehicle Rebate Program is in effect for EVs purchased or leased before April 30, 2023.
If you’re considering purchasing an electric vehicle, it likely has more to do with its benefits to the environment than this tax credit, but with unknowns on the horizon, the time to commit to an electric vehicle and hopefully save up to $7,500 is now. n
WHEN ONE OF YOUR TEAM MEMBERS or staff walk into a doctor’s office, much of their health has already been impacted by factors beyond what we traditionally think of as “healthcare” and are likely unbeknownst to you as their employer.
Social determinants of health (SDoH)— the conditions where people live, learn, work, and play—can impact up to 80% of an individual’s health and well-being. These include access to healthy food, stable housing, transportation, education and economic opportunity, social isolation, community safety, and health literacy. More than one-in-ten households suffer from food insecurity, and one-in-five households have little to no confidence in being able to make their next rent or mortgage payment. For many families, these challenges have been exacerbated by the highest inflation
rate in 40 years amid an ongoing global pandemic.
In Delaware, we help thousands of community members every month connect to address these challenges through the Highmark Community Support platform—highmark.findhelp.com. Housing and food support are the most searched, which has only increased this year. This tool, and other services offered by community organizations and State agencies, could be meaningful to your team members when shared through benefits communications or other company memos.
The principles of SDoH are central to the most basic ways we measure the collective progress of society—how long we live and quality of life. Both Census and CDC data reveal that the life expectancy in neighborhoods just a few miles apart can vary by more than two decades. For example, life expectancy in East Side of Wilmington is
68; however, less than five miles northwest to Greenville, life expectancy increases to 86. Data shows that social vulnerability is far more common for people of color and in low-income and rural areas, contributing to health disparities.
Social determinants affect each of us and our families, and the impacts on our colleagues and team members may be greater than we realize. It’s possible that a team member’s decreased focus, missed deadlines, or absenteeism could be linked to a disruption in conditions. By making resources available and raising awareness, we can empower people to be
their best, healthiest selves. Additionally, by investing in the health of our colleagues and communities before they need care, we can have a collective positive impact helping everyone reach their full potential.
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware is committed to addressing SDoH from both a business and community perspective. We have moved to more value-based care models with healthcare providers and are helping to build national health infrastructure that puts social and behavioral health on equal footing with physical health. We offer services like GED vouchers and free transportation through Medicaid programs, and social activities and meal delivery through Medicare products. At the community level, we contributed $10 million in 2022 to support dozens of health programs throughout the state. Part of that was a combined $3 million investment with the State of Delaware into place-based initiatives to improve health with Healthy Communities Delaware.
With 80% of everyone’s health at stake, including those closest to us at work, it will take all of us to create a Delaware where everyone can embrace health. n
Both Census and CDC data reveal that the life expectancy in neighborhoods just a few miles apart can vary by more than two decades. For example, life expectancy in East Side of Wilmington is 68; however, less than five miles northwest to Greenville, life expectancy increases to 86.
CHRISTIANACARE NOW OFFERS an entire suite of solutions for employers who want to provide effective health solutions for their workforce while keeping costs affordable and predictable.
“ChristianaCare Business Health Solutions leverages the nationally recognized clinical expertise of ChristianaCare to provide high-quality, cost-effective health care services to businesses and employers,” said Joe Miralles, vice president of business development at ChristianaCare. “We offer directto-employer packages to keep health care costs down, improve employee wellness and workforce productivity, and integrate services to offer accessible, high-quality, convenient care through enhanced coordination.”
ChristianaCare Business Health Solutions builds on the success of ChristianaCare’s Destination Surgery program, which has provided bariatric surgery services to more than 300 patients throughout
the United States since 2019. Under the program, employers pay a set cost for surgical services for their employees from a trusted health care provider with demonstrated clinical excellence.
ChristianaCare has already developed strategic partnerships providing health care services to more than 100 national and international employers in a wide range of industries, including the manufacturing, retail and airline industries, and multiple employee welfare arrangements.
Programs and services of ChristianaCare Business Health Solutions currently available to business clients and their employees include:
Destination Surgery — provides concierge-level coordination for personalized, expedited bariatric surgery, heart and vascular surgeries, including bypass, valve replacement and endovascular valve replacement, women’s health procedures including abdominal hysterectomy and hysterectomy and other surgical care experiences.
• ChristianaCare Center for Virtual Health — offers direct virtual primary
care services accessible from anywhere, anytime on any digital device.
• Virtual Behavioral Health — supports the emotional and psychological health of employees throughout their careers.
• Vaccination Campaign — offers voluntary inoculation sites for employees at offices and campuses.
• COVID-19 Symptom Monitoring — helps businesses by monitoring employee symptoms and wellbeing.
Customizable programs are available that offer expert consultation by nationally recognized health care leaders. Pricing is based on each client’s unique needs.
“Our program offerings are extremely popular with employees of the many businesses we are privileged to serve,” said Dave Repshas, director of ChristianaCare Business Health Solutions. “For example, our Center for Virtual Health has achieved a 92 Net Promoter Score (NPS), greatly exceeding industry averages for satisfaction and loyalty in the health care sector. Our capabilities will continue to expand as we position ourselves to be the health partner of choice for the clients we serve.”
ChristianaCare’s clinical services are continually ranked among the best in the nation by multiple independent quality rating services, including Healthgrades, U.S. News & World Report, and Newsweek. Its Center for Heart & Vascular Health has earned the 3-Star rating (highest) from the Society of Thoracic Surgery for coronary artery bypass surgery and the HeartCARE National Distinction of Excellence Award from the American College of Cardiology for three consecutive years. n
ON JANUARY 1, 2023, Delaware First Health officially became Delaware’s newest Medicaid Managed Care Organization (MCO), covering more than 38,000 community members. We are excited to be here in Delaware and to partner with the Department of Health and Social Services, members, providers, and community stakeholders to improve the health and wellbeing of Delaware residents. Delaware First Health is a subsidiary of Centene Corporation, a Fortune 50 company and a national leader of managed care services.
Centene serves nearly one in 15 individuals across the nation, including members with unique healthcare needs, Medicaid and Medicare populations, and children’s specialty programs. With Delaware as the 30th Medicaid-managed care state, Centene now serves 26.8 million managed care members across the country. At Delaware First Health, we will extend Centene’s deep experience and established best practices to Delaware’s Medicaid Managed Care population and drive true healthcare outcomes and reduce costs across the state.
