Delaware Business Magazine May/June 2011

Le

G Gu A id L S et e r o v ic e

S

uperstars Sin ducation

E 2011

THREE D OLLARS

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 1

mAy / junE 2011

4/25/11 6:03 PM

A gold star performance Building the future means doing one thing every day – surpassing expectations. We proudly support The Superstars in Education Program.

chase.com

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 2

Š 2011 JPMorgan Chase & Co.

4/25/11 6:03 PM

In This Issue

departments 2

President’s Message

3

features

Meet the 2011 Superstars in Education winners.

Small Business report

37 Guide to LeGAL ServiceS

5

Superstars in education entrants

Selection committee Members

An update on Delaware’s race to deliver world-class education.

vision 2015

4 Guide to educAtion

6

31

Legislative Priority

Social Media in the Workplace

Know what you can and cannot do when it comes to using the Internet during the hiring process.

9

41

Profile: capital School district

Legal Specialties

13

Some law niches are booming during this economy.

Profile: red clay consolidated School district

17

Profile: Howard t. ennis School

44

Lawyers’ row

57

Reap the benefits of a paperless office – and small business news.

62

calendar of events

65

Manufacturing

69

newsmakers

74

Welcome new Members

76

State chamber Scene

82

The newly dedicated part of Wilmington, then and now.

chamber Member Benefits

46 Guide to WeLLneSS

chamber committees

21

Profile: John dickinson High School

47

23

83 84

For Assistance, call the chamber

Wellness at Work

Profile: Booker t. Washington elementary School

See what we learned from this year’s conference about staying healthy in the workplace.

25

Profile: William B. Keene elementary School

49

Healthy diets

27

Learn tips on maintaining a healthy diet, from Christiana Care’s experts.

30

economic development

Profile: Long neck elementary School

opinion

Race to the Top needs collaboration to reach the finish line.

53

The Wilmington Riverfront is taking shape to be an economic driver to the area.

on tHe cover the Superstars in education winners show what it takes to be super!

volume 17, number 3 / 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.

D e l awa r e

B u s i n e s s May / June 2 0 1 1

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 1

1

4/25/11 6:03 PM

MeSSAGe PreSident’S

editoriAL StAFF

JaMES a. WOlfE

message from the President

This issue of Delaware Business is a reminder of our relentless commitment to tomorrow’s workforce, our children.

From the strategic design of Vision 2015 to the ground level participation of 140 of our members as Principals for a Day, the State Chamber remains deeply involved in a rally to provide world-class education to our kids.

The 2011 Superstars in Education Awards program is a celebration of educators and administrators who are doing it right. The seven selected winning programs this year (page 4) represent measurable results and increased student achievement, and serve as models for innovation in education. We applaud the winners and all the applicants who share their creativity and commitment every day, helping our children succeed.

Another topic of universal importance to Delaware businesses is health care. The State Chamber continues to address this issue – educating our members on the Affordable Health Care Act that was signed into law last spring, participating in the detailed work of the Delaware Health Information Network, conducting forums to shape impending Health Benefit Exchanges, and assembling wellness initiative experts to help us all improve our own individual health care. Look for health tips on page 49, and let us hear from you about your own wellness at work programs.

Also in this issue, we share practical tips on going paperless in the office (page 58). A “green” office isn’t just environmentally friendly – the benefits of reducing paper reap savings and improved efficiency.

There’s good news on the city of Wilmington’s riverfront as the Delaware Children’s Museum celebrates its one-year anniversary. Read more on page 53 about plans for further development of this key area.

I’d like to close by recognizing the recent loss of two important Delawareans. Former governor Russell W. Peterson and community service champion Muriel E. Gilman lived long and active lives of leadership and service to our state.

Let’s keep their legacy of service alive by working together in the Delaware way.

Thomas J. Cooper Chairman James a.wolfe President/CEO

Katie wilson Managing Editor sharon r. reardon Editor

Denee Crumrine Editor

executive coMMittee CHAIRMAN Thomas J. Cooper Cooper Realty Associates IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRMAN Richard K. Struthers CHAIR-ELECT Connie Bond Stuart PNC Bank

Sylvia S. Banks DuPont

Chip Rossi Bank of America

Ernest J. Dianastasis CAI

Dennis M. Salter Summit Realty Advisors, LLC

Donald T. Fulton George J.Weiner Associates

Fred C. Sears II Delaware Community Foundation

Pierre du Pont Hayward University of Delaware

VICE CHAIRMAN William R. Allan Verizon Delaware TREASURER Richard D. Rowland Rowland, Johnson & Co., PA Tony Allen, PhD Bank of America

Alan Levin Delaware Economic Development Office

Mark S. Stellini Virtual Resources, LLC Mark Turner WSFS Bank

Hinton Lucas DuPont

Michael S. Uffner AutoTeam Delaware

William E. Manning Saul Ewing, LLP

Richelle Vible Catholic Charities, Inc.

BoArd oF directorS Linda Ammons Widener University School of Law Julian H. Booker Delmarva Broadcasting Company David B. Brown, Esq. Potter, Anderson & Corroon LLP Timothy J. Constantine Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware Charlie Copeland Associates International, Inc. Barry Crozier Belfint, Lyons & Shuman E. Andrew DiSabatino EDiS Company Christina Favilla Discover Bank Donald G. Gagnon AAA Mid-Atlantic Dr. Orlando J. George, Jr. Delaware Technical & Community College Martha S. Gilman Gilman Development Company Robert V.H. Harra, Jr. Wilmington Trust Company

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

Bret Morris A. R. Morris Jewelers

Michael Houghton Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell, LLP

Paul H. Mylander The Bank of Delmarva

Tyrone Jones AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP Chris Kenny Delaware Supermarkets, Inc.

Theodore Prushinski Citizens Bank Michael N. Ratchford W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. John S. Riley Ashland, Inc.

Richard H. LaPenta Insurance & Financial Serv., Ltd. Robert J. Laskowski, MD Christiana Care Health Systems Cathy MacFarlane ING DIRECT Scott Malfitano CSC-Corp. Service Co. John McCarthy AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP Paul M. McConnell McConnell Development, Inc.

Amer Sajed Barclaycard US Thomas A. Shoemaker TD Bank W. Laird Stabler III, Esq. Laird Stabler & Associates Gary R. Stockbridge Delmarva Power William Wallace JPMorgan Chase

Michael McMullen Agilent Technologies

Robert W. Whetzel Richards, Layton & Finger

Chad Moore The Bellmoor

Harry L. Williams Del. State University

StAFF James A.Wolfe President/CEO Marianne K. Antonini Senior Vice President A. Richard Heffron Senior Vice President Sharon R. Reardon Senior Vice President & Executive Director, Small Business Alliance Janine G. Sorbello Senior Vice President & Executive Director, The Partnership

John H. Taylor, Jr. Senior Vice President & Executive Director, DPPI

Greg Gross Director of Government Relations Chuck James Account Executive

Cheryl Corn Executive Assistant to the President

Liz Pretz Events Manager

Denee Crumrine Program & Communications Specialist Linda D. Eriksen Accounting Associate Katie Wilson Communications Manager

Arlene Simon Account Executive Bill Stephano Director of Membership Patrina Wallace Information Secretary

AdvertiSinG SALeS / Miller Publishing, Inc.

Fred Miller President

Delaware State Chamber of CommerCe 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.

2

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 2

May /June 2 0 1 1 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

4/25/11 6:03 PM

ity

LC

r re

nc.

s

a

i

d Inc.

er

sq. ates

e

ger

Relations

e

e

hip

ry

AB o uc r dvei F eG W

s, LLC

Legislative Priority By a. rICharD hEffrON

A

world-class education system is the cornerstone of economic development. Although people intuitively understand that this is true, rarely is this statement explained in practical terms.

In the early 19th century, the United States instituted the first universal public education system in the world. When the U.S. was in its infancy, the majority of the nation’s leaders were among the very few Americans who had a formal education. They realized it was essential for all citizens to have the opportunity to receive formal education if the country was to prosper. It was apparent that an educated population would be a great benefit in the nation’s struggle for economic influence with the other nations of the world.

This educational foundation created the United States’ economic dominance that lasted for 200 years. The policy of a strong universal education system is still the basis for economic prosperity in our modern world. Most European nations, along with some Latin American and Asian nations such as Argentina, Brazil, India, China, Korea and Japan, have developed education systems that rival or even surpass the United States in its ability to educate their citizens.

In today’s world, economic success is based upon communication, innovation and technology. To compete in the global marketplace, our students must become more proficient in mathematics, science, communication and problem solving.

They must also understand the history of our country and other cultures, have an elementary working knowledge of at least one language in addition to English, and a basic understanding of economics.

Every one of these subject areas is directly related to the expansion of profitable economic development efforts. Not every student can be fully capable in each of these areas. It is important that we match a student’s educational training with their ability, interest, talent and skills. Every citizen has the right to opportunity. What they do with that opportunity is their choice. It is important that educators make every effort to give students the tools to seize these opportunities to earn achievement and success.

The continued economic growth of this nation will depend on its citizens’ ability to compete in the world marketplace.

To do this we will need people who are outstanding doctors, maintenance workers, carpenters, lawyers, educators, technicians, biologists, nurses, designers, computer specialists, diplomats, machinists, pilots, politicians, entertainers, truck drivers, and the list goes on. Just as every American deserves

D e l awa r e

B u s i n e s s May / June 2 0 1 1

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 3

Photo by Janine Sorbello

The policy of a strong universal education system is still the basis for economic prosperity in our modern world. a first-rate education, every American must play a role in creating economic prosperity. It is a challenge. It will take a lot of hard work. It requires we improve our nation’s schools at all levels. But this is the history of the economic model that all other nations want to emulate and this is what we must do to remain the world’s economic leader. n

3

4/25/11 6:03 PM

r E C O g N I z I N g E x C E l l E N C E I N E DAUBCcaT de IO FN G

2011 Superstars in Education Program

Superstars in Education

R E C O G N I Z I N G

E X C E L L E N C E

I N

E D U C A T I O N

the delaware State chamber of commerce and its affiliate, the Partnership, inc., honor delaware educators who have implemented and sustained a creative, unique program, or R E C O G N I Z I N G E X C E L L E N C E I N E D U C A T I O N a teaching practice that shows measurable results and raises student achievement. this

statewide awards program is funded by the business community. these are the seven winners chosen for 2011. read on to find out more about their success in the classroom.

Superstars in education

Winners HHH district category HHH

HHH elementary category HHH

Capital School District and Price Automotive Reading Challenge

Third Grade Instructional Reading

PATTI BoGETTI, PAMELA HERRERA, MIKE PALEN, WARREN PRICE, KATHy RozUMALSKI, TINA WILLS

ADAM BAUGHMAN, AMANDA BoDINE, ERIKA CALDWELL, ANGELA DARLING, CATHy HELMEN, PAM HERRERA, PAT KAPoLKA, PAM MANLoVE, CATHy SCHREIBER, AMy TIERSoN

CapiTal sChool DisTriCT

Summer Enrichment Program

reD Clay ConsoliDaTeD sChool DisTriCT JoDI ALBERS, DR. MERVIN DAUGHERTy, KAREN WALSH, CARoLyN zoGBy

BooKer T. washingTon elemenTary sChool (CapiTal sChool DisTriCT)

Project Success

william B. Keene elemenTary sChool (ChrisTina sChool DisTriCT) DR. ABRAHAM JoNES

HHH High School category HHH

PACT – Pre-Vocational, Academic and Community Transition Program howarD T. ennis sChool (inDian river sChool DisTriCT)

Rescheduling to Track All and Include All long neCK elemenTary sChool (inDian river sChool DisTriCT)

LoRETTA EWELL, CHARyLNNE HoPKINS, DAVID HUDSoN, MARy JANE SHoRT

PAM CURRy, LEE GUARNA, KERRI JUSTICE, DARLENE MCCUTCHEN, VERoNICA PEREz, KRISTINA PERFETTI, CHRISTy PHILLIPS, DoN PIATKoWSKI, LINDA PUSEy, SARA RUSSELL, BUDDy SNyDER, LIBBy TINGLE, TERRI TIPToN, DEBBIE TREHERNE, LAURA WILKERSoN, KRISTIN WILKINS

Creative Writing Program

John DiCKinson high sChool (reD Clay ConsoliDaTeD sChool DisTriCT) CHRIS KoHAN, ByRoN MURPHy, KRISTIN zERBE

4

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 4

May May /June / June 2 2011 011 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

4/25/11 6:03 PM

ABcdeFG Superstars in education

2011 Superstars in Education Entrants the Superstars in education Selection committee, composed of business, education and community leaders, had the task of choosing the winners out of a competitive pool of 46 applications throughout delaware. We thank each applicant for taking the time to tell us about the programs they have developed to raise student achievement.

