Delaware Business July/August 2014

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Higher Education

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DELAWARE BUSINESS | Ju ly /Augus t 2014 1

Departments

President’s Message ..............................2The dog days of summer arrive.

Legislative Priority ..................................3Priorities remain as legislature breaks for the summer months.

Member News and Notes ......................5Cover & Rossiter celebrates a milestone, National Guard 101, and Staying Safe with the American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula

Q&A: Patrick Delaney of the Red Cross of Delmarva

Nonprofit Spotlight: Delaware Association of Nonprofit Agencies

Business Spotlight: Sheraton Wilmington South

Welcome New Members ......................16

Chamber Scene .....................................18

Newsbites ...............................................54

Calendar .................................................57

Chamber Committees ..........................61

Chamber Member Benefits .................62

For Assistance, Contact the Chamber ..........................................64

Features

RESTAURANT, MEETING & BANQUET GUIDE ........................................................... 23Your go-to guide for some of the state’s best places to eat, party, or host an event.

2014 SUPERSTARS IN BUSINESS APPLICATION ..................................................... 31Is your small business or nonprofit organization super? Apply today!

GUIDE TO HIGHER EDUCATION ................................................................................ 44The latest in online learning at our local colleges and universities. BY STEPHANIE F. ADAMS

FINANCIAL SERVICES .............................................................................................. 50The Community Reinvestment Act at work: How are our local banks giving back to the community? BY LARRY NAGENGAST

In this Issue

On The CoverThe Future of Higher Education

The 2014 Superstars in Education Awards Reception celebrated the good news in Delaware schools from the Wilmington Sheraton South Hotel on May 5. PHOTO BY BRIAN MULLIGAN.

Volume 19, Number 5 / Delaware Business (USPS 012098) (ISSN 153253542) is published bi-monthly by the DSCC Center for Business Management. Subscription price is $18 a year (included in membership dues). Known office of publication is 1201 N. Orange St., Suite 200, Wilmington, DE 19801. Periodicals postage paid Wilmington, DE 19850. Postmaster: Send address changes to Delaware Business, c/o DSCC Center for Business Management, P.O. Box 671, Wilmington, DE 19899-0671. Telephone (302) 655-7221.


Ju ly /Augus t 2014 | DELAWARE BUSINESS 2

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY

Where Do We Go From Here?BY JAMES DECHENE

Message from the President

We are now one month into the summer season, and with that, the 147th General Assembly has adjourned. The Fourth of July is upon us (or has already past us, depending on when you read this letter), as are family vacations, summer break for school kids, and baseball season.

This letter is always written a few weeks before July 1, so the final results of the legisla-tive session are not yet known. What we do know is that the state’s financial picture is not a rosy one, at least for the foreseeable future. For several months the DEFAC reports have projected flat revenue growth for the current fiscal year, FY 15 (which falls between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015), and the following fiscal year, FY 16.

The main culprit: Our state’s four leading revenue streams—personal income tax, escheat, corporate franchise and lottery—have been shrinking, and it appears they will continue to do so. Naturally, questions have arisen about the future sustainability of this current structure of revenue sources, amidst further concerns about Delaware’s economic growth, its public education, its lagging earnings growth, a growing heroin addiction problem statewide, and uncontrolled violence in its streets.

But we have faced worse problems in the past, and working together as Delawareans and Americans, we have found a way to overcome obstacles on our way to progress. My colleagues and I at the State Chamber believe it is time for some of our leading citizens to sit down and discuss these issues and develop a path forward. This is something we will be working toward over the next few months.

Meanwhile, we at the Chamber have bolstered our govern-ment affairs department by adding James DeChene, formerly of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Mark DiMaio, a former AstraZeneca employee. James will handle DSCC committees and federal issues, while Mark will be our Dover lobbyist. Chuck James—who has been a membership execu-tive with the Chamber for 10 years is now the senior vice president of membership, and Fred Miller, who’s spent years bouncing around various roles with the Chamber, will now be responsible for membership retention.

Over the next few months you can expect to see more changes, as we strive to increase member engagement, and to offer valuable events, programs and services that will more effectively serve our members.

Rich Heffron

1201 NORTH ORANGE STREET, P.O. BOX 671 • WILMINGTON, DE 19899-0671(302) 655-7221 • (800) 292-9507 • WWW.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.

DELAWARE STATE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

EDITORIAL STAFF

Mark Stellini Chairman

A. Richard Heffron President

Matt Amis Managing Editor

CHAIRMAN Mark Stellini Assurance Media

IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR Hinton Lucas DuPont

VICE CHAIR Chip Rossi Bank of America

TREASURER Barry Crozier Belfint, Lyons & Shuman

Sylvia Banks DuPont

Ernie Dianastasis CAI

Martha S. Gilman Gilman Development Company

Michael Houghton Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell, LLP

Alan Levin Delaware Economic Development Office

Scott Malfitano CSC - Corporation Service Company

William E. Manning Saul Ewing LLP

Chad Moore The Bellmoor

Dennis M. Salter Summit Realty Advisors, Inc.

Gary R. Stockbridge Delmarva Power

Mark Turner WSFS Bank

Katie Wilkinson Fulton Bank

Richelle Vible Catholic Charities of Delaware

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

A. Richard Heffron PresidentMarianne K. Antonini Senior Vice PresidentJohn H. Taylor, Jr. Senior Vice President & Executive Director, DPPIMatt Amis Communications Manager

Cheryl Corn Executive Assistant to the President, Senior Vice President, CommunicationsJames DeChene Director, Government RelationsLinda D. Eriksen Accounting AssociateKen Evans Account Executive

Chuck James Senior Vice President, MembershipFred Miller Advertising/RetentionPatrina Wallace Government Relations AssistantKelly Wetzel Program & Communication Specialist

STAFF

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Linda Ammons Widener University School of Law

Julian H. Booker Delmarva Broadcasting Company

Kevin C. Broadhurst Comcast

David B. Brown Potter Anderson & Corroon, LLP

Timothy J. Constantine Highmark Delaware

Thomas J. Cooper Cooper Realty Associates

Charlie Copeland Associates International, Inc.

Brian DiSabatino EDiS Company

Donald T. Fulton George J. Weiner Associates

Orlando J. George, Jr. Delaware Technical & Community College

Dave Hargadon TD Bank

John E. Healy III Healy Long & Jevin, Inc.

Rita P. Hollingsworth Bank of America

Tyrone Jones AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP

Chris Kenny ShopRites of Delaware

Bernhard Koch AAA Mid-Atlantic

Nicholas P. Lambrow M&T Bank

Richard H. LaPenta Insurance & Financial Services, Ltd.

Robert J. Laskowski M.D. Christiana Care Health Systems

Renee Lewandowski Agilent Technologies

Andy Lubin University of Delaware

Nicholas Marsini PNC Bank, Delaware

John McCarthy AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, LP

Paul M. McConnell McConnell Development, Inc.

Bonnie Metz Verizon, Delaware

Theodore J. Prushinski Citizens Bank

Michael Ratchford W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.

Rob Rider O.A. Newton

Richard D. Rowland Rowland, Johnson & Co., PA

Fred C. Sears, II Delaware Community Foundation

W. Laird Stabler, III Laird Stabler & Associates, LLC

Michael S. Uffner AutoTeam Delaware

Clinton Walker Barclaycard US

William S. Wallace JPMorgan Chase

Kristine M. Wellman Capital One Financial Corporation

Robert W. Whetzel Richards, Layton & Finger

Harry L. Williams Delaware State University

DELAWAREBUSINESS



BY THE TIME YOU READ THIS ARTICLE, the 147th General Assembly Session will have ended amid discussions on Delaware’s economic sustainability and the overall future of how Delaware can and should reinvent itself as a place where businesses can grow and prosper. As we head into the summer months, election season heats up and candidates will be thinking not only of Election Day, but of the next legislative session and what awaits them there.

To recap the major issues facing Delaware, we see the economy, transportation and infrastructure investment, health care costs and worker’s comp reform needing the most work. Our economy is currently flat. As the saying goes, “when you’re flat, you’re down” because the state’s bills still need to be paid, and those costs are constantly on the rise. Unless the economy can grow enough to cover costs, the state remains behind the eight ball financially. Delaware remains just one of five states whose revenues continue to decline in the midst of an overall economic recovery.

Transportation and Infrastructure funding remains a priority, and the Chamber supports investments in infrastructure projects because it means jobs for Delawareans. The closure of the I-495 bridge in June highlighted the fact that our infrastructure, like many parts of the country, is aging and in need of updates. We remain committed to helping solve the overall funding issues and will work with the General Assembly and the governor’s administration on ways to improve Delaware’s roads, bridges, waterways and telecommunica-tions corridors. Earlier this year, the Chamber wrote a letter to the Governor outlining what we thought were strong first steps to take including reallocating funding for open space and agricultural land preservation expenditures, increasing the total percentage of state borrowing to support infrastructure and public transportation, appor-tioning a fixed percentage of the unclaimed property revenue for transportation, to begin the process of transferring the Department of Transportation staff salaries and benefits out of the Highway Trust Fund, and perhaps most importantly, guaranteeing a “lock box” for transportation spending that would preclude funds earmarked for transportation from being raided to fund other uses.

Health care costs continue to rise at precipitous rates, and much confusion remains as the Affordable Care Act continues to take effect. Businesses are grappling with how, or if, they can continue to provide coverage to their employees, and employees are learning that navigating the Health Care Exchanges is not as easy as prom-ised. The Chamber is working with the health care industry and the state to help guide the regulatory discussion on health care, including weighing in on whether to delay Exchange programs geared specifi-cally toward small businesses (Employer Choice) for a year.

A bright spot is in the discussion on Worker’s Comp reform. This year saw the Worker’s Comp taskforce convene and adopt measures that would help constrain costs for businesses, and help guarantee payments to the medical community in line with their service, helping make sure those injured on the job can be taken care of. This process will continue as we examine other workers comp cost drivers.

In the midst of these challenges come opportunities, and lessons. Delaware has faced these types of problems before. In the 1970’s and 80’s, Delaware faced an economic crisis. A stagnant economy, a high unemployment rate, a struggling business community—the headlines from those days eerily echo those of today.

In 1974 a group of concerned citizens and community groups, including the State Chamber, came together by Executive Order to create the Delaware Tomorrow Commission. Chaired by O. Francis (Frank) Biondi, that taskforce put together a series of recommended reforms including consolidating municipal services to save money and increase efficiencies, better coordination between county and state government, and to determine alternative ways that State Government could provide for effective growth, that when imple-mented by Gov. DuPont, helped put Delaware on the path to a strong recovery during the 1980s and 1990s.

The Chamber feels that another Delaware Tomorrow needs to be done today. While true that the state faces serious challenges to full economic recovery and growth, it also boasts the resources we can use to prosper. We have a booming tourism draw with our beaches, we are still a favorable location for businesses to incorpo-rate, our manufacturing industry is revamping itself and growing, and we have citizens who are passionate about Delaware, and are committed to its success and continued vitality.P

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LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY

Where Do We Go From Here?BY JAMES DECHENE



Membernews&Notes

The Hometown Force with a Global Reach GET TO KNOW THE DELAWARE NATIONAL GUARD BY STAFF SGT. WENDY MCDOUGALL,

PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST, DELAWARE NATIONAL GUARD

›› America’s National Guard is its oldest defense force, hav-

ing first stood up as militias in the colonies before we were a country. The Guard’s citizen-soldiers have served as the nation’s first line of defense since America’s birth and have fought in every conflict in our nation’s history, contribut-ing to the organization’s expansive his-tory and invaluable legacy. Delaware’s National Guard traces its heritage to

the militia that stood up in Wilmington to defend the Swedish colony against Dutch invaders.

In the modern world, the Delaware National Guard provides Delaware busi-nesses with hometown heroes who are well-trained in teamwork and lead-ership, and who were provided with excellent education benefits.

The Delaware National Guard also has a sizable economic impact on the

state. In fiscal year 2013, federal Army National Guard spending in Delaware was more than $77 million. For the federal Air National Guard that num-ber exceeded $45 million. That’s $122 million coming into the state via the National Guard.

What makes the National Guard unique from any other military entity in the United States is its dual mission. While the Guard helps fight our nation’s

The Delaware National Guard provides the state with a well-trained workforce.



wars, it’s the only military force entrust-ed to support our state and homeland during times of natural disaster and emergency.

The Delaware National Guard is made up of 1,600 soldiers and 1,100 airmen who spend most of their time as civil-ians; they live and work in and around Delaware. These soldiers and airmen report throughout 13 different locations in Delaware. The Delaware National Guard truly is a hometown force, with a global reach. The Guard’s total end strength is 2,700 soldiers and airmen who could be called to defend the state or nation.

When Delaware National Guard units are not mobilized or under federal control, they report to the governor of Delaware, the Commander in Chief of the Delaware National Guard. Under state law, the National Guard provides trained and equipped units and individ-uals to protect life, property and public safety. This response includes a wide range of missions from natural disasters, civil disturbances and even events such as 9/11.

The governor can mobilize National Guard personnel to “State Active Duty” (SAD) in response to natural or man-made disasters or homeland defense missions. Throughout SAD, soldiers and airmen remain under the command and control of the governor. The Guard’s Joint Operations Center (JOC) coordi-nates and facilitates the application of resources through the major subordinate commands and the designated local and state agencies. The JOC is operational 24 hours per day for the duration of the response mission.

Aside from SAD missions, Delaware National Guard units or individuals may mobilize for non-combat purposes

such as the State Partnership Program, humanitarian missions and counterdrug operations. Delaware’s state partnership, established in 2005, is with the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The program is a military, governmental and economic partnership. Several times throughout the year, the Delaware National Guard and Trinidad and Tobago hold subject matter exchanges. These exchanges occur in both Delaware and Trinidad and Tobago and range from senior leader visits to the topics of communications, disaster response, counterdrug opera-

tions, along with many others.Along with supporting the state during

natural disasters and civil disturbances, the Delaware National Guard supports a host of community activities. The Guard’s largest initiative is its War on Hunger that supports the Food Bank of Delaware and Delawareans in need. Along with that, soldiers and airmen sup-port a multitude of other organizations, through actions such as participating in parades, speaking at various community events and providing honor guards and firing details for military themed events.

Membernews&Notes

The Delaware National Guard is made up of 1,600 soldiers

and 1,100 airmen who spend most of their time as civilians;

they live and work in and around Delaware.



Each year we receive about a million dollars for the Delaware National Guard Counterdrug Task Force. The mission of the task force is to support the detection, interdiction, disruption and curtail-ment of drug trafficking activities through the application of mili-tary unique skills and resources. Members of the task force provide full-time support to local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and community preven-tion coalitions.

The Guard also has a Civil Support Team (CST) whose mis-sion is to assess suspected weapons of mass destruction attacks, advise civilian responders on appropriate actions through on-site testing and expert con-sultation, along with facilitating additional military forces. The CST is on standby around the clock,

with the advanced party able to deploy within 90 minutes of notification and the remainder of the team within three hours.

Along with the CST, the Delaware National Guard has a Network Warfare Squadron (NWS). The unit is comprised of airmen who protect critical network and computer systems and also pro-vide cyber defense and superiority. The NWS performs offensive and defensive cyberspace operations, analysis, plan-ning and operations support activities. It delivers world-class cyberspace operations capability for the war-fighter by employing extraordinary talented cyber operators, analysts, planners, intelligence support and linguists. The Network Warfare Squadron supports the Air Force, National Security Agency, National Threat Operations Center and

National Attack Support Services.Due to the proximity of the nuclear

power plant in New Jersey, the Delaware National Guard participates in radio-logical emergency preparedness. The Delaware Guard provides emergency worker decontamination centers, radio-logical monitoring teams, river and bay alert and evacuation assistance to Delawareans.

Along with the specialized units and teams, the Delaware National Guard has many more capabilities. Communications, transportation, engi-neers, aviation, military police, medical/dental, public affairs, the 287th Army band, maintenance and the Regional Training Institute make up the Delaware Army National Guard. The Delaware Air National Guard provides tactical airlift and aero-medical evacuation via their eight C-130 aircraft, network warfare, security forces, engineers and mainte-nance. They also provide firefighting, recovery and rescue, not only for the New Castle Air National Guard Base, but for the commercial side of the New Castle Airport as well.

In addition to the unique distinction of the National Guard’s dual mission, they are America’s most cost-effective national defense resource. The Army National Guard operates on approxi-mately 12 percent of the total Army budget and is 32 percent of the Army end strength. The Air National Guard is 22 percent of the Air Force end strength and operates on only six percent of the total Air Force budget. All told, the cost of a National Guardsman is one-third the cost of an active duty soldier, airman, sailor or marine. That’s important to note in these tough economic times. The investment in the National Guard goes further for the American people because

the Guard’s capabilities are immediately available, nationwide, to the governors and the American people in time of need.

Through mutual aid agreements, each state governor has the capability to request assistance from other states to provide rapid emergency support during and after a disaster. The most common mutual aid agreement for the National Guard is the Emergency Management Assistance Compact. This is an inter-state mutual aid agreement that allows National Guard’s from one state to assist another state in response to natural and man-made disasters.

Since the attacks on 9/11, the Delaware National Guard has responded to numerous missions in support of the state and nation. Stateside, Delaware’s soldiers and airmen provided security at the Dover Air Force Base after 9/11, responded to Hurricanes Katrina, Irene and Sandy, along with multiple winter storms. They also worked alongside other state’s National Guard’s in support of presidential inaugurations, as well as supporting the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol along the Mexico-U.S. border as part of Operation Jump Start. Globally, the Delaware National Guard has responded to the Nation’s war on terror; supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom by deploy-ing more than 90 percent of its troops.

Since the attacks on 9/11, the National Guard has become a fully operational force, as opposed to a stra-tegic reserve. The increased involvement of soldiers and airmen stateside and overseas demonstrates the Guard is not only a more capable and ready force, but also an affordable defense option for America. The National Guard truly is the hometown force with a global reach.



Membernews&NotesGUEST COLUMN: Cover & Rossiter Celebrates 75 Years of Serving Clients in Delaware

›› Cover & Rossiter is proud to have served clients in Delaware

for the past 75 years. Founded in 1939 by Clarence A. Cover as the original Wilmington office of McConnell and Breiden of Philadelphia, the firm has established and nurtured trusted and longstanding relationships with many of the area’s most prominent corporations, small businesses, nonprofit organiza-tions, families and individuals.

As one of Delaware’s oldest and most respected certified public accounting and advisory firms, Cover & Rossiter’s history is very much entwined with the growth and development of the Wilmington area. Over the past 75 years, the firm has moved and expanded in keeping with the changing business and residential climate and demographics. Originally located at 9th and Orange streets in downtown Wilmington, Cover & Rossiter has maintained offices in North Wilmington, Montchanin and now in its present location in Wilmington near Rockford Park. Regardless of its office location, the firm has been committed to serving the current and emerging needs of its clients throughout Wilmington and the surrounding region. Recognizing the population growth into lower Delaware, the firm opened a second office in Middletown in 2010 in order to better service new and existing clients below the canal.

Over the years, Cover & Rossiter has grown consistently in size and capabil-ity. Its emphasis has always been on providing personal and responsive ser-

vice grounded in sound, individualized advice – a formula that has enabled its ongoing presence and growth. Beginning with a handful of employees, the firm is now comprised of over 30 people with a breadth of experience and capability that is second to none. The current part-ners—Geoff Langdon, Marie Holliday, Pete Kennedy and Loretta Manning—remain dedicated to its history and commitment of service. One of Cover & Rossiter’s greatest successes has been assisting many of the area’s leading

businesses, organizations, families and individuals to succeed in their endeav-ors, thereby strengthening the quality of life in Delaware.

While its rich heritage certainly provides a deep sense of tradition and experience, today’s Cover & Rossiter is anything but traditional. The firm now provides a full range of accounting and advisory servic-es, including auditing services, investment holding company services, corporate tax services, personal tax services, trust

continued on 17



Calm Before the StormQ&A WITH PATRICK DELANEY OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS – DELMARVA REGION BY MATT AMIS

›› When Super Storm Sandy began bearing down on the Mid-Atlantic

in October of 2012, Patrick Delaney, the regional executive and CEO of the American Red Cross’ Delmarva Region, was thrust into a juggling act. Delaware, early projections showed, was supposed to receive the brunt of the storm, and his office scrambled to set up shelters and deploy volunteers to sites across the state. But Sandy had other ideas. The storm shifted north, and Delaney needed to pivot his focus to neighboring states to the north. “Weather events are unpredict-able,” he says.