Our focus is ensuring that each of our members achieves the highest possible levels of wellness while demonstrating positive clinical results. We do that through our care model:
• Integrated Care: Integration of physical and behavioral health, and long-term services through a high degree of healthcare collaboration and communication
• Coordination of Care: Involvement of personal, community, and healthcare stakeholders to facilitate the appropriate delivery of health care services
• Continuity of Care: Healthcare driven by relationships between the member, health providers, and community services to ensure ongoing health care management
Our Coordination of Care approach uses people, process, and system capabilities to prioritize evidence-based interventions for members with social needs, and emerging or rising risk. We emphasize preventive care through a strong provider and partner network. We identify and address social needs that put members at risk for poor health outcomes through a suite of tools that provide analytics and insights into patient populations. We have proven processes to hear our members and empower them to make healthy choices and decisions. Well-coordinated access to care reduces the volume of services needed by beneficiaries, and more engaged beneficiaries tend to be healthier, and therefore reduces cost.
Delaware First Health leverages innovative strategies that lead to successful transitions and increase the independence of our members. Of our affiliates’ members utilizing LTSS today, approximately 80% live in home settings. Through satisfaction surveys and member feedback we make sure our members get the care they deserve. As such, in 2021 99% of members receiving LTSS across all our affiliates reported being satisfied or very satisfied with their case manager; and 97% reported being satisfied or very satisfied with their health plan. Well-coordinated LTSS care produces high quality, cost-effective care when all partners have shared goals and member care is handled well across multiple care settings.
Using an integrated, person- and family-centered delivery model for behavioral health services, we ensure rapid access and seamless whole-person care. With a large in-network of providers, including major hospital systems and FQHCs, integration of physical and behavioral health better manages the risk of its members who can get wholistic care right where they live and work.
For so many, accessing even basic healthcare services can be an insurmountable challenge, which leads to poorer health outcomes and higher costs for the whole system. As a managed care organization in Delaware, partnering with the state and local providers and partners, we combine strengths that will aid in reducing costs and transforming the health of the community, one person at a time.
Visit DelawareFirstHealth.com for more information about the plan, contact information, and many resources to connect with us. n
At our core, we have sustainable and equitable solutions to address health equity based on a multitude Social Determinants of Health including location, culture, gender, race, ethnicity, language, ability, and others. This commitment to health equity is driven by listening to and relying on our members, communities, providers, and other stakeholders, and focuses on empowering local voices. Our commitment to community involvement helps to address the social determinants of health that affect the Delaware community, like transportation, access to food, and housing. Members with culturally competent access to care are less likely to postpone care or go without due to cost.
Our focus is ensuring that each of our members achieves the highest possible levels of wellness while demonstrating positive clinical results.
“ALL ABILITIES. LIMITLESS POSSIBILITIES.” Not just a
Founded in 1948, Easterseals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore is a local affiliate of Easterseals—a national nonprofit that provides disability services to people of all ages, including support areas serving seniors, military, and caregivers. One of the first nonprofits in the Delmarva Peninsula to help people with disabilities, this year they are celebrating a momentous milestone: 75 years of leading the way to full equity, inclusion, and access for all.
In 2022 alone, Easterseals served more than 6,100 people with direct services and 28,800 with indirect services (like education and training) throughout their eight facilities. The scope of their programming and support services is vast. The organization is one of few that can provide care to a patient throughout their entire life—children’s therapy, adult workforce and life-skills training, and senior care just scratches the surface of the programming they provide.
“Covering the whole lifespan is critical for us,” explains Kenan Sklenar, CEO of Easterseals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore. “It gives families and the individual with disabilities the ability to get services from a centralized and familiar entity. Fostering that familiarity provides an easier process for all involved and allows individuals to take advantage of multiple services at once.”
The organization is one of few that can provide care to a patient throughout their entire life— children’s therapy, adult workforce and life-skills training, and senior care just scratches the surface of the programming they provide.
The lifelong “pipeline” of Easterseals services starts with the children’s therapy department. Depending on the needs of the child, the therapy program provides support for those with developmental delays, Autism spectrum disorders, Cerebral Palsy, sensory processing disorders, speechlanguage delays, and more, helping children of all ages still reach those important developmental milestones.
“Wherever the child is, we meet them where they are,” says Colleen Heckman, clinical coordinator of therapy services in New Castle County. “We want to walk with them on their journey. It’s hard in the beginning, families don’t always have answers or know what’s going on. A huge part of what we do is reassure those unknowns for the children and their families.”
The early stages of a child’s life are critical in shaping the way they develop in the future. Many of the children who go through the children’s therapy program then go on to participate in the services provided for adults. Heckman mentioned that one of her own patients, who she had served nearly twenty years ago, is now participating in their Intellectual Disability Services (IDS) program. The parents remembered her work with their child and thanked her. “It was so amazing and rewarding to experience that; it’s a beautiful thing that people remember the impact that Easterseals has had in their developmental journey,” she reflected.
The IDS programming at Easterseals provides a wide variety of services for adults with disabilities and creates inclusive opportunities for them as they move into adulthood. IDS programming includes several different sub-programs depending on the needs and wants of the individual/person. On one end of the spectrum, the life-skills program is for adults without employment goals but helps to grow transferable social and life skills.
On the workforce development side, the supported employment programs are split into three sub-categories: pre-vocational, group, and individual supported employment. Based on the demands of the individual, these programs range from gaining important volunteer experience, to group paid employment programs, all the way to holding a full-time job with a job coach. “The goal for the individuals we support is to allow them to become
as independent as possible in whatever life stage they’re in,” explains Stacy Montanez, IDS coordinator at Easterseals’ Dover location. “It’s vital in this line of work to have a very individualized and person-centered approach; no two people are quite the same.”
Additionally, Easterseals provides a robust senior care program; an adult day program that cultivates personal independence, community building, and life skills; and specialized memory care for those with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Easterseals also offers support for full-time caregivers, giving them resources, support, and a well-deserved break when they need it. “My philosophy is that we’re working with the whole family unit,” remarks Sklenar. “While the individual needs services, the family members also need support, and we strive to give that.”
For Easterseals, the goal of inclusivity for all doesn’t stop there: Camp Fairlee in Chestertown, Maryland allows the opportunity for everyone to experience true camping like so many other children. Disability can be a barrier for even the smallest of things—a child or adult who may not have previously been able to get on a zip-line or participate in sports now can— creating just another layer of equity for all in the community. “There are inherent barriers in place for individuals with disabilities,” says Sklenar. “By working together with individuals, their families, and the community, our goal is to break down those barriers.”