Delaware Autistic Program

Appoquinimink Artist in Residence APPoqUINIMINK SCHooL DISTRICT

First State School

FIRST STATE SCHooL

Career Exploration KENT CoUNTy ALTERNATIVE PRoGRAMS

Academic Support ELA

NoRTH STAR

TAM Classroom Inclusion Freshman Orientation Day Model CAESAR RoDNEy HIGH

ELEMENTARy SCHooL

GEoRGEToWN

24 Club THURGooD MARSHALL

Closing Our Gap

ELEMENTARy SCHooL

MCVEy ELEMENTARy

Reading Intervention the W.E.S. Way

Learning Beyond McVey

NEWARK HIGH SCHooL

WooDBRIDGE

MCVEy ELEMENTARy

ELEMENTARy SCHooL

SCHooL

Novel Stars Twilight

Lasting Learning through Heart of Hartly Looping HARTLy ELEMENTARy EAST DoVER ELEMENTARy SCHooL

Talent Development APPoqUINIMINK

The Eco-Team

PoSTLETHWAIT MIDDLE SCHooL

Portfolios: A Pathway to Success H.B. DU PoNT MIDDLE SCHooL

Wellness Works at Forest Oak FoREST oAK

PoLyTECH HIGH SCHooL

Ramp Up Academy: Expanding Opportunities

THoMAS R. MCKEAN

CHRIST THE TEACHER

Graduation by Exhibition

SCHooL

HIGH SCHooL

SPQR: Latin Lives Today

ELEMENTARy SCHooL

SCHooL

SCHooL DISTRICT

Student Mentoring Program APPoqUINIMINK SCHooL DISTRICT

Appoquinimink’s Aspiring Administrator’s Program AAA

SCHooL

DoVER HIGH SCHooL

Learning Support Team Inclusion Model ST. GEoRGES TECHNICAL

SPEAK

HIGH SCHooL

GEoRGEToWN

9th Grade Academy

ELEMENTARy SCHooL

SUSSEx CENTRAL HIGH

SCHooL Project IMPACT – Learning Through Poetry Mastering the Schedule ToWNE PoINT for Student Success ELEMENTARy SCHooL

It Takes a Village…

BENJAMIN BANNEKER ELEMENTARy SCHooL

APPoqUINIMINK

Fitness Fridays

SCHooL DISTRICT

SoUTH DoVER ELEMENTARy SCHooL

Program: Buddy Reading for Academic Excellence Write-On Day

CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHooL

Blogging to Enhance Achievement in Language Arts PoSTLETHWAIT MIDDLE SCHooL

eMINTS ALExIS I. DU PoNT

ELEMENTARy SCHooL

FAIRVIEW ELEMENTARy

SoUTH DoVER

The Dog Pound Reading Lounge

SCHooL

ELEMENTARy SCHooL

Words on Wheels

Mentoring Program

Promoting Academic Student Success (PASS)

ANNA P. MoTE

SILVER LAKE

NoRTH DoVER

WILLIAM HENRy MIDDLE

ELEMENTARy SCHooL

ELEMENTARy SCHooL

ELEMENTARy SCHooL

SCHooL

D e l awa r e

B u s i n e s s May May / /June June 2 2011 011

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 5

r E C O g N I z I N g E x C E l l E N C E I N E D U C aT I O N

KENT CoUNTy CoMMUNITy SCHooL

Making Cent$ of Money

MIDDLE SCHooL

5

4/25/11 6:03 PM

r E C O g N I z I N g E x C E l l E N C E I N E DAUBCcaT de IO FN G

Superstars in education

2011 Superstars in Education Selection Committee

RALPH A. KUEBLER CHAIRMAN

MARY LIZ BIDDLE PNC BANK

PHYLLIS S. BUCHANAN DUPONT

LINDA L. CHICK CHICK’S

HON. DORI A. CONNOR STATE SENATOR

JAMES COYNE ASTRAZENECA PHARMACEUTICALS LP

ROB EPPES JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT

SUSAN E. FRANCIS DELAWARE SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION

PHYLLIS HANDLER DELAWARE TEACHER CENTER

PAUL HARRELL DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

PAUL A. HERDMAN THE RODEL CHARITABLE FOUNDATION OF DELAWARE

VINCENT F. JACONO DELMARVA POWER

JANIS JULIAN WSFS BANK

CATHY MACFARLANE ING DIRECT

BILL MAJOR WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY

MICHAEL A. MARINELLI ARCHMERE ACADEMY

HON. JOSEPH E. MIRO STATE REPRESENTATIVE

LINDA F. POOLE EDUCATIONALLY SPEAKING, LLC

JOANNE REIHM DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

ROBERT W. RESCIGNO

FRED C. SEARS II DELAWARE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

LAVINA J. SMITH CHRISTINA SCHOOL DISTRICT

HON. DAVID P. SOKOLA STATE SENATOR

BEVERLY L. STEWART BACK TO BASICS LEARNING DYNAMICS, INC.

HELEN M. STEWART JPMORGAN CHASE & CO.

PEGGY STRINE

CATHERINE P. WEAVER CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF WILMINGTON

HOWARD M. WEINBERG DELAWARE STATE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION

JOSEPH L. YACYSHYN WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY

VICTORIA C. YATZUS THE INDEPENDENCE SCHOOL

6

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 6

May May //June June 2 0 1 1 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

4/25/11 6:03 PM

ABcdeFG Superstars in education

2011 Superstars in Education Sponsors the delaware State chamber of commerce thanks the supporters of the 2011 Superstars in education program.

Leadership AGILENT TECHNoLoGIES ASTRAzENECA PHARMACEUTICALS LP BANK oF AMERICA

DELMARVA PoWER DUPoNT JPMoRGAN CHASE & Co. THE RoDEL CHARITABLE FoUNDATIoN oF DELAWARE WALMART

Gold

PNC BANK WILMINGToN TRUST CoMPANy WILMINGToN UNIVERSITy WSFS BANK

Silver BARCLAyS BLUE CRoSS BLUE SHIELD oF DELAWARE FASTSIGNS THE NEWS JoURNAL CoMPANy PSEG NUCLEAR, LLC

CITIzENS BANK

TD BANK

DISCoVER BANK

TELEDUCTIoN, INC.

UNIVERSITy oF DELAWARE

RIVERFRoNT AUDIo VISUAL

VERIzoN DELAWARE

THE SEzNA FoUNDATIoN

Bronze

Friends

ARTESIAN WATER CoMPANy

BACK To BASICS LEARNING DyNAMICS, INC.

CHRISTIANA CARE HEALTH SySTEM DELAWARE CADILLAC, SAAB & SUBARU

EDUCATIONALLy SPEAkING, LLC FRAUNHoFER USA CMB

DELAWARE ECoNoMIC DEVELoPMENT oFFICE

MARVIN & PALMER ASSoCIATES, INC.

DELMARVA BRoADCASTING CoMPANy

RoWLAND, JoHNSoN & CoMPANy, P.A.

FULToN BANK

r E C O g N I z I N g E x C E l l E N C E I N E D U C aT I O N

DELAWARE DEPARTMENT oF EDUCATIoN

ING DIRECT

(AS oF 3/22/2011)

NIxoN UNIFoRM SERVICE

SAVERS HAVE BRIGHTER FUTURES. ING DIRECT applauds Superstars in Education for their commitment to inspiring kids to learn, laugh and live brightly.

CMYK CMYK 100/80/0/40 100/80/0/40

D e l awa r e CMYK 100/80/0/40

B u s i n e s s May / June 2 0 1 1 CMYK 0/70/100/0

CMYK CMYK 0/70/100/0 0/70/100/0

7

XIN_Ball_®_COMBO_4c_RESIZE.ai

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 7

4/25/11 6:03 PM

r E C O g N I z I N g E x C E l l E N C E I N E DAUBCcaT de IO FN G

Superstars in education

“Joe is proof of how imaginative and dedicated teachers can influence students today, and change the world forever.”

Dr. John Gray Dean, College of Education

The Standard of Excellence in Teacher Preparation

An NCATE Accredited Institution

8

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 8

May /June 2 0 1 1 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

4/25/11 6:03 PM

ABcdeFG Superstars in education

r E C O g N I z I N g E x C E l l E N C E I N E D U C aT I O N

Students in the Capital School District meet at Price honda dealership for story time. Photos

by Janine Sorbello

On the Road to Success

By DENEE CrUMrINE

A

t Price Honda dealership, pajama-clad first-grade students eagerly await the special guests for the evening. Perhaps they will see Price Penguin, Scooby-Doo or Junie B. Jones before enjoying their story. In the Capital School District, students have the opportunity to hear bedtime stories and have milk and cookies through a partnership with the Dover dealership.

The Capital School District and Price Automotive Reading Challenge Partnership was forged to motivate and engage students to read in and outside of the classroom. The program, which runs the length of the school year, is entering its ninth year. Families of first-grade students are sent invitations to participate, along with the schedule of story times, which are held at Price Honda or schools in the district. Children receive prizes for reaching milestones and incentives to achieve the 66 book goal, which was set forth by the Reading is Fundamental program. Children receive a scorecard to mark progress and record which books they’ve read. Each story time includes a guest reader and a visit from guest characters that are often volunteer teachers, or a volunteer from the Dover Public Library,

D e l awa r e

B u s i n e s s May / June 2 0 1 1

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 9

to sing and read with students. Each student goes home with a book to encourage reading outside of the program.

“Students often read far more than the targeted 66 books by the end of the year. Whenever they hit the 66 mark, they are encouraged to keep on reading,” says Pamela Herrera, director of elementary instruction for the Capital School District.

When Warren Price, owner of Price Automotive, approached Capital School District with the idea of a program, he intended it to benefit all students, not just those considered at risk or gifted.

“The main purpose was to give something back while improving our relations with the public we serve,” says Price, who coined the program’s motto, “on the Road to Success.”

The program aims to meet the learning needs of children in order to fulfill Delaware Academic Content Standards and National Common Core State Standards for Literacy requirements. Students identified as having the most need for this program have made a 30 percent improvement on Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) assessments over the past five years and there has been a 13

9

4/25/11 6:03 PM

r E C O g N I z I N g E x C E l l E N C E I N E DAUBCcaT de IO FN G

Superstars in education

percent improvement among all first graders. The district also attributes improved success in other areas, like science and social studies, to the program as proficient reading skills are imperative for the processing and comprehension of new information.

But the importance of the program doesn’t stop at learning, “It involves the community – business, schools, parents and children, all working together to get kids excited about reading,” says Herrera.

And at the Price Honda dealership, it really is a community effort. Price Honda employees start preparing for the evening event by clearing the showroom, moving cars and directing traffic. Carpet squares and chairs are set up and children start chanting for the Price Penguin to appear.

There are door prizes for both students and parents and milk and cookies are set out. Every book they read there counts toward the goal and every student is given a new book to take home. The Price Automotive staff makes sure the families leave in an orderly manner and then get the inventory and cars back in place. Some nights, the story time events draw 250 students.

“I cannot tell you the number of parents and teachers who approach me and thank me for continuing support to the program,” says Price. “We have had parents tell us that they have their third or fourth child attending events and some of the children that move on in grade continue to attend one or two years

Parents and their children benefit from the shared experience at the story time events.

after they move on to second grade.

“The real benefit is the satisfaction that we are doing something good for the children,” he says. “We are turning them on to reading, one of the most essential skills they will need to be successful in life.” n

GUIDING THE FUTURE We know that achieving more in life begins with achieving more in school. That’s why we salute the 2011 Superstars in Education.

©2011 The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. All rights reserved. PNC Bank, National Association. Member FDIC

10

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 10

COMMSERV AD JUN 2010 012

May /June 2 0 1 1 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

4/25/11 6:03 PM

ABcdeFG Superstars in education

r E C O g N I z I N g E x C E l l E N C E I N E D U C aT I O N

AstraZeneca is proud to support Superstars in Education

For more information, call 1-800-AZandMe or visit astrazeneca-us.com ©2011 AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP.All rights reserved.

D e l awa r e

B u s i n e s s May / June 2 0 1 1

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 11

11

4/25/11 6:03 PM

r E C O g N I z I N g E x C E l l E N C E I N E DAUBCcaT de IO FN G

Superstars in education

Visit us at bankofamerica.com

Inspired by those who make a life by what they give.

The potential of a child is a source of wonder. What will she do? Where will he go? Who will she become? And there’s no greater good than nurturing the promise of each one.

Bank of America is proud to support those unique individuals who focus on the future, one child at a time.

© 2011 Bank of America Corporation SPN-103-AD | ARR23410

12

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 12

May /June 2 0 1 1 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

4/25/11 6:03 PM

ABcdeFG Superstars in education

r E C O g N I z I N g E x C E l l E N C E I N E D U C aT I O N

fifth-grade teacher Trevor little helps students with their reading by integrating technology into their learning using an Ipod Touch. from left: Kimberly ruiz, louis rivera, and talking to little, Jose rojas. Photos by Tom Nutter

Bridging the Gap S

ummer break poses a threat to students’ skills attained throughout the school year. According to “The Effects of Summer Vacation on Achievement Test Scores: A Narrative and Meta-Analytic Review,” students experience significant learning loss when they do not participate in educational activities during the summer months. For students already falling below the average achievement scores, the summer can be even more detrimental to their success the following school year. This is why the administration and teachers in the Red Clay School District implemented the Summer Enrichment Program for grades three through six.

The vision for the program came from District Superintendent Mervin Daugherty. He worked with the curriculum and instruction department to develop the overall idea, then he pulled in teachers to devise the details. “We lived, breathed, ate and drank summer enrichment for a while,” says Program Director Karen Walsh. “We wanted it to be effective and just right for the students.”