Delaney sat down with Delaware Business to talk about the organization, the upcoming hurricane season, and the

valuable tools and resources the Red Cross can provide for businesses.

What is it about this organization or maybe it’s the mission or the history—that makes you want to be a part of it?

The Red Cross has met all the expec-tations I had from a career standpoint. We are a mission-driven organization that has a broad scope, both in what we do and where we do it, meaning in our case nationally and internationally. However, it’s community minded and community based, and volunteer centric. It is our volunteers who answer the 2 am call to meet with a family whose home was damaged by a disaster like a home fire. The volunteers assess the immediate

emergency needs for the family which the Red Cross provides but it goes beyond that—it is a shoulder to lean upon and an ear to listen.

How long has the Red Cross been a part of the Wilmington or the Delaware landscape?

1905 was our first presence in Delaware.

People automatically associate the Red Cross with disaster aid, which is a big part of what you do. But what are a few other things that people might not be aware about when it comes to Red Cross?

First and foremost, a lot of folks think we’re a government agency. We’re not. We are chartered by the U.S. Senate. The

Patrick Delaney leads the local chapter of the American Red Cross through disasters and everyday emergencies. PHOTO BY FINAL FOCUS/DICK DUBROFF.



Membernews&NotesRed Cross was literally created by an act of Congress, because in 1881, when the U.S. Senate passed the Geneva Convention Treaty—the international peace treaty for the humanitarian treat-ment of people in times of war, conflict or disaster—part of that agreement was your country had to have a Red Cross entity. So because of that, and the fact that you see us alongside local, state and federal emergency management, they think we’re a government agency. We’re a 501(c)3 charity, and we are volunteer-driven. Every dollar we spend, we have to raise, and over 95 percent of every hour worked is done by volunteers.

The second area that’s misunderstood is that we’re just there in times of big disasters. And people tend to miss some of the key parts of our role, which is the whole slew of preparation, information, and tools that we provide to the commu-nity. Especially with getting the business community to be prepared for disaster. So it’s not just a response, but helping the community become better prepared for emergencies.

It’s also the smaller disasters—the day-to-day home fires that may affect a family or several families—that we deal with a lot. Those just don’t get the same amount of press as a hurricane or tornado.

Are there unique wrinkles to this area—either in the geography or the population—that augments what the Red Cross does?

We’re all one American Red Cross, and we serve the same five mission components: disaster preparedness and response, community education around health and safety and preparedness, our blood program, our military support, and our international work. But we also have the flexibility to translate how to

fulfill that mission locally. In the case of Delaware and the Delmarva Peninsula, we’re surrounded by water on three sides. When the winds get to a sustained 45 miles per hour or higher, the bridges over the River and the Bay shut down, so we’ve got to be prepared for that. We’ve been fortunate that we haven’t yet seen as significant an event as our risk factors suggest but our geography could pro-duce any number of obstacles given the uniqueness of our topography.

It also goes beyond the on-the-water issues. We have such a density of peo-ple here in New Castle County, a disaster could create a worker crisis, and yet that same disaster could cause a very differ-ent scenario in the more rural parts of our market. So it’s a unique dynamic a lot of other areas don’t have.

How can the business community work together with the Red Cross?

When you’re talking about the busi-ness community, any employer can be a great partner with the Red Cross. That’s because all of them face the same risks regardless of size. One of the things we can certainly do is help them with emer-gency planning. Many businesses can’t afford a risk management person or team, so one of the things Red Cross can bring to the table is not only our experience in emergency preparedness, but a set of tools many of which are free of charge.

In particular we have the Ready Rating Tool, a web-based self-assessment tool that allows any business owner or decision-maker to assess their organi-zation’s readiness both from a cultural standpoint, from a physical plant stand-point, to employee training and emer-gency preparedness. Once the report is generated we then can come in and offer on a consultation basis—again free of

charge—some recommendations. Some of that is in the report itself, and some can complement the report—whether that’s coming in and doing some classes on emergency preparedness, such as a hurricane or training in First Aid.

If you ask an employer what is the most important business asset you have, most would say it’s workers. So if employees were the victim of a large event, or per-haps a small event, how can we help them be prepared? It’s not just helping your business to be ready, but trying to make sure the workforce is ready as well.

Most everything we offer is free. Not everything is—we can offer people train-ing in first aid, CPR, and defibrillators, and there is a small fee for that.

Why do we tend to drag our feet so much when it comes to this type of thing?

It’s like anything—business owners have so much on their plates, namely running their business. So we work a lot on the “what if?” scenarios. It will happen. There will be a point over the years where an employee has a house fire. There will be hurricanes or other natural disasters. So it’s less like “if” and more like “when.”

Our challenge is: How do we place emergency preparedness higher on the priority list? So we try to change the conversation to “now” and not “six hours before a hurricane.”

In your years with the Red Cross, you must have accrued some powerful experiences and memories. What are some of your favorites?

There’s a lot. Calls from clients that we’ve helped. Notes that come through the office. Being with our military personnel. Back in December, some of our guards-men came back to Delaware from deploy-ment in Afghanistan, and I was there to



meet them. One of their officers came up to me and said, “During my deployment, we had 17 under my command use the Red Cross services.” And that resonates.

Sitting at William Penn High School in New Castle and watching our Red Cross volunteers checking people into the shel-ter when Super Storm Sandy was about to hit. These were people who were scared—ordered out of their homes, who were scared and with no idea what to expect—and just watching our volunteers offer comfort and care, that was really an affirming moment for me on all the good the Red Cross does, especially in the face of a disaster/emergency.

There’s another misnomer out there—that people, unfortunately, can’t just up and volunteer for Red Cross deployment when a disaster strikes.

We are fortunate, for Delaware we have over 350 volunteers, and peninsula-wide it’s over 600. So when there’s a big event, there are two ways that people can volunteer. If you’re in the affected market—let’s say Delaware is hit with a disaster—then we certainly mobilize our volunteers who have been through the proper training. Then there are what we call ‘event volunteers’: spontaneous vol-unteers from the community that we can train in 30 minutes to set up cots or how to man a food line. However, if those people wanted to go into New Jersey after Sandy—that’s deployment, and in order to deploy a volunteer in the U.S., we need to train them in advance.

But we need volunteers year-round. For home fires, educating the community, working with our military, we truly need folks each and every day. It’s simply how we get our work done. So we urge people to connect with us, so we can connect them with the training.

What should people know about the training courses offered through the Red Cross?

Our Health and Safety Course Curriculum offers a variety of emer-gency preparedness training, from first aid to CPR and AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) usage. If you’ve got a teenager at home who’s looking to become an entrepreneur babysitter, a great selling point is to say you’re a Red Cross certified babysitter. Aquatic safety season is here. There’s just a wide variety of trainings available. You can go online to redcross.org and find a local class, or for Chamber members, they can schedule a class at their place of business.

Some of our larger partners have actu-ally converted some of their employees to Red Cross trainers, they pay for their person to become an instructor. Then it becomes much easier to schedule, and less expensive an option.

What are some basic tenants of a good disaster plan?

Build a kit. Make a plan. Stay informed.

So have a preparedness kit—one for the home, one for the car, and one for the office, the last two are obviously smaller. The kit should include things that if you needed to stay where you were—you would have enough nutritional value, water, items like flashlights (battery oper-ated), a radio (battery or hand-crank), information about yourself, certainly at home copies of important documents or prescriptions. That includes you and your family and let’s not forget our pets.

Make a plan. If your spouse is at work, your child is in daycare, and a disaster hits—do you know how to reconnect with your family? Also, do loved ones outside of this market know how to reach you? We have a website called Safe and Well that allows you to register and say “I’m okay,” so people out of market can

DSCC Partners with American Red Cross Delmarva Region to Offer Member BenefitsThe American Red Cross Delmarva Region has some great benefits for Delaware

State Chamber of Commerce members.

The Red Cross wants to help ensure your business and employees are prepared

for any emergency. Disasters are on the rise, and we’ve experienced natural phe-

nomenon locally with Hurricane Irene and Superstorm Sandy.

As business owners, you want to protect your employees, protect your business,

and resume a “normal” state following a disaster. The Red Cross can help you do that.

The Red Cross offers:

• A free disaster-readiness web tool, Ready Rating

• Free Mobile Apps such as Hurricane, Flood, and First Aid to name a few

• Free Preparedness Education classes for your business or organization

• Preparedness Safety Tips and Checklists

• Encourage and enhance team building throughout your workforce by

supporting your community through volunteer opportunities

For more useful tools, or to contact the Red Cross, visit www.redcross.org/de/wilmington.



Membernews&Notesreceive that information.

And stay informed: Know what media outlets are reporting the weather emer-gency broadcasts, know what your evac-uation routes are, pay attention and get accurate information. Know what your market is at risk for. Are there facilities in my area that may be a target for a terror-ist attack? You want to know those risks.

And the Red Cross recently rolled out some mobile apps. Tell us about those.

We have 10 apps now. Nine are free. We have our first aid app, we have event-specific apps for things like hurricanes, earthquakes. They all provide a great deal of information, and the event-based apps provide training tools to build emer-gency plans, gives updates on your mar-ket, finds where your local shelter would be among other features.

What else should members of the business community know?

It’s all about resiliency. We’re trying to build a resilient community. Too often folks look to the government or to the Red Cross to satisfy everything, and that’s just not realistic. The business community needs to play a key part as partners with emergency manage-ment, with the Red Cross, and with their employees to own their piece of it. What’s important is that we the Red Cross can provide the tools and resources for them on the corporate entity side, and on the employee side. Our business community in Delaware are such good partners in every way, whether it be education, health care, jobs, philanthropy—we’re really fortu-nate. No one wants to think about a disaster; it’s not fun. But the business community can be such a positive influ-ence for this in Delaware.

Summer Safety Tips from the Red CrossHURRICANE SEASON AND HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE UPON US. HERE ARE SOME WAYS TO STAY SAFE.

Hurricane SafetyHurricanes are strong storms that

cause life- and property threatening haz-ards such as flooding, storm surge, high winds, and tornadoes. Preparation is the best protection against the dangers of a hurricane. Some helpful tips to prepare yourself and your loved ones include:

• Listen to a NOAA Weather Radio for critical information from the National Weather Service (NWS).

• Check your disaster supplies and replace or restock as needed.

• Bring in anything that can be picked up by the wind (bicycles, lawn furniture).

• Close windows, doors and hur-ricane shutters. If you do not have hur-ricane shutters, close and board up all windows and doors with plywood.

• Turn the refrigerator and freezer to the coldest setting and keep them closed as much as possible so food will last longer if the power goes out.

• Turn off propane tanks and unplug small appliances.



• Fill your car’s gas tank.• Talk with members of your house-

hold and create an evacuation plan. Planning and practicing your evacua-tion plan minimizes confusion and fear during the event.

• Learn about your community’s hur-ricane response plan. Plan routes to local shelters, register family members with special medical needs as required and include any pets in your plan.

• Build an emergency kit to be pre-pared for any disaster. Be certain to have:

Water—at least a 3-day supply; one gallon per person per day;

Food—at least a 3-day supply of non-perishable, easy-to-prepare food;

Flashlight;Battery-powered or hand-crank

radio;Medications (7-day supply) and

medical items (hearing aids with extra batteries, glasses, contact lenses, syringes, cane);

Multi-purpose tool;Sanitation and personal hygiene

items;Copies of personal documents

(medication list and pertinent medi-cal information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies);

Cell phone with chargers.A complete list of supplies may be

found at www.redcross.org/prepare. If your community experiences a

hurricane, or any disaster, register on the American Red Cross Safe and Well website available through RedCross.org/SafeandWell to let your family and friends know about your welfare.

Heat SafetySummer is here, bringing with it dan-

gerous excessive heat. The American Red Cross has steps people can follow to stay safe as the temperatures soar. Excessive heat can be deadly. The Red Cross urges everyone to stay safe dur-ing the hot weather and offers some reminders for them to follow when the weather is hot and humid.

First and foremost: Never leave chil-dren or pets inside the car. The inside temperature of the car can quickly reach 120 degrees. Other heat safety steps include:

• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids. Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol.

• Avoid extreme temperature changes. • Wear loose-fitting, lightweight,

light-colored clothing. Avoid dark colors because they absorb the sun’s rays.

• Slow down, stay indoors and avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest part of the day.

• Postpone outdoor games and activities.

• Use a buddy system when working in excessive heat. Take frequent breaks if working outdoors.

• Check on family, friends and neigh-bors who do not have air conditioning, who spend much of their time alone or who are more likely to be affected by the heat.

• Check on animals frequently to ensure they are not suffering from the heat. Make sure they have plenty of cool water.

• If someone doesn’t have air con-ditioning, they should choose places to go to for relief from the heat during the

warmest part of the day (schools, librar-ies, theaters, malls).

Excessive heat can lead to sunburn, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. If someone is experiencing heat cramps in the legs or abdomen, get them to a cooler place, have them rest, lightly stretch the affected muscle, and replenish their fluids with a half a glass (about 4 ounces) of cool water every 15 minutes.

If someone is exhibiting signs of heat exhaustion (cool, moist, pale or flushed skin, heavy sweating, headache, nau-sea, dizziness, weakness, exhaustion), move them to a cooler place, remove or loosen tight clothing and spray the per-son with water or apply cool, wet cloths or towels to the skin. Fan the person. If they are conscious, give small amounts of cool water to drink. Make sure the person drinks slowly. Watch for changes in condition. If the person refuses water, vomits or begins to lose conscious-ness, call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.

Heat stroke can be life threatening. Signs include hot, red skin which may be dry or moist; changes in conscious-ness; vomiting and high body tempera-ture. Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number immediately if someone shows signs of heat stroke. Move the person to a cooler place. Quickly cool the person’s body by immersing them up to their neck in cold water if possible. Otherwise, douse or spray the person with cold water, or cover the person with cold, wet towels or bags of ice.

For more information on heat safety and other preparedness tips, visit www.redcross.org/prepare.



Membernews&NotesNONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

Delaware Alliance of Nonprofit Agencies BY MARIA HESS

›› DANA’s wake-up call came in 2008, when the Great Recession

rocked Delaware. But its necessity to adjust to economically turbulent times became its salvation.

A member-focused group since 1986, the Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement (origi-nally called the Delaware Association of Nonprofit Agencies), was focused on group purchasing. Dues and training income were its pri-mary revenue sources. And funds were dwindling.

“Worse,” says CEO Chris Grundner, “the group lost its relevancy. The phone was ringing, but we weren’t answering it.”

Then, in 2009, a state-wide conference called “The Future of the Nonprofit Sector” drew experts from nonprofit, philanthropic, business and government industries. Its goal was to identify challenges facing the nonprofit sector, and it provided the impetus for many nonprofits to change—including DANA.

A newly assembled taskforce reviewed nonprofit support organizations in seven states, and then developed a framework outlining activities of a revitalized orga-nization. This led to the reconstitution of DANA’s board of directors in 2011, and to hiring Grundner in 2012.

Grundner, who has experience in both

the corporate and nonprofit sectors, developed a three-year strategic plan that focused on three levels of leader-ship: skills, voice and information.

DANA now offers workshops state-wide, as well as online training oppor-tunities that are slated to start in July.

Utilizing knowledge garnered from The Standards for Excellence Institute, a national program that promotes self-reg-ulation of ethical practices, Grundner and his team will provide practical solutions to operational challenges. Members, Grundner says, “want more hands-on skills, and for us to help them close the gaps.”

Grundner will focus on governance—since great leadership starts at the top—and will work with boards to discuss strategic planning. Another focus will be voice leadership, another way of say-

ing that DANA wants to communicate to Delawareans why nonprofits matter. Since only a third of us are giving to non-profits, Grundner will launch an aware-ness campaign in the fourth quarter of this year.

“We need the public to understand that they benefit from the services of nonprofits whether they realize it or not,” he says. “Maybe your daughter is a Girl Scout, or you work out at the YMCA, or you just saw a show at The Grand.”

Grundner isn’t running the show alone. He credits his board and five-person team. Board chair William R. Allan, vice presi-dent of Southern Delaware and Delaware Community Foundation (and former DSCC chairman), leads an assem-blage of esteemed profes-sionals that include WSFS president Mark A. Turner, Fred Sears, II, president of the Delaware Community Foundation, among others.

Grundner is committed to DANA, but he accepted his post for another reason: He loves Delaware. In 2004 he

formed the Kelly Heinz-Grundner Brain Tumor Foundation after his wife, Kelly, died of a brain tumor. People like Fred Sears were supportive, and Grundner never forgot Sears’ kindness or the Delawareans who rallied around him.

“The opportunity to help good organi-zations become great by incorporating best practices is really gratifying,” says Grundner. “I know that being good is no longer good enough in today’s economic environment, and I also know how impor-tant the services they deliver are to the quality of life in Delaware.”

Membernews&Notes



BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Sheraton Wilmington South BY MARIA HESS

›› People used to place bets on whether the six-story hotel that

stood vacant for more than a decade on property along interstate 95 would ever open. Built in 2000, the hotel seemed left for dead, a once-interesting edifice turned eyesore. Yet Sheraton Wilmington South’s rise to glory became one of Delaware’s most scin-tillating land-use stories.

The press followed with glee the saga that pitted New Castle County officials against the developers. The county claimed that the hotel located between Christiana and Wilmington was built larger than the approved plans permitted. The cer-tificate of occupancy was denied. Then the original owners defaulted on their mortgage and filed for bankruptcy in July 2001. There were casualties: Some 150 people that were promised jobs headed for the unemployment line.

It took years to unravel the red tape. To summarize a complicated battle, the new owners, Parkside V LLC, which owns Delaware Park, purchased the hotel from the bank for $11.2 million in May 2003, and then reconsidered its investment when the precarious economy hampered its plans to house casino guests at the hotel. Parkside sold

to Hersha Hospitality Trust for $15 million and the Sheraton Wilmington South was born. Finally, the hotel was the subject of celebration rather than speculation. Its doors opened on December 5, 2011, after a spectacular renovation started by Parkside and continued by Hersha.

“We’re thankful that word has spread to the local community and area busi-nesses of our special, upscale hotel,” says Rory McCook, general man-ager of Sheraton Wilmington South. “Community members have honored us

with hosting their life events such as weddings, anniversary and birthday parties, baby and bridal showers and bar/bat mitzvahs.”

The Sheraton serves the business traveler with its 192 elegant guest rooms, eight con-ference rooms and presidential suite. The six-story atrium is remarkable, and its ballroom is top notch. Platinum members with Starwood’s SPG program can grab breakfast, afternoon

hors d’oeuvres, snacks or drinks at The Sheraton Club Lounge. The accom-modations are lovely, but anyone who neglects to enjoy a cocktail in the Atrium Lounge or outdoor terrace is missing out.

“Our Sheraton team strives to deliver exceptional customer service to our guests every day,” says McCook. “We’re very proud to boast that our customer service ranking in 2013 ranked in the top 5 percent of all Sheraton hotels in North America.”



WELCOMENew MembersBAIN’S DELI HERCULES Mr. Chan Joung1313 N. Market St., Hercules PlazaWilmington, DE 19801(302) 543-4299 Fax: (302) 543-4478www.BainsDeli1313.comBain’s Deli serves breakfast and lunch five

days a week, and catering services.

BUDGET ROOTER INC. Ms. Suzanne Palady1015 River RoadBear, DE 19720(302) 421-9000 Fax: (302) 322-3011www.budgetrooterdelaware.comBudget Rooter provides plumbing, heating,

air conditioning and drain cleaning services.

CHINA PRODUCT SOURCING COMPANY Ms. Helen L. Zhou1000 Smyrna Clayton Blvd., Suite 5Smyrna, DE 19977(302) 276-4371 Fax: (302) 389-8235www.chinaproductsourcingco.comAn import/export sourcing service, China

Product specializes in beauty products,

accessories, jewelry, clothing, shoes, build-

ing materials, baby products, kitchen uten-

sils, furniture, and more.

COMPUTER CORNER Mr. Eric J. Horn40 S. High StreetWest Chester, PA 19382(610) 441-7222 Fax: (610) 441-7337www.afdaniel.com

Computer Corner specializes in telephone

PBX systems, and VOIP, computers, serv-

ers, networks, cloud, and more.