Seventy-five years provides a lot to look back on, but focusing on the future is top-of-mind for Easterseals. The organization plans to feature the different needs being met in the community through services, culminating with their annual dinner on October 19.
“We’re taking the opportunity to stop and really recognize the hard work of everybody that came before us and made the organization what it is today,” explains Sklenar. “But we are also celebrating those of us that are here now, and how we’re going to be moving forward for the next 75-plus years. We’re just getting started. We have a lot more to do and we are up for the challenge.” n
AT THE INTERSECTION of U.S. Route 202 and Powder Mill Road in Fairfax, the old AstraZeneca Complex stands as a testament to robust Delaware business development. As the times change, so too does the need for bigger and better developments that drive Delaware growth.
To say the Avenue North Complex is one-of-a-kind would be a massive understatement, this is a live-work-play community that will change the face of Delaware forever. In June 2017, Delle Donne & Associates acquired the complex, renaming it Avenue North. Avenue North is slated to be an upscale, mixed-use campus combining office, commercial, residential, and recreational uses. EDiS Company was hired by Delle Donne & Associates as the construction manager to bring their vision to life.
The main focus of the complex is to make the environment as pedestrian friendly as possible. To begin that process, 5,000 truckloads of stone dust were
used to create a completely flat plateau, making it ideal for easy pedestrian access. And that was only just the beginning.
“By going vertical, I would dare say we are going to be the most pedestrian friendly development in the state’s history, there’s nothing that comes close to what we’re building here,” said Ernest F. Delle Donne, chairman of Delle Donne & Associates.
Delle Donne and EDiS are striving to generate the right sense of place that the community deserves. This isn’t just another shopping center on Route 202. In deference to the DuPont family, the urban landscape and even the architecture of the apartment buildings were modeled after downtown Paris. Everything from the hardscaping, the cantenary lighting, the grove, and the Parisian field was Delle Donne’s way of tipping their hat to those who developed Delaware from the very beginning.
To that end, six designers were sent to Paris for the week so they could see what made the City of Lights the most pedestrian-friendly city in the world. They returned with some sophisticated ideas, down to the size, shape, and color of the bollards for parking; outdoor lighting; tory benches; and even the pyramidal shaped bandstand, modeled after the entrance to the Louvre. Parking is accessible but not visible to further improve the aesthetics of the overall environment.
Avenue North is taking the best of what Delaware has to offer and putting it all in one place. The regional pull it will generate isn’t the only benefit. There’s roughly a 7:1 construction multiplier into the local economy. If we take seven and multiply it by the cost of labor alone for this project, around $150 million, we’re talking about injecting $1 billion into the local economy. Coincidentally, that’s about the total cost of the entire complex combined. This is quite possibly the biggest project in Delaware’s history. As a state-centric development, it ensures that the people who paid the taxes to create this great infrastructure are the ones enjoying a lot of the benefits as well.
This is especially true when you look at the intersection of Routes 141 and 202, down to the Experimental Station. There are 14,000 employees alone who have zero amenities along that 1.2-mile stretch. This will serve as the hub for those workers, and all of Delaware for that matter. Technically, this site hasn’t been available to the public since 1948, when it was bought by the DuPont family. After 80 years, this site is finally available to the public.
“We’ll be taking a pause on leasing until June 1st” said Delle Donn. “I want everything to be built first, so that the tenants themselves can truly appreciate what this space really is. We want to hand select the best of the best. We need them to see the vision. Our architecture speaks to that, but the things that are about to come in the next six months will truly do it justice.”
The large headquarters users on site like JPMorgan, AstraZeneca, ChristianaCare, and Solenis will have these amenities less than 100 feet away from one another. Now, with the building of the 100,000 square foot, 180 feet high glass tower, those same amenities can be used to attract and keep talent for the 5,000-10,000 square foot users. The first two floors will be retail, while the next ten will be office space. Even the retail building close by is almost twice as expensive as it had to be, but it’s because it sits in front of $400 million worth of office buildings.
Again, placemaking and quality will be Avenue North’s reputation for years to come. This is going to be the crown jewel of our state. Now we just have to build it. n
Robert J. Belfiore, LEED AP is vice president and Avenue North operations manager at EDiS Company.
“By going vertical, I would dare say we are going to be the most pedestrian friendly development in the state’s history, there’s nothing that comes close to what we’re building here.” – Ernest F. Delle DonneDowntown Dover Strategic Master Plan
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BY CHAD ROBINSON
the Food Bank of Delaware has been called upon to serve the people of Delaware in ways no one ever thought possible. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Food Bank has distributed over 48 million pounds of food throughout the state of Delaware. While we now occupy an 80,000-square-foot facility in Newark, our Milford facility is only 16,000 square feet and is not adequate to appropriately serve the citizens of Kent and Sussex Counties. The increase in food distribution and limitations of the Milford facility has pushed our Newark facility to near capacity. It is only through the herculean work of the staff and volunteers of the Milford branch over the past nearly three years that we have been able to serve our friends and neighbors.
In July of 2021, the Food Bank of Delaware purchased 11.5 acres of land from the City of Milford in the Independence Commons business park. Since that purchase, we have contracted with The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company to provide construction management services and The Becker Morgan Group for engineering and architectural design. We are currently building a new 67,000-square-foot facility, and it is our hope that construction will be completed by fall 2023. This new facility is desperately needed in southern Delaware. In FY22, the Food Bank of Delaware distributed 7,872,618 pounds of food in Kent and Sussex Counties, which accounts for 48% of our total distribution.
The Milford facility is currently operating over capacity and does not have the space to effectively serve our community now or in the future. Among the many benefits of the new facility is that it will allow us to:
• expand cold storage to bring in more nutritious perishable foods like meat, dairy products, fruits and vegetables;
• expand warehouse space to increase efficiency and capacity to serve those in need;
• have dedicated space for a Healthy Pantry Center to provide food assistance and community resources directly to our neighbors;
• expand the volunteer room for activities like food sorting and meal box creation to meet our daily production needs;
• have outdoor garden space to grow our own foods and provide educational
opportunities for the community and joint programming with our neighbors at the Greater Milford Boys and Girls Club and Delaware Veterans Home; and
• have dedicated space to train Delawareans for careers in warehousing/ logistics, in addition to our successful culinary training program.