The 21-day program starts at the end of June. Students are

D e l awa r e

B u s i n e s s May / June 2 0 1 1

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 13

By KaTIE WIlSON

bused into two participating elementary schools, grab a quick breakfast and enter a classroom where they start reading and vocabulary instruction for 90 minutes. Here, teachers get creative by using photographs and video clips that support the instruction of vocabulary words.

In the fourth-grade program, the children go on an imaginary trek across the U.S. with different stops along the way.

This gives them a feel for geography, as well as learning new vocabulary words, according to Walsh. “We have video clips of volcanoes erupting because one of the vocabulary words is erupt. Another word is glacier, so we show how glaciers move. We are developing those concepts while developing the specific word,” Walsh says.

Another technique teachers employ is instructing through games. These game-type experiences reinforce vocabulary and writing. “[The students] really love the game called, “I Have Who Has.” The first student says, “Who has” and reads a definition such as “I have a great mass of ice that moves and cuts the land.” Each student has a card that matches the defi-

13

4/25/11 6:03 PM

r E C O g N I z I N g E x C E l l E N C E I N E DAUBCcaT de IO FN G

Superstars in education

nition. The student who has the glacier card would announce that they have the matching card.

After 90 minutes of reading and vocabulary, students move to mathematics instruction, which also employs activities to help students relearn the concepts so they stick. “Math is game-like in the way the concepts are re-taught and practiced,” Walsh says.

“We use a lot of manipulatives or things they move around to get the concept of what they’re learning.”

Manipulatives include linking cubes or card stock paper cut-outs, anything students can use to count and put into groups so they understand the underlying foundation of what a concept like “two times two” actually means.

After math, it’s off to lunch for these busy students and then they are dismissed at 11:30 a.m. and brought home by bus.

After the first year of the program, teachers noticed students enjoy activities where they can come up with motions to convey a vocabulary word, but teachers noted the activity needed another component to make the concept stick. They

The Red Clay Consolidated School District Proudly Congratulates The 2011 Superstars in Education Winners!

Congratulations to Long Neck Elementary School and the Howard T. Ennis School for their recognition as Superstars in Education winners!

Visit us on the web: www.irsd.net 14

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 14

from left, Third-grade teacher Christina Personti plays a reading game with lizett Muñoz, Jason Medina, Monica Pena and alexandra Torres.

got together to share their experiences before the next summer program and revised their plans for this upcoming year.

“We don’t want them to feel like this is traditional summer school and they’re repeating what they’ve done,” explains Walsh.

“We’re addressing the gaps, but further developing the concepts that they’re going to see when they start school in the fall.”

The program has been so popular that they are expanding to five schools in 2011 from two, allowing them to accommodate 1,200 students, which is up from 500 in 2010. The program doesn’t turn any students away, and teachers invite students that were identified as having a need through the former Delaware Student Testing Program and now the Delaware Comprehensive Assessment System. The program relies on Title 1 funding. Students who are not identified as having a need, but with parents who want them to strengthen their skills, are welcome to attend.

Teachers and parents agree, there are more benefits to the program than learning.

“A number of parents say that during the school year it was a chore to get the students up and ready to come to school,” says Walsh. “These kids responded the same way on the first day of the summer program, but after that they were up and out of bed and ready to come. There was a change in attitude toward school. That was a big thing.”

Not only are the students excited about learning, but they have a new-found confidence when it comes to going to school. The small, 10-student class size gives them individual attention from teachers, who support a positive learning environment. Walsh notes, “This makes the students feel special and everyone’s glad that they’re there.” n

May /June 2 0 1 1 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

4/25/11 6:03 PM

DOE-SuperstarRevFlPgAd 2-25-10

2/25/10

1:40 PM

Page 1

ABcdeFG Superstars in education

Every Student Has “Superstar” Potential

r E C O g N I z I N g E x C E l l E N C E I N E D U C aT I O N

Together we can help them reach higher.

Touching the stars is easier when you have many hands to lift you. The Delaware Department of Education congratulates this year’s Superstars in Education winners! Your innovative ideas are helping to improve and enhance educational opportunities for Delaware’s students.

Most importantly, you are helping Delaware achieve its goal of excellence in education, and giving students the power to succeed — in school, college, career and life.

Reaching higher for student success.

D e l awa r e

B u s i n e s s May / June 2 0 1 1

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 15

15

4/25/11 6:03 PM

r E C O g N I z I N g E x C E l l E N C E I N E DAUBCcaT de IO FN G

Superstars in education

We’re working hard

so he can make the grade.

Illuminating your child’s education Delmarva Power can’t improve a report card, but we work around the clock so your student can.

Our continuing investment in infrastructure and new technology reinforces our commitment to provide a reliable source of energy and customer information so you and your family stay connected.

For more information on how Delmarva Power continues to prepare for what the future brings, please visit delmarva.com.

16

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 16

May /June 2 0 1 1 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

4/25/11 6:03 PM

ABcdeFG Superstars in education

Teachers and students form a bond at howard T. Ennis School in georgetown.

Photos by Janine Sorbello

r E C O g N I z I N g E x C E l l E N C E I N E D U C aT I O N

Preparation for the Real World By lEah laWrENCE

P

reparing young adults for the real world is a difficult task for any teacher, but it can be even more difficult for the teachers of the special needs students at Howard T. Ennis School in Georgetown. The school’s Pre-vocational, Academic and Community Transition (PACT) Program was designed to help teachers prepare special-needs students for the school-to-work transition, making it easier to adjust to the change.

The PACT Program was designed for 14-to-17-year-old students with special needs at Howard T. Ennis School, and consists of two major components: functional academics and pre-vocational opportunities. The goal of the program is for students to find work and to be successfully integrated into the community.

“Before we started this program, we felt that we were placing kids in jobs, but we weren’t truly preparing them for it,” says Kristina Perfetti, principal. “Now we have job placement agencies come back to us and say, ‘you guys are doing a great job because your kids are always prepared for the job.’”

Since the start of the PACT Program, one of the biggest changes is the role that Delaware Alternative Portfolio

D e l awa r e

B u s i n e s s May / June 2 0 1 1

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 17

Assessment (DAPA) plays in the day-to-day instruction of the students. Prior to PACT, teachers worked with students in a self-contained classroom focusing on academic and personal care goals. Now, teachers teach academic content that still meets these DAPA requirements, but also adds meaningful knowledge that the students can apply to real-life situations.

Each marking period, the teachers use thematic units that incorporate the eight multiple intelligences of learning. The thematic areas include things like healthy living, safety, community and employment. Functional academics are then taught in the context of that session’s theme. For example, instead of telling time on a worksheet, students are learning to look at clocks and tell time, or set a timer to measure a break from work.

During the school day, students move to different classrooms that focus on areas of that marking period’s theme, such as arts, social studies, science and math. Students are then exposed to pre-vocational skills, such as preparing papers for shredding and delivering bags of shredded paper to local businesses, or working on the school district’s mail run.

“For example, students may work with custodians here at

17

4/25/11 6:03 PM

Superstars in education

r E C O g N I z I N g E x C E l l E N C E I N E DAUBCcaT de IO FN G

Member_Discounts.pdf

1

4/20/11

10:07 AM

dscc exclusive member benefits!

Delaware State Chamber of Commerce Teachers use the PaCT program to help 14-17-year-old students with special needs address the issues they will face in the real world.

JEWELRY, PAPER, MAILING, HOTEL, CONFERENCE SERVICES, ADMISSION, FURNITURE, SECURITY, CONSULTING, PHOTOGRAPHY, MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS, MEMBERSHIPS, EYE CARE, STAFFING, EDUCATION, ADVERTISING, OFFICE SUPPLIES, HEALTH, DENTAL, PRESCRIPTIONS, CREDIT CARDS, TELEPHONE SERVICE, BLOOD BANK, NOTARY DOCUMENT OF ORIGIN

Find these discounts & more at www.dscc.com/chamber/member_benefits

18

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 18

the school and do everything that they do,” Perfetti says. “They clean the cafeteria, etc. This, combined with the academics and other vocational and life skills, help prepare them for when we put them out for job exploration to some place like Pizza Palace, where they apply those skills.”

These voluntary employment training sessions are designed to not only prepare students to be employed, but also to meet each student’s desired job interest.

“We don’t match a kid to a job site, we have the job site match the kid’s interest,” Perfetti says. “They can be placed into secretarial jobs, cleaning tables at restaurants, working at Lloyd’s Landscaping or even the SPCA.” Due to the nature of the students’ disabilities, some students also struggle with social relationships. All students in the PACT Program attend a weekly social skills class where they learn to communicate more effectively and appropriately. In addition, they work with a transition specialist who helps develop work readiness skills, interview skills and a work portfolio. They even work with students from Sussex Central High School who volunteer as part of a partnership to tutor the PACT Program students and help them develop their social skills.

The program has led to many positive changes for the students and the school. Not only have DAPA scores improved, but there are a higher number of typical peer tutors involved, and better parent communication and involvement.

“The parents really love the program because now at home their kids are cleaning their rooms and taking on more responsibilities that they hadn’t taken on in the past,” Perfetti says. “This is because we are teaching them how to get dressed, how to clear and set a table, and they are taking these skills home with them.”

However, the greatest change has been in the attitude of the students who are now prepared and ready to go out and work. “our goal is to try to place every kid. Seeing them be successful has been the most rewarding part of the program for me,” Perfetti says. “These kids go from needing help hand-over-hand to working and succeeding independently. We even had one of our student graduates come back and work for us. It is so nice to see them really be successful.” n

May /June 2 0 1 1 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

4/25/11 6:03 PM

ABcdeFG Superstars in education

r E C O g N I z I N g E x C E l l E N C E I N E D U C aT I O N

Working to make public schools in Delaware world‐class—for the superstar in every student.

Congratulations to the Superstars in Education The Rodel Foundation of Delaware

D e l awa r e

B u s i n e s s May / June 2 0 1 1

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 19

19

4/25/11 6:03 PM

r E C O g N I z I N g E x C E l l E N C E I N E DAUBCcaT de IO FN G

Superstars in education

Developing the leaders of tomorrow.

One community at a time.

Helping teachers buy supplies for their classrooms. Providing high school dropouts another chance to earn a diploma. Supporting first generation student success on campus.

Our Foundation is working in local communities to create opportunities so people can live better. To learn more visit walmartfoundation.org

20

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 20

May /June 2 0 1 1 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

4/25/11 6:03 PM

ABcdeFG Superstars in education

r E C O g N I z I N g E x C E l l E N C E I N E D U C aT I O N

English and Creative Writing Teacher Kristin zerbe, standing, engages her small creative writing class. Photos by Tom Nutter

Realizing Creativity Through Writing

By KaTIE DUNN

C

elebrated writer Sholem Asch once said, “Writing comes more easily if you have something to say.”

Students at John Dickinson High School understand the truth behind this quote as the Creative Writing Program at this Wilmington school has given students an outlet to express their points of view and interests.

English teacher Kristin zerbe incorporated a creative writing segment into her English 11 class that became so popular, students wanted more. From that class activity, the Creative Writing course was born. The first of its kind at John Dickinson High school, it encourages students to embrace an appreciation of creative writing to last beyond their high school years, while developing reading, writing and critical thinking skills. The course began three years ago as an elective class open primarily to upper classmen.

Taught by zerbe, the Creative Writing course allows students to learn and grow beyond the requirements of other English

D e l awa r e

B u s i n e s s May / June 2 0 1 1

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 21

courses. She caters her curriculum to the interests of students, from non-fiction writing to poetry, and sees that when students are interested in what they are learning, they can reap in maximum benefits. “It’s not about what I like,” zerbe says.

“I want them to get interested, to get something out of the program.”

Thanks to the Creative Writing course, many students are now published authors. They submit work to the publication Teen Ink, a national magazine written for teens, by teens. zerbe has made submitting work to the magazine a requirement of the class, and the students embrace this task. Their writing gives them an opportunity to share their voice and gain recognition among other teen writers, and since the creation of the program three years ago, 30 students have been published in the magazine. zerbe notes that when a student is published in Teen Ink, they gain tremendous confidence as well as validation from their classmates.

21

4/25/11 6:03 PM

r E C O g N I z I N g E x C E l l E N C E I N E DAUBCcaT de IO FN G

Superstars in education

they know as the “Teen Ink lady.” She Not only are students responsible inspires the students and encourages for their own work, they are also their imagination while setting them expected to critically evaluate the on the right academic path. She hopes work of their peers. Student’s compreto be able to offer more classes in the hension of reading and writing has future for more students to join. She increased due to peer reviewing. And would also like to publish a book with the evidence is not only anecdotal. the works of the students and start a The success of the program is clear blog to encourage students to post by individual student achievement in stories and positively comment on standardized test scores and graduatheir classmates’ stories. tion rates for students in the course.

The Creative Writing course has The state’s assessment of student prognot only helped reading and writing ress was determined by the Delaware comprehension, it has helped Student Testing Program (DSTP) students find their passion and their until the fall of 2010. Students who future careers. Jesse C. Antoine, now had been published due to the course a professor teaching Composition at had a proficiency rate of 87 percent Delaware Tech, reflects that without on the DSTP Writing assessment, as the program, his interest in writing compared to the 71 percent profimay never have been realized. ciency rate of the school as a whole.