DELAWARE SHOUTOUT Ms. Brooke Grubb334 E. Main St., #D-10Newark, DE 19711(410) 627-2479 Delaware Shoutout is your social media

authority in the First State. We build and

support social media platforms, write blogs,

and offer consultation.

GGW COMMUNICATIONS Mr. Gerald W. LucasP.O. Box 1205Hockessin, DE 19707(443) 745-2923 GGW Communications provides information

technology consulting for business custom-

ers concerned with disaster recovery, busi-

ness continuity and computer security.

GLOBAL SUPPLIER DIVERSITY STRATEGIES LLCMr. Charles Gillean17109 Brittany PlaceMilford, DE 19963(610) 804-8024Global Supplier Diversity Strategies devel-

ops supplier diversity programs for U.S. and

foreign corporations that are compliant with

laws in host countries.

HISTORIC ODESSA FOUNDATION Ms. Jennifer Cabell201 Main StreetOdessa, DE 19730(302) 378-4119

Fax: (302) 378-4050www.historicodessa.orgThe Historic Odessa Foundation exists

to preserve and encourage the use of its

historic buildings by the general public,

students, and scholars in order to learn and

appreciate the history, architecture, daily

life, and furnishings of Delaware’s colonial

period.

LEASED ACCESS PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION Ms. Cherie Congo2904 W. 2nd Street, PO Box 2593Wilmington, DE 19805(302) 655-3477 Fax: (302) 652-8891This association handles the management

of a local TV studio for public and leased

access shows.

LYONESS USA Ms. Christina Duncan19 Owls Nest RoadWilmington, DE 19807(302) 750-5728www.lyoness.comLyoness is a global loyalty rewards program

dedicated to providing a rewarding and

mutually beneficial relationship between its

community of international shoppers and

merchants. A free Lyoness membership pro-

vides shoppers with exclusive benefits from

online shopping, gift card purchases, the

Lyoness cash back card and mobile cash

back with over 39,000 merchants at more

than 200,000 locations.



PARKER BRIGGS BUSINESS GROUP LLCMr. Calvin Coolidge84 Park Avenue, Suite G-210-FFlemington, NJ 08822(973) 634-6340 Fax: (866) 800-0634www.parkerbriggsllc.comParker Briggs markets the sale of profitable

privately held businesses, and finds profit-

able privately held businesses for buyers.

SECURIS DELAWARE Mr. Gregg Haslinsky18 Boulden Circle, Suite 4New Castle, DE 19720(302) 262-9905www.securis.com/delawareSecuris is an industry-leading provider

of information technology asset disposal

(ITAD), including ultra-secure electronics

recycling, auditing, hard drive shredding,

and other data destruction services.

TRANSAMERICA RETIREMENT SOLUTIONS CORPORATION Ms. Crystal Gravitt4120 Gravitt RoadCumming, GA 30040(678) 341-9340 Fax: (213) 763-9962www.transamerica.comTransamerica is a leader in the retirement

plan industry, leveraging expertise honed

by more than 75 years in business, and

serving more than 3 million retirement plan

participants across the spectrum of defined

benefit and defined contribution plans.

and estate services, litigation support and forensic accounting services, financial planning and investment advisory services, small business accounting services, cap-tive insurance audit services and interna-tional tax services.

In recent years, the firm’s success has been acknowledged through several awards that have served to validate its reputation and quality of services, includ-ing: 2012 Marvin S. Gilman Superstars in Business (Delaware State Chamber of Commerce), 2012 Business of the Year (Middletown Area Chamber of Commerce), 2012 Top Workplaces (The News Journal), and Psychologically Healthy Workplace (Delaware Psychological Association).

According to managing director Geoff Langdon, who has been with the firm since 1984: “We are extremely mind-ful and proud of our heritage as one of Delaware’s leading CPA firms. But beyond our outstanding business rela-tionships and portfolio of professional services, we have always been equally proud of the quality of our employees and their civic and community involvement.”

For its employees, Delaware is much more than a place to work—it is a place to be involved. Cover & Rossiter’s asso-ciates have always taken great pride in being active outside of the workplace. Associates routinely give of their time and talents to participate in numerous walk-a-thons, charity events, and service organizations, such as the Wilmington Rotary Club of Wilmington, Newark Morning Rotary Club and Food Bank of Delaware. Members of the firm also add

their expertise by serving on the boards of directors of local organizations, includ-ing the Wilmington Housing Authority, Middletown Area Chamber of Commerce, M.O.T. Jean Birch Senior Center, Newark Day Nursery and Children’s Center, and Development and Research Innovations.

They also reach out to educate stu-dents and professionals alike. In edu-cation, the firm’s partners have taught courses in accounting, management and finance at the University of Delaware and Goldey-Beacom College. Cover & Rossiter’s associates are also frequent guest lecturers at local colleges and pro-fessional associations and contributors of articles in publications of financial, tax or general interest.

Maintaining professional skills and development is another passion of its associates, who are active participants as officers or members in many leading professional associations, including the American Institute of Public Accountants, Delaware Society of Certified Public Accountants, American Board of Forensic Accountants, Wilmington Tax Group, and the Estate Planning Council of Delaware. Several associates are past graduates of the Leadership Delaware program.

As Cover & Rossiter concludes and cel-ebrates its first 75 years, the firm remains energized and optimistic about its future and that of the state of Delaware. Our advice is current. Our client focus is time-less. It is with great pride that Cover & Rossiter has and will continue to serve the evolving needs of its clients through-out Delaware from our birthplace—the city of Wilmington.

Guest Column continued from 8

…we have always been equally proud of the quality of our

employees and their civic and community involvement.



State Chamber SCENE

1. Daniel Leader of

Environmental Alliance

Inc., and Michelle

Cross of Ameriprise

Financial networked

at the Summer Blood

Challenge Kick-Off

event at Blood Bank of

Delmarva on May 7.

2. Delaware Young

Professionals Network

leaders Matt Grygiel and

Mike Vanderslice posed

with Lisa Gravely dur-

ing the Summer Blood

Challenge Kick-Off

event at Blood Bank of

Delmarva on May 7.

2.

1.



3.

4. 3. Bank of America

presented “Build, Buy or

Ally: Growth Strategies

for Your Business” to

Chamber members on

May 14.

4. Carol Arnott Robbins

of M&T Securities

and Robert Rogers of

Children & Families First

gathered with attendees

at University & Whist

Club on May 21 for

Chamber Leadership

Breakfast with Mary

Kate Mouser.



State Chamber SCENE

5.

6.

5. John Taylor, Madeleine

Bayard and Gary Stockbridge

at University & Whist Club on

May 21 for Chamber Leadership

Breakfast with Mary Kate Mouser.

6. Keynote speaker Mary Kate

Mouser of Nemours Health and

Prevention Services addressed

the crowd University & Whist

Club on May 21 for Chamber

Leadership Breakfast.

7. Abdullah Muhammad of Cards

by Abdullah and Paul Herdman of

the Rodel Charitable Foundation

of Delaware posed for the DSCC

cameras at the 2014 Superstars

in Education Awards Reception,

held on May 5 at the Sheraton

Wilmington South Hotel. Photo by

Brian Mulligan.

7.



8. Larry DiSabatino held court

at the 2014 Superstars in

Education Awards Reception,


Wilmington South Hotel. Photo

by Brian Mulligan.

9. Yvonne Johnson, Mark

Holodick and Nikki Castle

were all smiles during the

2014 Superstars in Education

Awards Reception, held on May

5 at the Sheraton Wilmington

South Hotel. Photo by Brian

Mulligan.

8.

9.



State Chamber SCENE

10.

12. 12. Wilmington University

joined with educators across the

state for the 2014 Superstars in

Education Awards Reception,


Wilmington South Hotel. Photo

by Brian Mulligan.

11.

10. Photographer Nick Wallace

and wife Kera joined the Superstars

celebration May 5 at the Sheraton

Wilmington South Hotel. Photo by

Brian Mulligan.

11. Gov. Jack Markell stood front-

and-center to address the crowd at

the 2014 Superstars in Education

Awards Reception on May 5 at the

Sheraton Wilmington South Hotel.

Photo by Brian Mulligan.


23DELAWARE BUSINESS | Ju ly /Augus t 2014

Restaurant,Meeting & BanquetGuide 2014

The Delaware State Chamber of Commerce’s Restaurant, Meeting & Banquet Guide is a one-stop resource for planning your next event. This guide is also available on www.dscc.com.



HOTELS

Atlantic Sands Hotel & Conference Center101 N. Boardwalk, Rehoboth Beach

Contact: Ms. Barbara Brewer

Phone: (302) 227-2511

Fax: (302) 227-5574

Email: bbrewer@atlanticsandshotel.

com

Website: www.atlanticsandshotel.com

Located on the Rehoboth Beach

boardwalk, just feet from the

white sands of one of the clean-

est beaches in America, the

Atlantic Sands Hotel is the per-

fect place for enjoying not only

the beach, but the boutiques

and nightlife of the treasured

resort town of Rehoboth Beach.

The Bellmoor Inn & Spa6 Christian Street, Rehoboth Beach

Contact: Chad Moore

Phone: (302) 227-5800

Fax: (302) 227-0323

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.thebellmoor.com

Combining modern sophistica-

tion with the seaside retreat

atmosphere of Rehoboth

Beach, the Bellmoor provides

the ideal setting for any event.

Conference rooms offer a feel-

ing of warmth, elegance and

charm—a perfect environment

for any gathering. The Bellmoor

also offers the lovely Magnolia

Garden and Fountain Courtyard,

Rehoboth Beach’s most luxuri-

ous outdoor reception space.

The professional staff is happy

to assist with all aspects of cre-

ating a successful conference or

social gathering. Banquet/meet-

ing room capacity for 10 to 100

people is available.

Best Western Gold Leaf1400 Highway One Dewey Beach,

Delaware

Contact: Maha Awayes

Phone: (302) 226-1100

Fax: (302) 226-9785

Website: www.bestwesterngoldleaf.

com

When you stay at a Best

Western branded hotel, the

highly trained staff is personally

invested in your stay.

Boardwalk Plaza Hotel2 Olive Avenue & the Boardwalk,

Rehoboth Beach

Contact: Sales Department

Phone: (302) 227-7169

Fax: (302) 227-0561


Website: www.boardwalkplaza.com

Meet in oceanfront, Victorian

elegance at the Boardwalk Plaza

Hotel. The oceanfront Kent

and Sussex Halls offer state-of

the-art audio-visual equipment,

T1 and wireless Internet and

beautiful views of the Atlantic

Ocean. Or choose the intimate

Plaza Cottage for executive-

style sessions. Groups of up

to 110 people will enjoy full-

service meals catered in-house

by Victoria’s Restaurant (open

seven days a week, all year, for

breakfast, lunch and dinner),

the cozy Plaza Pub lounge for

cocktails and light fare, a variety

of gracious accommodations

and Victorian charm,

full-menu room service,

a heated spa and AAA

Four Diamond award-

winning service and

hospitality.

Courtyard by Marriott Newark – University of Delaware400 Pencader Way, Newark

Contact: Bill Sullivan

Phone: (302) 391-2261

Fax: (302) 737-0990


Website: www.udel.edu/

hotel

Working with the

School of Hotel, Restaurant,

and Institutional Management

and University of Delaware

Conference Services, the

Courtyard by Marriott is the

ideal environment to discover,

experience and enjoy welcoming

accommodations. The hotel’s

126 guest rooms, with compli-

mentary high-speed Internet,

can serve as a group headquar-

ters. Working cooperatively with

other first-class Newark-area

hotels, the hotel can provide

up to 700 group rooms for your

event. The adjoining Clayton

Hall Conference Center’s 40,000

square feet of meeting space

includes 21 meeting rooms

and a 500 seat auditorium. A

7,000-square-foot ballroom

accommodates 500 banquet

style or 450 classroom-style.

Additional services include

video conferencing, high-speed

Internet access and exhibit

capabilities.

Crowne Plaza Hotel630 Naamans Road, Wilmington

Contact: Courtney Alleman

Phone: (302) 791-4680

Fax: (302) 798-6182

Email: courtney.alleman@

cpwilmingtonnorth.com

Website: www.cpwilmingtonnorth.

com

The Crowne Plaza - Wilmington

North is only minutes from

Wilmington-area corporations

including DuPont, AstraZeneca,

Accenture, Evraz, AIT, IBM

and many others. While stay-

ing at the Crowne Plaza hotel

in the picturesque Brandywine

Valley, visit Longwood Gardens,

Harrah’s Chester Casino and

Racetrack, Winterthur Museum,

QVC, and Brandywine River

Museum—all a short dis-

tance away. Easy access to

Philadelphia Sports Complex,

including Citizens Bank Park,

Wells Fargo Center and Lincoln

Financial Field. The Crowne

Plaza – Wilmington North fea-

tures 12,000 square feet of

flexible meeting space, and the

Grand Ballroom is the ideal set-

ting for weddings, social events

or business meetings for up to

700 guests. The Crowne Plaza

hotel has two executive floors

with private lounge, complimen-

Restaurant, Meeting & Banquet Guide

The Bellmoor Inn & Spa



tary high speed wireless internet,

24-hour fitness center, business

center and outdoor pool.

Days Inn900 Churchmans Road, Newark

Contact: Anupe Patel

Phone: (302) 368-2400

Fax: (302) 731-8620


Website: www.daysinn.com

The newly-renovated, three-

story property is conveniently

located off I-95 at exit 4B.

Complimentary continental

breakfast available and in-room

coffee makers are offered.

Several restaurants are within

walking distance. An on-site

classroom seats up to 50

people.

Days Inn-Wilmington5209 Concord Pike, Wilmington

Contact: Pearson L. Williams

Phone: (302) 478-0300

Fax: (302) 478-2401


Website: www.

mydaysinnwilmington.com

Days Inn Wilmington is located

in the heart of the Brandywine

Valley, near all area attractions.

There are 96 spacious rooms

with a microwave, refrigerator

and high-speed Internet. Rooms

include a complimentary con-

tinental breakfast with a hot

waffle bar.

Doubletree Downtown Wilmington700 N. King Street, Wilmington

Contact: Eric Chapman

Phone: (302) 661-4316

Fax: (302) 429-5979


Website: doubletree3.hilton.com

The Grand Ballroom is the larg-

est in downtown Wilmington,

and accommodates banquets,

wedding receptions, corporate

functions, and social occasions

with style.

Doubletree Hotel – Wilmington4727 Concord Pike, Wilmington

Contact: Danielle Hennessy

Phone: (302) 478-6000

Fax: (302) 478-6049

Email: Danielle.hennessy@

hilton.com

Website: www.doubletreewilmington.

com

More than 11,000 square feet

of meeting and function space

on two levels makes Doubletree

Wilmington ideal for any size

group. The Concord Ballroom

can accommodate up to 350

guests for banquet seating

and 600 for a reception. The

Canterbury Ballroom can hold

up to 300 for a reception or

up to 200 for banquet seat-

ing. Eight breakout rooms will

accommodate up to 50 people.

Doubletree Wilmington’s expert

planning and catering staff can

customize menus and special

touches to make every occasion

successfully memorable.

Dover Downs Hotel & Casino1131 N. DuPont Hwy., Dover

Contact: Ann Stack

Phone: (800) 711-5882

Email: casinopromotions@dover-

downs.com

Website: www.doverdowns.com

Dover Downs Hotel & Casino

is the ultimate setting for your

next meeting, wedding recep-

tion, social gathering and spe-

cial event. From initial planning

through execution, we manage

the details of your event and

confidently deliver excellence

every step of the way. Our ball-

room and well-appointed board-

rooms, elegant hospitality suites,

and private dining areas in our

restaurants provide a complete

array of flexible meeting space

to accommodate 30-1,500

guests. More than 35,000 square

feet of distinctive function space

includes the Rollins Center, an

18,000-square-foot, column-free

ballroom with 22-foot ceiling,

sub-dividable into three sound-

proof sections. Six meeting

rooms include Boardroom and

breakout rooms for up to 150

guests. Three hospitality suites

feature racetrack views. Meeting

amenities include wireless inter-

net, onsite AV capabilities and

business center.

Hotel du Pont11th and Market Streets, Wilmington

Contact: The Sales Office

Phone: (302) 594-3100 or

(800) 441-9019

Fax: (302) 594-3108

Website: www.hoteldupont.com

Noted for its European dis-

tinction, the Hotel du Pont

contains 217 guest rooms and

several first-rate restaurants,

as well as 30 conference rooms

with more than 30,000 square

feet of available meeting space.

There are two self-contained

conference areas, each with its

own individual style: the tra-

ditional Executive Conference

Center with five dark-paneled

rooms (one seating up to 60)

and the Conference Center,

more contemporary in feel-

ing, with 11 rooms, the largest

holding 120. Both have their

own registration and dining

areas. The French neo-classic

Gold Ballroom will hold groups

up to 500. The Business Center

STANTON AND WILMINGTON CAMPUSES

Conference andTraining Centers

Delaware Tech Conference Centers offer:

Space - More than 2,000 square feet toaccommodate up to 500 attendees

Technology - Wi-Fi, overhead projectors,video conference equipment

Free parking - both locations

One-Stop Shopping - Access to our teamof professional planners and caterers

Let’s plan your next event together.

For more information contactGary James at (302) 283-3179or [email protected].




provides any needed printing

and faxing. All guest rooms

have four telephones and dual

phone lines. The Hotel du Pont

also offers amenities such as

24-hour room service, compli-

mentary shoe shines and con-

cierge service.

Howard Johnson Inn & Suites1119 S. College Ave., Newark

Contact: Kirsten Bradley

Phone: (302) 368-8521

Fax: (302) 368-9868


Website: www.hojonewark.com

The newly-renovated Howard

Johnson Inn & Suites furnishes

four different banquet rooms for

its guests. The Garden Room is

cozy for up to 20 people. The

Iron Hill Room is perfect for

meetings of up to 30 people.

The Constitution and Polly

Drummond Rooms seat up to

50 people each or 100 when

combined. All of the rooms are

quaint and inexpensive. Meeting

room discounts are available to

guests of the hotel.

Inn at Canal Square122 Market Street, Lewes

Contact: Jesse Burns

Phone: (302) 644-3377

Fax: (302) 644-3565


Website: www.theinnatcanal

square.com

Located on the water in the

heart of the Lewes historic dis-

trict, the Inn at Canal Square

offers 22 guest rooms and two

two-bedroom deluxe suites

with a magnificent view of the

harbor. Two meeting rooms are

available, the Waterview Room

overlooking the canal and the

Parkview Room. Any level of

service a meeting or event may

require can be accommodated.

LuxiaSuites1007 North Orange Street,

Wilmington

Contact: Ms. Tamara Holt

Phone: (302) 778-3001

Fax: (302) 571-4723


Website: www.luxiasuites.com

Located in Wilmington’s legal

district and close to prominent

local businesses, LuxiaSuites

is a hub of resources. Provided

is a spacious and inspired stu-

dio, one- and two-bedroom

furnished residences with hotel

services and superb amenities.

Each suite has complimentary

Wi-Fi internet service and pre-

mium cable. A private direct-dial

telephone number with free local

phone service for both personal

and business calls is also avail-

able. Travel resources include

Wilmington’s Amtrak station,

offering convenient service into

Philadelphia, Washington, D.C.

and New York City.

Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs1280 Highway 315

Contact: Ms. Kelly Connors

Phone: (570) 831-2255

Fax: (570) 823-9407

Email: kconnors@

mohegansunpocono.com

Website: www.MoheganSun

Pocono.com

Mohegan Sun at Pocono downs

includes 238 guest rooms,

218 standard rooms, and 20

sweets. The hotel and spa holds

a small business center located

in the lobby of the hotel for on-

the-go business needs. Guest

rooms feature luxuries including

iPad directories complete with

daily newspaper downloads,

TV control, room service, no

swipe – tap and go key system,

free Wi-Fi, smart TVs, express

check-out available, Keurig cof-

fee makers in Suites. And adja-

cent to the new hotel is a 20,000

square-foot Convention Center.

For meetings of up to 1,600

guests, or banquets of up to

800, the space accommodates

events both large and small.