According to the Kent Economic Partnership, warehousing and distribution are among the top targeted industries for central Delaware. Similarly, the culinary industry is always in need of new skilled employees. Providing lowincome Delawareans with valuable job skills and supplying a pool of trained talent for these growing sectors with high-paying starting wages is a win-win.
Our work is not possible without the support of our business and government sectors. This new facility will enable us to meet not only our community’s immediate needs but provide opportunities for empowerment and economic mobility so our food assistance services are no longer needed. n
SEAFORD… it truly is the Perfect Place To Start, and many projects are doing just that. A once booming industrial town, which suffered the loss of jobs and talent from the departure of DuPont, is now making a diversified comeback. Even during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, building permits continued to rise—both commercially and residentially.
Mearfield, a single-family housing community slated for 213 homes, recently completed phase two and developers are quickly shifting to the infrastructure installation in phase three. These single-family homes were often sold before they were ever built. Additionally, there are multiple housing projects working through the process, which could produce an additional 600-plus single family homes at full build out. In addition to single-family, several new market rate rental opportunities were completed, such as the townhomes in Belle Ayre or the Residences at Riverplace; building number three of this beautiful luxury riverfront apartment complex was just completed.
Downtown Seaford has also been part of Seaford’s rise and success in growth since receiving the Downtown Delaware Designation in 2015 from then
Governor Jack Markell. This wildly successful rebate program administered through the Delaware State Housing Authority provides developers the opportunity to leverage State dollars. Once nearly vacant, downtown Seaford has seen approximately $29.7 million of private investment, leveraged against approximately $2.8 million of state, county, and local incentives. All of which have contributed to a now 95% fully occupied and flourishing downtown, with both commercial and residential opportunities.
“The transformations are truly exciting to see. The City is positioning itself for high quality growth to last decades. From our first-class healthcare facilities, our robust businesses and shopping opportunities, our riverfront boardwalk at Oyster House Park, and our forward-thinking Mayor and City Council, opportunities are abundant here in the City of Seaford” said City Manager Charles Anderson.
Growth continues to happen in areas zoned for light manufacturing as well. The Seaford Industrial Park and Ross Business Park are nearly full, with a few new projects currently underway. The City, in partnership with Sussex County
and the State of Delaware, recently completed the first phase of the newly created Western Sussex Business Campus (WSBC).
Recently five lots in the WSBC were sold to KRM Development Corporation, headquartered in Chestertown, Maryland. KRM is well on their way to construction of their first two 70,000 square feet facilities. As these parks continue to build out and prosper, they will provide much needed jobs not only for the residents of the Seaford community but the surrounding region as well.
Stark run-down reminders of what Seaford “once was” are soon undergoing transformation as well. The former Nylon Capital Shopping Center, which has been a blight on our community for many years, was recently purchased by the Ninth Street Development Corporation who have great plans for a total renovation of the 22-acre property into an innovation district. The group already has commitments from Delaware Technical Community College and The Mill to locate additional facilities at this site, but they continue working to combine additional educational, healthcare, retail, and recreational opportunities for the community.
Mayor David Genshaw remarked, “It’s an exciting time in Seaford seeing revitalization occurring just about everywhere—from our reinvigorated historic downtown to new infrastructure on U.S. Route 13, which is now allowing future projects to come online. The investments going into the WSBC and the more than $50 million of public/private investment towards the redevelopment of the former Nylon Capital Shopping Center are just a few of many things to be excited about in Seaford.”
Seaford is truly on the move and projects such as these are just the start. If you have an interest in being part of Seaford’s upward trajectory reach out to the City of Seaford Economic Development team today at 302-629-9173. n
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TAKE A MINUTE TO REFLECT upon the places or moments throughout your life where you have felt the most connected to the people around you. That feeling is known as community attachment, and it applies to more than just the neighborhood in which you live. This concept can be experienced anywhere with the capacity for a shared sense of purpose, and these meaningful experiences are the key to fostering a thriving community.
Whether it is your neighborhood, a workplace, or a corporate brand, building upon this sense of community is key to making places where we feel connected. In her research on Conceptualizing Community Attachment, Jennifer Cross proposes that there are three primary factors that create a sense of community attachment: the natural environment, the social environment, and the built environment.
The Natural Environment: Thriving communities complement the natural environment, utilizing those natural resources as a benefit alongside the community’s sense of purpose.
The Social Environment: Constructed from common values, the social environment can be described as the mission statement, or the culture of a community.
The Built Environment: The way in which a community prioritizes and organizes the use of space, and how those spaces feel, is a significant contributor to our sense of belonging.
So how do we design spaces with a sense of belonging? Let’s look at three distinct projects, one in each county of Delaware. Each project is somewhat unique from the next, and each builds a community connection through architecture.
On a four-acre former industrial site, at the heart of the Riverfront East redevelopment on the Christina River sits the new Salvation Army campus in Wilmington.
Comprised of approximately 100,000 square feet of retail, donation processing, and residences, this new facility provides the infrastructure for The Salvation Army’s mission to support those in need. The campus provides no-cost housing, food, counseling, community, and employment for individuals who have lost the ability to cope with addiction.
Capturing this important mission through architecture requires a careful balance of cost considerations, retail presence, and the need to create a welcoming residence for the program’s beneficiaries. These three design considerations often felt as though one may overtake the other, toppling the balance needed for these three distinct uses on the site. Ultimately, the design team created a unified sense of place through the scale and balance of the façade materials throughout the campus.
Communities succeed, in part, with supportive, safe environments that provide the necessary resources and infrastructure necessary to thrive. The new Family Court complex currently under construction in historic downtown Dover is carefully designed to provide that supportive environment to the community it serves. A multitude of considerations were seamlessly integrated into the building’s design by Tevebaugh Architecture and the project’s justice facilities consultant CGL.
Considerations for the children involved in family court proceedings generated small play areas. These spaces are conveniently located adjacent to open, light-filled corridors that allow for safe congregation outside of the court proceedings.
The main lobby space balances the need for safety and security at the entry point to the building, while providing access to daylighting, and clear circulation paths into the building.
The feel of the spaces that support the Family Court proceedings was a priority consideration in the design. Often, an individual’s experience of a
family court experience is inherently complex, with a high potential for stress. Prioritizing safety, security, and comfort in the design of the courthouse spaces provides support to those in need.