Classmates listen intently while eleventh-grader “Writing and publishing can create Reading scores for published students Moheem Ilyas reads his creative essay about why it is confidence on and off the paper,” were also significant, with a profi- important to be able to write effectively. says Antoine. “Introducing students ciency rate of 93 percent compared to to the possibility of their own written thoughts as having some 54 percent for the entire school.

The program has become very popular among the student worth or importance can create a positive trend in reading and body, due mostly to the efforts and teaching from zerbe, who studying overall.” n

What can UD do for you?

The University of Delaware’s Division of Professional and Continuing Studies can help you build your professional skills, improve your organization’s bottom line, and enrich your life.

Career enhancement Customized learning Degree completion

• Certificate programs • Customized learning solutions for your organization • Credit courses—online or in the classroom • Academic and career counseling

UD is for you!

302-831-7600 866-820-0238 (toll-free) continuing-ed@udel.edu www.pcs.udel.edu DB050011

22

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 22

May /June 2 0 1 1 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

4/25/11 6:03 PM

ABcdeFG Superstars in education

r E C O g N I z I N g E x C E l l E N C E I N E D U C aT I O N

Students at Booker T. Washington Elementary School learn to read in groups. Photos by Janine Sorbello

Laying the Reading Foundation By aPrIl hall

I

n the third grade there’s an important shift – students begin “reading to learn,” instead of “learning to read.” Without a foundation for learning, students often lag behind. At Booker T. Washington Elementary School in Dover, staff found that some students lacked this foundation they needed to be successful.

Many of the students were already at risk due to socioeconomic and other learning barriers, so ensuring these third graders were equipped with the reading skills they needed to understand and critically evaluate text was a priority.

Comprehension suffered and administrators and teachers found students also needed to develop their oral communication. Plans were developed to spend time with vocabulary and comprehension, as well as “think aloud” activities, peer collaboration and discussion. “one of the things that we know, because we’ve included more peer discussion, is that students are much more moti-

D e l awa r e

B u s i n e s s May / June 2 0 1 1

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 23

vated to explore new topics,” says Cathy Schreiber, a literacy coach at Booker T. Washington. “We’re incorporating lots of text, including non-fiction, and students are building their background knowledge.”

Since implementing the program two years ago, the school’s standardized Gates-MacGinitie Reading Test scores have shown improvement. In the first year of the program, there was a 24-percent gain in scores and in the second, a 36-percent gain.

Administrators also credit the Instructional Reading Program with improving test scores across the grade school curriculum. “our third grade is using this across the curriculum and the students are able to make the connections now,” Schreiber says. “And we’ve noticed the fourth graders are more able to successfully navigate because of the success they’ve had with the program in the third grade.”

To expand on its success, Booker T. Washington is now using the Instructional Reading Program in every grade, with

23

4/25/11 6:03 PM

r E C O g N I z I N g E x C E l l E N C E I N E DAUBCcaT de IO FN G

Students work in groups to improve their literacy skills.

Superstars in education

the entire staff. once a week, the staff for each grade meets for a 90-minute planning session.

This allows for the program to be applied crosscurriculum.

“We’re no longer giving teachers strategies in isolation and because of that it’s become more authentic for the teachers and students.

It’s become more motivating,” Schreiber says.

“Students become very critical in their thinking, in reading, and in general. “one of the really key things to that is having teachers plan together how the program will be implemented.”

When creating the program and now while maintaining it, staff has continued to look to published research on strategies and how to address the common problems grade-schoolers face when developing literacy. There is a constant stream of new information both inside and outside of Booker T. Washington and Principal Pamela Manlove says administrators and teachers will continue to tap those resources to be the most effective educators possible.

“one thing that was critical for us was to look at the data to get us started,” says Manlove. “We looked across the building and across the grade level. We used some of the state and district assessments, making sure the resources we were pulling from were best practices, so to speak.

“Now, as we go along, we continue to refine what we’re doing, to see what we need to expand on. There is a lot of research out there, but every student is different.” n

WSFS Bank is especially proud to support the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce’s 2011 Superstars in Education.

ing n e h t g n e r and st s. e i t i n u m m o our c ©2011 Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB | Member FDIC

24

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 24

May /June 2 0 1 1 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

4/25/11 6:03 PM

ABcdeFG Superstars in education

r E C O g N I z I N g E x C E l l E N C E I N E D U C aT I O N

from left:

Brook ahlstrom and Miguel gonzalez practice reading in small groups. Photos by Tom Nutter

Project Success T

here are numerous reading programs across the country working to get students reading at their grade levels. Improving comprehension and vocabulary are among their goals and they work to succeed at reaching them. But few can boast instilling a love for reading in their students.

Project Success at William B. Keene Elementary School does just that. Principal Beatrice Speir says this year a student came to her office with a plan to organize an extracurricular group of fellow students who wanted to read to kindergarten students at the school.

“I encourage the kids at this school to give me their thoughts or concerns,” Speir says. “A little boy in the fourth grade, who now sees how important reading is, came to me about reading to kindergarten, first and second grade classes. He came to me with a list of more than 40 kids who want to read to younger kids.

D e l awa r e

B u s i n e s s May / June 2 0 1 1

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 25

By aPrIl hall

“It’s called ‘Reading for Kids.’ He’s starting the club, he’s gone to the teachers in the younger classes to see when it would be good to go in, he’s worked out a schedule.”

Speir says fifth-grade students are also “reading buddies” with first-grade students and others who struggled with literacy before are even tackling the school’s optional “1,000 book challenge.”

Keene Elementary has received a “superior” status eight years running for student scores on standardized testing, but the gap between groups of students was far too large for a school with the motto, “All students can learn.” Administrators found more special education students were moving into the district not only from elsewhere in Delaware, but also New york, Pennsylvania and Maryland. Those students often didn’t have the foundational learning to succeed in reading.

Before Project Success (which stands for Students Uniquely Comprehending Curriculum for Excellence and

25

4/25/11 6:03 PM

r E C O g N I z I N g E x C E l l E N C E I N E DAUBCcaT de IO FN G

Superstars in education

Superior Status), there was a 71.7 percent gap in standardized reading scores between students with and without disabilities.

That gap is now 2.8 percent.

To aggressively address the initial gap, third, fourth and fifthgrade students who needed extra attention may have had as many as three “reading interventions” either in a small group or one-on-one with a staff member. These additional sessions are not confined in reading or English classrooms. Sometimes 15 minutes are taken out of gym, art or library classes. The program has been so successful it’s now throughout the school, including kindergarten, first and second grades as well.

“We were doing a lot of this last year,” Speir says of expanding the program. “And now, this year going into first grade, out of 120 kids only three (needed) ‘intensive’ (intervention), which is amazing.”

At Keene Elementary School, staff considers every student in the building “our own kids,” Speir says. “Just five or six kids at risk (academically) can impact the entire school.”

“An effective component of Project Success is teacher collaboration,” says Abraham Jones, Ed.D, a special education teacher at the school. “We have PLC (professional learning community) meetings and planning times and talk among ourselves and work together on how we’re going to build schedules for the reading interventions.”

The interventions give students tools, like a growing vocabulary, to better understand what they are reading. one of the most promising strategies, previewing and scaffolding, gives special education students the opportunity to see readings and content

fourth-grade Special Education Teacher lori Muhlestein helps students Nascia Wise, Tyler ford and alivia Stoddard with their reading skills.

material before other students. Through scaffolding, instruction is layered carefully with specific goals both set and met.

Project Success has not only helped students’ reading scores.

Math and science scores are also on the rise, which bodes well for students’ overall future, administrators say.

“Literacy is the key to participating and succeeding in a democratic society and global economy,” Jones says in his Superstars in Education application. “Reading, writing, listening, and speaking are foundations for learning.” n

GivinG back to the community is a Gift to us all.

Citizens Bank is proud to sponsor Superstars in Education. We believe in making a difference within the communities we serve and support those who share the same spirit and dedication.

Member FDIC. Citizens Bank is RBS Citizens, N.A. and Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania. 03091

26

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 26

May /June 2 0 1 1 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

4/25/11 6:03 PM

ABcdeFG Superstars in education

Students learn in small reading groups at long Neck Elementary School.

Photos by Janine Sorbello

r E C O g N I z I N g E x C E l l E N C E I N E D U C aT I O N

Scheduling Time to Help Every Student Shine By lEah laWrENCE

L

ong Neck Elementary has had a reputation of a superior school with good overall academic achievement.

However, even the best schools have areas where improvement is needed, and Long Neck was no different.

“We noticed that although our overall scores exhibited high achievement, this high achievement did not filter through all of our students,” says David Hudson, assistant principal of Long Neck Elementary in Millsboro.

To address the problem, the school recently launched its Rescheduling to Track All and Include All program that implements a systematic approach to address individual student’s learning needs. The program provides individualized small group math and reading instruction for every student and provides teachers with common planning and Professional Learning Community time.

In the time since the program was started, not only have student test results improved, but Long Neck Elementary was one of only five schools in Delaware to receive the State Academic

D e l awa r e

B u s i n e s s May / June 2 0 1 1

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 27

Achievement Award for closing achievement gaps between various ethnic and socioeconomic students groups and exceeding Adequate yearly Progress for two or more consecutive years.

In order to better address the needs of all its students, the staff at Long Neck worked to create a master schedule that would address each individual student’s needs. The schedule included time each day for students to receive extra support in reading or math based on their instruction level. It also built in common planning time, and weekly time for teachers in each grade level to meet as a Professional Learning Community.

Initially, each student’s academic level was assessed and then students were placed into a group based on their needs. With the new program, students get 200 to 250 minutes a week of small group instruction in addition to their core content instruction.

“Every six weeks we reassess students and determine their areas of need. Then we address these areas with small group instruction for six weeks,” Hudson says. “our neediest students are assessed even more frequently, each Friday.”

27

4/25/11 6:03 PM

r E C O g N I z I N g E x C E l l E N C E I N E DAUBCcaT de IO FN G

Superstars in education

This frequent analysis of data has allowed the teachers at Long Neck to streamline their instruction to best meet the needs of their students. The results of the program have been outstanding as evidenced by the school’s improvement on Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP) scores.

“Among the students that started this program in 2008 in the third grade, we had about 84 percent of students meeting the standard for reading,” Hudson says. “By the time they finished the fifth grade, the exact same group of students had a 10 percent gain in the number, meeting or beating the standard. In math, with those same students, we saw them improve from 89 percent to 96 percent.”

In addition, 100 percent of the second-grade class and 97 percent of the third grade class met or exceeded 2010 DSTP math standards.

This high-level achievement resulted in Long Neck Elementary School being named a State Superior School in 2010, and recently being named a National Distinguished Title one School.

This type of radical change did require an adjustment on the part of the students, teachers and their parents. Long Neck is no longer a traditional elementary school with one teacher in a classroom with the same students all day long, according to Hudson.

“With our new schedule, the teachers have people coming in and out of the classroom and other people teaching their students,” Hudson says. “At first, it took some time to adapt to this new way of doing things, but the teachers will tell you now that it has been worth it and that we would never go back to the

Students work on a diagram in groups based on their learning level.

way it was done before.”

It has been an adjustment for the parents as well, Hudson says.

Frequently the kids have to explain to the parents what class they are in each day or why they might have a different teacher every six weeks.

“But the kids really like the system and the one-on-one small group attention,” Hudson says. “It allows the students to grow academically and personally and it allows the teachers to really get to know the kids.” n

Superstars in Education Award winners deserve an “A” for effort.

As a proud sponsor, we thank you for finding new ways to help students make the grade.

MyDiscoverBank.com ©2011 Discover Bank, Member FDIC

28

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 28

May /June 2 0 1 1 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

4/25/11 6:03 PM

Superstars in education r E C O g N I z I N g E x C E l l E N C E I N E D U C aT I O N

She’s not thinking about her future.

But we are.

For more than 100 years, the Wilmington Trust corporate family has been privileged to work with, and support, individuals and organizations committed to providing educational opportunities to members of our communities.

In our second century of serving clients, and future clients, our commitment to improving the quality of life of others remains steadfast.

We are proud to support

Delaware State Chamber of Commerce and join in honoring

Superstars in Education Winners and our own

Principal for a Day Volunteers Ms. Denise Cugler Baltz (Austin D.) Elementary School

Mr. William H. Major St. Ann School

Ms. Mary Devine Long Neck Elementary School

© 2011 Wilmington Trust Company.

D e l awa r e

B u s i n e s s May / June 2 0 1 1

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 29

29

4/25/11 6:03 PM

r E C O g N I z I N g E x C E l l E N C E I N E D U C aT I O N

Opinion:

Race to the Top needs Teamwork to Reach Goal

By JOhN TaylOr

I

Superstars in education

t has been a year since Delaware was named the number one recipient in the federal Race to the Top competition. As the winner, Delaware won $119 million to assist in its ongoing efforts to make the state’s public schools the best in the world for every student by 2015 – no exceptions and no excuses. This plan, known as Vision 2015, is directly aligned with the state’s Race to the Top basic goals.

Vision 2015, the business-led coalition that includes education, government and community leaders, has not only endorsed the state’s Race to the Top programs, it was a key building block in the application process.

The state has made a number of significant advances in education reform since winning the national contest. Among the advances: • We have adopted internationally competitive Common Core standards so students will be better prepared to face the challenges in the real world. Teachers are now being trained in

Earn Your Master’s Degree in Just 18 Months Strategic Leadership: An Ethical and Effective Road to Success

Aston, Pennsylvania www.neumann.edu 30

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 30

these higher standards.

