Newsbites

Social Contract Announces New Executive Vice President

Social Contract, LLC—a womenand minority-owned social and collective impact consulting firm based in Wilmington, Delaware—announced the addition of Drewry (Drew) Nash Fennell, Esq., to their leadership team. Joining the team as executive vice president of impact, operations, and regional development, Drew will lead the firm’s ongoing growth. Drew brings nearly 30 years of experience and a lifetime commitment to creating more just and equitable systems.

Prior to this role, Drew spent five years as a senior vice president at ChristianaCare, where she led communications, marketing, patient experience, and philanthropy. Before joining ChristianaCare, Drew served as chief of staff to former Delaware Governor Jack Markell, and as the executive director of the Delaware Criminal Justice Council. She spent several years in private practice as an attorney before becoming the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Delaware.

Drewry (Drew) Nash Fennell, Esq.

“We are thrilled to have Drew join our growing team,” said Meghan Wallace, managing partner and co-founder of Social Contract. “Drew has led initiatives to improve the lives of so many, and her combination of passion, commitment to social impact and decades of leadership experience are an exciting asset for Social Contract.”

Chris Bason to Lead Ørsted’s Stakeholder Engagement

Ørsted welcomed Chris Bason as stakeholder engagement lead in Delaware. Bason, a respected environmental voice in Delaware, will be responsible for developing and implementing external engagement strategies in support of Skipjack Wind and will represent Ørsted to local communities, businesses, and elected officials.

Prior to joining Ørsted, Bason served for 18 years with the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays in Sussex County. He served as the organization’s science coordinator, and then spent ten years as its Executive Director. During his tenure, the Center expanded greatly through successful policy achievements, environmental monitoring, ecological restoration, conservation, and fundraising. Chris led the Center’s development of a comprehensive State of the Bays report, revised the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for the Inland Bays, developed legislation to launch Delaware’s shellfish aquaculture industry, and created successful initiatives for land conservation, reforestation, shoreline protection, and citizenscience participation.

Chris Bason

“How we produce our energy has the biggest impact on the health of our environment,” Bason said. “I share Ørsted’s vision of a world run entirely on green energy and I’m thankful for the unique opportunity to be part of a team bringing a new industry to Delaware.”

Easterseals Receives Grant for Artfulness Program

Easterseals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore recently received a grant for $1,200 from Kent County Fund for the Arts, a fund of the CenDel Foundation to support their Artfulness program. This program brings art to the people with disabilities who attend the Easterseals adult day program in Kent County, Delaware.

“We would like to thank Kent County Fund for the Arts, a fund of the CenDel Foundation, for supporting this wonderful program that brings artistic opportunities to people with disabilities in our adult day program in Kent County,” said Easterseals President and CEO Kenan Sklenar. “Our unique roster of artists provides adapted art workshops that allow all of our adults to participate in the activities. These opportunities would not be possible without the generosity of our community partners.”

Easterseals Artfulness is in its fourth year and has provided close to 100 inperson and virtual art/cultural workshops for adults with disabilities and seniors.

Biggs Museum Launches Plan for Expansion

The Biggs Museum of American Art is poised to kick off expansion efforts, and has announced that SmithGroup, one of the nation’s leading integrated design firms, has been selected to spearhead the efforts.

In September 2021, the Biggs acquired two historic buildings adjacent to the current museum, 15 – 21 The Green. Long known for its historic art collection, an active acquisition program, and a robust schedule of special exhibitions, the natural inclination for newfound museum space would be to simply show more artwork. However, the Museum had its eyes set on long term goals beyond that. “This type of expansion is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us. We don’t want to focus solely on being bigger, but on serving community needs and interests to deliver the best possible experience,” said Biggs Museum director, Michael Dudich.

Led by SmithGroup, the Museum will conduct a series of community listening sessions. In these gatherings stakeholders and focus groups will meet to re-imagine the museum’s ideal visitor experience to determine the best use and layout of the new space and rethink existing spaces.

Uvax Bio Chooses Delaware for $8M Investment

Uvax Bio LLC, an early-stage biopharmaceutical company with cutting-edge vaccine platform technology that has produced both COVID-19 and HIV-1 vaccine candidates, has chosen to grow in Newark, Delaware, where it has been headquartered since forming in 2018.

As part of its expansion, Uvax Bio plans to add 63 employees to its current five-member team. Positions will range from research associates to executivelevel research directors with minimum salaries ranging from $45,000 to more than $130,000.

“Uvax Bio LLC is an innovative company in the science and technology sector, specializing in vaccine platform technology. Today’s announcement to grow in Newark shows their continued commitment to our state and workforce,” said Gover nor John Carney. “Uvax Bio plans to increase their employees tenfold with this expansion. Thank you to Uvax Bio for their commitment to Delaware’s rapidly growing life sciences sector.”

To accommodate its next level of growth, the company has relocated to 100 Biddle Avenue in Springside Plaza off Route 40. Plans there include renovating the site’s existing wet lab and office space into a facility ideal for achieving the company’s goal of developing vaccines that support public health and improve life.