Careful consideration of the pristine natural environment in which Camp Arrowhead sits was a priority during the design of this new 10,000 square foot dining hall in Lewes. Since 1958, children have enjoyed summers on the western shore of Rehoboth Bay at the Camp. Today, the Camp hosts 1,000 children from second to ninth grade, along with 75 staff members each summer. This vibrant, thriving community was looking for an opportunity to replace their aging dining hall while concurrently building the infrastructure needed to host conferences and corporate retreats throughout the remainder of the year.
The result is this new facility, complete with a full commercial kitchen, an on-site vegetable garden, and rainwater harvesting, all housed within a place that embodies the joy of being part of this great community. n
Transferable skills— sometimes referred to as stackable skills—are abilities individuals can use and apply from one job to the next. They are not job, career, or industry specific. Seven of the most common transferable skills include teamwork, time management, effective communication, adapting to change, problemsolving, critical thinking, and leadership.
Transferable skills are developed through work experience, education, and personal growth. Organizations value and seek applicants that exhibit transferable skills because they demonstrate an ability to be flexible and productive in different work environments. When changing careers, employees do not leave these types of skills behind. These proficiencies go with them to the next job, hence the term “transferable”. Today the average American worker changes jobs three-to-seven times in their lifetime; this is when transferable skills apply and must be leveraged.
• First, job seekers need to identify their existing transferable skills and write them down. It is important to research various industries that are of interest and determine if existing skills complement that industry. For example, if teamwork is the applicant’s transferable skill, they may want to explore industries such as logistics/supply chain management, event planning, or project management, where teamwork is essential.
• Next, search for specific companies from the identified industry. Make a connection and gain valuable company insight by networking with employees in the industry. Review company mission statements that provide the values and goals of the organization. Ask yourself if you share any of those beliefs and how your past achievements align with them. Determine which of your transferable skills complement the company’s mission. If there are similarities then, look for open positions at that company. Review the duties and skills in company job postings and apply for positions that match your skills.
• Finally, job seekers should consider additional training or education to strengthen any weak areas. Courses, degrees, or certifications may help provide a better match between existing and required skills.
Job seekers should emphasize transferable skills through online presence, such as LinkedIn profiles. Candidates have a better chance of being hired if they market transferable skills on resumes and interviews. Resumes should be tailored to the job through the use of industry-specific words when describing transferable skills. Human resource managers recommend using precise examples and accomplishments that demonstrate how transferable skills were used in previous positions. The use of action verbs and quantifiable achievements are also useful in highlighting transferable skills.
Candidates that effectively market transferable skills, not only on resumes but also during job interviews, are three times more likely to be hired than those that do not. When job seekers are prepared and share specific examples of their transferable skills during interviews, it creates common ground and opens dialogue with hiring managers. Interviewees should explain how their transferable skills strategically align with the company’s mission. Communicating in this manner will provide management with evidence of how and why they are a good strategic fit for the organization. This practice not only leverages transferable skills but also strengthens communication with interviewers, creates better rapport, and increases job offers. n
Dr. Nicole Evans is an associate professor at Goldey-Beacom College, teaching business management classes in the B.S. and MBA graduate program. Dr. Evans serves as the faculty advisor for the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM). She also currently serves as the past director in the state of Delaware for the SHRM Delaware State Council.
Gold: MOTIVATE YOUR FUTURE WORKFORCE
Silver: Bronze:
THE LABOR MARKET has been through challenging times over the last few years. Companies continue to face difficulties with attracting talent and candidates have been anxious to explore new opportunities as their priorities shift in response to the pandemic and inflation. With openings still outnumbering job seekers 2:1, companies are increasinly turning to “quiet hiring”—acquiring new skills without bringing on new full-time employees. Some employers are turning to temporary workers while others are looking internally to close skills gaps.
About 45% of companies are adopting a “skill first” approach when seeking qualified candidates. This approach helps to identify qualified candidates with relevant skills that would otherwise go unoticed or whom may become immediately rejected during the selection process. In today’s labor market, having one mastered skill may not be enough. Most job seekers with one mastered skill are finding it difficult to secure employment. Understandly enough, they are up against a plethora of other candidates that use skill stacking to their advantage.
So, what exactly is skill stacking? Simply put, instead of focusing on one set of skills, it’s about learning a range of skills that work well together and make you more marketable and valuable.
BY DEVONA MARTINIt’s never too late to learn new skills; learning new skills is a great mental stimulator, it contributes to your abilities, and it exposes you to new opportunities. When you become proactive about learning new skills, you are investing in yourself.
Many people believe that success comes from being a master at one skill. Becoming a master at one skill does work well in some careers, but for many others, having the knowledge and experience of multiple skills is a plus. Your skills, comprehension, and abilities may help you advance your career or hamper your progress. Understanding the skills that you have right now and what you could learn in the future will help guide you in the right direction.
Self motivation, communication, problem solving, and time management are a few non-technical skills—or soft skills—that are in demand. They are the top skills employers search for in candidates. Soft skills are defined as character traits and interpersonal skills that relate to how a person interacts with other people. These skills are not tied to a profession, by definition, but rather they relate to our personalities and are considered highly transferable skills. Mentoring and coaching are ways to build on soft skills in the workplace, as they both allow for feedback and guidance towards effective strategies.
You may have developed many skills over the years that are more specific to a profession or career. These technical, or hard skills are defined as objective and are obtained through training, hands-on experience, or education. Some hard skills can also be transferable, such as coding, writing, marketing, investing, and many others. You can learn hard skills through workshops, on-the-job training, continuing education courses, online videos, social media platforms, and other ways.
Hard and soft skills can be used collectively throughout different industries, and both are great ways to utilize skill stacking. Employers often seek out candidates with the right combination of technical and nontechnical skills that will add value to their organizations. One way to find out skills you want to learn is to understand what approach you would like to take towards learning. Learn new skills that challenge you and that will help you to become a better version of yourself. n
BY ANIKA DZWILEWSK
HISTORICALLY, we’ve been programmed to select a career and closely follow the training track to become specialists in our respective careers. If an employee showed interest in exploring education or training outside of their assumed skill set, an employer might have questioned the employee’s dedication to their position.
Workplace philosophies are shifting. Now more than ever, employers are encouraging employees to broaden their skill sets and knowledge. Employers not only recognize but also place value on diverse skill sets and seemingly unrelated work experience. Finding applicants for open positions
doesn’t necessarily need to include a title match but instead, looks to transferable skills as well.