• The Delaware Comprehensive Assessment System has now started. It will provide a measure of student progress throughout the year and enable teachers and parents to better measure student progress.

• A key element of Race to the Top was the establishment of the Partnership zone. Four schools are now in this zone in which additional resources and best practices will be focused to dramatically increase student achievement within two years.

Among the practices for these schools are expanded learning time, increased family and community engagement and performance-based pay for teachers. Schools in this zone get additional support to hire and retain highly effective teachers.

• New regulations will link teacher effectiveness, as measured by the Delaware Performance Appraisal System to student growth. Teachers will have to be certified as effective before being granted job protection guarantees.

• Teach for America (TFA) has been functioning at a highly successful level in 12 Delaware schools for two years. Soon TFA in Delaware will become its own self-directed operation rather than a part of the Philadelphia-based Mid-Atlantic training and recruitment center.

• New science, technology, engineering and math teachers are being recruited and the path for gaining alternative certification in these areas has been expanded.

• The state continues to work toward improved quality of early childhood education through the Stars for Early Success program. A study on kindergarten readiness released recently indicates that while 80 percent of children attend preschool, only 34 percent enter kindergarten prepared for the experience.

• Delaware was presented with a plan to redirect approximately $158 million of education expenditures to the classroom through cost efficiencies. only a small portion of this plan has been enacted.

Markell was right to caution that reform is “complex and challenging” and that it is a “marathon, not a sprint.” Delaware has demonstrated that collaboration between business, the state teachers’ union, state education officials, community leaders and government officials can lead to real progress. But if we are to reach our goal of the best public schools in the world by 2015, a good deal remains to be accomplished. n John Taylor is executive director of the Delaware Public Policy Institute.

May /June 2 0 1 1 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

4/25/11 6:03 PM

APRIL 2011

DELAWARE’S

RACE TO DELIVER One Year Later…

Where Do We Stand?

A first-year report on Delaware‘s commitment to improve its public schools, on the anniversary of winning Race to the Top

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 31

4/25/11 6:03 PM

One year after the state’s first-place win in the federal Race to the Top grant competition, Delaware remains a national leader in education reform, with $119 million in new federal money to spend on schools and a responsibility to meaningfully change public education for our children.

The state has taken important first steps in what will be a four-year process. In its foundational planning year, Delaware educators and leaders focused on identifying systems that weren’t working and redesigning them to make student learning the top priority.

This update explains our progress so far, the work still needed to meet Delaware’s Race to the Top commitments, and other steps we feel are necessary to truly elevate public education. The need is more urgent than ever: On the 2009 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), which measures students

“This race is a marathon,

in 34 developed countries, U.S. students ranked

not a sprint ... complex

14th in reading, 17th in science, and 25th in

and challenging,

math. Regaining our global competitiveness begins by transforming learning, classroom

requiring levels of

by classroom. We intend to track the state’s

collaboration rarely

progress every year in accomplishing this work.

Real reform takes time. The work is hard, and the road is long. But we must do this right — for the sake of Delaware’s children.

experienced in public education reform.”

Delaware Governor Jack Markell

This report was produced by Vision 2015, a coalition of education, government, business, and community leaders committed to creating the best schools in the world for every Delaware student — no exceptions, no excuses. Vision 2015’s priorities align directly with Race to the Top’s core goals. This document reports on these shared goals, along with two other issues — early childhood education and school funding — which we deem essential to excellent public education.

The apple: the iconic image of education for generations of American students. We use it in this report to symbolize the enduring values of the U.S. education system and also as an indicator of progress. The fuller the apple, the closer we have come to fulfilling our commitments.

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 32

4/25/11 6:03 PM

Set high standards for college and career readiness, and measure progress with quality assessments and excellent data systems.

Why? Because only 35 percent of Delaware’s students are proficient in reading and math, according to the internationally benchmarked National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) standards.

What’s Been Done: Delaware Has …

The Work Ahead: Delaware Must …

 Adopted the internationally competitive

 Continue phasing in the Common Core Standards and associated curriculum, assessments, and teacher supports to reach 2014 goals.

Common Core Standards to better prepare Delaware’s students for real-world demands, and began training teachers in these higher standards.

 Launched the Delaware Comprehensive Assessment System (DCAS) to better measure student progress and provide timely information to 9,000 teachers, parents, and students.

 Offered the SAT for free to all 11th-grade public school students, whether college or career bound.

 Increase preschool-to-college coordination and tracking by sharing student data among state agencies and higher education institutions.  Develop a statewide education dashboard with information on pre-K programs, schools, and higher education institutions to help families make informed choices.  Provide meaningful additional time for academics, enrichment, and teacher collaboration and planning.*  Provide online learning opportunities with challenging coursework that allow students to work at their own pace.*

Accelerate improvement in Delaware’s highest-need schools to help the children who need it most.

Why? Because of the 192 Delaware public schools evaluated by the state in 2010, 24 were deemed persistently low performing.

What’s Been Done: Delaware Has …

The Work Ahead: Delaware Must …

 Established the Partnership Zone to focus resources

 Expand the Partnership Zone school turnaround model to 10 schools in two years; implement each school plan; and clarify consequences for schools that do not improve performance by the deadline.

and best practices on Delaware’s persistently lowest-achieving schools, with the goal of improving student achievement within two years.

 Approved the first four Partnership Zone schools to implement turnaround plans around changes such as expanded learning time, family and community engagement, performance-based pay for teachers, and merit-driven teacher recruitment.

 Provided support to low-performing schools to attract and retain highly effective educators to teach hard-to-staff subjects.

 Expand access to nationally recognized teacher and leader preparation programs to recruit outstanding candidates.  Share lessons learned from the first four Partnership Zone schools with all struggling schools.  Create a policy environment that encourages growth or replication of high-performing charter and district school models to help students in chronically low-performing schools.

*Additional Vision 2015 recommendation

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 33

4/25/11 6:04 PM

Recruit, support, retain, and reward great teachers and leaders who can help all students meet high standards.

Why?

Because teacher quality is the most important school-related factor influencing student achievement.

What’s Been Done: Delaware Has …

The Work Ahead: Delaware Must …

 Passed new regulations linking teacher

 Define reliable, comparable measures of student achievement to use in teacher evaluations, starting in 2011–12.

effectiveness, as measured by the Delaware Performance Appraisal System (DPAS II), to student growth, requiring teachers to be deemed effective before earning tenure-like protections.

 Trained educators in the Vision Network’s 26 schools to improve school leadership and accelerate student achievement.

 Worked toward establishing the Delaware Leadership Project (DLP) and established the Delaware Teaching Fellows (DTF) program to prepare talented leaders and attract and retain highly effective teachers to work in high-need schools.

 Expanded alternative certification paths for teachers of hard-to-staff subjects such as math in highneed schools.

 Recruited and trained new science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) teachers for placement in critical-need subject areas in traditionally hard-to-staff schools.

 Enlisted more than 300 educators to help develop student growth measures in 30 content areas.

 Instituted a professional development program to

 Use these evaluations to make decisions on teachers’ professional development, promotion, retention, and removal.  Fully roll out the Development and Data Coach programs in schools to support fair teacher evaluations and help teachers use student performance data to improve instruction.  Adopt policies to amend the state’s approved alternative routes to certification to include nationally proven teacher preparation programs.  Hire teachers earlier to ensure a competitive applicant pool.*  Fully roll out DLP and DTF and begin placing talented, effective teachers and leaders in highneed schools.  Give principals more hiring and budgeting freedom.*  Require greater accountability from teacher college programs for graduates‘ performance.

help districts implement Race to the Top goals.

“This state is going to take education to an entirely different level.”

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan

*Additional Vision 2015 recommendation

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 34

4/25/11 6:04 PM

Invest in early childhood education to help young children from underserved communities get a strong start in school.

Why? Because only 34 percent of Delaware children begin kindergarten at grade level.

What’s Been Done: Delaware Has …

The Work Ahead: Delaware Must …

 Improved the quality of early childhood

 Expand state support for quality early childhood education, especially for children from low-income families.*

education in more than 184 programs serving more than 10,500 children statewide through the Delaware Stars for Early Success program.*

 Released a pilot study on kindergarten readiness, finding that while 80 percent of children attend preschool, just 34 percent leave prepared for kindergarten.*

 Provided early childhood professionals funds to obtain AA and BA degrees through the TEACH scholarship program.*

 Presented early education reform recommendations to the governor and general assembly, and analyzed school funding sources.*

 Enhance professional development for early childhood educators.*  Enable data systems to share students’ information from “cradle to career” to track progress and tailor instruction and investments accordingly.  Improve and implement a statewide kindergartenreadiness assessment.*  Strengthen coordination among child services agencies, early childhood providers, and schools.*

Establish a simple and equitable funding system to more effectively spend taxpayers’ education dollars.

Why? Because Delaware’s inflexible, 60-year-old education funding system does not meet the actual needs of all public school students.

What’s Been Done: Delaware Has …

The Work Ahead: Delaware Must …

 Enacted only a small fraction of the $158 million

 Remedy additional budget inefficiencies as recommended by the LEAD Committee, and redirect those savings to the classroom.*

in cost efficiency recommendations made by the governor-appointed Leadership for Education Achievement in Delaware (LEAD) Committee in 2008.*

 Posted district-level financial reports online, providing information about per-pupil costs and expenses by category.*

 Implement a voluntary program to give districts and school leaders flexibility to use funds to best meet students’ needs.*  Create a “weighted student funding” formula so schools serving English language learners, students with disabilities, and other high-need populations have the resources they need.*  Report more education financials online to increase transparency.*

*Additional Vision 2015 recommendation

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 35

4/25/11 6:04 PM

We still have far to go to meet our Race to the Top and Vision 2015 commitments: Meeting State Standards

2009/2010 Delaware Student Testing Program average (grades 3, 5, 8, 10) and 2014 performance goals under the new Delaware Comprehensive Assessment System 2014 Goal: 100%

2014 Goal: 100%

2009: 75%

2009: 70%

Reading Proficiency

Math Proficiency

Meeting National Standards

Delaware students‘ performance according to internationally benchmarked National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) standards 2014 Goal: 60%

2014 Goal: 55% 2009: 35%

2009: 36%

4th-Grade Reading Proficiency

Delaware Students Graduating High School* 2009: 82%

Delaware Students Enrolling in College

2008: 50%

2014 Goal: 55% 2009: 32%

2009: 31%

4th-Grade Math Proficiency

2014 Goal: 92%

2014 Goal: 55%

8th-Grade Reading Proficiency

Closing Delaware‘s Achievement Gap

8th-Grade Math Proficiency

Using Race to the Top Funds: Year 1 of 4 2010 awarded: $119 million

2014 Goal: 70% 2009: 27%

*As measured by the National Governors Association

2015 Goal: 13.5%

First year spent: $15.4 million

Disparity between minority and white students‘ average NAEP scores

We will continue to report progress toward these goals during the coming years, and we invite you to join us in this campaign to create outstanding Delaware schools.

Here’s how to stay up-to-date: • Request our twice-monthly e-newsletter: www.vision2015delaware.org

• Attend your local school board meetings (visit your school district website)

• Get Race to the Top updates at: www.doe.k12.de.us

• Contact your local legislators: http://legis.delaware.gov

THE VISION 2015 IMPLEMENTATION TEAM Marvin N. Schoenhals, Chairman, WSFS Bank, Chair

Marcia Lyles, Superintendent, Christina School District

H. Raye Jones Avery, Executive Director, Christina Cultural Arts Center

Daniel Rich, Chair, Delaware Early Childhood Council

Susan Bunting, Superintendent, Indian River School District

John H. Taylor, Jr., Executive Director, Delaware Public Policy Institute

Paul A. Herdman, President and CEO, Rodel Foundation of Delaware

Howard Weinberg, Executive Director, Delaware State Education Association

Lillian Lowery, Secretary, Delaware Department of Education

Ex officio: Nancy Brickhouse, Interim Dean, College of Education and Human Development, University of Delaware

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 36

For more information: www.vision2015delaware.org

4/25/11 6:04 PM

LeGAL ServiceS

Social media Handbook: Avoid Legal Risks When Hiring

By MOlly DIBIaNCa, ESq.

T

he popularity of social-networking sites, such as Facebook and LinkedIn, has exploded in the last several years. Facebook boasts more than 600 million users and has become a treasure trove of information for anyone looking to discover the “truth” about an individual’s private life.

Divorce attorneys report that Facebook is the single best online source for information to be used in a divorce or custody proceeding. Law enforcement agencies across the country turn to Facebook to locate suspects and gather evidence. And insurance investigators have put their telephoto lenses away – today they can find out all about a beneficiary’s activities from anywhere with an Internet connection.

So it only makes sense that employers, too, would want to put Facebook to work. More and more employers report that they’ve eliminated a candidate from consideration after viewing something negative in the candidate’s Facebook profile. But this practice does have legal risks. The good news, though, is that those risks can be avoided by following the steps discussed below.