United Way of Delaware Launches New DETV Show

United Way of Delaware (UWDE) launched Impact365 , a first-of-its-kind cable TV and streaming program showcasing community outreach initiatives and partner agencies statewide. The five-part series aired on DETV (Comcast 28) from November 7 to December 5. It is also currently available for streaming on DETVch.com, and on DETV’s and UWDE’s Facebook and YouTube channels.

Impact 365 highlights the people and tells the stories of those who have been empowered by programs and initiatives through the collective efforts of many partners. Episodes examined how community collaborations—many of which are powered by UWDE—touch

our neighbors and improve their lives every day. The program highlighted the Delaware 211 Helpline that connects Delawareans with a wide range of social services. An episode in Spanish examined challenges facing the state’s rapidly growing Hispanic community

Impact365 is hosted by Tierra Fair, UWDE’s vice president of engagement, and features community leaders and guest speakers offering an inside look at how on-the-ground programs that UWDE supports is driving positive impact across the state.

M&T Bank Supports Latino Small Business Owners

M&T Bank invested $100,000 in an initiative in Delaware that provides Latino entrepreneurs in Sussex County with the training and access to resources they need to grow their businesses and increase financial stability among their community.

The bank’s grant to La Plaza Delaware will allow the nonprofit organization to hire additional staff and fund operations to serve more Latino entrepreneurs in 2023. Last year, M&T gave another $100,000 to help La Plaza hire a business/financial coach, support a 12-week, Spanish-language business development program for La Plaza’s clients, and start a loan pool administered by True Access Capital that makes loans of $2,500 to $10,000 to Latino-owned small businesses.

“M&T’s commitment to La Plaza is one way we’re supporting the Hispanic and Latino community in Sussex County, but it certainly won’t be the only way,” Lambrow said. “While we’re focused on strengthening our existing relationships with organizations like La Plaza, we also want to increase our cultural fluency and spark additional growth and stability within this community. That’s important to the overall success of Delaware.”

Brandywine Valley SPCA Opens Region’s Largest Animal Welfare Facility

The Brandywine Valley SPCA (BVSPCA) opened their new new Copeland Center for Animal Welfare in October. Located at 290 Churchmans Road in New Castle, Delaware, the center replaced the old New Castle Campus with a larger, more comprehensive shelter and low-cost veterinary care facility.

The nearly 20,000 square foot facility sits on three acres. Originally the location of a veterinary specialty center, the BVSPCA nearly doubled that building’s footprint to create a full-service campus with a medical center, adoption center and community center.

“Our goal with this new facility was to meet the increasing needs for services in this community while creating a fun and inviting space for our adopters, clients, volunteers and staff,” said Adam Lamb, BVSPCA CEO. “Visitors are welcomed through whimsically designed spaces to choose a dog or cat to join their family, to reunite with a lost pet, or to get affordable veterinary care for their family pet.”

The medical center includes the first Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for shelter pets in the state of Delaware and one of the few in the tri-state area. Lamb continued, “We’re especially excited about the ICU so we can treat critically ill dogs and cats from all our locations more efficiently and cost-effectively.” The medical center also doubles the organization’s capacity to provide family pets with affordable annual preventive care and treatment for illnesses, and it doubles the capacity for spay/neuter and specialty surgeries.

Kristen Swift Recognized as a Top Lawyer in Insurance Law

Kristen S. Swift, a partner at Weber Gallagher, has been named to Delaware Today’s 2022 “Top Lawyers” list in the category of Insurance Law.

Kristen S. Swift

Since 2018, Swift has been recognized by Delaware Today as a Top Insurance Lawyer in Delaware. Peers in Delaware’s legal community nominated her for this honor. The recognition reflects Swift’s work ethic and commitment to offering top-tier client service.

Swift co-manages Weber Gallagher’s Delaware office and oversees the office’s workers’ compensation practice. As a general litigation practitioner, she takes on cases involving civil litigation, contract disputes, premises liability, construction defects, civil rights and employment claims, insurance coverage issues, HOA disputes, and real estate matters.

The Precisionists Partners with Drexel University

The Precisionists, Inc. (TPI), a Wilmington, Delaware-based organization focused on employment for adults with disabilities announces the launch of a neurodiversity employment program that will provide business support services for Drexel University. The program leverages the talents of a team of neurodiverse adults from TPI’s workforce to address critical needs for the University

“When you consider that more than 80% of autistic adults in the U.S. are either unemployed or underemployed, we are making a true difference in engaging a significant, untapped labor force,’ said Ernie Dianastasis, CEO of The Precisionists. “We are thrilled to partner with Drexel University, a world-renowned leader in higher education and an institution committed to advancing innovation in diversity, equity, and inclusion.”