Now enter skill stacking. It’s a phrase that may seem foreign to many, when in fact, the concept is nothing new.
The goal of skill stacking is to acquire exposure and education within a multitude of areas rather than a specific scope. The education of these isolated specialties works together to build a well-rounded and diversified knowledge base.
An example of skill stacking could be a graphic designer who pursues training in marketing, business development, sales, and writing. Graphic
design typically combines art and technology to create visual works that support an organization. These additional topics of study could translate to furthering skill sets in branding, relationship management, and selfpromotion. They can also provide an advantage for applicants, assist an employee in establishing themselves as a qualified stakeholder, and contribute to a diverse thought process that drives solutions.
As an employee, learning new skills and combining them with your existing skillset can help you enhance your profile with your current employer or as a candidate for a new role. Skill stacking can be a practical strategy to grow your career.
After selecting the desired skills of interest, identifying either internal or external resources to acquire those skills is equally important. The state of Delaware has a wealth of institutions—Wilmington University, GoldeyBeacom College, Delaware Technical Community College, Delaware State University and the University of Delaware. An online front runner, LinkedIn Learning, can also be purchased with a subscription and contains a library of videos that pertain to a variety of skill sets. Altogether, these resources allow professionals to achieve continuing education, professional certifications, and academic credits.
Blackwell HR Solutions partners with its clients on recruitment and retention strategies. This often includes guidance about the importance of employee professional growth and incorporating such a philosophy into their respective cultures. Employers who support skill stacking gain engaged employees with broader abilities and greater flexibility. Employers can support skill stacking internally with programs such as tuition reimbursement, certifications, mentorship programs, and job shadowing.
In an online article titled “Top Ten HR Trends for the 2023 Workforce,” Forbes identifies an accelerated trend in skills-based hiring. Companies are searching for and investing in skill sets to raise the level of talent and maintain an edge over the competition. The article states, “the shift toward skill-based hiring will accelerate in 2023 as skills emerge as the currency of the labor market.”
No matter how you stack it, skill stacking should be a prioritized investment either for yourself or the health of your business. n
As an employee, learning new skills and combining them with your existing skillset can help you enhance your profile with your current employer or as a candidate for a new role. Skill stacking can be a practical strategy to grow your career.
I STARTED MY CAREER IN POLITICS, of all things. The goal was to attend law school, run for office, represent my hometown, and operate a small law practice on the side. Of course, life never goes according to plan. After college, I was immediately picked up by my alma mater to handle their lobbying efforts in our state capital. Over the course of five years, I had a great run—securing over $100 million in capital funding for the institution—but knew that I wanted to explore other careers and industries outside of political advocacy.
pastor of my home church, joking to friends and family that I felt like I needed to ‘make-up’ for my time in politics through ministry service. And now, one promotion and a relocation later, I’m a regional manager for a company that provides strategic services and support to business owners. I can tell you that I wouldn’t have changed any of those decisions. In fact, I know that those diverse experiences helped form me into the person and leader that I am today.
Transferable skills are a trending buzz phrase that has gained popularity in human resources and workforce development circles in recent months. As the nation has witnessed historic labor shortages, understanding this trend may be the key to finding your next top-performing employee.
As business owners and leaders of organizations, we tend to think in a very linear fashion when it comes to hiring. If a candidate has the requisite credentials and relevant work experience, we tend to score them higher than someone who has less relevant experience but may have a broader skill set. Sometimes this is the right call, but other times, we may limit the possibilities for our organizations.
During my time in politics and ministry, I learned how to effectively manage relationships with people, problem solve, empathize, write, speak, resolve conflict, negotiate, and generate consensus with individuals from diverse backgrounds. I worked with my teams, in some cases, to overcome seemingly insurmountable adversities, which I believe prepared me better for my position now— more so than
about the life lessons they learned and problems they solved. You will gain a lot more insight into the person that you’re hiring and what skills they bring to the table, instead of staying focused on the position that you’re trying to fill. n
Doneene Keemer Damon, immediate past president and a director of Richards, Layton & Finger, was named the law firm’s Chief Diversity Director. In her new role, Doneene will focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, including through the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee, the Diversity and Inclusion Network, the Women’s Initiative, and the Wellness Initiative.
“Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion has been at Richards, Layton & Finger from the start,” said Richards Layton President Lisa Schmidt. “As chief diversity director, Doneene will continue to focus on broadening and deepening our DE&I strategy.”
Blue Blaze Associates, a full-service strategic marketing and creative design agency, announced the addition of four new team members to their award-winning company. Following years of steady and consistent growth, the talents of these new hires are strengthening Blue Blaze’s interdisciplinary bench.
Amy Hicks, senior marketing strategist, will be responsible for creative direction, public relations, and advertising for several clients in different industry verticals.
Sharon Pastore joins Blue Blaze as a senior marketing strategist, responsible for managing communications of senior living clients as well as brand strategy for start-ups and growing businesses.
Colin Heffinger, marketing coordinator / research specialist, will be working on projects for multiple clients. He will also be leading the process to enhance Blue Blaze’s reputation and external communications through the development of social media, website, and blog content.
Andrew Sharp, content writer / editor, will be responsible for managing, developing, and editing newsletter content
for senior living communities and other clients of Blue Blaze.
“In today’s competitive job market, we feel fortunate to have successfully recruited four extremely talented professionals to expand our team,” said the co-owners, CEO Sandy Taccone and Chief Strategy Officer Wendy Scott. “Scaling up our capacity is allowing us to seamlessly respond to the needs of our growing roster of clients across a variety of industry verticals.”
Vice President of Operations Jeromy Newton was sworn in as chairman for the Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) Delaware Chapter. ABC is a national construction industry trade association found ed on the merit shop philosophy The organization helps its members “win work and deliver that work safely, ethically and profitability for the
betterment of the communities in which ABC and its members work.”
“I’m extremely passionate about the merit shop philosophy and the standards ABC upholds,” Newton said. “I look forward to working with all our committees and our members to make 2023 a very productive year for our companies and our organization.”
Some of Newton’s initiatives as chairman will include membership growth, continued development with the organization’s young professionals group, bringing back the Craft Championship, further meetings with legislators to promote the merit philosophy and free enterprise, and more.
