MEET OUR TRUSTEES

Introducing The Capable and Committed Members of the Independence School Board of Trustees

Mrs. Amelia Wyant, President and a member of the Independence Class of 1990, is president of Eastern States Group, a Wilmingtonbased residential and commercial real estate company. She holds a B.S. in Accounting and Finance from Boston College and an M.B.A. in Finance and Marketing from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. She is the parent of three current Independence students. As an Independence graduate herself, Mrs. Wyant is a tremendous ambassador for the school and its generational impact on students and families.

Mrs. Rachel Wood, Vice President, is a longtime educator who knows the importance of inspiring a love for learning, especially when it comes to the subjects of science and math. A former Delmar High School teacher and the K-12 science supervisor for the State of Delaware, she cofounded the Alternative School for Math and Science (ASMS), a charter school in Corning, New York. She is a graduate of Salisbury University, earning both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and the grandparent of two Independence graduates.

Mrs. Kristin Giffin, Secretary, is Vice President and General Manager, Services and Support Division at Agilent Technologies, Inc. In her role, she is responsible for the P&L, strategy, portfolio development, and new product commercialization. She has broad experience across Agilent, including roles in Manufacturing, Quality, Customer Experience, Operations, Strategic Program Management, and Digital Transformation and Analytics. Kristin holds a B.S. in Engineering from Cornell University and a certificate of General Management from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She is the parent of two Independence graduates.

Dr. Rajeev Vaidya, Treasurer, is President of Alpha Investments and Services LLC and a retired senior executive from a Fortune 100 company. He has been active in investor education for over two decades. He was the founding president of the Delaware chapter of the National Association of Investment Clubs and teaches courses on investment for the University of Delaware’s Lifelong Learning program. A graduate of the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, he received his Ph.D. from the University of Southern Mississippi. He is the parent of two Independence graduates.

Command Master Chief Charles (Chuck) Baldwin

has enjoyed a distinguished career in both the military and public education. He was the co-founder and commandant of the Delaware Military Academy, served as principal of George V. Kirk Middle School, and most recently, was the president at The Charter School of Wilmington. He currently serves as Chairman of the Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs. Commandant Baldwin holds a master’s degree in Secondary School Leadership from Wilmington University and has served on the Delaware Principals Academy Executive Board. Mr. Amish Desai is portfolio manager and founder of Red Spruce Capital, a privately held registered investment advisory firm. After working as an institutional investor for Susquehanna International Group and Gardner Lewis Asset Management, Mr. Desai founded Red Spruce Capital in 2011. An alumnus of Drexel University, where he currently serves as Trustee and Chair of the Board of Governors, he is the parent of a 2020 graduate and a current Independence student. In 2021, he will begin responsibilities serving The Independence School Board of Trustees as treasurer.

Molly DiBianca, Esq. is the Member in Charge of Clark Hill, PLC’s Wilmington, Delaware office, representing employers in employmentrights claims, discrimination matters, and equal employment disputes at the state and federal level. A graduate of the Charles Widger School of Law at Villanova University, she is a frequent speaker and teaches best employment practices to human resource professionals, executives, and in-house counsel.

Mr. Bill Doroh is the founder of Agreeance LLC. Formerly a principal with FedCap Partners, he has spent his career as an investment banker and financial consultant to the government contracting industry. He leveraged his investment banking background to found Agreeance, a

consulting company. He graduated magna cum laude from Kalamazoo College with a B.A. in Economics and Business and is the parent of two current Independence students.

Ms. Carrie Fang is the business administrator at the University of Delaware’s Horn Entrepreneurship, responsible for the management of finances, grants, human resources, and oversight of the operations of the University’s Venture Development Center. She also serves as the principal of the Delaware Chun Hui Chinese School. She earned her M.A. in Library Information Science at the University of Arizona and her M.B.A. at the University of Delaware’s Lerner College of Business and Economics. She is the parent of a current Independence student.

Mrs. Bianca Fraser-

Johnson has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. Upon graduating from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, she joined MBNA and remained there until 2019, when she retired as Bank of America’s Head of Employee Financial Services. In addition to The Independence School Board, where she chairs the Advancement and Governance Committees, she serves on the Advisory Board for Leadership Delaware. She is also engaged with Make A Wish and Easterseals and is a catechist for St. Joseph on the Brandywine. She is the parent of two current Independence students.

Mr. Thomas (T.J.) Hanna

is president of Harvey Hanna and Associates, Inc. He has been instrumental in the company’s significant portfolio growth from 1996 to the present. Mr. Hanna is involved with numerous organizations in support of children and is the creator of the Delaware KIDS Fund, a charitable organization designed to assist local Kids in Distressed Situations. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Delaware’s Lerner College of Business and Economics and is the parent of a current Independence student.

Mr. J. Kevin Heitzenroder, a member of the Independence Class of 1985, is president of Turf Pro, Inc., a Newark-based fullservice lawn and landscape company. A graduate of the University of Delaware and a successful entrepreneur, he has also developed and managed multiple real estate projects in the Newark area. He is immediate past president of the Board of Trustees and the parent of three Independence graduates.

Dr. Mia Papas, a member of the Independence Class of 1986, is the corporate director of the Christiana Care Value Institute, an embedded research institute committed to improving the health of Delawareans. She received her Ph.D. in Epidemiology from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, her M.S. in Biostatistics and Epidemiology from the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and her B.S. in Mathematics from Fairfield University. She is the parent of a current Independence student. Mr. Jeff Shahan, a founding partner of SB Real Estate, began his business career as a portfolio analyst with MBNA after graduating from Widener University. He entered the commercial real estate industry in 2008 while pursuing an M.B.A. with a concentration in Finance Management from Goldey-Beacom College. He specializes in leasing and investment sales of industrial, office, medical, and retail properties. A Delaware native and fluent in Spanish, he is a licensed associate broker in Delaware. He is the parent of three current Independence students.

Mrs. Mona Singh has a diverse background in nonprofit committee work, public speaking, and community relations. She earned a B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Michigan and an M.S. in Environmental Engineering from Wayne State University. She has worked as an environmental engineer and environmental systems manager for various Fortune 500 companies, including Chrysler’s Newark Assembly Plant. She currently sits on the Governor’s Council for Faith-Based Partnership and is the parent of two Independence graduates.

Vincent (Vince) Thomas,

Esq. is a partner with the law firm Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware and received his J.D., magna cum laude, from Widener University Delaware Law School and his LL.M. in Taxation from Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. He is the parent of two current Independence students.