2023 Pete du Pont Freedom Award Program

Freedom Award

September 26

2023 Hotel Du Pont

petedupontfreedomfoundation.org

The Pete du Pont Freedom Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, founded in 2003, that is committed to carrying out the legacy of the late Gov. Pete du Pont.

Pete du Pont was one of Delaware’s most distinguished leaders.

As governor, presidential candidate, founder of GOPAC, a scholar at the Hudson Institute and the Council for National Policy and as a spokesman and writer, Pete du Pont was a national leader in the cause of preserving individual freedoms.

Rooted in the principles espoused

by Governor Pete du Pont, including Free Enterprise, Self-Reliance, Service Orientation, and Equality of Access, the Pete du Pont Freedom Foundation promotes our country’s spirit of private enterprise by fostering access to the marketplace for every entrepreneur and their ideas.

At the heart of our initiatives, we turn ideas into action, promote innovation for all, and help entrepreneurs build capacity and the skills needed to grow their businesses.

As governor, Pete du Pont led the effort to dramatically lower tax rates because he trusted individuals - not the government - to better manage their money.

He led the effort to deregulate Delaware’s financial services industry because he trusted free markets - more than governmental controls - to provide more opportunities, more jobs and a higher standard of living to all residents.

With lower tax rates and less government regulation during Pete du Pont’s tenure as governor, Delaware rose to the forefront among states in economic growth.

Gov. Pete du Pont was a bipartisan leader in the Dover Statehouse.

After significant disagreements and budget battles with his Democratic colleagues in the first year of his first term, he and they learned to work together to benefit all Delawareans.

Much like Governor du Pont, we firmly believe that entrepreneurs are the heroes who create solutions to solve our world’s most pressing problems through the realization of bold ideas. Our programs are specifically designed to bolster these forward-thinkers by attentively addressing their needs and eliminating barriers to innovation.

“

I’m in a wonderful position: I’m unknown, i’m underrated, and there’s nowhere to go but up”

– Pete du Pont

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“Democratic capitalism is strengthened by encouraging individual as opposed to collective choice. America has not prospered over 225 years through collective action; it has prospered because people have been allowed to seize their own opportunities.

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This bipartisan cooperation, combined with lower taxes and deregulation, paved the way for the Financial Services Development Act of 1981.

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– Pete du Pont

We turn ideas into action, promote innovation for all, and help businesses grow.

To learn more and join us in our efforts, please visit our website: Scan the QR Code or navigate to petedupontfreedomfoundation.org.

PETE DU PONT FREEDOM AWARD The Pete du Pont Freedom Award is presented annually to an individual or organization who has championed a successful idea that has led to economic growth or brought innovation to the private sector. The award ceremony celebrates our nation’s finest contributors to the entrepreneurial spirit.

We are proud to honor LabWare Founder & CEO, Vance Kershner as our 2023 Honoree.

Vance

Kershner LabWare Founder & CEO Mr. Kershner grew up in Huntingdon Valley, a suburb of Philadelphia, and moved to Delaware to attend the University of Delaware, where he graduated with honors in Mechanical Engineering in 1978, as a member of Tau Beta Pi. He was recruited directly by DuPont from UD to work in their Engineering Department.

After nearly a decade in E.I. duPont de Nemours and Company’s engineering department, Kershner stepped out on his own in 1987 to found LabWare, a leading global software company in laboratory informatics. The company produces software to streamline workflow and automate and track laboratory processes. LabWare is headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, with offices in 25 countries across 6 continents. The company has received many accolades, including the Delaware Bioscience Association’s 2016 Company of the Year Award, Scientific Computing and Instrumentation’s Readers’ Choice Award in LIMS each year from 2000 to 2008, Frost and Sullivan’s European LIMS Company of the Year Award in 2008 and Frost & Sullivan’s Product Quality Leadership Award in LIMS in 2004.

Kershner continues to lead the company today as President & CEO. In addition to his role as LabWare’s president and CEO, Kershner is also a general partner of the Delaware-based seed and early-stage venture capital firm Leading Edge Ventures.

He serves on the board of governors of Multiplying Good, which recognizes, inspires, and activates volunteerism and public service in communities, workplaces, and schools across America.

In 2015, Kershner was a Distinguished Career Award honoree in the University of Delaware’s Department of Mechanical Engineering. He has been a member of the Advisory Council for the university’s College of Engineering since 2012 and currently serves as its chair.

