Message from the President In our state, 80 percent of the housing inventory in New Castle and Kent Counties is comprised of detached, single-family homes. In Sussex County, the problem is even more pronounced, with a staggering 85 percent of the homes being detached, singleMichael J. Quaranta family properties. This presents several challenges to people of all age groups, spanning from those in the workforce to retirees. Let me explain. For young people starting out in their careers, it has become increasingly difficult to find apartments, duplexes, or townhomes within a reasonable distance of their jobs, and what is available is oftentimes very pricey. We all know a basic fact of economics is that scarcity or shortages typically lead to higher prices. So, the absence of a diverse housing inventory challenges our retail employees, healthcare workers, teachers, first responders, hospitality employees, and more. And, what about our retirees? Our older neighbors are the largest and fastest-growing segment of our state’s population, and we have few places for them to downsize from their single-family homes or find assisted living when needed. This problem cannot be solved without our members getting involved. When local zoning or permitting issues arise, please find your voice and weigh in on the matter. Developers will certainly speak up, but the public views their participation through a green lens of greed. However, when you point out that fewer nurses mean less care or longer wait times, fewer first responders mean valuable time is lost in an emergency, or everyday conveniences like assistance at a store or service at a restaurant become a hassle, then we lose much of the foundation that keeps a community thriving.
DELAWARE BUSINESS EDITORIAL STAFF Marie Holliday, CPA Chair
Michael J. Quaranta President
Regina Donato Editor
Christina Jones Graphic Design
Steve Chambliss Brookfield Properties
Natalie Keefer Bank of America
W. Douglas Mokoid Delmarva Power
Andrew Cottone, Ph.D. ADESIS
Rodger Levenson WSFS Bank
Jason D. Gonzalez DuPont
Barbara McCullough AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
Nicholas A. Moriello, RHU Highmark BCBS Delaware
BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIR Marie Holliday, CPA Cover & Rossiter VICE CHAIR John C. Gooden M. Davis & Sons, Inc. Catherine M. Bassett Mountaire Farms
Dr. LaVerne T. Harmon Wilmington University Tom Horne JPMorgan Chase
BOARD OF GOVERNORS Tony Allen, Ph.D. Delaware State University
Walter Donaldson Freeh Sporkin & Sullivan, LLP
Pierre Anderson Artesian Water Company, Inc. Lisa M. Donlon, PE VanDemark & Lynch Steve Baccino Chesapeake Utilities Thère du Pont Longwood Foundation Christopher W. Baker George & Lynch, Inc, Jerry Esposito Espo Enterprises, LLC Greg Ballance Diamond Technologies G. Kevin Fasic, Esq. Offit Kurman Mike B. Berardi Wohlsen Construction Co. Donald T. Fulton Weiner Benefits Group Adam Blackford Agilent Technologies Martha S. Gilman Robert A. Book II Delaware Electric Cooperative
Julian H. “Pete” Booker Delaware Public Media
Cornell Property Management Corp.
Joseph A. Giordano* Whisman Giordano & Associates, LLC
Jennifer Gimler Brady Terry Glebocki Potter Anderson & Corroon Delaware Park LLP A. Richard Heffron Dr. Mark T. Brainard Delaware State Chamber Delaware Technical of Commerce, ret. Community College Logan S. Herring, Sr. Beth G. Brand Reach Riverside University of Delaware Development Corporation Kevin C. Broadhurst Kirsten Higgins Comcast Tidewater Utilities, Inc. Desa Burton Tim Houseal Zip Code Wilmington Young Conaway Stargatt Robert L. Byrd ByrdGomes
Patrick Callihan Tech Impact Stuart Comstock-Gay Delaware Community Foundation
& Taylor, LLP
Jessica Hunt Siemens-Healthineers Mark Hutton M&T Bank LeVar Johnson Novo Nordisk
Charlie Copeland Associates International, Inc. Cathy Kanefsky Food Bank of Delaware Pam Cornforth Ronald McDonald House Melissa Kenny Wakefern/Delaware Charities of Greater Supermarket Delaware
DELAWARE STATE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
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Andy Lubin Michael Ratchford Delaware Financial Group W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. Mac Macleod Carvertise
Robert (Rob) Rider, Jr. O.A. Newton
Scott Malfitano CSC
Bettina Tweardy Riveros ChristianaCare
William E. Manning Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr
Salvatore J. “Chip” Rossi Bank of America
Guy Marcozzi Verdantas
James J. Roszkowski Discover Bank
Rhett Ruggerio Paul M. McConnell Ruggerio Willson & Watson McConnell Development, Inc. Dennis M. Salter Katie McEvoy Summit Realty Advisors, AT&T Delaware Inc. Bob McGuckin Greg Sawka Verizon Bancroft Construction Company Gregory Miraglia PNC Bank Chris Schell Jeff Mitchell Siegfried Advisory
Schell Brothers
Jonathan D. Moll, CPA Belfint, Lyons & Shuman
Fred C. Sears II Delaware Community Foundation, ret.
Chad Moore Beacon Hospitality
Greg Smith The Chemours Company
LaKresha R. Moultrie, Esq. Michael Smith Delaware State University Navient Robert S. Smith Mark Mumford Nemours Children’s Health Santora CPA Group System Mark Stellini Assurance Media Terry Murphy Bayhealth Medical Center Mike Tatoian Janice Nevin, M.D., MPH ChristianaCare
Dover Motor Speedway
Chris O’Neill PSCI
Jana Tidwell AAA Club Alliance
Jed Patterson LabWare
Jim Taylor Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr
Michael S. Uffner AutoTeam Delaware
Chris Perdue Perdue Farms
Mike Vanderslice Environmental Alliance, Inc.
Rick Deadwyler Corteva Agriscience™
Robert W. Perkins Brandywine Public Apollo Khine Strategies Barclays US Consumer Bank Colleen Perry Keith, Matthew Lantagne Ph.D. TD Bank Goldey-Beacom College
Ernest Dianastasis The Precisionists, Inc.
Richard H. LaPenta CBM Insurance
Theodore J. Prushinski Citizens Bank
Brian DiSabatino EDiS Company
Alan Levin SoDel Concepts
Chip Rankin EBC Carpet Services Corp
Michael J. Quaranta President
Melissa Brayman Office Administrator
Kelly Basile Vice President, Strategic Communications
Regina Donato Manager, Program & Communications
Tyler Micik Director, Public Policy & Government Relations
Amanda Schimmel Manager, Marketing & Accounting
Fred Miller Advertising/Retention
Kerri Welcher Events Manager
Jason Danner Kelly Benefits Strategies
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Michael A. Meoli The Meoli Companies
David A. Tam, MD, MBA, CPHE, FACHE Beebe Healthcare
Ann B. Wayne, BSN, RN SUN Behavioral Delaware Robert W. Whetzel Richards, Layton & Finger Katie K. Wilkinson Fulton Bank Kevin M. Wolfgang Evergreen Apartment Group *Treasurer
STAFF
Ken Evans Account Executive
Helana Rodriguez Director, The Partnership
March/April 2024
| DELAWARE BUSINESS