Ramada 260 Chapman Road, Newark

Contact: Mr. David Shah

Phone: (302) 738-3400

Fax: (302) 738-3414

Email: Terrise.Paige@best-

hospitality.net

Website: www.ramada.com

Ramada Worldwide offers a warm

and friendly stay at nearly 900

hotels in over 50 countries around

the world. The chain provides

guests with free, high-speed wire-

less Internet access, cozy beds

Big Fish Grill

The Buttery Restaurant



for a relaxed and restful stay,

guest bathrooms stocked with

San Francisco Soap Company

amenities, and a variety of hotel

choices to match every trip; from

a family vacation or “quick stop

and recharge,” to a full-scale con-

ference or lavish wedding.

Residence Inn by Marriott Dover600 Jeffric Blvd., Dover

Contact: Linda Graves-Crocker

Phone: (302) 677-0777

Fax: (302) 672-8017

Email: Jennifer.Coverdale@

marriott.com

Website: www.marriott.com/default.mi

When every detail must be

perfect, guests can count on

Residence Inn’s advanced facili-

ties and expert meeting profes-

sionals to deliver a productive

and successful outcome. Two

meeting rooms, 697 square feet

of total meeting space, on-site

meeting rooms ideal for small

groups of 15-50 people and AV

can be accommodated.

Sheraton Wilmington South Hotel365 Airport Road New Castle

Contact: Ms. Christine Jenkins

Phone: (302) 328-6200

Fax: (302) 328-6300


Website: www.

sheratonwilmingtonsouth.com

Adjacent to I-95 and several

Fortune 500 companies. The

hotel holds 192 guest rooms, 8

meeting spaces, with the larg-

est meeting space of 3, 388 sq.

ft. of space. Also offered is free

internet based printing service

provided in the Business Center,

copy/faxing service, copy/print-

ing service, cash machine (ATM).

Each guest room holds a refrig-

erator, microwave, and wireless

high speed internet.

RESTAURANTS

Bain’s Deli Hercules1313 N. Market St. Wilmington

Contact: Mr. Chan Joung

Phone: (302) 543-4299

Fax: (302) 543-4478

Email: bainsdeli.hercules@

gmail.com

Website: www.BainsDeli1313.com

A New York-style deli that caters

to breakfast and lunch crowds,

Bain’s is open five days a week.

Famous for its sandwiches, the

shop features only the highest

quality meats and breads, and

also offers soups and sides. The

deli packs seating for up to 34,

take-out, catering, party trays,

and even delivery is available.

Big Fish Grill on the Riverfront720 S. Justison St., Wilmington

Contact: Angela Hasting

Phone: (302) 652-3474

Website: www.bigfishgrill.com

A casual seafood and steak res-

taurant, Big Fish serves casual

lunch and dinner daily. The pri-

vate dining room can hold up to

45 people.

The Buttery Restaurant102 Second Street, Lewes

Contact: Mr. John Donato

Phone: (302) 645-7755

Fax: (302) 644-4909


Website: www.buttery

restaurant.com

Awarded Reader’s Choice by

the News Journal in 2013, The

Buttery is a cozy yet elegant

getaway nestled in Historic

Lewes. The restaurant is known

for fine wine and beef, and is

open seven days a week, serv-

ing everything but breakfast.

Even Sunday brunch begins

most weeks at 10:30. Held here

are wine diners, art exhibits and

And it’s not where you might expect.

The University of Delaware may not be the first place you think of when you’re looking for a meeting or event venue.

We want to change that. Our three campuses instantly provide you with an array of environmental options and,

we just might enhance the credibility of your event.

Having a university as your backdrop, you’ll feel the pulse of academia while having access to every current technology available,

plus a personal event manager who will coordinate all the services you need – from start to finish. From an historic mansion in

Wilmington, to a robust academic campus in Newark, down to a relaxing retreat in Lewes, our people and places can’t be beat.

Have we changed your mind yet? Call us for more details.

LE A AST I , CONFER ENCE MANAG ER

302-831-2214 ude l .edu /confe rences

UD Conference Services

Exceptional meeting and event services in exceptional places.

(With exceptional people.)



other events, with a veranda

that’s open year-round.

Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats320 Rehoboth

Avenue, Rehoboth Beach

Contact: Matt Patton

Phone: (302) 226-BREW

Fax: (302) 226-0792


Website: www.dogfish.com

Experience craft-brewed

ales and spirits made

in Delaware and a brew rub

specializing in wood-grilled sea-

food and steaks. A casual, fun

environment with great food and

drinks. Upstairs, a private func-

tion room overlooks the distillery.

An enclosed deck is also avail-

able in the spring, summer and

fall. Dogfish is open for lunch

and dinner, seven days a week,

year round.

Eden Restaurant 23 Baltimore Avenue,

Rehoboth Beach

Contact: Ms. Danielle Panarello

Phone: (302) 227-3330

Fax: (302) 227-2887


Website: www.edenrestaurant.com

A fine food lover’s paradise,

Eden’s cuisine is just as roman-

tic as its atmosphere. The res-

taurant offers many things like

artisanal cheeses, wood oven

fired flatbreads, and tempting

treats like Eden’s graham crack-

er and sunflower seed crust key

lime pie. Described as ‘beach

chic,’ Eden’s indoor seating has

been consistently voted

‘Most Romantic Atmosphere’

by Delaware Today magazine.

The Oceanside location offers

beautiful outdoor seating in

season. And along with fine

food is just as fine wine. With a

bundle of awards from The Wine

Spectator, the list is nothing

short of divine.

Feby’s Fishery, Restaurant & Seafood Market3701 Lancaster Pike, Wilmington

Contact: Philip DiFebo

Phone: (302) 998-9501

Website: www.febysfishery.com

The classic eatery and seafood

market has been serving the fresh-

est fish in the area since 1974.

The Green Room at the Hotel du Pont11th & Market Streets, Wilmington

Contact: Dining Reservations

Phone: (302) 594-3154

Fax: (302) 594-3070

Website: www.hoteldupont.com

Timeless charm and beauty are

reflected in the recent renovations;

a combination of new and old

with rich wood paneling, gold-leaf

ceilings and chic Versace-pattern

china. Service at the Hotel du

Pont is exquisitely old-fashioned

friendly, attentive, gracious and

refined. The Green Room offers

American cuisine with a European

flair in an elegant atmosphere that

is both comfortable and intimate.

Classic dining without the stuffi-

ness, the Green Room features

innovative dishes that are certain

to please both the most discern-

ing and adventuresome palettes.

Enjoy a chef’s tasting menu each

evening to broaden your culinary

experience.

Grotto Pizza, Inc.20376 Coastal Highway,

Rehoboth Beach

Contact: Laura McCann

Phone: (302) 227-3567

Fax: (302) 227-4566


Eden Restaurant

The Green Room at the Hotel du Pont



Website: www.grottopizza.com

Since 1960, Grotto Pizza has

been a staple in Delaware and

was voted Best Pizza in Best of

Delaware on many occasions.

Manhattan Bagel3209-B Concord Pike, Wilmington

Contact: Mr. Gonzalo Cruz-Saenz

Phone: (302) 477-0700

Fax: (302) 477-1246


Website: www.manhattanbagel.com

As the nation’s largest operator

of bagel bakeries and the leader

in the quick casual segment of

the restaurant industry, Einstein

Noah Restaurant Group is mov-

ing with the cultural shift toward

food that is fast, but never

tastes that way. Think fresh-

baked goods, made-to-order

sandwiches, crisp salads and

gourmet coffee.

McDonald’s 1401 Governor’s Place, Bear,

(302) 836-1308

2351 S. College Avenue, Newark,

(302) 733-0818

374 E. Main Street, Newark,

(302) 737-0502

815 S. College Avenue, Newark,

(302) 738-7857

2507 Concord Pike, Wilmington,

(302) 478-5685

Melting Pot1601 Concord Pike, Wilmington

Contact: Brad Oberholzer

Phone: (302) 652-6358

Fax: (302) 652-8101

Website: www.meltingpot.com

For more than three decades,

The Melting Pot has defined

fondue dining niche across

America. At The Melting Pot,

fondue truly becomes a memo-

rable four-course dining experi-

ence where patrons can dip

into something different – and

discover all the ingredients for

a unique dining experience

including a relaxed atmosphere,

private tables, attentive service,

fine wines and signature fondue

dinners.

Newport Restaurant601 Newport Pike, Newport

Contact: Maria Perdikis

Phone: (302) 998-1073

For 25 years, Newport

Restaurant, located in Greystone

Plaza, has served breakfast,

lunch and dinner. The restau-

rant offers delicious homemade

chicken croquettes and crab

cakes. Newport Restaurant is a

casual, family restaurant.

Nicola Pizza8 North First Street, Rehoboth Beach

Contact: Nick Caggiano, Jr.

Phone: (302) 227-6230

Fax: (302) 226-3721

Website: www.nicolapizza.com

Nicola Pizza started in Rehoboth

Beach in 1971 and is home

to the famous, Nic-o-boli. The

pizza shop also participates in

fundraising events.

Potstickers Asian GrilleCentre Point Plaza II

1247 Churchman’s Road, Newark

Phone: (302) 731-0188

Fax: (302) 731-9188

Deerfield



Website: www.potstickers

asiangrill.com

Potstickers is an Asian fusion of

quality ingredients and high-end

dining complete with a sushi bar.

Voted Best of Delaware 2010

and 2011.

COUNTRY/MEMBERS CLUBS

Deerfield 507 Thompson Station Road, Newark

Contact: Jeffrey Robinson

Phone: (302) 368-6640

Fax: (302) 366-0345


Website: www.deerfieldgolfclub.com

Deerfield is Delaware’s most

unique and memorable meeting,

conference and special event

destination. Meetings from 20

to 500 guests can be scheduled

in any one of our many meeting

rooms. A wide array of spaces

from conference rooms to trade-

show venues, are available for

your next special event. Menus

from simple breakfast and lunch

options to extravagant dinners

are available. Conference service

packages make planning easy,

and any event can be paired

with golf, tennis or an event in

the park for your next retreat

or teambuilding exercise. With

spectacular views of the golf

course and the park, a meeting

at Deerfield is sure to refresh

and reinvigorate.

DuPont Country Club & Brantwyn Estate1001 Rockland Road, Wilmington

Contact: The Sales Office

Phone: (302) 421-1730

Fax: (302) 421-1770

Website: www.dupontcountry

club.com

Minutes from downtown

Wilmington, the DuPont Country

Club & Brantwyn Estate offers

a variety of meeting and social

venues accommodating groups

from five to 500. The Clubhouse

features two spacious ball-

rooms, eight banquet rooms

and a lovely outdoor terrace.

A former du Pont family resi-

dence, Brantwyn Estate offers

an elegant and unique setting for

any event. Conference and wed-

ding packages and golf outings

are available. Membership is not

a requirement to host events at

the Club or Brantwyn.

Heritage Shores Club1 Heritage Shores Circle, Bridgeville

Phone: (302) 337-9926

Fax: (302) 337-9915

Website: www.heritageshores

golf.com

Located just a short distance

to the nearby beach cities,

Heritage Shores Club offers

an exciting championship golf

course with traditional country

club amenities. Complementary

to the surrounding golf course,

a sprawling 28,000 square-

foot Clubhouse inspired by the

architecture of Nantucket offers

an elegant venue for hosting

special occasions from your

wedding reception to corporate

events and banquets. With the

surrounding golf course offering


continued on 35

DuPont Country Club & Brantwyn Estate

Delaware State Chamber of Commerce | Superstars in Business | Apply online at ssb.dscc.com

HOW SUPER IS YOUR BUSINESS?Apply now for the 2014 Marvin S. Gilman Superstars in Business

Award and show Delaware why you deserve star status!

Use this application to enter your small businessor nonprofit today. You can also apply online at ssb.dscc.com.

Superstars in Business Awards LuncheonWednesday, November 12, 2014

11:15 a.m.Hotel du Pont, Gold Ballroom

Keynote Speaker: Steven Strauss, author of The Small Business Bible


Delaware State Chamber of Commerce | Superstars in Business | Apply online at ssb.dscc.com

HOW SUPER IS YOUR BUSINESS?Apply now for the 2014 Marvin S. Gilman Superstars in Business

Award and show Delaware why you deserve star status!

Use this application to enter your small businessor nonprofit today. You can also apply online at ssb.dscc.com.

Superstars in Business Awards LuncheonWednesday, November 12, 2014

11:15 a.m.Hotel du Pont, Gold Ballroom

Keynote Speaker: Steven Strauss, author of The Small Business Bible


Delaware State Chamber of Commerce | Superstars in Business | Apply online at ssb.dscc.com | (302) 655-7221

WHAT MAKES YOUR BUSINESS SUPER?This application form is a simple self-evaluation that can improve your business management skills, and put you in the running to win the 2014 Marvin S. Gilman Superstars in Business Award!

Step 1 / Self-Evaluation:• If your organization is a business, please use form A.• If you are a nonprofit, please use form B.

Please answer the questions as a separate Microsoft Word file with your company letterhead or complete it online at ssb.dscc.com. Electronic PDFs and paper versions are also available. Please contact Kelly Wetzel at [email protected] or (302) 576-6564.

Eligibility: • Member of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce.• In business for at least three continuous years.• 150 employees or fewer.• Previous Superstars in Business winners may re-apply after five years.

If you would like to be connected with a previous Superstars in Business winner for assistance in completing your application, please contact Kelly Wetzel at [email protected] or (302) 576-6564.

Step 2 / Submission:Applications must be submitted to the Superstars in Business Committee no later than Thursday, August 21, 2014 at 12 p.m. No late entries will be accepted. Please note that materials submitted cannot be returned, but all information remains confidential. **Applications longer than ten pages will not be accepted. You may add up to four attachments in addition to a ten page application.

Step 3 / Application Review:Within each category, the finalists may be contacted for additional information or validation of the information submitted. The review made at this step is held in strict confidence.

Step 4 / The Awards:Each winner will be presented with a special award recognizing their superior achievement on November 12, 2014 at a luncheon in the Gold Ballroom of the Hotel du Pont in Wilmington. Marketing and recognition will be given to all the Business Superstars throughout the year.

Awards may be judged in the following categories (Please note that categories will be decided upon at the Selection Committee’s discretion based on number of entries and quality of applications):

• 1 to 24 employees • 25 to 59 employees

Below each question we have provided you with ‘Ideas for Success.’ They aim to help you form more robust answers and provide suggestions on what information may make your response more competitive. These are not requirements, but may help judges compare your business against other applicants. Please answer questions as concisely as possible.

ENTRY DEADLINE: August 21, 2014 at 12p.m.

Apply online at ssb.dscc.com or mail completed applications to: Small Business Alliance / Delaware State Chamber of Commerce

1201 N. Orange Street, Suite 200, P.O. Box 671Wilmington, DE 19899

• 60 - 150 employees• Nonprofits


Form A for BUSINESSESPlease answer all questions as concisely as possible on your company letterhead or online at ssb.dscc.com.

Applications may not exceed ten pages. You may include up to four attachments in addition to a ten page application.1. Business name, address and phone number; Primary contact’s name, title, phone number and email address.

2. Please describe your business.

3. List the number of years in business and briefly explain how your business was started.

4. Number of employees and average tenure (Please distinguish between full-time and part-time).

5. Please provide your business mission statement and/or business philosophy. Provide your mission statement, vision statement, guiding principles or strategies for success. How is your mission statement communicated to clients, investors and/or the general public, i.e. word of mouth, through marketing materials, etc.? Also explain how they were developed – were they customer or leadership driven, and how do you ensure they are understood by your entire company? Tell us here if you have team building meetings, strategy sessions and/or safety meetings that may include a regular discussion on these important guiding statements.

6. Given the economic challenges of the recent past and present, how have you been able to sustain or grow your business? Please explain how today’s difficult economic climate has created obstacles or opportunities for your business. How are you dealing with the “New Normal?” Here is the place to highlight any strategies or measures taken that have resulted in savings, stability or growth. An index of profitability, projection and/or financial summary is required (examples could be revenue growth percentage, profit margin, etc.). Profitability results or a steady financial track record would be great evidence of skillful business management. How do your financial records measure up to other companies in your industry? Smaller companies should show growth or sustainability and share projections for the future. Actual financial metrics will separate your application from the competition. Tell us of innovative ways you have used to market or boost sales that have produced a good ROI, be specific. Remain assured that all information is kept confidential.

7. What makes your business stand apart from your peers and/or similar businesses? Please use this question to outline how you identify customer needs and priorities. Customer loyalty, years of experience, low associate turnover and industry awards are all competitive weapons. Tell us if you are measuring customer satisfaction or if you have moved to customer loyalty or customer advocacy. Share with us how you brand your company and how you maintain it, i.e. social media, online networking, marketing campaigns, etc. Tell us if you have a customer database or process to retain information about customers to use in the future. If you have a formal process for tracking and resolving complaints, please highlight your program here and brag about your results. If associate training or education reimbursement programs are a big part of your employee retention program or your quality/safety programs, please tell us about that too. Specific examples are appreciated.

8. Identify two or three of the most significant challenges in growing your business. Explain how you handled them. Some companies highlight their hiring and retention programs here and others may share their success in adpating to economic climate changes. If there are challenges, financial or otherwise, how did the leaders of the organization rally associates to meet the challenge? How were the challenges identified and did you anticipate them coming? If they could not have been predicted, what have you learned for the next time to make the company stronger? If there are no challenges/problems to list because all employees are proactively taking care of all aspects of the business in the best possible way, tell us that too!

9. Briefly discuss the nature and involvement of your community service efforts. List key leaders’ involvement – describe investments of time, as well as causes supported financially. This is also the place where you may highlight efforts to care for our environment. List efforts regarding investment in friendlier vehicles or equipment, and to conserve and recycle materials. Do you have a formal program that includes fundraising or service hours donated? Are the commitments or passions you have for certain causes conveyed in your marketing? Are they a part of the image you relate to others? Describe any support for a health and safety program where you may even include family members.

10. Please provide the names and contact information of your professional support, i.e. banks, accounting firms, etc. If you are an award winner, we will contact them on your behalf to share the good news.

We also encourage you to provide customer testimonials with your application.



WHAT MAKES YOUR BUSINESS SUPER?This application form is a simple self-evaluation that can improve your business management skills, and put you in the running to win the 2014 Marvin S. Gilman Superstars in Business Award!

Step 1 / Self-Evaluation:• If your organization is a business, please use form A.• If you are a nonprofit, please use form B.

Please answer the questions as a separate Microsoft Word file with your company letterhead or complete it online at ssb.dscc.com. Electronic PDFs and paper versions are also available. Please contact Kelly Wetzel at [email protected] or (302) 576-6564.

Eligibility: • Member of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce.• In business for at least three continuous years.• 150 employees or fewer.• Previous Superstars in Business winners may re-apply after five years.

If you would like to be connected with a previous Superstars in Business winner for assistance in completing your application, please contact Kelly Wetzel at [email protected] or (302) 576-6564.

Step 2 / Submission:Applications must be submitted to the Superstars in Business Committee no later than Thursday, August 21, 2014 at 12 p.m. No late entries will be accepted. Please note that materials submitted cannot be returned, but all information remains confidential. **Applications longer than ten pages will not be accepted. You may add up to four attachments in addition to a ten page application.

Step 3 / Application Review:Within each category, the finalists may be contacted for additional information or validation of the information submitted. The review made at this step is held in strict confidence.

Step 4 / The Awards:Each winner will be presented with a special award recognizing their superior achievement on November 12, 2014 at a luncheon in the Gold Ballroom of the Hotel du Pont in Wilmington. Marketing and recognition will be given to all the Business Superstars throughout the year.

Awards may be judged in the following categories (Please note that categories will be decided upon at the Selection Committee’s discretion based on number of entries and quality of applications):

• 1 to 24 employees • 25 to 59 employees

Below each question we have provided you with ‘Ideas for Success.’ They aim to help you form more robust answers and provide suggestions on what information may make your response more competitive. These are not requirements, but may help judges compare your business against other applicants. Please answer questions as concisely as possible.

ENTRY DEADLINE: August 21, 2014 at 12p.m.

Apply online at ssb.dscc.com or mail completed applications to: Small Business Alliance / Delaware State Chamber of Commerce

1201 N. Orange Street, Suite 200, P.O. Box 671Wilmington, DE 19899

• 60 - 150 employees• Nonprofits


Form A for BUSINESSESPlease answer all questions as concisely as possible on your company letterhead or online at ssb.dscc.com.

Applications may not exceed ten pages. You may include up to four attachments in addition to a ten page application.1. Business name, address and phone number; Primary contact’s name, title, phone number and email address.