As an entrepreneur, Kershner is a co-owner of Buckley’s Tavern in Centerville, Delaware and Goober’s Diner in Wilmington, Delaware.

Program for the evening

LabWare Congratulates Vance Kershner for the

2023 Pete Dupont Freedom Award

6:50 Opening Remarks Thère du Pont

7:20 Honoree Remarks Vance Kershner

7:50 Continued Networking

7:10 From a spark of an idea to a global force, Vance Kershner has led LabWare with unparalleled vision and dedication.

His entrepreneurism is not just about business growth but also about the principles, generosity, and life lessons imparted to all of us.

Today, we celebrate more than an award; we celebrate an inspiring journey and the indomitable spirit that made it possible.

With pride and gratitude, The LabWare Team.

Honoree Introduction Katie and Kyle Kershner

7:40 Pete du Pont Freedom Award Presentation

THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS Legacy and Patriot Members are vital to our mission. They are in the forefront of creating solutions that address complex challenges for entrepreneurs and are representative of Governor du Pont’s legacy.

Annual member contributions are tax-deductible and are not limited to a donation.

We welcome our members to apply their experience and desire to

support entrepreneurs as mentors, committee members, consultants or volunteers.

Legacy Members

Patriot Members Tony Allen* Rob Buccini Patrick Callahan* Charlie Copeland Andrew DiSabatino Kevin Dombrowski* Dan Freeman* Robert Fraser

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Peggy Geisler Bruce Georgov Nora Gonzalez* Martina Hayward Michael Houghton Derwin Johnson* Scott Malfitano* Bill Manning Henry Mellon Sanjay Mukherjee Bob Perkins David & Michelle Shepherd Mark Stellini Terry Strine

The Equitable Entrepreneurial Ecosystem (E3) is an initiative with a primary focus on aiding entrepreneurs in navigating the complexities of the business landscape, bridging resource gaps, and facilitating the growth of their enterprises. Governor du Pont’s dedication to supporting small businesses is a legacy we are committed to upholding through E3.

Jim Taylor* Michael Uffner Elise Zoller* Preston Zoller

That’s the way it is with entrepreneurial people.

You try one thing, it doesn’t work, you try another.

– Pete du Pont

Our application process remains open year-round, catering to various needs—whether you’re a small business seeking support through E3 Membership, a business consultant or service provider looking to forge new client relationships, or an industry expert eager to impart knowledge to the next generation of business leaders. To learn more about how you can get involved, visit petedupontfreedomfoundation.org/e3.

* Denotes Board Member

E3 IS PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY

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Mrs. Elise du Pont Pierre du Pont * Thère du Pont* Ben du Pont Rob Martinelli*

Reinventing Delaware 2023 Top Ideas

SPRI www

Winner: First State Hydrogen

Championed by Andrew Cottone First State Hydrogen aims to establish a clean hydrogen production plant within the Tri-state area from renewables to address critical climate and energy challenges.

Spotlight Delaware

Championed by Allison Taylor Levine The Local Journalism Initiative has raised nearly $1 million to support the launch of Spotlight Delaware, a new collaborative nonprofit newsroom covering the impact of public policy on Delawareans.

Proud to support the communities where we live, work and play.

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Championed by Troy Mix, Shelly Cecchett, Scott Malfitano, and Linda Parkowski #Move2Delaware is an incentive program promoting economic and workforce development statewide by attracting highly skilled professionals to the area.

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Championed by Jeff Ronald & Judson Malone Zero Homelessness, a project by The Springboard Collaborative, aims to expand their Springboard Pallet Village model statewide to create safe spaces for disadvantaged Delawareans.

The highly anticipated 9th Annual Reinventing Delaware Dinner will be on Wednesday, November 8, 2023 at the Audion at the STAR Tower, situated on the University of Delaware’s Newark campus.

As a beacon of innovation, this year’s event promises to bring together visionaries, business leaders, community stakeholders, and creative minds from across the state to foster collaboration and share groundbreaking ideas aimed at catalyzing job growth, enhancing the economy, and making Delaware an even better place to live, work, and raise a family.

Idea submissions will be accepted online at petedupontfreedomfoundation.org

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“The future demands ideas that break the mold.”

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– Pete du Pont

Greetings & Thanks for your continued support on behalf of Pete and Elise

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Thank you to our sponsors Presented by:

Get involved with PDFF petedupontfreedomfoundation.org.