NAI Emory Hill announced that Robert (Bob) H. Hill retired from his longstanding role as pres ident and partner. Bob Hill has more than 45 years of service to the commercial real estate indus try. Hill joined Clay Emory in 1981 to establish Emory Hill & Company and founded Emory Hill Real Estate Services, Inc. in 1983. Bob served as president of Emory Hill & Company and vice president of Emory Hill Real Estate Services, Inc. Emory Hill has built and developed over 15 million square feet in four mid-Atlantic states and has grown to be one of the largest and most reputable full-service commercial real estate firms in the region.
Bob will remain a general partner in all Emory Hill partnerships and will maintain an office at the Emory Hill headquarters in New Castle. Neil Kilian, director of
brokerage, and Clayton Hill, director of property management, will succeed Hill and join Carmen J. Facciolo, Jr. as partners of the firm.
TidalHealth welcomed Rajiv Dhawan, MD, MRCP to TidalHealth Cardiology in Seaford, Del. He specializes in interventional cardiology.
Dr. Dhawan is board-certified in general cardiology, interventional cardiology, echocardiography and vascular medicine. He is an affiliate to the American College of Cardiology and a diplomat to the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Dhawan is a member of the American College of Physicians, the American Medical Association and the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP) in the United Kingdom.
The acquisition of GillespieHall by Slice Communications, a leading Philadelphia-based agency, was announced in January. The news was shared by Cassandra Bailey, CEO of Slice Communications who founded Slice in 2008, and Bridget Paverd, founding partner of GillespieHall.
Started in 2006 by Bridget Paverd, GillespieHall (GH) has built a reputation as one of the leading public relations agencies in Delaware and represents several statewide nonprofits, govern-
BPG|360, the commercial property management division of the Buccini/Pollin Group, announced that it achieved Fitwel® Certification for the Brandywine (1000 N. West St.), Nemours (1007 N. Orange St.), and WSFS (500 Delaware Ave.) buildings in downtown Wilmington, Delaware.
Fitwel is the world’s leading certification system for buildings and communities that optimize projects to support health. Administered by the Center for Active Design (CFAD), Fitwel assesses projects across 12 categories that improve occupant health and productivity.
The Brandywine, Nemours, and WSFS buildings all received scores above 90 points, earning them a Star 1 rating (96.95, 93.60, and 94.02 respectively). The Brandywine, Nemours, and WSFS building are also the first Fitwel rated properties located in the state of Delaware.
“BPG|360 has been focused on our tenant’s wellness long before the COVID19 pandemic. The operational protocols, cleaning guidelines, and tenant programming we have implemented over the years have now been validated through the Fitwel Certification process, and our team couldn’t be more deserving of this recognition,” said Ralph Rossi, senior vice president of commercial operations. “With that said, this does not mark the end of efforts. The Fitwel Star rating is a simply a baseline for us to continue to improve and make the office as welcoming and healthy as it has ever been.”
ment offices, corporations, and interests across the United States.
With the acquisition of GH, Slice vigorously expands the firm’s bandwidth in public relations, crisis communications,
media training, executive communications, and creative design. The new integrated agency will serve more than 40 clients, and with 100% staff retention, employs 25. Bailey and Paverd note that both
their agencies offer similar services and have strongly aligned values, making the acquisition less complicated than most.
“For the past few years, I have been working on a transition plan that ensured GH’s work and legacy continue,” says Paverd. “We knew that we had the talent to create something special with a partner that could help facilitate growth and success.” Paverd said that she had always been impressed with Cass Bailey’s passion for PR and Slice’s quality of work. She also recognized that Cass was a published author, and Slice had a penchant for social media marketing—a passion of GH’s.
Maillie LLP recently moved its Delaware office to a new location within New Castle, Del. The new office provides prominent visibility, ample parking, easy access to Interstate 95, and a welcoming environment for employees and clients. “We are delighted to upgrade our Delaware office. Creating inviting spaces that meet the changing needs of our clients and staff is a top priority for Maillie LLP,” said Laurie Harvey, managing partner of Maillie LLP. “Maillie LLP is dedicated to delivering a seamless transition for employees and clients. We look forward to continuing service from our new location.”
The updated physical address for the New Castle Maillie LLP office is 32 Reads Way, New Castle, DE, 19720.
Delaware Safety Council announced two new board members voted in at the January 2023 board meeting: Brandon Brice and John Campanella, SHRM-SCP.
Brandon serves as vice president of college advancement and community
relations for Cecil College. He began his career as a staffer working on Capitol Hill in the Office of former United States Speaker J. Dennis Hastert. He would then serve as deputy director of education and African American affairs in the Office of the New Jersey Gover nor.
John is a human resources and law enforcement professional with a proven ability to impact complex business challenges and deliver solutions and results. John retired after 32 years from the Delaware State Police at the rank of Captain. He served the last four years as the director of human resources.
The Chemours Company and EastSide Charter School broke ground at Eastside Charter School on a new 24,000 square foot community STEM facility–the Chemours STEM Hub at
EastSide Charter School. The new Hub will serve as a premier access point for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education and other development opportunities in the Wilmington community. Made possible in part by a $4 million grant Chemours made in 2021 through its ChemFEST school partnership program, the Chemours STEM Hub will offer public spaces for learning and improve access for more students from more backgrounds to be exposed to, excited by, and interested in STEM.
“Shaping the world’s future through the power of our chemistry requires great innovators and problem solvers from all backgrounds. And ensuring we have a robust pipeline of future STEM talent requires strategic investments to nurture students and members of communities who have been underserved, under-resourced, and often overlooked,” said Mark Newman, president and CEO at Chemours.
Easterseals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore recently welcomed Cheryl Corn as vice president of development.
“I am very pleased to join the team at Easterseals and be a part of celebrating 75 years of serving the community in Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore. This is an exciting time for the organization as we carry the legacy forward and continue to make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities,” Corn said. “I am honored to play a role in this incred ible organization celebrating a monumental milestone.”
Cheryl Corn
WHAT’S NEXT?
MARCH 28, 2023
Spring Manufacturing & Policy Conference
Join the Delaware Manufacturing Association and presenting sponsor, DEMEP, for the 2023 Spring Manufacturing & Policy Conference where we will address the top economic pressures facing the manufacturing industry.
APRIL 13, 2023
Networking Breakfast at Kalmar Nyckel
Adventure awaits! Join us for a morning of Networking at the Copeland Maritime Center in celebration of the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation’s 25th Anniversary.