2. Please describe your business.

3. List the number of years in business and briefly explain how your business was started.

4. Number of employees and average tenure (Please distinguish between full-time and part-time).

5. Please provide your business mission statement and/or business philosophy. Provide your mission statement, vision statement, guiding principles or strategies for success. How is your mission statement communicated to clients, investors and/or the general public, i.e. word of mouth, through marketing materials, etc.? Also explain how they were developed – were they customer or leadership driven, and how do you ensure they are understood by your entire company? Tell us here if you have team building meetings, strategy sessions and/or safety meetings that may include a regular discussion on these important guiding statements.

6. Given the economic challenges of the recent past and present, how have you been able to sustain or grow your business? Please explain how today’s difficult economic climate has created obstacles or opportunities for your business. How are you dealing with the “New Normal?” Here is the place to highlight any strategies or measures taken that have resulted in savings, stability or growth. An index of profitability, projection and/or financial summary is required (examples could be revenue growth percentage, profit margin, etc.). Profitability results or a steady financial track record would be great evidence of skillful business management. How do your financial records measure up to other companies in your industry? Smaller companies should show growth or sustainability and share projections for the future. Actual financial metrics will separate your application from the competition. Tell us of innovative ways you have used to market or boost sales that have produced a good ROI, be specific. Remain assured that all information is kept confidential.

7. What makes your business stand apart from your peers and/or similar businesses? Please use this question to outline how you identify customer needs and priorities. Customer loyalty, years of experience, low associate turnover and industry awards are all competitive weapons. Tell us if you are measuring customer satisfaction or if you have moved to customer loyalty or customer advocacy. Share with us how you brand your company and how you maintain it, i.e. social media, online networking, marketing campaigns, etc. Tell us if you have a customer database or process to retain information about customers to use in the future. If you have a formal process for tracking and resolving complaints, please highlight your program here and brag about your results. If associate training or education reimbursement programs are a big part of your employee retention program or your quality/safety programs, please tell us about that too. Specific examples are appreciated.

8. Identify two or three of the most significant challenges in growing your business. Explain how you handled them. Some companies highlight their hiring and retention programs here and others may share their success in adpating to economic climate changes. If there are challenges, financial or otherwise, how did the leaders of the organization rally associates to meet the challenge? How were the challenges identified and did you anticipate them coming? If they could not have been predicted, what have you learned for the next time to make the company stronger? If there are no challenges/problems to list because all employees are proactively taking care of all aspects of the business in the best possible way, tell us that too!

9. Briefly discuss the nature and involvement of your community service efforts. List key leaders’ involvement – describe investments of time, as well as causes supported financially. This is also the place where you may highlight efforts to care for our environment. List efforts regarding investment in friendlier vehicles or equipment, and to conserve and recycle materials. Do you have a formal program that includes fundraising or service hours donated? Are the commitments or passions you have for certain causes conveyed in your marketing? Are they a part of the image you relate to others? Describe any support for a health and safety program where you may even include family members.





Form B for NONPROFITSPlease answer all questions as concisely as possible on your company letterhead or online at ssb.dscc.com.

Applications may not exceed ten pages. You may include up to four attachments in addition to a ten page application.

1. Business name, address, and phone number; Primary contact’s name, title, phone number and email address.

2. Please describe the work of your nonprofit.

3. Number of years serving the community.

4. Number of paid staff and average tenure.

5. Number of volunteers and their average tenure.

6. Percentage of your organization’s budget that is: Program Services______, Fundraising______, Management and General______.

7. Please provide your organization’s mission statement and/or philosophy.

A mission statement, vision statement, guiding principles or strategies for success should be listed here or can be included as attachments. How is your mission statement communicated to clients, investors and/or the general public, i.e. word of mouth, through marketing materials, etc.? Also explain how they were developed – were they customer or leadership driven, and how do you ensure they are understood by your entire organization? Tell us here if you have team building meetings, strategy sessions and/or safety meetings that may include a regular discussion on these important guiding statements.

8. What makes your nonprofit stand apart from your peers and/or similar nonprofits?

Please outline the measurable outcomes you monitor that indicate client satisfaction, program delivery, volunteer tenure and retention and fundraising effectiveness.

9. What is the number of people or groups that have benefited from your organization? (Please provide results for each of the last three years.)

10. What have been the two or three most significant challenges in meeting the needs of your constituency? And how have you approached these challenges?

Do you have a survey process for your constituents and/or your benefactors to identify how their needs are changing? Have any changes to your organization come from this survey process in the past few years?





scenic surroundings the Heritage

Shores Club provides a unique

venue for weddings with a beau-

tifully adorned grand ballroom or

the expansive outdoor patio. Our

guests will experience excep-

tional amenities, first-class ser-

vice and attention to detail when

visiting Heritage Shores Club.

Kings Creek Country ClubOne Kings Creek Circle,

Rehoboth Beach

Contact: Gary Wheeler

Phone: (302) 227-7172

Fax: (302) 227-7015

Email: gwheeler@kingscreek

countryclub.com

Website: www.kingscreek

countryclub.com

The peaceful setting of the

beautifully lush golf course and

ample facilities for all your needs

has made Kings Creek Country

Club a popular destination for all

weddings, receptions, meetings

and banquets. Able to accom-

modate parties of nearly any

size; staff of food and function

specialists can readily make

arrangements for indoor or

open-air ceremonies.

Rookery Golf Club27052 Broadkill Road, Milton

Contact: Glenda Adkins

Phone: (302) 684-3103

Fax: (302) 684-3389


Website: www.rookerygolf.com

Inside the Rookery Golf Club

is the Blue Heron Grille, a res-

taurant offering breakfast and

lunch every day and dinner on

Fridays. The Rookery Golf Club

specializes in golf outings, small

receptions and dinner parties.

Capacity: 80 to 100.

University & Whist Club of Wilmington805 North Broom Street, Wilmington

Contact: Margaret Reilly

Phone: (302) 658-5125

Fax: (302) 658-6415


Website: www.universityand

whistclub.com

The University and Whist Club

of Wilmington is known for its

quiet elegance and charm. The

Club is recognized for its long-

standing reputation for fine din-

ing and attentive service. Come

and experience the superior

food, beverage and services the

University and Whist Club has to

offer in an atmosphere of comfort,

warm hospitality and camarade-

rie. The Club offers eight different

private rooms that can accom-

modate from 2 to 200 guests.

The Club is open to the public

for catering, business meetings,

rehearsal dinners, bridal and

baby showers, wedding recep-

tions, breakfasts, luncheons,

dinners, private parties, holiday

gatherings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs and

memorial receptions.

UNIVERSITIES & COLLEGES

The Bob Carpenter Sports/ Convocation CenterUniversity of Delaware

631 South College Avenue, Newark

Contact: Domenick Sicilia

Phone: (302) 831-4015

Fax: (302) 831-4019

continued from page 30



Form B for NONPROFITSPlease answer all questions as concisely as possible on your company letterhead or online at ssb.dscc.com.

Applications may not exceed ten pages. You may include up to four attachments in addition to a ten page application.

1. Business name, address, and phone number; Primary contact’s name, title, phone number and email address.

2. Please describe the work of your nonprofit.

3. Number of years serving the community.

4. Number of paid staff and average tenure.

5. Number of volunteers and their average tenure.

6. Percentage of your organization’s budget that is: Program Services______, Fundraising______, Management and General______.

7. Please provide your organization’s mission statement and/or philosophy.

A mission statement, vision statement, guiding principles or strategies for success should be listed here or can be included as attachments. How is your mission statement communicated to clients, investors and/or the general public, i.e. word of mouth, through marketing materials, etc.? Also explain how they were developed – were they customer or leadership driven, and how do you ensure they are understood by your entire organization? Tell us here if you have team building meetings, strategy sessions and/or safety meetings that may include a regular discussion on these important guiding statements.

8. What makes your nonprofit stand apart from your peers and/or similar nonprofits?

Please outline the measurable outcomes you monitor that indicate client satisfaction, program delivery, volunteer tenure and retention and fundraising effectiveness.

9. What is the number of people or groups that have benefited from your organization? (Please provide results for each of the last three years.)

10. What have been the two or three most significant challenges in meeting the needs of your constituency? And how have you approached these challenges?

Do you have a survey process for your constituents and/or your benefactors to identify how their needs are changing? Have any changes to your organization come from this survey process in the past few years?



Green Room New! Sunday Brunch Buffet

Experience the Exceptional.

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Website: www.udel.edu/bcc

The Bob Carpenter Sports/

Convocation Center (BCC) is a

5,000-seat multipurpose facility

at the University of Delaware.

The BCC is the home of the

Fightin’ Blue Hens men’s and

women’s basketball teams.

It also serves as a venue for

contemporary entertainment

for the University and the local

community and offers approxi-

mately 20,000 square feet of

floor space for exhibits, con-

ferences, meetings (capacity

5,000) and banquets (capacity

1,000).

Delaware State University1200 N. DuPont Highway, Dover

Phone: (302) 857-7775

Fax: (302) 857-7246


Delaware State University

offers facilities available to host

events ranging from confer-

ences, meetings and seminars

to banquets and concerts.

Capacities range up to 8,000

people. Request reservations

at least 60 days in advance for

large events; meetings require

a 15 business day notifica-

tion. The University is centrally

located, includes friendly and

courteous service and is handi-

capped accessible.

Delaware Technical & Community College, Conference & Training CentersDover, Georgetown, Stanton &

Wilmington

Contact: Pat Callahan

Phone: (302) 857-1414

Fax: (302) 857-1452


Website: www.dtcc.edu/ccp

Experience the best of both

worlds – a learning environment

grounded in academic tradi-

tion, with the finest in hospitality

amenities and high-tech meeting

facilities. There are four loca-

tions, with at least one in each

of Delaware’s three counties.

Each center offers fully equipped

breakout rooms, networked mul-

tipurpose computer labs, video

conferencing facilities and ample

parking at all locations, all less

than 20 minutes from any point

in Delaware. A team of experi-

enced conference and meeting

planners will work with you to

develop a flawless meeting that

exceeds expectations. Every

detail from menu planning to the

most sophisticated technology

will be handled. Capacity: five

to 1,300.

Goodstay Center & Arsht HallUniversity of Delaware2700 Pennsylvania Avenue,

Wilmington

Phone: (302) 573-4401

Fax: (302) 573-4402

Website: www.udel.edu/conferences

Goodstay Center has the char-

acter and charm typical of the

historic Brandywine Valley. The

1700s-era stone mansion is a

favorite site for weddings and

social gatherings. Arsht Hall is

supremely designed for min-

gling and buffets. The building

itself is designed in a contem-

porary style and is full of light,

comfort and convenience. The

meeting and banquet room

capacity for meetings is 10 to

100, 200 banquet style and 300

for receptions.


Delaware State University



John M. Clayton Hall100 David Hollowell Dr., Newark

Contact: Polly Weir

Phone: (302) 831-2214

Fax: (302) 831-2998



Clayton Hall’s conference facility

houses superlative, state-of-

the-art facilities and is flexible

in accommodating a wide range

of conferences, from an intimate

gathering for 10 to a full-scale

1,200-person conclave. Clayton

Hall features include a dedicated

conference staff, state-of-the-art

audio visual, 7,700 square feet

of exhibit area, 22 conference

and meeting rooms and a 500-

seat auditorium.

Neumann UniversityOne Neumann Drive, Aston,

Pennsylvania

Contact: Alexis Sinkow, Director of

Conference and Scheduling Services

Phone: (610) 558-5625


Website: www.neumann.edu/about/

conferencing.asp

Looking for a Retreat-like

Atmosphere? Neumann

University has meeting space

conveniently located in the

Rocco A. Abessinio Building.

Included in this space are mod-

ern meeting rooms equipped

with board tables, audio-visual

capabilities, and easy access

to vending machines and rest-

rooms

Virden Conference & Retreat CenterUniversity of Delaware

700 Pilottown Road, Lewes

Contact: Jay Taylor

Phone: (302) 645-4110

Fax: (302) 645-4113



The University of Delaware’s

Virden Center is a full-service

conference and retreat facility

situated in a quiet secluded set-

ting in historic, seaside Lewes.

The Center features comfortably

appointed overnight accommo-

dations for 50 people and meet-

ing/dining space for 100-plus

people.

COMMUNITY, CONFERENCE & CONVENTION CENTERS

Brandywine Executive Center1521 Concord Pike, Suite 301,

Wilmington

Contact: Chuck Boyce

Phone: (302) 352-9948


Website: www.bewcenter.com

Executive office space, shared

office space, business identity,

meeting space.

Chase Center on the Riverfront815 Justison Street, Wilmington

Contact: Allison Wier

Phone: (302) 425-3929 ext. 138

Fax: (302) 425-4897

Email: info@centeronthe

riverfront.com

Website: www.centeronthe

riverfront.com

The largest boutique special

event facility in the Brandywine

Valley for meetings, trade-

shows, and celebrations.

Modern spacious design with

over 87,000 square feet of

versatile space including dedi-

cated exhibit space, meeting

rooms, fixed seat auditorium

and two beautifully appointed

ballrooms. The center holds

1,600 for banquets. State-of-

the-art professional in-house

audio visual services, ground

floor, drive in access and com-

plimentary Wi-Fi. Seamless

event planning, award-winning

delectable culinary combined

with professional, accommo-

dating service will elevate your

event.

Easter Seals Conference Center61 Corporate Circle, New Castle

Contact: Nancy Ranalli

Phone: (302) 324-4444


Website: www.de.easterseals.com

Easter Seals offers a beauti-

ful, brand-new 1,400-square-

foot Conference Center. The

Conference Center is con-

veniently located just off of

Commons Boulevard and is

perfect for professional train-

ings, conferences, workshops

or meetings. Depending on

seating and table arrangements,

this room can accommodate

between 65 – 100 people. The

Conference Center is fully acces-

sible and includes Internet con-

nection, video connection, a

wireless mouse and keyboard, a

wireless microphone, a DVD/VHS

player, and a speaker phone.

The room also has an audio

loop for the hearing impaired.

Limited food service is available,

as are breakout rooms. Parking

is free and just steps from the

front door. Our rates are very

reasonable, and all funds are

used to support disability ser-

vices. Ask about our Dover and

Georgetown locations.



STAT Office Solutions1201 North Orange Street,

Wilmington

Contact: Linda Grund

Phone: (302) 884-6746

Fax: (302) 573-2507

Email: lgrund@statoffice

solutions.com

Website: www.statoffice

solutions.com

STAT Office Solutions offers

first-class work and meeting

space without the expense of

traditional office space. Several

customized packages are avail-

able for furnished office space,

virtual offices and meeting facili-

ties in our world-class head-

quarters conveniently located

in downtown Wilmington. Our

dedicated staff enjoys watching

our clients grow their business

while we provide them with pro-

fessional support services.

Wilmington Area Planning Council (WILMAPCO)850 Library Ave. Suite 100, Newark

Contact: Randi Novakoff

Phone: (302) 737-6205 ext. 111


Website: www.wilmapco.org

A meeting/conference room is

available for public meetings.

Capacity: 45

MUSEUMS

Biggs Museum of American Art406 Federal Street, Dover

Contact: Beccy Cooper

Phone: (302) 674-2111, ext. 101


Website: www.biggsmuseum.org

The Biggs Museum of

American Art houses a collec-

tion of fine and decorative art

objects reflecting Delaware,

the Delmarva Peninsula, and

the Mid-Atlantic region. The

museum’s 16 galleries display

a careful balance of furniture,

paintings, silver, glass, ceramics,

and textiles in a timeline presen-

tation from 1700 to the present.

A number of diverse spaces are

available for meetings, recep-

tions, cocktail parties, rehearsal

dinners, weddings and other

occasions. Private gallery tours

can be provided. Fees are based

on the number of guests and

hours reserved for the event.

Delaware Art Museum2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington

Contact: Liz Derosier

Phone: (302) 571-9590 ext. 530

Fax: (302) 571-0220



Biggs Museum of American Art



Website: www.delart.org

The museum offers indoor and

outdoor facilities in a variety of

sizes. For Spring 2011 only, the

museum’s large Gallery 10 will

be available for rental, perfect

for a sit-down event (up to 180

people) or greatly expanded

capacity for a reception (up to

400). In addition, the Chihuly

Bridge, running along Dale

Chihuly’s Persian Window, is

appropriate for smaller gather-

ings. The museum is available

for corporate, non-profit and

social event rental. Capacity:

250; 400 for Gallery 10.

Delaware Children’s Museum550 Justison Street, Wilmington

Contact: Ms. Julie Van Blarcom

Phone: (302) 654-2340

Fax: (302) 654-2341

Email: julie@delaware

childrensmuseum.org

Website: www.delaware

childrensmuseum.org

Delaware Children’s Museum’s

mission is to inspire children to

explore, discover, and celebrate

the power of their potential

through interactive experiences

in an environment that integrates

and stimulates science, tech-

nology, engineering, arts, and

mathematics.

Historic Odessa Foundation201 Main Street, Odessa

Contact: Ms. Jennifer Cabell

Phone: (302) 378-4119

Fax: (302) 378-4050

Email: jennifer.cabell@historic

odessa.org

Website: www.historicodessa.org

The foundation encompasses

five historic houses, nearly 30

acres of surrounding property,

outbuildings, and gardens, an

outstanding private collection

of household furnishings, fine

and decorative arts, and pro-

grams and tours that bring this

18th-century enclave to life, all

year long.

Rockwood Park and Museum610 Shipley Road, Wilmington

Contact: Regina Marini

Phone: (302) 761-4342

Fax: (302) 761-1723


Website: www.rockwoodpark.org

Rockwood offers newly reno-

vated, state-of the-art meet-

ing facilities, a Victorian house

museum and Victorian style

cafe, historic landscape garden,

and a park with more than two

miles of lighted walking trails

that connect to the Northern

Delaware Greenway.

Winterthur Museum5105 Kennett Pike, Wilmington

Contact: Ms. Isabelle Farrell

Phone: (302) 888-6103

Fax: (302) 888-4685


Website: www.winterthur.org

Founded by Henry Francis du

Pont, Winterthur (pronounced

“winter-tour”) is the premier

museum of American decora-

tive arts, reflecting both early

America and the du Pont

family’s life here. Its 60-acre

naturalistic garden is among the

country’s best, and its research

library serves scholars from

around the world.

THEATERS

Delaware Theatre Company200 Water Street, Wilmington

Contact: MaryAnn “MJ” Jones

Phone: (302) 594-1104 ext. 251

Fax: (302) 594-1107


Website: www.delawaretheatre.org

Founded in 1979, the Delaware

Theatre Company (DTC) is the

flagship professional theatre in

the state and one of Delaware’s

largest cultural institutions.

Recognized as the cornerstone

in the Brandywine Valley’s rich

cultural landscape, DTC has pro-

duced more than 150 plays for

over one million residents and

visitors to its community. DTC

offers rentals of its full stage,

apron, gallery/ lobby, rehearsal

hall and more.

The DuPont Theatre1007 N. Market St., Wilmington

Contact: Diana Hunt

Phone: (302) 656-4401 or

(800) 338-0881

Fax: (302) 594-1437

Website: www.duponttheatre.com

The DuPont Theatre is among

the oldest continually operating

theaters in the nation. Located in

the luxurious Hotel du Pont, the

brightest stars of stage and screen

have graced the lovely Victorian

stage since 1913. This 1,200-seat

theater is the perfect setting for

large meetings and events.

Joshua M. Freeman FoundationAddress: 31750 Lake View Drive,

Selbyville

Contact: Mr. Robin Spangenberg

Phone: (302) 436-3015

Fax: (302) 436-3082

Email: Robin@Freeman

Foundation.org

Website: www.FreemanStage.org

A fundraising nonprofit arts

organization featuring an open-

air stage near Fenwick Island,

the Freeman Stage at Bayside is

the host of a variety of events.

Spectators of all ages, from

children to seniors, and seat-

ing of all styles; from the soft

grass, lawn chairs, or bleachers,

sit back and relax for dances,

concerts, plays, and children’s

programming. Performances are

often held Thursday and Friday

nights, Saturday mornings and

sometimes, even Saturday eve-

nings throughout the starry sum-

mer nights.

The Grand Opera House818 North Market Street, Wilmington

Contact: Melissa Lazopoulos

Phone: (302) 658-7897

Fax: (302) 652-5346

Email: MLazopoulos@grand

opera.org

Website: www.thegrand

wilmington.org

The Grand is a Victorian opera

house which has been meticu-

lously restored to its original

grandeur and outfitted to serve

Delaware as a performance

facility. It includes a 1,190-seat

theater, a 300-seat theater and

studios with capacities from 16

to 300 people.