What not to do

As an initial matter, employers should be aware of what they should not do when surfing the Web. First, do not ask anyone – including current employees and job applicants – for his Facebook password or other log-in credentials. The town of Bozeman, Mont. instituted a policy that required applicants to turn over their passwords. Bloggers, tweeters, and Facebook users across the globe united in online protests and Bozeman quickly cancelled its policy. In February 2011, the Maryland Department of Corrections suspended a similar policy when the ACLU campaigned against it on its blog and on youTube.

Second, do not try to gain access to a candidate’s profile indirectly. For example, don’t ask another employee, who is Facebook friends with the candidate, to show you the candidate’s profile. Last year, the New Jersey Supreme Court upheld a jury verdict against an employer for similar conduct, finding that such tactics constituted a breach of the employee’s privacy.

D e l awa r e

B u s i n e s s May / June 2 0 1 1

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 37

Third, do not send a Facebook friend request to the candidate without disclosing the real reason for the request. Similarly, do not instruct or permit anyone else to do the same on your behalf.

If a candidate’s privacy settings prevent you from accessing his profile, the better idea is to tell the candidate in advance that you want him to accept your friend request but only for 24 or 48 hours. And be clear about what it is that you’ll be looking for once access is granted, as discussed in the following sections.

Start talking

Now that you understand what not to do, here are some suggestions for how to effectively utilize the Internet as a jobscreening tool with minimum legal risk.

Before you start surfing the Web, first gather the key decision makers to discuss whether the organization should adopt this practice at all. Exchange ideas about the potential benefits and concerns associated with searching for information on Facebook or Google.

Consider including as many stakeholders as practicable, including members of senior management, Human Resources personnel, and hiring managers.

Some organizations feel that a Facebook search does not comport with their culture or core values and, as a result, have decided not to use such searches as part of the hiring process. This question does not have a “right” answer but should be given significant consideration before implementing an official policy or practice.

Assuming the discussion results in the decision to incorporate Internet searches into the background-check process, you should next discuss, in detail, exactly what it is that you’ll be looking for in your search. Aim to identify up to 10 specific things that would give you cause for alarm if seen on a candidate’s online profile. Common red flags for many employers include the candidate’s use of or promotion of the use of illegal drugs, any type of language or imagery that promotes hate, threats of physical violence or other hostile or aggressive comments. There may also be legitimate concerns about

37

4/25/11 6:04 PM

ServiceS LeGAL

a candidate who posts negative comments about his former employer or co-workers or who discloses inappropriate information belonging to a former employer or customers. you can also identify some positive online activities, as well, such as if the candidate maintains a blog, which is well written or, even better, related to his professional interests. once you’ve identified your checklist of up to 10 items, put it in writing.

Create a form that lists the various items (good and bad) that you’ll be looking for. Leave a space for the name of the company representative who will be performing the search, the date the search was conducted, and the name of the candidate.

Start Searching

once your list is created, the rest is easy, but equally important.

Designate an individual who will perform the actual search (i.e., the “Searcher”). Here is the key: the Searcher must not be involved in the hiring decision. Human Resources can perform the search, for example. In smaller organizations without a dedicated human resources staff, the manager of one department may be the Searcher when a different department is hiring, and vice versa. once the appropriate person is designated, the search may begin. If any of the items on the list are found, the Searcher documents them on the form and, preferably, prints or makes a copy (i.e., with the print screen feature) of the offending material. That information and only that information may then be turned over to the hiring manager for consideration.

C E L E B R A T I N G

9 0

The reason this step is so critical is that it effectively prevents the hiring manager from learning information that cannot be used in the hiring process – such as religion, sexual orientation, or other protected characteristic. This separation of knowledge can be a key component to defending against a failure-to-hire lawsuit.

Start talking (Again)

In the event that a hiring manager is inclined not to hire a candidate as a result of what turned up during the online search, there are a few additional steps that should be taken. First, the hiring manager should present the candidate with the information. Identify the basis for concern and provide the candidate with a meaningful opportunity to explain. There is, after all, more than one John Smith registered with Facebook. And, since the Searcher has no interaction with the candidate, mistaken identity is not out of the realm of possibility.

Finally, make sure that everyone in the organization with any connection to the hiring process is aware of and understands the new practice. Make it clear to supervisors that they are not to search the Internet for information about a candidate prior to the decision to hire. Have supervisors acknowledge the policy in writing and review it periodically to ensure compliance. n Molly DiBianca is an attorney with young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP

Y E A R S

You deserve the best of both worlds.

LARGE FIRM

SMALL FIRM

Resources

Responsiveness

When it comes to tackling the hottest legal issues, Saul Ewing possesses the resources and experience of a large firm to help ensure you don’t get burned. But we’re also nimble enough to quickly handle flare-ups when they happen.

At Saul Ewing, we specialize in putting out legal fires — no matter what the size.

Delaware

Maryland

New

Jersey

New

York

Pennsylvania

Washington,

DC

www.saul.com

For more information, please contact: Wendie C. Stabler and William E. Manning, Co-Office Managing Partners 222 Delaware Avenue, Suite 1200 P.O. Box 1266 Wilmington, DE 19899 302.421.6800.

38

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 38

May /June 2 0 1 1 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

4/25/11 6:04 PM

LeGAL ServiceS

Guiding Clients For More Than 50 Years.

Bankruptcy • Business Planning • Commercial Litigation • Commercial Real Estate Corporate Counseling and Litigation Environmental Law

•

•

Employee Benefits • Employment Law

Intellectual Property Litigation •

Tax, Trusts & Estates

www.YoungConaway.com

D e l awa r e

B u s i n e s s May / June 2 0 1 1

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 39

39

4/25/11 6:04 PM

w w w . p o t t e r a n d e r s o n . c o m

ServiceS LeGAL

Intellectual property environmental taxation

commercial Litigation

Business

Labor & employment

structured Finance & alternative entities product Liability

Bankruptcy & corporate reorganization corporate counseling & Governance

administrative

Your Delaware Advantage trusts & estates

corporate & alternative entity Litigation

Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Business transactions construction Health

mergers, acquisitions & divestitures

Internet & technology adr

real estate

Insurance coverage Litigation

potter anderson & corroon LLp 1313 north market street, p.o. Box 951 wilmington, de 19899-0951 phone: (302) 984-6000

40

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 40 PAC AD-7.5x10.indd 1

May /June 2 0 1 1 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

6:04 PM 3/6/09 4/25/11 12:28:52 PM

LeGAL ServiceS

Economy Spurs Legal Growth By larry NagENgaST

F

or members of the bar, it’s easy to boil down the primary lesson of Economics 101 to a simple sentence: As the economy goes, so goes the law.

Case in point: Ask Delaware lawyers what kind of work is keeping their firms busy, and the answer you’re likely to hear is “employment law.” With a U.S. unemployment rate in December of 9.4 percent and a Delaware unemployment rate of 8.5 percent that same month, it’s hardly a surprise.

Nor is it surprising that bankruptcy filings, and cases that are spun out of bankruptcies, continue to draw attention in the nation’s capital of corporate law.

The economy has had its impact on other legal specialties as well, including estates and trusts, municipal finance and real estate and land use.

“There’s definitely a connection between employment cases and the economy,” says Jennifer Gimler Brady, a partner and member of the executive committee at Potter Anderson & Corroon. “We’re realizing situations that are the result of downsizing. Companies have let a lot of people go, and even though there are some positive signs of recovery, you don’t see employers rushing to increase their employment base.”

As a result, according to Brady and Kevin Fasic of Cooch & Taylor, discharged workers are becoming increasingly likely to challenge their dismissals in state or federal court and the amount of their unemployment compensation is also more likely to be contested.

“I’ve seen a dramatic increase in the number of contested unemployment claims, and in the number of appeals,” says Fasic, who represents business owners in these cases.

“If they don’t qualify for unemployment, they can get a little desperate. They’re trying to put food on the table,” he said.

Brady doesn’t see the situation changing quickly. “Whether

D e l awa r e

B u s i n e s s May / June 2 0 1 1

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 41

employees are being let go for performance reasons or because of a reduction in the workforce, they’re anticipating being out of work longer than if this had happened four or five years ago,” she says.

Given the prospect of an extended layoff, discharged workers are now more likely to explore every possible avenue to reclaim their position or collect every benefit, rather than immediately shifting their focus looking for a new job, Brady and Fasic say.

The cases Brady and Fasic handle can follow several routes.

Unemployment compensation appeals are heard in the state Department of Labor, with appeals going to the state’s Superior Court. Depending on the situation, cases alleging discrimination or unlawful termination can go the federal route – through the Equal Employment opportunity Commission and on to U.S. District Court – or from the state Department of Labor to Superior Court.

Brady says she’s seeing backlogs at the front end of the process, more so with the EEoC than with the state. “Clients at the federal level are getting notified that a charge has been filed against them but [hear] ‘no response is due at this time’ because EEoC can’t process the claims quickly enough,” she says.

Preparing severance packages and separation agreements is also drawing steady attention, Brady and Fasic say. Procedures are more complex when groups of employees are being dismissed, rather than individuals, and there’s another layer of waivers and notifications required under the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act if the affected employees are over 40 years old, Brady says.

Another aspect of employment law involves corporate-level officers leaving to join a competitor or to start their own

41

4/25/11 6:04 PM

ServiceS LeGAL

Partner With Us To Achieve Your Objectives

.

Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights

.

Business and Commercial Transactions

.

Corporate and Fiduciary Litigation

.

Corporations and Alternative Entities

.

Family Law / Divorce

.

Labor and Employment Law

.

Personal Injury Litigation

.

Professional Liability Litigation

.

Real Estate and Land Use

.

Tax, Estates and Business Practice

Morris James LLP 500 Delaware Avenue, Suite 1500 Wilmington, Delaware 19801 T 302.888.6800

F 302.571.1750

www.morrisjames.com

42

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 42

business, says Rafael zahralddin, managing shareholder of the Wilmington office of Elliott Greenleaf. “We’ve seen a lot of issues concerning trade secrets, non-compete agreements and transitionrelated matters,” he said. “How do you protect your rights if you’re the employee [who is leaving]? If you’re the company, how do you take precautions that your property is not taken, that your trade secrets are protected?” zahralddin also says that his firm and many others that focus on corporate law remain heavily engaged in bankruptcy and related cases. “We were crazy busy with bankruptcies last year, and we still are,” he says.

The handling of bankruptcy matters is constantly evolving, he says. In the last couple of years, there has been greater use of the “prepackaged bankruptcy,” a financial reorganization plan prepared in cooperation with creditors and approved by shareholders before the usual Chapter 11 papers are filed in federal bankruptcy court. This technique can reduce legal and accounting fees and get the distressed business back on its feet sooner.

Another tactic used by creditors, he says, is the “involuntary bankruptcy,” when they petition the court to declare the distressed business insolvent.

Troubled businesses are everywhere, zahralddin says. “I don’t think there’s a business out there who doesn’t have a client or a customer who isn’t in trouble. And if they’re in trouble, you’re in trouble too,” he said. “What it leads to is trying to stay ahead of a bad situation, and they’re using litigation a tool.

Law_genAd_3.6875x4.9375:Layout 1 4/5/11 as 9:42 AM ”Page 1

Uniquely prepared to succeed.

Success requires thorough preparation. Widener University School of Law understands the value of being prepared. Our graduates have a strong legal foundation with a focus on the global application of law. Our law school campuses—one in Wilmington, the other in Harrisburg—provide a wide range of research, externship, networking, and career development resources. And each offers extraordinary opportunities unique to its location. Widener Law’s nationally recognized legal institutes and centers conduct policy-shaping research in some of the most exciting areas of law—from corporate and business law to government, health law, and environmental law. We provide legal education that is personal, practical, and centered on professional experience.

School of Law Wilmington, DE

■

Harrisburg, PA

■

law.widener.edu

May /June 2 0 1 1 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

4/25/11 6:04 PM

LeGAL

public finance, helping state and local governments with bond issues, which received a shot in the arm through the combination of low interest rates and the federal economic stimulus program. With stimulus funding virtually complete, action in this area is now slowing, she says.

While corporate matters are predominant in Delaware legal circles, residents are taking the time to get their personal affairs in order. Whether it’s the economy or the first of the Baby Boomers turning 65 this year, Stabler, DiLorenzo and Matt D’Emilio of Cooch & Taylor all note increased interest in estate and trust matters. “People want their assets to reach their beneficiaries in the most tax-efficient way possible,” D’Emilio says.

In an uncertain economy, and knowing that their children may be struggling, he says, “parents want to be more confident that a child’s inheritance doesn’t go directly to satisfy his or her creditors.”

With property values down, Stabler adds, “anyone considering the future disposition of their assets should give serious consideration to gifting real estate.”

While no one’s predicting how long today’s legal trend lines will endure, Brady has a good idea where the next legal boomlet will occur: health-care law. With health-care reform being implemented in phases and Republicans in Congress continuing to challenge the legislation passed last year, “we really don’t know how it will play out,” she says. “And that means more hands-on counseling for our clients.” n

ServiceS

“For the last two years, bankruptcy has been a very strong practice area for us,” adds Wendie C. Stabler, co-office managing partner of Saul Ewing in Wilmington. “Now we’re also seeing more litigation arising out of bankruptcies.”