Lights On Delaware Celebrates 10,000th Home Installation

Energize Delaware’s Lights On Delaware Strong Program was launched in the summer of 2017 with the HELP Initiative, Inc. The statewide program has officially serviced 10,000 homes in high-risk communities in need of better lighting to increase energy-efficiency and improve safety. Dusk to dawn energy efficient LED lights are installed on front and back porches. In unlit neighborhoods, solar powered motion detector floodlights are installed in residents’ back yards to provide additional safety. There is no charge for the lighting installs. The HELP Initiative team works in communities to assist in reducing criminal activity and improve public safety.

“We are happy to work with the great team at the HELP Initiative. Our mission is to help people become more energy efficient. When we can give them a sense of increased safety too, that is a win-win for everyone. This program has now assisted over 10,000 homes, and still going strong,” said Tony DePrima, executive director of Energize Delaware.

ChristianaCare Names Breast Center for Tatiana Copeland

ChristianaCare has named its breast center The Tatiana Copeland Breast Center at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute in recognition of Gerret and Tatiana Copeland’s generous financial support.

The Copelands, local philanthropists and business entrepreneurs, provided a $1.2 million gift to the Graham Cancer Center in 2019 for breast cancer prevention and research for underrepresented women. Tatiana Copeland previously provided $800,000 to fund the purchase of two 3D mammography units. As a result of their philanthropic leadership, the Graham Cancer Center was one of the first facilities in the nation to offer 3D mammography.

“ChristianaCare is deeply grateful to the Copelands for their generous support of the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute,” said Janice Nevin, M.D., MPH, ChristianaCare president and CEO. “They have made a tremendous difference in the lives of so many women in and around Delaware. We are deeply honored to name the Breast Center after Tatiana.”

Emilie Ninan Honored with Annual Freda Johnson Award

Emilie R. Ninan, co-chair of Ballard Spahr’s national finance department, was named the private sector winner of the 2022 Freda Johnson Award for Trailblazing Women in Public Finance, presented by The Bond Buyer and Northeast Women in Public Finance (NEWPF).

Emilie R. Ninan

Named for the trailblazing NEWPF founding board member, the prestigious annual Freda Johnson Award recognizes two women—one in the public sector and one in the private sector—who exemplify Ms. Johnson’s qualities as a trailblazer, leader, innovator, and mentor. Annual winners are among the most influential women in the industry, whose extraordinary accomplishments are helping redefine the public finance landscape.

“Leadership, thoughtfulness, and professionalism are hallmarks of everything Emilie undertakes at Ballard Spahr and across the finance industry,” firm Chair Mark Stewart said. “Emilie is a mentor and role model, and works tirelessly to support her Ballard Spahr colleagues, her clients, and the profession. We are proud to see her honored and fortunate to have her as our partner.”

Croda Atlas Point Honored by Colonial School District

Croda International Plc, the company that uses smart science to create high-performance ingredients and solutions that improve lives, was honored as an outstanding school district business partner by the Colonial School District at the October school board meeting.

Brian Erskine, Colonial School District’s supervisor in schools presented the honor to Croda due to its continued partnership and interest in advancing the career paths of Colonial students of all ages. “Croda has opened its doors to many of the schools in our district, positively impacting students and teachers alike,” said Mr. Erskine. He continued, “It’s so powerful to work with partners who are located right here in New Castle where our students and families live.”

This year, Croda’s manufacturing site at Atlas Point has invested in the Colonial School District by providing, and underwriting, STEM programming for Eisenberg Elementary summer camp students.

Croda also opened its doors to advanced chemistry and environmental science students from William Penn High School to participate in a learning day at the Atlas Point facility. Additionally, the company provided summer scholarships that gave six William Penn High School students the opportunity to attend the week-long, residential, Bucknell University Summer Engineering Camp cost- and tuition-free in August 2022.

Reinventing Delaware’s Winning Ideas

Seven ideas to create jobs and make Delaware a better state were selected to compete in the Pete du Pont Freedom Foundation’s Reinventing Delaware program. The top pitch of the night came from Jeffrey Ronald, CEO of The Springboard Collective Inc., who received the most votes from the audience. Ronald proposed a plan that would move homeless Delawareans into heated, comfortable cabins with employment and educational services onsite. The initiative is being piloted in Sussex County. Ronald aims to launch the program statewide with the Foundation’s support.

The six other semifinalists are:

• Allison Levine of the Local Journalism Initiative and the Delaware Community Foundation

• Andrew Cottone of Adesis

• Charlie Vincent of Spur Impact

• Damon Martin of Launch Point Labs

• Scott Malfitano of CSC

• Zach Phillips of Short Order Production House

New Members Join Greater Wilmington CVB Board

Jon Sheehan, chief of policy and senior advisor to Governor Carney, and Scott Stein, co-owner of Bardea restaurants, have joined the Greater Wilmington Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) board of directors.

The Bureau, a 501(c)6 founded in 1978, is the destination marketing organization for New Castle County. It promotes the region as a destination for leisure travel, meetings, and conventions.

Bill Sullivan, chairman of the Bureau’s board of directors, said, “Mr. Sheehan’s deep experience in governmental affairs and Mr. Stein’s significant expertise in hospitality marketing are a winning combination. We are pleased to welcome them to our board.”