FLORISTS

Boyd’s Flowers2013 Pennsylvania Ave., Wilmington

Contact: Mrs. Jacqueline Cinaglia

Phone: (302) 421-2900

Fax: (302) 421-2912


Website: www.boydsflowers.com

It is Boyd’s mission to provide

caring service, and products

of quality and value for those

times most important in life. The

company offers the best variety

of flowers in Wilmington, across

the U.S. and worldwide.

A LITTLE DIFFERENT

Bowlerama3031 New Castle Ave., New Castle

Contact: Steve Gross,

Director of Marketing

Phone: (302) 654-0263

Fax: (302) 654-0263




Website: www.bowlerama.us

Newly renovated in 2008-2009,

Bowlerama Family Entertainment

Bowling Center offers more than

1000 sq. ft. of meeting space for

over 100 people. Available for

meetings, team building, parties,

awards banquets, reunions and

much more. A 50” Plasma TV,

DVD, sound system, wireless

internet, climate controlled and

ample free on-site parking are

available. Bowlerama is handi-

cap accessible. Many packages

are available that include food,

refreshments, snacks, bowling

and shoe rental.

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Inc.6 Cannery Village Center, Milton

Contact: Mark Carter

Phone: (302) 684-1000

Fax: (302) 226-0792


Website: www.dogfish.com

Free tours of Dogfish Head’s

Milton, Delaware, brewery

include sampling (only for those

of legal drinking age), and a

chance to get all beer and

merchandise in our on-site gift

shop. The tours are fun and give

you a chance to get a behind-

the-scenes peek at our brew

house, the cellars (including our

3 huge wooden tanks) and our

packaging hall.

Fisher’s Popcorn37081 Coastal Hwy.,

Fenwick Island, (888) 491-7541

108 Garfield Pkwy., Bethany Beach,

(888) 491-7541

48 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach,

(888) 491-7541

Contact: Mr. William Hall, III


Website: fisherspopcorn-

fenwick.com

Family owned and operated

since 1937, this popcorn palace

has several locations, each one

creating delicious gluten-free,

caramel-coated corn. They

pride themselves on using no

preservatives and their hands to

make ‘the world’s best caramel

popcorn.’ Fisher’s offers five

different flavors in three differ-

ent containers, as well as up to

three different beachfront loca-

tions in the state.

Junior Achievement of Delaware522 S. Walnut Street, Wilmington

Contact: Perry Bacon

Phone: (302) 654-4510

Fax: (302) 654-0783


Website: www.jadelaware.org


Kalmar Nyckel Foundation



Junior Achievement’s Experiential

Learning Center provides a unique

backdrop that is perfect for any

type of event. The facility offers

more than 13,000 square feet of

space and is appropriate for small

intimate gatherings or receptions

accommodating as many as 200

people. A mini-version of a town

can simulate a meeting in a village

square, a local bank or a mayor’s

office. This one-of-a-kind setting

will make any function memorable.

State-of-the-art audio/visual equip-

ment includes 14-foot screens for

DVD/VHS and PowerPoint pre-

sentations, a smart board, internet

access and a computer lab.

Kalmar Nyckel Foundation1124 East 7th Street, Wilmington

Phone: (302) 429-7447

The Kalmar Nyckel provides

sails for up to 49 passengers

for private charters and has a

90 person capacity for dockside

events. The ship is an excel-

lent showcase for corporate,

private, and educational events,

such as employee meetings,

social galas, and school groups.

Guest are invited to haul lines

alongside the crew, join in a sea

shanty or two, and enjoy tales

of the original Kalmar Nyckel

or pirate history on the special

pirate sails.

Serpe & Sons Bakery1411 Kirkwood Highway, Elsmere

Contact: Mr. Dominic Serpe

Phone: (302) 994-1868

Fax: (302) 994-7355


Website: www.serpesbakery.com

A family-owned business for

over 60 years, Serpe’s has

been making award-winning

pastries, pizzas, and cakes

for countless occasions. For

over 20 years, Serpe’s has

earned multiple awards, includ-

ing Best of Delaware. Most

recently, the bakery has been

voted Reader’s Choice Best

Bakery by readers of The News

Journal.

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Final Focus301 A Street, Wilmington

Contact: Dick Dubroff

Phone: (302) 655-7718

Fax: (302) 655-7918

Website: www.finalfocus.com

Portraits In The Sand110 White Oak Rd., Rehoboth Beach

Contact: David Koster

Phone: (302) 226-9226

Website: www.portraitsinthe

sand.com

Tucker PhotographicP.O. Box 397, Rockland

Contact: Kevin Tucker

Phone: (302) 764-8040

SIGNS/EXHIBITS/ AV/LIGHTING

BSI Exhibits3070 McCann Farm Drive

Suite 104 Garnet Valley, PA

Contact: Steve Berman

Phone: (610) 622-2100

Website: www.bsiexhibits.com

BSI Exhibits specializes in

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a variety of functions from

corporate to private events.

Providing both purchase and

rental materials, this design

partner offers some of the best

display products and graphics to

make any event more productive

and manageable. A key player

in each step of the way, from

planning, to executing, and even

packing up, its design team

goes a long way to meet many

needs. The company even offers

on-site support.

Digital Music Express (DMX)4008 North Dupont Highway,

New Castle

Phone: (302) 575-1800

Fax: (302) 655-0774

Provides background and fore-

ground music.

Light Action, Inc.71 Industrial Boulevard, New Castle

Phone: (302) 328-7800

Fax: (302) 328-7400

Light Action, Inc. is a full service

production company specializing

in theatrical lighting, staging,

and audio-visual services. A

broad range of the most modern

products and services are avail-

able for our clients supporting

meetings, banquets, concerts,

theatrical productions, and cor-

porate events.

Maintenance Engineering, Ltd.905 N. Rodney Street, New Castle

Contact: Mr. Jack Coleman

Phone: (800) 437-4794

Email: jackthelightbulbguy@

hotmail.com

Website: www.earth-safe.net

Parcels, Inc.230 N. Market St., P.O. Box 27,

Wilmington

Phone: (302) 888-1718


Parcels offers full service litiga-

tion support, high speed copy-

ing and scanning services,

color reprographics, banner

production and specialty printing

– including short runs. Services

available 24/7.

Sign A Rama of Newark995A S. Chapel St., Newark

Contact: Mr. Mark Janocha

Phone: (302) 454-7446

Fax: (302) 454-0155


Website: www.SignaramaOf

Newark.com

CATERERSThe Greenery Caterers at Rockwood Park Carriage House610 Shipley Road, Wilmington

Contact: Craig and Patti Trostle

Phone: (302) 472-2433

Fax: (302) 482-1885

Email: ctrostle@greenery

caterers.com

The Greenery Caterers are the

exclusive caterers at the newly

renovated Rockwood Park

Carriage House located on the

grounds of New Castle County’s

Rockwood Park. The Carriage

House is designed for both out-

door garden wedding ceremo-

nies, as well as indoor wedding

receptions with a fabulous new

climate-controlled patio area.

In addition to weddings from

60 – 225 people, the Carriage


Sherm’s Catering



House is also ideal for any social

or corporate event of distinction:

anniversaries, showers, bereave-

ment gatherings, corporate

retreats or business meetings.

A state-of-the-art audio visual

business room is available, as

well as several other meeting

rooms. The menus are custom-

ized to meet anyone’s budget

and culinary desires, and the

food is presented in a creative

artistic display with hand-carved

fruits and vegetables.

Le Chateau Gourmet805 South Harrison Street,

Wilmington

Contact: Charles Grier

Phone: (302) 654-2585

Fax: (302) 429-1872

Sherm’s Catering2 East Main St., Christiana

Contact: Ms. Susan Forbes

Phone: (302) 453-1111

Fax: (866) 966-8880


Website: www.shermscatering.com

When you’re planning an event,

the quality of the food isn’t just

important—it’s critical. Sherm’s

has more than 10 years of expe-

rience providing great meals

and the great memories that go

along with them. All meals are

prepared under the guidance of

Chef Sherm with a passion for

perfection and a flair for presen-

tation. Amazing food at astound-

ingly affordable prices. Wedding

catering, corporate catering,

party and event catering.

EVENT SERVICES/SPEAKERS/STAFFI NG

Barry’s Events1700 Shallcross Avenue, Newcastle

Contact: Mr. Barry Schlecker

Phone: (302) 690-5555

Fax: (302) 658-5555


Website: www.brandywinearts.com

Led by community event guru

Barry Schlecker, Barry’s Events

encompasses such local tradi-

tions as the Old Fashioned Ice

Cream Festival at Rockwood

Park, the WilmFilm Festival,

and the 50 year-old Brandywine

Festival of the Arts.

Celebrations Event Planning

Address: P.O. Box 1708, Dover

Contact: Ms. Rae Short

Phone: (302) 242-6230


Specializing in corporate events,

Celebrations works locally as

well as nationally to cover a vari-

ety of events. For businesses,

Celebrations coordinates grand

openings, offering full concierge

service and handling travel.

Celebrations is also the key

player of planning and logistics

behind many member events.

Greater Wilmington Convention and Visitors Bureau100 West 10th Street, Suite 20,

Wilmington

Contact: Director of Sales

Phone: (302) 295-2213

Fax: (302) 652-4726


Website: www.VisitWilmington

DE.com

From stately mansions and

museums to opulent gardens

and historic hotels, GWCVB will

help you find the perfect setting

for your next event. GWCVB will

save time and money by doing

the legwork for you… free of

charge.

Simon & Co.130 Hickman Rd. Suite 10,

Claymont

Contact: Jennifer Simon

Phone: (302) 792-2515

Website: www.simonandco.com


Simon & Co. is a gift and spe-

cialty food business special-

izing in the most unique fine

foods, combining them together

with just the right packaging –

creating the most elegant gifts

that are “Simply delicious.”

Do you need a special favor

for a corporate meeting or a

wedding? How about fabulous

chocolates or nuts for your

tables? And if you have guests

or associates staying in a local

hotel for your event, we will

prepare welcoming gift bags or

boxes that will make them “ooh

and aah.” Our gifts can be cus-

tomized to meet anyone’s bud-

get and desires. Simon & Co.

also offers “fresh baked trays”

that are perfect for any office, a

meeting, or just to send to your

favorite host or hostess. nSimon & Co.



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Guide to Higher Education

IN A TECHNOLOGY DRIVEN SOCIETY, it’s no surprise that online learning has become one of the fastest growing national trends in higher education. Local institutions, including Wilmington University, Delaware State University, University of Delaware, Delaware Technical Community College, Neumann College, and Widener University—to name a few—have each embraced online learning in ways unique to their respective institution.

“Online is changing the way we do things. Whether it’s banking, shop-ping, or education. Student demand really drove the growth,” says Dr.

Sallie A. Reissman, senior director of online learning and educational tech-nology for Wilmington University.

Ever-changing technology and growing student demand is keeping administrators on their toes and, in some cases, creating new jobs and departments at colleges and universities. “Video is changing the landscape of online learning,” Reissman says.

The benefits are obvious, with the highest demand for online courses coming from adult learners who wish to take courses around their hectic work and family schedules.

Local colleges and universities continue to increase online learning options.

BY STEPHANIE F. ADAMS

Net Gains




“There is an increased need for students to work to fund their education,” says Dr. Robert Bunnell, Neumann College’s dean of continuing adult and professional studies. “As soon as online courses open, they are the first ones to fill. Every semester we are offering more and more courses online.”

This new frontier of education raises many questions: Which courses should be offered online? How will they be administered? How can we ensure student success? Local institutions each have unique and innovative answers to these questions. As demand grows across the board, institutions are paying special attention to ensuring student success on this new educa-tion platform.

In March, the UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE’s Lerner College of Business & Economics, led by Dean Bruce Weber, embraced cutting-edge technology when it launched the online MBA degree program, which allows the busiest professionals the ease and flexibility to pursue their professional growth and development. “Our target is the ambitious young manager who knows he wants to gain MBA credential and the knowledge and exposure to those topics, but is not comfortable signing up for a part-time program when they know they’ll miss a third of the classes because they have to be a client on those days,” Weber says.

With Adobe Canvas, UD faculty can communicate with students in real time, and students can communicate with each other.

DELAWARE TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE’s online, or Distance Education, program is comprised of both fully online and blended course options. The most popular option is blended learning, which consists of hybrid courses (less than 50 percent on campus) and web enhanced (more than 50 percent on campus).

“Hybrid is the best of both worlds: the flexibility of an online course and the face-to-face attention of in-person class,” says Dr. Richard C. Kralevich, associate vice president for information and instructional technology.

Students have a wide variety of online options with 14 percent of courses offering having at least one fully online course option. However, only 2.8 percent of students take a fully online course-load—likely due to the fact that so many students are local and technical courses aren’t suited to online learning.

In terms of curriculum, Smith suggests that the online learning objec-tives are the same as in person classes. However, because it requires a differ-ent set of skills for faculty instructions, a training system called IDEG pro-vides a variety of workshops for professors. Finally, to help ensure student success, all incoming students are required to have academic advisement.

“Research shows that students who aren’t successful in distance learn-ing usually aren’t because they aren’t familiar with the online format,” says Kravelich.

DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY is in the early phases of devel-oping online programs and coursework, offering approximately 42 online courses for its students. Classes that are currently offered online have been converted from face-to-face programs to a fully online delivery mode.

“We are in the building phase, currently developing the infrastructure,” says Michael Boone, associate vice president for distance education. “We

have forward leaning plans to enter into the online program delivery mode in the not too distant future: January 2015.”

DSU is in the process of obtaining approval from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education for several online programs including Masters of Business Administration, Masters of Public Administration, Masters of Sports Administration and Masters of Social Work.

The school, like most other area institutions, has moved to further develop online offerings in response to increasing demand. “We believe that this is a fertile market place for online learning. This is an opportunity for us to add value in the educational arena,” Boone says.

DSU offers special training and support to professors who teach online, and all online courses undergo a thorough quality control process. “Once we devel-op fully online programs, we will have a full certification process,” Boone says.

At NEUMANN COLLEGE, a Catholic Institution based in Ashton, Pa., a vast majority of online courses can be found in the general cur-riculum. The school offers three programs in a 100-percent online format: B.A./B.S. in Liberal Studies, B.S. in Public Safety Administration, and M.S. in Organizational and Strategic Leadership.

“A large percentage of our students are working 10 to 40 hours a week,” says Dr. Robert Bunnell, dean of continuing adult and professional studies.



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Beginning this fall, the school plans to add a Public Safety Administration degree to its list of fully online programs. The program was developed in response to market demands and will be geared toward police, fire fighters and/or first responders who wish to take the next step in their career.

Neumann belongs to a consortium of colleges and universities online, entitled Online Consortium of Independent Colleges & Universities (OCICU). The OCICU affords Neumann students, who are 21-or-older adult learners, the ability to take online courses from any other institution belonging to the consortium—greatly increasing options for students. “We see this only as a trend that it is going to continue to get larger,” Bunnell says.

Like many other institutions, Neumann encourages certain best practices to help ensure a student’s success, suggesting previous college experience to anyone embarking in online learning for the first time.

WILMINGTON UNIVERSITY, the third-fastest growing univer-sity in the country, began offering online courses in 2007. Since then, it

has grown to offer 80 programs, concentrations and courses completely online—within all different colleges. About one-third of Wilmington University’s 19,000 students are enrolled in online courses, with the most popular programs including Business Administration, Nursing and Behavioral Science.

“We cater to non-traditional students who are adult learners that need to go to school part-time,” says Dr. Sallie A. Reissman, senior director of online learning and educational technology.

What distinguishes Wilmington’s online program, aside from its afford-ability, is its active and innovative “virtual campus,” aimed at making stu-dents from all across the country feel like they are apart of the community. An online student association gives students a voice to help the programs grow by way of presenting suggestions and ideas. Wilmington University even started a separate college—the College of Online and Experiential Learning—as well as a new position, “Navigator,” whose primary job is to help online students feel connected to the campus.

When it comes to curriculum, Wilmington has developed a systematic

This new frontier of education raises many questions: Which courses should be offered online?

How will they be administered? How can we ensure student success? Local institutions each

have unique and innovative answers to these questions.




approach to building our online courses, including a whole team of instructional designers. From there, instructors customize with audio and video.

WIDENER UNIVERSITY offers two fully online Masters Programs: Master of Jurisprudence in Health Law and Masters of Jurisprudence in Corporate and Business Law.

“Our strength is our corporate law program, we specialize in compliance,” says Eileen Grana Piretti, assistant dean for gradu-ate and compliance programs.

Students of Jurisprudence often work in the high demand field of compliance.

“Organizations that now need to follow new (and old) legal regulations, need to have entire compliance departments,” says Pamela Kroh, director of graduate and compliance programs.

These skills can be utilized in nearly any field including: global privacy, corporate, research, education, business, hospitals, physician offices, retail companies and more.

“Students come from all around the country, so the growth has increased tremendously because of the strength of our online programs,” says Kroh.

These programs are accredited Compliance Certification Board and the American Bar Association, meaning students can immediately sit for the compliance exams. In 2011, the school received the Compliance and

Ethics award for their online compliance program.Whereas most other local institutions utilize Blackboard to administer

online course, Widener uses The West Education Network – which dou-bles as a Legal Research Database, allowing their students access to cases for legal research.

“Even though it’s online learning we do not lose that person-to-person contact,” says Kroh. The technology enables face-to-face connection with students through video and chat. n

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Guide to Financial Services

FEW DELAWAREANS CAN OFFER a better perspective on how Delaware banks have served the state’s low- and moderate-income resi-dents over the years than Rashmi Rangan, the longtime executive director of DCRAC, the Delaware Community Reinvestment Action Council.

Back in 1987, when DCRAC was created, Rangan says, the organiza-tion’s constituents might well have described the banks by crooning the Linda Ronstadt hit of the era, “Baby, You’re No Good.”

Not so today, as the banks and DCRAC more often see things eye to eye, Rangan says, and the mantra for both groups is “how can we help you do better?”

“There are very few things we do today just because of the CRA,” says Mike Skipper, vice president and community development manager at WSFS Bank, referring to the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977. “We do them because they are good for us and the right thing to do.”

It wasn’t always that way within the banking industry, with banks across the country engaging in a practice called “redlining,” marking out low-income portions of their service area and refusing to offer loans to businesses and indi-viduals within those zones. The CRA was designed to put a stop to redlining, and it required the various federal agencies that oversee the industry to analyze banks’ performance in accepting deposits, making loans and participating in community development in low- and moderate-income communities.

Banks in Delaware satisfy their responsibilities under CRA in diverse ways, including offering no-fee or low-fee checking accounts to low-income residents, providing loans that enable them to improve their credit scores by making on-time payments, assisting small businesses with startup financing, and providing financing for housing projects and other commu-nity improvements.

Here is a look at how five of Delaware’s banks (in alphabetical order) are meeting CRA responsibilities.

Artisans Bank, with $500 million in deposits and 12 branches, is one of Delaware’s smaller banks. “We’re at a competitive disadvantage, so we try to come up with flexible and innovative products to meet needs of all seg-ments of the community,” says Joel Schiller, Artisans senior vice president and chief risk officer.

Artisans works extensively with community organizations, including the DCRAC, the First State Community Loan Fund, YWCA of Delaware, Nehemiah Gateway Community Development Corporation, Interfaith Community Housing, West End Neighborhood House and the Delaware Alliance for Community Advancement (DACA), and offers a variety of loan and deposit services to individuals referred by these agencies.

Individuals who want to establish a credit history or improve their credit ratings, may take out a “credit builder loan” of $500 to $2,000. The proceeds are deposited in an interest-bearing account at the bank and borrowers repay the loan from their regular cash flow over 12 months. Borrowers learn finan-cial discipline and can make additional savings deposits as well. By making payments on time, borrowers can improve their credit scores by 30 to 70 points, which can be helpful as they save to buy their first home, Schiller says.

On the savings side, Artisans offers a special savings accounts to Nehemiah Gateway and DACA clients who receive assistance from those agencies in applying for the Earned Income Tax Credit on their federal tax returns. The tax credit is deposited directly into the savings account. “We open hundreds of these deposit accounts each tax season,” Schiller says. “When these depositors have an emergency—medical bills or car repairs, for example, they have something set aside.”