Smaller law offices tend to handle individual rather than corporate work, and Catherine DiLorenzo, a partner at Carucci Butler in Wilmington, says “for us, bankruptcy is still pretty strong.” Personal bankruptcy filings in Delaware dropped from 4,608 in 2009 to 4,229 last year, placing the state 23rd in the nation with 4.78 filings per 1,000 residents, according to creditcards.com. Fallout from the burst in the housing bubble continues to take its toll, with new clients seeking help with mortgage loan modifications and entry into the mortgage foreclosure mediation program, she says.

Saul Ewing, Stabler says, also remains active in land use and real estate law, but the economy has somewhat changed the landscape of that practice area. There are fewer large projects, like the controversial Barley Mill Plaza and Greenville Center development plans that Saul Ewing is handling for Stoltz Real Estate Partners, and more instances where land-use attorneys must work with their clients to modify smaller projects already in the government-approval pipeline to accommodate changing needs in residential and commercial markets, she said.

“Some development work has continued from the boom days, but it’s moving at a slower pace,” she says.

Stabler adds that Saul Ewing had also been active recently in

DELAWARE SMART Connolly Bove understands evolving financial institution regulation, business law and litigation, and how they can help you achieve your company’s long term goals while managing risk.

It’s like we’re in your head! www.cblh.com

Delaware Smart

D e l awa r e

B u s i n e s s May / June 2 0 1 1

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 43

Business Savvy

Client Connected

43

4/25/11 6:04 PM

ServiceS LeGAL

Lawyers’ Row Becomes Official By larry NagENgaST

j

im Erisman has been practicing law in Wilmington long enough to know how most lawyers’ work days go. “you go into a high-rise where you ride up an elevator every day. Then you walk down some long sterile hallways before you get to your office. you walk back down the hallway and take the elevator again,” he says.

That’s not for him.

And it’s not for John Small, either. “I’m claustrophobic. I hate elevators,” he says.

For Erisman, a partner in Erisman & Van ogtrop, and Small, a partner in Prickett Jones & Elliott, the place to be is the twoblock stretch of King Street between 11th and 13th streets in downtown Wilmington, an area informally known as Lawyers’ Row until mid-February, when the city government made that designation official. on those two blocks, there are at least 19 two-and threestory converted row homes (and a couple others just around the corners) that serve as offices for members of the Delaware Bar. And that doesn’t count the modern, mid-rise Legal Arts Building at 1225 King, home to still more lawyers.

Amid those attorneys are several other businesses, including court reporters, a surveyor and some title insurance companies, whose work is closely tied to the legal profession.

“It’s convenient. It’s quaint. And everybody takes really good care of their buildings,” says Cathy DiLorenzo, a partner with Carucci Butler, a firm that has been on Lawyers’ Row for about three years.

DiLorenzo likes that “it’s only seven or eight blocks” to walk from her office to the new state courthouse at Fourth and King streets.

“That’s convenient compared to some of the driving I did with my previous job,” when she practiced law in Pennsylvania, she says.

But the Lawyers’ Row veterans uniformly agree that, no matter how much convenience they have, it’s not like the old days, when most state courts and Wilmington Municipal Court were housed in the Public Building, later known as the Daniel L. Herrmann Courthouse, on the east side of Rodney Square.

Before the new courthouse opened in 2002, “everybody used to walk to the courthouse,” recalls Mason E. Turner, Jr., also a

44

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 44

partner at Prickett Jones & Elliott.

According to the city’s research, lawyers have had offices in the 1200 and 1300 blocks of King Street since 1943 or 1944, when Melson & Melson opened at 1216 King, now the home of Carucci Butler.

But many of today’s attorneys assert that the heyday of Lawyers’ Row occurred in the 1970s, if only because that’s when most current veterans of the bar began their practices.

What lawyers liked then – and still like now – is that they’ve got the independence of having their own small practice and the proximity of peers when they need to call someone for advice or to test an idea.

“The main idea is that we all have different practices, different areas in which we concentrate, but if something comes up, we can bounce it off each other – we’re only 20 yards away, or across the street, or three doors down,” says Bill Annos, who has been on King Street since 1973 and whose casual conversation with John Rago, Wilmington’s director of communications and policy development, started the ball rolling on the Lawyers’ Row designation.

Having so many small practices virtually side by side cultivates relationships that make King Street a fertile ground for referrals.

“We get a lot of criminal calls and we don’t do criminal cases, but we have [defense attorney] Gene Maurer across the street,” DiLorenzo says, “He does the same, if he gets a bankruptcy call.

It’s kind of a give and take, it’s pretty helpful.”

Having a business so close to so many lawyers also worked out well for surveyor Jack zebley and title insurance pro Dick yerger.

“They’re all my clients,” says zebley, who has had his zebley & Associates surveying company on King Street since 1978. He speaks fondly of the pre-Internet days when he’d walk his latest set of drawings to a nearby law office just in time for a real estate property settlement. yerger, who ran a couple of title insurance businesses on or near Lawyers’ Row from 1968 until retiring last year, calls the location “perfect for me,” with parking behind the building, a one-block walk to the post office and a block and a half to the courthouse.

Location isn’t as important now as it was then, he adds. “Now

May /June 2 0 1 1 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

4/25/11 6:04 PM

LeGAL

1

we can do 90 percent of our work on computers.”

For all the neighborhood’s legal history, its best-known building is the Starr House, built between 1802 and 1806 by stonecutter Michael Van Kirk and owned by members of the Starr family for more than a century. The most famous of them, Captain Thomas Starr, owned a fleet of ships that carried many local products, including flour from Wilmington’s Brandywine Mills, to ports along the Atlantic Coast.

The Starr House, at 1310 King, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and still contains numerous original 3/30/10 features, 4:16 PMincluding several fireplaces. It was purchased in 1954

by William Prickett, Sr. to house his Prickett & Prickett law firm, now Prickett Jones & Elliott. As the firm, the largest on Lawyers’ Row, steadily grew, adjacent properties were purchased, and now all the structures from 1306 to 1316 are linked together.

Lawyers’ Row offers attorneys “comfortable office space,” Erisman says. “We try to make it warm and inviting in the reception area, kind of like a living room, and clients appreciate it.”

It’s also an interesting experience for out-of-town lawyers. Turner recalls a group from Washington, D.C., who “camped out here for about a month” while trying a case in which Prickett Jones & Elliott served as local counsel. “They thought it was terrific.”

CT COOCH AND TAYLOR P.A

ServiceS

df

left: a new designation hangs on the 1200 block of King Street in Wilmington. The area is now officially named lawyers’ row. Photo by Debbie Martin/provided by the City of Wilmington; right: a photo taken in the 1970s depicts lawyers’ row. Photo provided by Mark Yerger

Relationships remain friendly on Lawyers’ Row. “At some point, we all have cases where someone on the block is on the other side, but we’re always civil and professional,” Annos says.

That civility hasn’t yet led to big social events, like block parties, but, Annos says, “if some of us want to meet at a nearby pub, that’s always a possibility.”

For most everyone practicing on Lawyers’ Row, the memories are intensely personal. “I recently walked up and down the block, and I remembered the attorneys who mentored me – Joe Kwiatkowski, Frank Gentile, John Collins,” Annos says . “They’re gone, but you still remember the people you’ve met over the years.” n

1960

50

2010

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

1000 West Street, 10th Floor Wilmington, DE 19801 302.984.3800 302.984.3939 www.coochtaylor.com

D e l awa r e

B u s i n e s s May / June 2 0 1 1

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 45

Entity Formation ■ Business Transactions ■ Labor/Employment ■ Commercial Litigation ■ Family Law ■ Construction ■ Real Estate ■ Trusts ■ Estate Planning and Administration ■ Tax ■ Civil Litigation ■ Bankruptcy

45

4/25/11 6:04 PM

WeLLneSS

“With Kim’s help, my employees have the same quality health plan I have for my family.”

– Gary Owner of Henry’s Car Care, Small Group plan member Small businesses have learned how well the Small Group plans from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware work for them. Gary found a variety of plans with coverage, deductible and copay options. This allowed him to design a plan to fit the health care needs of his five employees — and the budget needs of his business. Now they have the peace of mind that comes from carrying the widely accepted Blue Cross Blue Shield card, as well as access to the largest health care provider network. To hear the rest of Gary’s story, visit DelawareBlueAndYou.com. To learn more about how we can work with your business, regardless of its size, call 800.572.4400 or speak with your broker.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ©2011 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware

46 BCBSDE-24981 SmallGroup_DSCC_750x10.indd 1 190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 46

May /June 2 0 1 1 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

3/25/11 3:30 PM 4/25/11 6:04 PM

WeLLneSS

Encouraging a Healthy Workplace the Wellness at Work conference encouraged employers to incentivize employees with wellness programs.

By KaTIE WIlSON

W

e encourage Americans to take more responsibility for our own health and our own wellness. Employer-sponsored wellness programs are common sense measures that will help us improve patient health and help bring down the cost of health care in the near and long term.” – U.S. Senator Tom Carper Senator Tom Carper kicked off the 2011 Wellness at Work Conference via video, asking the employers and human resource managers in attendance to encourage their employees to get healthy. Carper’s message echoed throughout the day – not only do wellness programs help keep down health insurance costs, but it’s the right thing to do.

Nearly 150 people came out to hear from business owners who have implemented programs, and wellness experts like Rich Killingsworth, MPH, senior advisor for Nemours Health and Prevention Services, who was recently appointed special advisor to the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition. Killingsworth said most wellness programs that offer incentives and keep in contact with the employee throughout the program have a greater chance at success.

“There are nine factors that increase a wellness program’s success. Among these factors are support and outreach through the program and a placing a greater emphasis on selfcare, health literacy and consumer education,” he said. other panelists included Lee Mikles of the Archer Group, who encourages his employees to do the Couch to 5k program by providing running shoes, Gabrielle Snyder-Marlow, a registered dietitian and manager of food and nutrition services for Eugene du Pont Preventive Medicine at Christiana Care, who said they changed their cafeteria menu to include more healthy options, and Betsy Sullivan, occupational health nurse for UPS, who said the company provides stretching guides to keep drivers feeling awake and flexible.

Attendees received preventive health screenings from Christiana Care, checking blood pressure, flexibility, bone

D e l awa r e

B u s i n e s s May / June 2 0 1 1

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 47

top: Wellness at Work Conference exhibitor linda Popper of the Blood Bank of Delmarva, explains the benefits of having a blood bank membership to Pat forrester. bottom: a Christiana Care health System employee conducts a vascular screening test for a Wellness at Work Conference participant. This was one of many screenings Christiana Care offered as a break out session at the conference. Photos by Katie Wilson

density, Body/Mass Index and vascular health, and saw demonstrations on stress reduction from Dr. Sandra McLanahan and office exercises from the yMCA. The Screening for Life van was also on-hand to give mammograms and provide walking tours of its facility.

The conference concluded with keynote speakers Drs. Robert Abel and Gerald Lemole, who reminded us that we all should take responsibility for our own health. “you are what you eat, breathe, touch and think,” said Abel. n

47

4/25/11 6:04 PM

WeLLneSS

John Michele

We’re transforming our care for you.

Brian Tracy

Learn how at AlwaysForYou.org Or take a picture of this icon with your smart phone for more information. Get the free app at http://q-r.co

48

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 48

May /June 2 0 1 1 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

4/25/11 6:04 PM

WeLLneSS

Forget Dieting: Healthy Weight Loss Calls for a new Lifestyle

By DEBBIE lEarN alChON, MS, rD

D

ebbie Learn Alchon, MS, RD, associate director of Food & Nutrition Services at Christiana Care, shares positive, practical ways to change our eating habits for the better: Q: i want to lose weight, but don’t know how to get started. any suggestions?

A: First, don’t think of weight loss as going on a diet. It’s a lifestyle change. Focus on your behavior, rather than the scales. Instead of saying “I will lose one pound a week,” come up with a defined goal, such as “I will walk the dog for 30 minutes every day,” or “I will pack my lunch the night before, instead of eating fast food.”

Second, take an educated approach to eating. Learn to read labels in order to choose food that is low in fat, sugar and salt.

Pay special attention to portion sizes and servings per bag on the food label so that you don’t accidentaly consume multiple portions in one sitting.

Third, become a picky eater. Unless it is a “wow” experience, don’t let it pass your lips. Decide that you just don’t eat or buy certain foods any more and stick to it. If it isn’t in the house,

D e l awa r e

B u s i n e s s May / June 2 0 1 1

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 49

you can’t over-eat it.

Lastly, keep a food-intake journal. It’s fun to do, and if you have to record it, you will be less likely to overeat. This increases your accountability and helps you learn where excess calories are coming from and when you are most vulnerable to overeating.

Q: They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but i usually skip it. what’s the benefit of eating breakfast?

A: our blood sugar goes down overnight and eating in the morning helps us to break that “fast.” People who skip breakfast will consume more calories later in the day because they are ravenous and eat very quickly. They wind up consuming extra calories before the body can register that hunger has been satisfied.

Q: i’m always on the go and tend to eat whatever is handy. how can i make my diet healthier?

A: Plan ahead. you cannot wing it. you have to plan your meals and snacks while developing strategies for dealing with

49

4/25/11 6:04 PM

WeLLneSS

temptations, such as bringing a piece of fruit to work with you.

Keep nutritious snacks at the ready.

Don’t buy potato chips and goodies if you can’t stop at a few.