MAY 4, 2023
Small Business Day in Dover
With June 30th just around the corner, there is no better time than now for Delaware’s small business community to come together.
Join all 15 Delaware chambers for a half day, immersive experience in Dover, where you will learn about current issues that could impact your business and interact with the legislators who can pass or vote down these bills.
$35 Members | $50 Future Members
MAY 8, 2023
Superstars in Education and Training
Superstars in Education and Training celebrates innovative programs that contribute to developing the state’s workforce. The awards ceremony honors three programs in the categories of high school, higher education, and independent training and certificate provider.
$45 Members $60 Future Members
$75 Members | $85 Future Members Sponsorship opportunities and exhibit tables are available. #NETWORKING
FREE for members $15 for future members web.
Chamber,
Fill up your calendar by visiting our events page online at
Did you miss the Chamber Chatter online? Here are our most popular posts on social media...
@Delaware State Chamber of Commerce
@DelawareStateChamber @DEStateChamber
@NCCDE: New Castle County Executive @MattMeyerDE joined former County Executive and US Senator @ChrisCoons, @SenPadilla & the top shelf staff of @TheStarboard for the 12th Annual Taste of Delaware. More than 30 representatives of our hospitality community in DC to celebrate being FIRST!
Melissa Hopkins: Thanks Delaware State Chamber of Commerce for a terrific start to the day with #leadership series speaker, Fred Sears. Such a joy to laugh and learn from this incredible human and #advocate for #Delaware #nonprofits.
Delcastle Technical High School: Taste of Delaware and @delcastle_ths returns to DC, hosted by @ChrisCoons and @DEStateChamber - an awesome event
@drcomegys @NCCVoTech @Supt_Jones
#Delcastle #Taste of Delaware
Senator Tom Carper: Thank you to U.S. Senator Chris Coons and Delaware State Chamber for hosting another wonderful Taste of Delaware at our nation’s capital. Year after year this event showcases the best foods and culinary traditions our state has to offer. I especially loved the desserts from Kee’s Cookies & Cupcakes!
Rick Deadwyler: Delaware Honored a Trailblazer… Stacey Mobley received Delaware’s most prestigious business honor, Delaware State Chamber of Commerce’s Josiah Marvel Cup.
Our state celebrated Stacey’s extraordinary leadership that produced transformative change in our state’s legal, corporate and non-profit communities… Stacey focused on and impacted “Diversity” long before it was considered a popular or an important thing to do. ...
We celebrated this recognition with over 1,000 Delaware business community leaders - which included my mentor & friend - Sylvia Banks at the DSCC Annual Dinner. These two leaders invested and helped to guide and grow my professional career pathway and personal life. I am eternally grateful for their mentorship. #LeadershipWithAPurpose
#DelawareStateChamberofCommerce
Delaware State Chamber of Commerce: Today was a big day for Delaware! JPMorgan Chase & Co. is investing $400M+ to renovate their office spaces in Newark and the City of Wilmington and build a new parking garage—their largest investment in the US.
Thanks for your commitment to the #FirstState
Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long: Earlier this week I had the pleasure of attending the 186th annual Delaware State Chamber of Commerce dinner.
As we enter a new legislative session, we must continue to address the workforce and hiring challenges our businesses are facing. It is essential that Delaware businesses, large and small, have the resources they need to thrive. Thank you to the Chamber for all the support you give to our businesses and economy.
Congratulations to Stacey J. Mobley on being awarded the prestigious Josiah Marvel Cup!
Québec Government Office in New York: Our team visited Wilmington this week for the 186th Delaware State Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner. We spoke with state government officials and business representatives about the way in which Québec can be a partner in achieving their goals. We look forward to continuing to build our relationship with the First State! #QuebecDelawarePartnership
Beebe Medical Foundation: We had an amazing night at the 186th Annual Delaware State Chamber Dinner, where Beebe’s own Dr. David Tam delivered the keynote address.
It was one of the most attended dinners in the Chamber’s history, with over 1,100 business leaders from across the state gathering to hear all of the amazing things that Beebe Healthcare is doing for Sussex County and what makes Beebe so special.
@jpetrovknation: Great to welcome back our Principal for the Day Mike Williams @discovercard to lead our Morning Assembly and speak about what #BlackHistoryMonth means to him! #VKNation
#DEPFAD #PrincipalExcitement @DEStateChamber
Jessica Jordan, MSM: Proud to have served as a rep for The Carlin Collaborative in support of The Delaware State Chamber of Commerce’s Superstars in Education and Training Selection Committee, celebrating programs that contribute to the development of Delaware’s workforce.
In particular, thank you to Helana Rodriguez for including TCC and me in this opportunity! Delaware continuously always amazes me and I’m delighted by how focused and innovative our education systems can be.
#EducationInnovation #WorkforceDevelopment #TheFutureIsBright
The State Chamber of Commerce staff works for you, serving our member companies and organizations statewide. This State Chamber staff directory lists phone numbers and email addresses, as well as individual areas of responsibility. If you need business assistance or information, please don’t hesitate to call.
Michael J. Quaranta President
(302) 576-6585
mquaranta@dscc.com
Kelly Basile Vice President, Strategic Communications (302) 576-6564
kbasile@dscc.com
Melissa Brayman Office Administrator (302) 576-6572
mbrayman@dscc.com
Regina Donato Manager, Program & Communications (302) 576-6567
rdonato@dscc.com
Fred Miller Advertising/Retention (302) 576-6579
fmiller2@dscc.com
Ken Evans Account Executive (302) 576-6576 kevans@dscc.com
Tyler Micik Director, Public Policy & Government Relations (302) 576-6590
tmicik@dscc.com
Helana Rodriguez Director, The Partnership, Inc. (302) 576-6575
hrodriguez@dscc.com
Kerri Welcher Events Manager (302) 576-6566
kwelcher@dscc.com
1201 N. Orange Street, P.O. Box 671 Wilmington, DE 19899-0671
(302) 655-7221
www.dscc.com facebook.com/delawarestatechamber
twitter: @DEStateChamber
Matt Volk Digital Advertising Sales (302) 576-6571
mvolk@dscc.com
The mission of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce is to promote an economic climate that strengthens the competitiveness of Delaware businesses and benefits citizens of the state. The Chamber will provide services members want; it will serve and be recognized as the primary resource on matters affecting companies of all sizes; and it will be the leading advocate for business with government in Delaware.