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Working with depositors and borrowers who have low and moderate incomes makes good business sense.

“We’re building relationships (with customers) for later,” when custom-ers are likely to have larger incomes and more extensive banking needs, Schiller says. “Most of our CRA customers don’t know they’re CRA cus-tomers. We treat everyone the same.”

Fulton Bank, like Artisans, offers a variety of deposit and loan products for individuals with low and moderate incomes. One example, says Randy Taylor, president of Fulton’s Delaware Division, is an alternative account for customers with a weak credit history who would not otherwise qualify for a checking account. “It has a monthly fee, but if you handle your account well for 12 months, we move it into a no fee, no minimum bal-ance account,” he says.

As a business lender, Fulton has cooperated with the Delaware Economic Development Office by partnering with other banks to create “blended rate” loan packages at a lower rate than businesses could obtain by working with a single bank, Taylor says.

Fulton’s initiatives in community service include participating in the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh’s Blueprint Communities program, which aims to strengthen small businesses and housing through communi-ty-based planning activities. Fulton bankers are currently serving as advisors to Blueprint Communities panels in Georgetown and in Wilmington’s Browntown neighborhood.

“It’s important for the community to have good leadership, and it’s

important for banks to be involved, to help stimulate economic growth and promote small businesses,” Taylor says.

Earlier this year, Fulton partnered with DCRAC to conduct two tax-preparation clinics in Georgetown, and the bank plans to continue this effort in 2015.

M&T Bank, following its acquisition of the Wilmington Trust Co. in2010, has continued many of the CRA programs initiated by Wilmington Trust, according to Beryl Brayman, M&T vice president and regional CRA officer.

A security deposit program, developed in conjunction with the West End Neighborhood House nearly 20 years ago, provides low-interest loans for 12 to 18 months to cover the cost of security deposits for rental hous-ing and/or utilities for individuals moving into affordable housing.

The Loans Plus program, also developed in partnership with West End Neighborhood House, was created in 2007 to give low-income individu-als an alternative to high-interest payday loans. Loans Plus offers same-day cash loans of $300 to $500 with a 9.99 percent interest rate and a three-month repayment period. Borrowers must participate in financial counsel-ing offered by West End or one of the other social services agencies that have become partners as the program expanded statewide, Brayman said.

This year, M&T assisted Interfaith Community Housing in expanding is homeownership counseling program in Sussex County. M&T officers participated in a five-week program held at the Boys & Girls Club in Seaford in which prospective first-time homebuyers received information



on budgeting, improving their credit, mortgage application procedures, home inspections and foreclosure avoidance. To encourage participation, the program included free dinners and baby-sitting.

TD Bank, another relative newcomer to Delaware, has been working extensively with Rangan and DCRAC on its community reinvestment efforts, according to Dennis Lagueux, senior vice president for community development.

“CRA is the law, but I like to think that we act both under the letter and the spirit of the law,” Lagueux says.

As an example, both Rangan and Lagueux pointed to a recent focus group session DCRAC arranged for TD Bank with about a dozen owners of small businesses on Wilmington’s East Side.

In talking with these business owners, Rangan said, she had found that many had been unable to secure loans to expand their businesses, and also that they did not have a good understanding of banking procedures.

During the three-hour focus group session, Lagueux said, TD officials talked about the barriers the businesses were facing and the misconceptions they held about the banking industry. Also participating in the meeting were representatives of Accion, an international microfinance organization that often partners with TD Bank.

As a result of the meeting, Lagueux said, two businesses became TD Bank customers. One of them, according to DCRAC, secured a loan of about $50,000 for business expansion, according to DCRAC officials. (Lagueux said he couldn’t discuss the loan because of client confidentiality regulations.)

Four or five other business owners were planning follow-up meetings with Accion about technical assistance or possible loans, Lagueux said.

“Grand and glorious is fine, but we do a lot of little things,” he said.WSFS Bank, Delaware’s oldest independent bank, takes a multifaceted

approach to its community reinvestment activities. Its Fresh Start checking program, similar to the account offered by

Fulton Bank, helps individuals with a poor banking history, reestablish their credit.

WSFS has also been involved in the Blueprint Communities program, and this spring partnered with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh and Barclay’s Bank to provide financing for Popdot Signs and Graphics, a for-profit business created by West End Neighborhood House and Sir Speedy printing to train and employ West End clients who are aging out of foster care programs.

WSFS also provided some of the construction financing for the recent renovation of the Wilmington Library through the purchase of state his-toric preservation tax credits, which helped the bank offset some of its state franchise tax payments, Skipper said.

The Delaware State Housing Authority recently received financing through WSFS for construction of 85 low- and moderate-income housing units in Wilmington’s West Center City neighborhood.

WSFS, along with Artisans and TD Bank, was among seven banks that made deposits in the DCRAC-founded Stepping Stones Community Federal Credit Union. n



NewsbitesTD Bank Names Joseph Piccirilli Senior Loan Officer

TD Bank has promoted Joseph A. Piccirilli to Vice President, Senior Loan Officer, based in Wilmington, Del. He will continue to be responsible for originating, underwriting and servicing construction and per-manent commercial real estate loans in Delaware and the sur-rounding counties in Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Piccirilli has 38 years of experience in banking and lending. He joined TD Bank in 1999 and most recent-ly served as a Commercial Lender III.

A Wilmington resident, Piccirilli is a 1976 graduate of the University of Delaware and a 1989 graduate of the Consumer Bankers Association’s Graduate School of Retail Bank Management (GSRBM).

12th Annual Summer Blood Challenge taking place now

Blood Bank of Delmarva is in the middle of its 12th Annual Summer Blood Challenge. The challenge started on May 19 and will continue on until September 13. “The Summer Blood Challenge is a friendly, competition among employers and community organizations,” said Roy Roper, Blood Bank of Delmarva president and CEO. “The summer months are typi-cally slower for blood donations and the competitive spirit and prizes help moti-vate existing donors as well as attract first-time donors.”

Registered organizations will earn points based on blood donations, first time donors and more. The grand prize for this year is a $5,000 TD Bank Visa Gift Card, along with a $2,000 and $1,000 TD Bank Visa Gift Card as second and third place prizes. Two $50 gift cards

will also be awarded each week through-out the challenge. Last year, a record 241 companies participated in the Summer

Blood Challenge. This resulted in 14,308 blood donations.

“We had another record breaking year last year,” Roper said. “We anticipate tremen-dous support from our dedi-cated, donors who save local lives and have helped ensure a stable blood supply in our community for 60 years. We are grateful to everyone who takes the time to help others where

we live.” For more information or to register for

the Summer Blood Challenge, visit www.DelmarvaBlood.org.

WDEL recognized for Outstanding News Service to Delaware

WDEL (1150AM and WDEL.com) received several awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association and Delaware Press Association for its reporting in 2013.

WDEL received three regional RTDNA Edward R. Murrow Awards, including the top honor of Overall Excellence. WDEL’s “Delaware Morning News” was named Best Newscast, and WDEL won the Breaking News Coverage award for its coverage of the February 11, 2013 shooting at the New Castle County Courthouse.

WDEL competes in the Murrow com-petition with radio stations in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. The regional win-ners will now be judged in the national Edward R. Murrow Awards program.

WDEL also won 18 awards in the Delaware Press Association communica-tions contest.

WDEL dominated DPA’s radio/televi-sion awards, winning four first place hon-ors in six radio/TV categories, including

• Best Newscast: “Delaware’s Morning News”

• Best On-the-scene report: Mellany Armstrong, “Courthouse Shooting”

• Best Prepared report: Mellany Armstrong, “Protecting You at the Pump” – a feature on Delaware’s Weights and Measures Section

• Best Special Programming: Mellany Armstrong, “Answering the Call” – a pro-file of New Castle County 911 emergency dispatchers

In addition to winning the most radio/TV awards in the contest, WDEL was honored for its website video and news blogs.

“Knowing how hard everyone on the WDEL News team works every day, I am thrilled that our reporting has been recognized; but the real reward comes in knowing we are serving Delaware by keeping our listeners and web users informed about important issues and events in their community,” said WDEL director of news and programming Chris Carl.

“Over 750,000 different people came to WDEL and WDEL.com last year to access our free, advertiser supported content about Delaware and its surround-ing areas,” said Mike Reath, VP/General Manager for WDEL. “These awards affirm the quality of our coverage and tremen-dous talent of everyone who we are so fortunate to have in our organization.”

Nickle Electrical wins two safety awards

Nickle Electrical Companies received two safety awards from local contractors associations for exemplary performance over the past year.

The company was selected as one of the recipients of the 2013 Governor’s

Joseph A. Piccirilli



Safety Awards for the third year in a row. The honor was co-sponsored by the Delaware Contractors Association and the Delaware Department of Labor.

The Governor’s Safety Award was presented at a lun-cheon on March 7 at Timothy’s on the Wilmington Riverfront.

Earlier this month Nickle was presented with its eighth consecutive Associated Builders and Contractors of Delaware STEP Award for safety. The STEP (Safety Training and Evaluation Process) program is designed to support ABC members with development and improvement of safety and training efforts. The awards are given in five levels based on a company’s safety program – Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. This was the first year Nickle received the top award at the Diamond level for both the local Delaware chapter and the National chapter. The awards dinner was held on May 1 at Cavaliers Country Club in Newark.

“These awards would not be achiev-able if our employees did not make safe-ty a part of their everyday routine,” said Nickle safety director Mike Anderson. “Our employees are a big part of our safety program and I’m truly grateful to each and every one of them for their safety efforts.”

BrightField Owners Recognized as 2014 Delaware Small Business Persons of the Year

Marian Young and Mark Lannan, co-owners of BrightFields, Inc., have been selected by the U.S. Small Business

Administration (SBA) as the 2014 Delaware Small Business Persons of the Year. For over 50 years, National Small Business Week has recognized the outstanding achievements of America’s small businesses for their contributions in their local communities and to our nation’s economy.

Young and Lannan were honored in Washington, DC, on May 15-16, during the 2014 National Small Business Week Awards, and were again recog-nized at SBA’s annual Delaware “Celebrate Success” event on May 21 at DuPont Country Club in Wilmington.

This is the second time the BrightFields’ owners have

received this award, as Young and Lannan were previously honored as the Delaware 2008 Small Business Persons of the Year.

Young and Lannan were nominated for the 2014 award by Juanita Beauford, program director at the University of Delaware SBTDC Procurement Technical Assistance Center, who has served as an advisor to BrightFields in the areas of state and federal marketing and procure-ment.

Corexcel Achieves Highest Sales Honor for 8th Consecutive Year

Wiley, the leading developer of Everything DiSC-based corporate train-ing and assessment-driven solutions, announced today that local business Corexcel was recognized as a 2013 Diamond award-winning Partner for the 8th consecutive year. The honor of Diamond Award is the highest award level—in 2013, less than 1 percent of Everything DiSC Partners earned this

esteemed award. “Corexcel is committed to bringing

Wiley’s world-class learning tools to their clients,“ says Barry Davis, vice president and general manager of Wiley Workplace Learning Solutions. “Our award winners have a strong dedication to providing cli-ents with tools, resources and counsel to help them navigate today’s ever-chang-ing, complex workplace environments. We are honored to have Corexcel as a valued Partner.”

“This award wouldn’t be possible with-out our dedicated, knowledgeable team that focuses on finding the best solutions for every one of our clients regardless of whether it is an individual trying to improve their job skills or a multinational corporation seeking to implement a com-pany-wide training solution.” says Sue Bowlby, president.

DelTech Hosts “1 Million Cups” Entrepreneur Program

1 Million Cups, a program created by Kauffman Labs for Enterprise Creation to engage, educate and connect entre-preneurs, launched in Wilmington, DE on November 6, 2013. The northern Delaware city was the 22nd loca-tion nationwide to host the weekly gathering that is building start-up communities over cups of coffee and conversation across the country. 1 Million Cups began in April 2012 in Kansas City, the hometown of its founding organization, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Kauffman Labs is a program of the Kauffman Foundation.

Entrepreneurs, innovators and interest-ed community members from New Castle County and the surrounding region meet at 7:30 a.m. each Wednesday at the Southeast Building Conference Center on

Marian Young

Mark Lannan



NewsbitesDelaware Technical Community College’s Wilmington Campus located between 3rd and Orange streets, in Wilmington.

Find more information at www.1millioncups.com/wilmington, or on Twitter @1MCwilm.

High Honors for Delaware Today Magazine

Delaware Today magazine recently received top honors from the Delaware Press Association (DPA), earning several awards in the 2014 DPA Communications Contest. Winners were honored at the DPA’s 37th Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet on May 1, 2014, at the University and Whist Club.

Six members of the Delaware Today editorial team and affiliated freelanc-ers earned six first-place awards and a total of nine honors in seven categories. Categories included feature story, per-sonality profiles, column writing, headline writing, page design and photography. Delaware Today magazine also earned honors in publication editing.

The Delaware Press Association is dedicated to promoting the high-est standards of excellence in com-munication, as well as protecting First Amendment freedoms. Each year, the DPA Communications Contest welcomes entries from all professional communica-tors in Delaware and provides an oppor-tunity to compete in various fields.

Bellevue Contracting Leads Faithful Friends Renovation Project

The dog kennels at Faithful Friends Animal Society, just outside the Wilmington city limits, received a $200,000 makeover this spring.

The newly named Gibney’s Doggie Kingdom has a more cheerful color scheme with T-Kennels, a better layout,

and two adoption rooms for quieter meet-and-greets between dogs and potential adopters.

“We anticipate the more welcoming environment will provide a better adop-tion experience and hopefully result in more potential adopters visiting our shelter,” says Jane Pierantozzi, executive director of Faithful Friends.

Private grants and a generous dona-tion from Dr. Sandra Gibney, an emer-gency room physician at St. Francis Hospital, given in honor of her late mother Mary Rita Gibney, made it possi-ble for Faithful Friends to remodel about 3,000 square feet in its shelter. The bright, easy-to clean T-Kennels house more than 48 dogs.

“We were able to utilize the space very efficiently from an animal care perspec-tive and, more importantly, make the dogs happier in roomier, quieter digs!” says Faithful Friends board member Jill Cantera. She says the time saved in feeding and cleaning can be spent on longer walks and more socializing for the dogs, which is essential for their mental wellbeing and fostering good behavior.

Nemours Named To Becker’s 150 Great Places to Work in Healthcare

Nemours Children’s Health System has been named to Becker’s Healthcare 2014 list of “150 Great Places to Work in Healthcare.” The 2014 edition of the list recognizes a compilation of hospitals,

health systems, ambu-latory surgery centers, physician groups, ven-dors and other health-

care organizations that provide excellent work environments and outstanding ben-efits to their employees.

Nemours, headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., owns and operates Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for

Children in Wilmington, Del., Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando, Fla., and 45 pediatric and specialty care locations in Delaware, Florida, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

“Nemours is honored to be a Becker’s 2014 Great Place to Work in Healthcare,” said David Bailey, MD, MBA, president and CEO of Nemours. “Associates are our most important asset and we are pleased that our menu of benefits, online learning resources, commitment to pro-fessional development, and Continuous Improvement training has earned Nemours this recognition.”

Becker’s “150 Great Places To Work In Healthcare” list is developed based on research by Becker’s editorial team, which includes review and evaluation of nominated organizations focusing on employee benefits, workplace culture, professional development opportunities and previous recognition for workplace excellence. The resulting list is a compila-tion of 150 healthcare organizations that go above and beyond for their employees and are great places to work.

My Sherpa adds Michelle Vogt for business development

IT managed services firm MySherpa has hired Michelle Vogt as its Business Development Sherpa. In this role she will be responsible for business growth via inside sales at the firm.

Vogt’s point of view is well aligned with MySherpa’s intent for providing proactive service and a high level of expertise to its cli-ents. “My success in business develop-ment has come not only from learning to ask thoughtfully and listen skillfully, but in having an honest Michelle Vogt



rapport with my contacts,” says Vogt. “They sense that my—and, therefore, my company’s—goal isn’t ‘just to sell them something’; it’s to become a trusted partner they can turn to for guidance and solutions that offer a real return on investment,” she says. Previously Vogt worked for Expert Technology Associates, a business communications provider in Plymouth Meeting, Pa.

Cancer Support Community Names New Executive Director, New Officers

Nicole Topkis Pickles, of Wilmington has been named Executive Director of Cancer Support Community Delaware (CSCDE), a statewide nonprofit organiza-tion that provides support services, free of charge, to people with cancer and their loved ones.

Prior to joining CSCDE, Pickles was Director of Development at Innovative Schools since 2013. From 2001 to 2012, she was a Partner at Topkis Financial Advisors co-managing $40 million in assets for over 100 clients while creat-ing new investment portfolios. Pickles has deep knowledge of and experience in fund raising having previously held executive development positions at The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago and The American Cancer Society.

Pickles has been involved with CSCDE as a member of the Board of Directors since 2011. She currently is a commit-tee member of the Annual Fund for the Wilmington Friends School. Pickles holds a BA from Emory University, Atlanta, Ga.

Joseph Amon, chair of the CSCDE board, said, “It is with great enthusiasm we welcome Nicole to CSCDE. Her

impressive record of success with Innovative Schools and Topkis Financial Advisors LLC speaks for itself, plus she has many connections throughout the state of Delaware with fundraising ini-tiatives.” Nicole added, “I am equally enthusiastic and look forward to work-ing closely with the CSCDE Board of Directors, talented staff and the many dedicated volunteers to continue to advance our mission.”

Additionally, the CSCDE Board of Directors held its annual meeting on May 8, 2014 and elected the following indi-viduals to serve 2 year terms:

Chair: Joseph Amon-Community Activist

Chair Elect: Abigail S. Applegate-Bank of America

Vice Chair: Kevin DiSabatino-DiSabatino Construction

Treasurer: B. Christopher Daney, CPA, MBA, MIST-Wheeler, Wolfenden and Dwares, P.A.

Assistant Treasurer: Steven G. Kochie-MandT Bank

Secretary: Linda Texter Hall-Gilpin Hall

Assistant Secretary: Rebecca Corlett Phillips-

Chesapeake Insurance Parliamentarian: Barbara F.

Andrisani-Community Activist Member At Large: Maria Kohler

Mockbee-Bancroft Construction Member At Large: LaBarre Everette-

KeHE Distributors Past Chair: Xavier DeCaire-George

Weiner and Associates Additionally the following three indi-

viduals have been elected to the Board to serve a two year term, Rochelle Gunzenhauser-Community Activist, Michael J. Johnson-Merrill Lynch and Regina A. Sharpe-Wilmington University.

Barry Crozier of Belfint, Lyons and Shuman Chairs Influential G400 Meeting

Belfint, Lyons and Shuman, P.A. (BLS), a certified public accounting and consulting firm with offices in Delaware and Pennsylvania, is pleased to announce that Barry A. Crozier, CPA, CGMA, managing direc-tor, participated as acting chair at the annual community meet-ing of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

JULY 8Meet the New Members Networking Mixer8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Location: DSCC Board Room

For more information, please contact

Chuck James at (302) 576-6562 or

[email protected].

AUGUST 12Networking Breakfast with American Red Cross7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Location: Cpl. Paul J. Sweeney Public

Safety Building

3601 N. DuPont Highway

New Castle, DE 19720

For more information, please contact Kelly

Wetzel at (302) 576-6564 or kwetzel@

dscc.com.

Calendar of Events

Barry A. Crozier



(AICPA) Group of 400 (G400) meeting May 7 to May 9 in Chicago.

As acting chair, Barry was involved in the entire program by giving welcoming remarks, introducing speakers, partici-pating in the succession planning panel and acting as the discussion leader for the tax season debrief roundtable. Barry serves on the G400 practice advisory group which the G400’s steering com-mittee.

The G400 is the AICPA’s initiative focused on helping similar sized firms gain greater insight into the opportuni-ties, concerns and challenges of running an accounting practice. The goal of the G400 is to help firms connect with other firms to discuss critical professional issues and priorities, find solutions and build strategies for achieving growth and prosperity now and in the future. The G400 represents the top 400 firms, fol-lowing the top 100 major firms group, which comprise the core of the CPA pro-fession in the United States.

105 firms of the G400 were represent-ed at the community meeting and they discussed key industry topics to particu-lar to their firm size, such as:

• Leadership and practice models of the future

• Retirement models and succession planning

• Women in leadership • Managing and leveraging genera-

tional differences • Washington developments and tax

legislation updates Barry A. Crozier, CPA, CGMA states,

“I was honored to be asked to lead the G400 Community Meeting as acting chair. Accounting firm practice is dif-ferent today than it was 35 years ago. Collaborating with peers across the country is valuable because it gives a perspective compared to other practices that are similar in size and structure. The G400 is a forum for firms of our size to

collaborate and be in front of and com-municate with the AICPA nationally. They are accessible and responsive. G400 firms represent a significant portion of the accounting firms in the US and this forum gives us the ability to make a difference in the profession.”

Arc Celebrates 60 Years of Service

Friends of The Arc of Delaware gath-ered together on Wednesday, May 14, to celebrate the organization’s 60th anniver-sary at Buena Vista Conference Center. Over 130 friends, donors, volunteers and advocates enjoyed a cocktail reception followed by an awards ceremony.

The program began with an ener-getic performance by Joyful Noise, a chorus of adults with physical and intel-

lectual disabilities. Master of Ceremonies Dr. Lanny Edelsohn then introduced special guest Rita Landgraf, Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services, for opening remarks.

Representative Melanie George Smith, D-Bear/Newark, received the Legislative Advocate of the Year Award for her work supporting the rights of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabili-ties. Rep. Smith, also Honorary Chair for the evening, presented a tribute from the House of Representatives and Sen. Margaret Rose Henry, D-Wilmington East, presented a tribute from the Senate in recognition of The Arc’s 60 years of service. Brooks Banta, President of Kent Country Levy Court and long-time friend of The Arc, also presented a tribute from the Court.

Additional awards included the Distinguished Community Service Award recognizing DFRC (Delaware Foundation Reaching Citizens with intellectual dis-

abilities) and Tony Glenn, DFRC’s Executive Director, for their continued support of The Arc through a partnership spanning more than 50 years.

A Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Pat Heather, who has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of people with intellectual and developmental dis-abilities in Delaware for more than 55 years. Heather successfully organized The Arc’s group home monitoring pro-gram in Kent and Sussex counties and is an active, long-term member of The Arc’s Board of Directors. Heather was also a founding member of The Arc in Kent County and has repeatedly served as President and Vice President of The Arc’s Mid-Del Committee. She also volunteers her time to numerous organizations throughout the state.

Bill Seufert, President of the Board of The Arc of Delaware, recognized Tony DeSanctis for his efforts raising more than $30,000 for The Arc through his team’s participation at the annual 5k Run, Walk and Roll fundraiser over the past seven years.

Proceeds from the event will benefit people with intellectual and developmen-tal disabilities through programs available at The Arc of Delaware. Wine was donat-ed by Moore Brothers Wine Company and beer was donated by Dominion and Fordham Brewing Company. Special thanks to Christiana Care, the Advocacy Sponsor for the event, and to the many other donors who helped make the eve-ning a success.

A four-digit Delaware license plate, worth approximately $2,000, was donat-ed by the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles and raffled at the event. The prize was won by Carole Gallagher, an Arc volunteer and member of the Mid-Del Committee.

The theme of the evening was “A Storied Past and a Shining Future,” allud-ing to the 60th anniversary being a “dia-

Newsbites



mond” anniversary. Numerous histori-cal documents were on display for the evening, highlighting the work of The Arc over the past six decades.

The event marked the end of a year-long celebration commemorating the anniversary. Special activities to commemorate the occasion included the 21st Annual Golf Tournament and Silent Auction; Monster Miles for a Cause at Dover Downs International Speedway; the Mid-Del Committee of The Arc’s January dance sponsored by McDonald’s Sanders Management Corp., which drew a record attendance near 400; the first-ever dance in New Castle County, also in January; and the 14th Annual 5K Run/Walk and Roll in Kent County.

Today Media to Revive and Publish Italian-American Herald

Robert F. Martinelli, president/CEO of Today Media, is pleased to announce that the communications company is reviving and publishing the Delaware Valley Italian-American Herald. The pre-mier issue under the Today Mediabanner was released June 1.

The Herald will continue to showcase Italian-American life in the region, includ-ing Delaware, Delaware County, Chester County, South Philadelphia, South Jersey, and other areas important to Italian-Americans.

Formerly bi-weekly, the Italian-American Herald celebrates the heritage and culture of Italian-Americans, focus-ing on their life today, as well as in his-tory. The paper was published from May 30, 2013 through Feb. 6, 2014. Today Media will publish the newspaper month-ly, beginning with the June issue, slated

for distribution next week. “June is a very important month

in this region for Italian-Americans,” Martinelli said. “There are many festivals, in Delaware and South Jersey in par-ticular, focused around Italian heritage, including the 40th anniversary of St. Anthony’s Italian Festival in Wilmington, the Delaware County Italian American Heritage Festival and the Feast of our Lady of Mt. Carmel—the longest running Italian Festival in the country—held in Hammonton, N.J.”

Joe Cannavo, editor of the paper under the previous publishers, will con-tinue as editor under Today Media.

Herald distribution will continue to include special events of interest to Italian-Americans, like St. Anthony’s Italian Festival inWilmington and the Delaware County Italian American Heritage Festival. The paper will continue to be available at selected locations, and subscriptions will be welcome.

Autism Delaware Grants Awarded

Autism Delaware announced today that five service organizations have been awarded grants in support of their innovative community programs that address the needs of Delawareans with

autism spec-trum disorder (ASD): Easter

Seals of Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Delaware Family Voices, Parent Information Center of Delaware, PAWS for People, and Practice Without Pressure.

“Each organization,” notes Autism Delaware’s executive director, Teresa Avery, “provides needed services in Delaware that align with Autism Delaware’s mission, namely, to help peo-ple and families affected by autism. And Autism Delaware likes to support any

innovative program that has the potential to improve the lives of both children and adults with ASD across their life spans and across the state. In fact, we look forward to hearing about each program’s success in the coming year as well as to watching the improvement in the lives of Delawareans with autism and their families.”

About the grant winners:Easter Seals of Delaware and

Maryland’s Eastern Shore—a nonprofit, community-based health organization dedicated to increasing the indepen-dence of children and adults with spe-cial needs through direct services and advocacy—will use the Autism Delaware grant to provide respite care vouchers to families caring for people with ASD. Vouchers are administered by a stand-ing committee of the Delaware Lifespan Respite Care Network, which Easter Seals represents as the lead fiscal agen-cy. Families can use a voucher to pay the service provider of their choice, when and where they choose.

Delaware Family Voices (DE FV) is staffed by and for Delaware families with children with special needs. Providing information especially for families who are new to the special-needs commu-nity, DE FV also offers workshops and training to professionals as well as to families. The Autism Delaware grant will help expand DE FV’s current Parent to Parent (P2P) program, which offers train-ing tailored to the needs of families with children with ASD.

Parent Information Center (PIC) of Delaware, Inc., is committed to advancing effective parent engage-ment through education. This service organization was awarded an Autism Delaware grant to help the parents of children with ASD gain the skills needed to address their children’s behavioral and communication issues. Offered in a workshop format and



taught by experienced professionals, Teaching Strategies for Home and the Community relies on evidence-based practice to build confidence and col-laboration among Delaware’s parents of children with ASD. The program will also help parents understand how to apply the fundamentals of school programming to home and community settings.

PAWS for People, Inc., responded to parental questions about in-home therapy and training the appropriate dog as a pet for their children with ASD by establishing “What Do You Do with the Dog…at Home?” Designed as a class to teach parents how to incorporate the family dog as part of a supporting, moti-vating, and comforting environment for children with ASD, the program teaches parents new skills and techniques to help handle common behavioral issues. The children will learn new ways to cope, too, as a result of funding from an Autism Delaware grant.

Practice Without Pressure (PWP), a unique treatment center that helps people with disabilities receive oral health care with dignity and respect, was awarded an Autism Delaware grant to expand its Oral Health in the Home™ training program across the state. Designed to help caregivers and families improve tooth-brushing, floss-ing, and oral health care for children and adults with ASD and other disabili-ties, this course empowers the family while teaching new skills that make oral health care easier to support: “Through the PWP Practice Model™, people gain confidence and turn from scared to pre-pared for routine care.”

Tevebaugh Associates Announce Promotions

Tevebaugh Associates, architects and planners based in Wilmington,

has announced that William Lenihan, AIA, has been pro-moted to Principal. We are pleased to also announce that Debra Traini and Shawn Crowley have been promot-ed to Associate Principal.

These individuals will have enhanced responsi-bilities within our leadership team to provide the best creative solutions for our cli-ents’ specific needs.

These promotions are a key art of the company’s overall strategy for 2014 and beyond, and further posi-tions Tevebaugh Associates for growth and expansion into specific regional mar-kets, such as healthcare and higher education.

Bill Lenihan joined Tevebaugh Associates in 2005 as a Project Architect and was promoted to Associate Principal in 2008. Prior to his tenure with Tevebaugh, he was a Project Architect and Project Manager at Jackson Architects. He brings design and proj-ect management expertise in the areas of institutional, public, and health care projects and recently managed the design of the University of Delaware’s new Health Sciences Complex on the STAR Campus. Bill is a former AIA Delaware board member, and a current member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) where he recently presented the Health Sciences project at ULI’s Healthy Places Initiative Bi-Annual con-ference in Vancouver. He also serves on the architecture and engineering advisory board for Delaware Technical and Community College. He is a graduate of Norwich University where

he earned both a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Architecture. Bill will continue to lead office operations and project development.

As Studio Manager, Debra Traini, AIA, conducts schedul-ing and coordination of studio staff members, and manages quality control of construction documentation. Debra was instrumental in field coordina-tion for the recently completed Health Sciences Complex for the University of Delaware and is currently managing the ret-rofit and renovation of the AIG office building in Wilmington DE. A registered architect in Pennsylvania, Debra is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University with 14 years of pro-fessional experience with insti-tutional, library, healthcare, and commercial building projects.

Shawn Crowley is a graduate of the University of Maryland with a B.S. in Architecture, and joined Tevebaugh Associates in 2009. Shawn is an active

member of The Committee of 100, a volunteer at Hodgson Vo-Tech High school through the ACE Mentoring program, and is currently sitting for the Architectural Registration Exam. As a Certified Autodesk Revit Architectural Specialist, Shawn has guided Tevebaugh Associates in adopting Building Information Modeling (BIM) as their preferred method for design and construction documentation. Shawn utilized BIM to complete construction documents for several office, health-care, hotel and hospitality projects as project architect.

Newsbites

Bill Lenihan

Debra Traini

Shawn Crowley



Ambassador Committee: The Ambassador Committee is a spe-cially chosen group of volunteers that assists in increasing mem-bership and retention, and acts as a liaison between the State Chamber staff and the membership at large. Contact: Chuck James at (302) 576-6562 or [email protected].

Employer Advocacy & Education Committee: The Employee Advocacy and Education Committee promotes and assists the employments interests of Chamber members. It is a forum for mem-bers of the Chamber to discuss and evaluate human resource and personnel issues facing Delaware employers; to actively engage in the legislative process to develop and implement legislative solutions; to advise the Chamber leadership on the impact of proposed legislative and regulatory measures; and to educate the membership about reg-ulatory requirements affecting their bottom line. The committee meets at least quarterly to identify and develop strategies for current and future issues, and holds special events open to Chamber members to focus on timely topics in the field of human resources and person-nel management. For more information, contact James DeChene at (302) 576-6560 or [email protected].

Environmental Committee: Working closely with the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), members are involved in the review and shaping of environmental legislation and regulation. Contact: James DeChene at (302) 576-6560 or [email protected].

Health Care Committee: Members discuss key health care issues facing Delaware businesses and provide feedback to the Chamber legislative team to assist in formulating policy. Contact: James DeChene at (302) 576-6560 or [email protected].

Legislative Forum: Members, lobbyists and legislative represen-tatives work together to address legislative issues of interest to Chamber members. Contact: James DeChene at (302) 576-6560 or [email protected].

Tax Committee: This committee reviews tax legislation and lobbies for the reduction of personal and business taxes in Delaware. Contact: James DeChene at (302) 576-6560 or [email protected].

Infrastructure and Transportation Committee: The Infrastructure and Transportation Committee recognizes the critical role that the condition and functionality of Delaware’s infrastructure and transporta-tion systems play in creating a strong economy and quality of life. The Infrastructure and Transportation Committee monitors issues, policies, and trends affecting Delaware’s infrastructure and transportation sys-tems, as well as advises the Chamber’s Board of Directors on related policy issues. For more information, contact James DeChene at (302) 576-6560 or [email protected]. Women in Business Forum: The Women in Business Forum was formed to forge relationships, break boundaries and build a better business environment for women in our community. Former guest speakers include First Lady Carla Markell, Gov. Ruth Ann Minner, Family Court Chief Judge Chandlee Kuhn, State Reps. and Sens., and business leaders. Contact: Kelly Wetzel at (302) 576-6564 or [email protected].

Delaware Young Professionals Network: The Delaware State Chamber of Commerce’s newest committee was formed to encourage young executives in Delaware to be involved in the Chamber, network with other young professionals and further their business growth. The DYPN, for professionals between the ages of 21 and 40, aims to develop Delaware’s young workforce through professional business networking and personal growth. Contact: Kelly Wetzel at (302) 576-6564 or [email protected].

State Chamber members play a visible, active role in the business community by serving on committees. If you would like to

get involved, contact the committee’s Chamber representative or register online at www.dscc.com.

Committees & ForumsCHAMBER



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To enroll and start saving today, visit www.savewithups.com/dscc. For more information, call 1-800-MEMBERS (1-800-636-2377).

UD Online MBA Scholarship Through an Affiliate Partnership with the Lerner College of Business & Economics, Chamber member will receive an affiliate program scholarship for $5,000 off of their tuition for the University of Delaware Online MBA Degree Program.

The Lerner College Online MBA is an AACSB-accredited program that can be completed in as little as sixteen months. This powerful new education option offers the quality, flexibility, and convenience to earn an MBA degree from a highly regarded, nationally ranked, public university.

In addition to the $5,000 affiliate scholarship, Chamber member employees will also be eligible to apply for the Dean’s Merit Scholarship, which awards the most highly qualified candidates up to an additional $5,000 in scholarship funding.

Visit www.apdegree.com/DSCC to get started.

Prescription Drug Discount CardThe Delaware Drug Card will provide savings of up to 75-percent on prescription drugs at more than 50,000 pharmacy locations across the country. The Delaware Drug Card has no restrictions to membership, income or age, and you are not required to fill out an application. This program helps all residents of Delaware afford their prescription medications. For more information, go to www.dscc.com/rxdiscount.htm.

Member-to-Member Discount DirectoryState Chamber members offer substantial savings on products and services to fellow members. To see the full list of discounts online, visit www.dscc.com and click on Member2Member Discounts.

Discounted Cell Phone products and ServiceState Chamber members can get a 10-percent discount from T-Mobile on qualifying monthly recurring charges and other special offers. Email Melissa Williams at [email protected] to learn more about this benefit.

Notary ServiceDid you know that Notary Public services are free for Chamber members? Call (302) 655-7221 to make an appointment to stop in for a notary seal on your documents.

W.B. Mason Office SuppliesW.B. Mason offers Chamber members exclusive deep discounts off their most commonly used items. Discounts are up to 90 percent. Contact Doreen Miller for more information at [email protected] or (888) 926-2766, ext. 8358.

Blood Bank MembershipBlood Bank of Delmarva, a nonprofit organization, supplies blood to the 16 hospitals on Delmarva. Blood donors become part of the Members for Life program to sustain the local community blood supply. Members will receive valuable health and wellness benefits. There is a need for 350 blood donations every day on Delmarva; therefore, support is encouraged and appreciated. There is no cost for membership. Members will be asked to give blood a minimum of once a year and to allow the Blood Bank to contact them if their blood type is needed. Visit www.DelmarvaBlood.org for more information or call 1 888 8-BLOOD-8 to schedule an appointment. You can also download the Blood Bank app on your iPhone or Android.

If you are unable to donate blood but would like to support the local blood supply, you can be part of the Blood Bank’s Friends for Life program by making a financial contribution. Contributions are tax- deductible and can be made online at www.DelmarvaBlood.org or by calling 1 888 8-BLOOD-8.

Certificate of Origin DocumentsCertificate of Origin documents are $20 for Chamber members ($100 for non-members). Call (302) 655-7221 for more information.



Delmarva Broadcasting CompanyFifteen-percent in bonus airtime on commercial orders placed by new advertisers on any Delmarva Broadcasting radio station. Contact Mike Reath at [email protected] or call (302) 478-2700 for more information.

DSCC Affinity Credit Card with WorldPoints RewardsThe DSCC affinity card by Bank of America is a business credit card offered exclusively to State Chamber members that also offers a rewards program for discounted airline tickets, free hotel nights and car rentals and more. The Chamber affinity card with WorldPoints® lets members combine points from personal and business cards to get rewards even faster. Call (800) 598-8791 to apply, mention priority code FABLHRAQ.

Dental and Vision PlanDominion Dental Services provides dental and vision benefits on a group and individual basis with competitive, member-exclusive rates. Dental care coverage for most diagnostic and preventive services is 100 percent with up to 80 percent coverage for restorative care including fillings, root canals, crown and bridge work, periodontal treatment, oral surgery and more. Go to www.dscc.com/chamber/dental_plan.aspx or call (888) 518-5338 for more information. No application fee for DSCC members.

Constant Contact Email Marketing ServiceState Chamber members are eligible to receive discounts on their Constant Contact account subscriptions. Members can save 20-percent if they prepay for 6 months and 25-percent if they prepay for 12 months. That is a 10-percent deeper discount than what is available to other customers. To sign up, visit the Constant Contact link on the State Chamber’s members-only page or call (866) 876-8464 to activate your member discount.

Continuing Education Certificate DiscountsThe University of Delaware offers a 10% discount to State Chamber members when they choose to sign up for continuing education certificate programs. Contact Kelly Wetzel at [email protected] for more information.

Access full details on these benefits of membership in the members-only section of the DSCC website. For more information about obtaining your company’s members-only login credentials, please email [email protected].

see it all at ww

w.fi

nalfocus.com

DICKDUBROFFFINALFOCUS

P.O. Box 232

Wilmington, DE 19899

Phone 302.655.7718

Fax 302.655.7918

[email protected]



For Assistance,

The State Chamber of Commerce staff works for you, serving nearly 2,800 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.

DELAWARE STATE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

1201 N. Orange Street, P.O. Box 671Wilmington, DE 19899-0671(302) 655-7221 / Fax (302) 654-0691(800) 292-9507 Kent & Sussex countieswww.dscc.comBlog: dscc.wordpress.comfacebook.com/delawarestatechamberflickr: flickr.com/dscctwitter: @Destatechamber

CALL THE CHAMBER

A. Richard Heffron 576-6563President [email protected]

Marianne K. Antonini 576-6567Sr. Vice President Finance & CFO [email protected]

John H. Taylor, Jr. 576-6590Sr. Vice President & [email protected]. Director, Delaware Public Policy Institute

Matt Amis 576-6566 Communications Manager [email protected] Delaware Business Production Website

Cheryl Corn 576-6572 Executive Assistant to the President [email protected] Sr. Vice President Communications

Linda D. Eriksen 576-6569 Accounting Associate [email protected]

James DeChene 576-6560 Director, Government Relations [email protected]

Ken Evans 576-6576Account Executive [email protected]

Chuck James 576-6562Sr. Vice President, Membership [email protected] Ambassador Committee

Fred Miller 576-6579Advertising Sales [email protected] Member Retention

Patrina Wallace 655-7221Government Relations Assistant [email protected]

Kelly Wetzel 576-6564Program & Communication Specialist [email protected] Small Business Alliance Women in Business Delaware Young Professionals Network


Media:

Gold:

Silver:

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

*As of 6/13/14

Bronze:


Renowned EXECUTION

©2013 Wilmington Trust Corporation.

GLOBAL CAPITAL MARKETS | CORPORATE TRUST | RETIREMENT PLAN SERVICES | INSTITUTIONAL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

For more than 100 years, we’ve orchestrated the most complex institutional transactions, and provided the highest

quality trust administration. For global experience you can trust and execution you can count on, call Nick Adams at

302-636-6103, email [email protected], or visit wilmingtontrust.com.

Art by renowned illustrator Alex Nabaum.


Delaware Business July/August 2014

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Transcript of Delaware Business July/August 2014