Instead, stock up on crispy, sweet baby carrots and crunchy shredded-wheat squares. Fresh vegetables and fruits such as apples with the skin on will boost your fiber intake and help you to feel full.

OUR DOCTORS KNOW HOW TO TREAT YOU WELL.

CHOOSE NANTICOKE.

Whether you choose a Nanticoke family doctor or a specialist, the skill, talent and experience you need comes with the compassion, support and understanding you want.

SPITAL

MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

Here.

nanticoke.org

Always Caring. Always Here.

For more information, call 1-877-NHS-4DOCS.

M INSURANCE SERVICES 302.732.6655 866.837.6655 www.minsuranceservices.com

INSURANCE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS RETIREMENT CHECK US OUT ON FACEBOOK! www.facebook.com/MInsuranceServicesLLC

Our doctors know how to treat you well.

Q: i eat like a horse, but would rather eat like a bird. how can i tame my appetite?

A: Control your portions. That can be as scientific as measuring your food or as simple as switching to smaller dishes and cutting your food into smaller pieces.

Drinking water or a cup of tea before meals will help you to feel full.

Prepare your plate and bring it to the table instead of eating family style from bowls on the table.

Eat slowly. Sit down at the table instead of standing at a counter. By taking your time, you will consume fewer calories before your body signals that you are full. And, don’t eat while engaging in other activities such as reading the paper or watching TV. Eat mindfully, not mindlessly. your whole family will benefit from a longer, more relaxed meal time. you will talk more – and eat less!

Q: i’ve read that soda is bad for me, but i enjoy it. how can i curb my soft drink habit?

A: There is no nutritional benefit to sugared soda, which contains empty calories. Plus, people tend to lose track of how much soda they drink. If you love the bubbles, try seltzer or other flavored waters. If you miss the sweetness of soda, substitute a sugar-free beverage, such as Crystal Light. And don’t forget fatfree milk, which is nutritionally dense and high in protein.

And if you aren’t ready to give up soda completely, switch to diet soda – and limit yourself to one 8-ounce serving a day.

Maintaining a healthy body weight is one of the most important things you can do for your health. Go to www.christianacare.org to learn more. n

IT USED TO BE...

n u F r o Just F Problem Gambling Affects Everyone. Call. . .

Delaware Council on Gambling Problems, Inc.

w w w. d c g p . o r g

888-850-8888

Funded by the Division of Substance Abuse & Mental Health/DE Health & Social Services

50

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 50

May /June 2 0 1 1 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

4/25/11 6:04 PM

WeLLneSS

Accessible Expertise

• Risk Management Commercial Insurance Brokerage • Employee Benefits and HR Consulting • Personal Asset Protection and Management

March 3, 2011 - Clayton Hall, Newark, Del.

Thank You to our Sponsors! presenting

lyonsinsurance.com 302-658-5508 800-456-5508

gold

Delaware Drug Card Get the card that will save you up to 75% on prescription drugs at over 50,000 pharmacy locations across the country.

silver

bronze FREE! Get yours today!

Visit www.dscc.com Delaware business people and residents now have access to a free prescription assistance program called the Delaware Drug Card. You, your employees and your family are eligible to receive free discount prescription drug cards compliments of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce.

Thank you for your support of wellness initiatives at work that help drive down health care costs.

Call (302) 655-7221 for more information.

D e l awa r e

B u s i n e s s May / June 2 0 1 1

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 51

51

4/25/11 6:04 PM

52

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 52

May /June 2 0 1 1 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

4/25/11 6:04 PM

econoMic deveLoPMent

The Delaware Children’s Museum (DCM) in Wilmington recently celebrated its 100,000th visitor family. from left, back row: Megan Mcglinchey, director of operations, riverfront Development Corporation; rich lacovara, 100,000th visitor family; William Smith, DCM board president; Mike Purzycki, executive director, riverfront Development Corporation; rocky Bluewinkle, Wilmington Blue rocks mascot; Wilmington Mayor James M. Baker; State rep. Stephanie T. Bolden; gregory Pettinaro, CEO of Pettinaro Construction,; Candace roseo, owner, BellaVista Trattoria; Sara Teixido, director of marketing and communications, Delaware Center for Contemporary arts; Julie W. Van Blarcom, DCM CEO. front row: leah, Sophia and amie lacovara, 100,000th visitor family. Photo by Andre Wright, Color of Life Photography

Banking on the Riverfront the Wilmington destination is taking shape to be an economic driver to the area.

By EIlEEN DallaBrIDa

W

ilmington’s riverfront is maturing as a recreational and cultural destination, thanks, in part, to the venue’s growing family-friendly vibe.

The latest attraction is the Delaware Children’s Museum (DCM), which debuted in April 2010 and attracted more than 125,000 visitors in its first 10 months of operation.

Located in a site previously occupied by Kahunaville, a sprawling bar and concert venue, the $15.5-million museum focuses on mathematics, science and technology. you don’t have to be a math wiz to figure out that a successful museum contributes to better numbers for its neighbors. That includes restaurants and retailers, as well as non-profit entities, such as the Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts and the Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge.

The average visitor spends $13 inside the DCM – and an additional $12 outside the museum, according to a study by AECoM, a management support firm. The study also says the

D e l awa r e

B u s i n e s s May / June 2 0 1 1

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 53

museum will generate an annual $5.6 million in revenue for the greater Wilmington area. “our neighbors tell us they’ve experienced a 25-percent increase in business since we’ve moved in,” says JulieAnne Cross, DCM spokeswoman. “We hope we can do the same for hotels, restaurants and other attractions in Wilmington and the surrounding area.”

Julie Van Blarcom, the museum’s executive director, says families traveling along the East Coast are planning stops in Delaware to visit the attraction.

“We are succeeding in becoming a real economic driver for Wilmington,” she says.

The museum features seven exhibits and more than 37,000 square feet of interactive, hands-on activities. In addition to day trippers, the museum hosts field trips for schools and other organizations, as well as birthday parties and other young-at-heart celebrations.

53

4/25/11 6:04 PM

deveLoPMent econoMic

“We’ve always wanted the riverfront to have a family-oriented feeling,” says Michael Purzycki, executive director of the Riverfront Development Corporation (RDC), founded in 1995 to promote economic vitality on the Christina and Brandywine rivers.

RDC has capitalized on the Christina’s proximity to the Amtrak station and Interstate 95 to promote the riverfront as a place where people can live, work and play.

In the past 15 years, dilapidated warehouses have been supplanted by restaurants, shops, and a conference center.

Historic buildings have been repurposed by ING Direct and Barclays. AAA-Mid-Atlantic sited its headquarters on the riverfront. The 150,000-square-foot Star Building is still vacant but is attracting interest from businesses looking for office space.

Groundbreaking for a 15-screen IMAx theater, originally scheduled for spring, has been pushed back to summer due to delays associated with transferring the property, Purzycki says.

With abundant, free parking and access to both Wilmington and I-95, the venue is expected to attract viewers from as far as 20 miles, compared to the typical five-mile draw for a traditional movie theater.

“It is easy to get here – and easy to go home again,” Purzycki says. “Compare it to the expense of going to the IMAx theater at the Franklin Institute, paying to park and then walking to the museum, and we come out way ahead.”

The riverfront will become even more accessible when a bridge from Market Street is completed.

Now’s the time to take a look at the Delaware State Chamber Health Plan.

Call (302) 576-6580 for more information.

Request a Quote for this exclusive plan just for DSCC members.

For more information, visit www.dscc.com/healthplan.htm

‘We are succeeding in becoming a real economic driver for Wilmington.’

— Julie Van Blarcom “It will unify both sides of the river, as well as serve as a conduit from the city,” Purzycki says.

The DuPont Environmental Education Center (DEEC) is operated by the Delaware Nature Society. DEEC is located on the edge of the 212-acre Peterson refuge. The unique slice of land on the tidal Christina River is home to many species of amphibians, birds, mammals, fish, reptiles and native plants.

But not all growth on the riverfront has sprung as effortlessly as marsh grass in wetlands. After an initial flurry of activity, residential development – townhomes, condos and apartments – is becalmed in a stagnant housing market. The Chase Center, originally designed to host blockbuster exhibits, has been reconfigured to host smaller events. The Shipyard Shops development of outlet stores never gathered much steam.

The lights are back on at some darkened retail spaces, but the properties are no longer occupied by merchants. one site was converted to a call center, another to an office for the Boy Scouts of America. Planet Fitness occupies 20,000 square feet.

In a challenging climate for restaurants, Big Fish Grill is attracting patrons through regular promotions, says spokeswoman Angela Hastings.

Direct mailings to residents at nearby Justison Landing flopped. But Big Fish has been reeling in diners from the nearby children’s museum, offering 20 percent discounts to customers who present a ticket stub. on Saturdays, from 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., kids under 12 who have visited the museum eat free.

“Consumers are looking for value and we are giving them what they want,” Hastings says.

Longtime developer Greg Pettinaro remembers when opportunities for prosperity on the riverfront were not as readily apparent. The family business, Pettinaro Enterprises of Newport, invested in real estate there in 1982.

“It was a vacant shipyard that had been under contract twice before to two other developers who walked away,” he says. “our opinion was that water attracts people, and that this particular waterfront property also had proximity to downtown Wilmington going for it.”

When the Blue Rocks decided to site their Minor League baseball stadium on the riverfront in 1993, what is now Shipyard Drive was a dirt road.

The team is a consistent draw, bringing more than 300,000 fans to the Daniel S. Frawley Stadium, says Chris Kemple, general manager.

He is hoping visitors to the children’s museum will add to the Blue Rocks fan base, inspired by the sights and sounds of game days.

And a riverfront hotel is on many wish lists, including Kemple’s.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

54

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 54

May /June 2 0 1 1 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

4/25/11 6:04 PM

econoMic

your

Customers

are our

deveLoPMent

“A hotel within walking distance of the stadium would be great for us,” he says. “Imagine a couple hundred people staying overnight and looking for something to do.”

Twice, agreements have been struck to bring a full-service hotel to the riverfront, an addition that would bolster the Chase Center as a convention venue.

Both times, the deals fell through because of financing.

The Pettinaros sold the proposed hotel site off Madison Street to the RDC. The company retained ownership of another parcel near I-95 that also is suitable for a hotel.

But don’t expect a falling out between the developer and the RDC over the project.

“We don’t intend to compete with RDC for a hotel,” Pettinaro says. “our land also could be used for an office building or a highdensity residential project.”

Despite the DCM and IMAx deals, the tide of overall development has yet to turn in a climate of tight credit and sluggish consumer demand.

“There are still offices to be leased, restaurant pads to be developed,” Pettinaro says. “There are a lot of tire kickers, but people are taking longer to make decisions.”

In the end, Purzycki says consumer demand will determine the mix of offerings on the riverfront.

“It is going to be what the market wants it to be,” he says. n

readers jealous

ThE MosT PowErful MEdia CoMPany in dElawarE The News Journal Media Group reaches 9 out of 10 adults.* That’s more

than

any

other

media

company in Delaware. Let us help you connect with your new and existing customers.

Contact Eric Mayberry, vice president of advertising at 302-324-2631 or emayberry@delawareonline.com.

Bill Santora Terry Wolf Don Fulton Xavier DeCaire Santora CPA Group George J. Weiner Associates

Bill Santora is Right, By Our Side Call Bill at 302-737-6200 or 800-347-0116.

D e l awa r e

B u s i n e s s May / June 2 0 1 1

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 55

*New Castle County adults.

Source: Thoroughbred Research, 2010.

55

4/25/11 6:04 PM

Communicate

In print. Online. In person.

NT GUIDE A R U A T S RE

Best of Delaware Ballot Inside

®

36

reat G h t i W s e c Pla ning i D e l b a -T Farm-to ed rockfish Herb-crust grapefruit, red with ruby p capers spinach, cris pers from pep and pickled nch Farms, Green Bra se in Hou i cin at Por Bea ch Rehoboth

+

ographs egys Phot of Fred Com es ad d more ec D an Five ing rooms ial: Lush liv Home Spec

Tickets on Sale Now Visit us online for sponsorship information on the 2011 Best of Delaware Party.

For targeted advertising and event sponsorship opportunities, contact:

(302) 504-1326 sales@delawaretoday.com

56

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 56

delawaretoday com May /June 2 0 1 1 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

4/25/11 6:04 PM

ABcdeFG

2011 SMALL BuSineSS ALLiAnce BoArd oF MAnAGerS StePHAn LeHM VanDemark & Lynch, Inc. co-chaIr PAM cornFortH ronaLD mcDonaLD house of De co-chaIr tiMotHy u. BouLden BouLDen, Inc. LAWrence d. diSABAtino DIsaBatIno constructIon company JoSePH FArLey, Jr. farLey prIntIng company chaIr, BenefIts & serVIces commIttee G. Kevin FASic cooch & tayLor p.a. donALd t. FuLton george J. WeIner assocIates JAnice GiAnnini paraDIgm assocIates, LLc GreGory M. Gurev mysherpa JoHn e. HeALy, iii heaLy Long & JeVIn, Inc. co-chaIr, LegIsLatIVe commIttee

t h e D e l awa r e S tat e C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r C e

Small business report

cHAd Moore the BeLLmoor Inn & spa WiLLiAM PArKS coLonIaL parkIng, Inc. chaIr, 2011 superstars In BusIness aWarDs program

A PR AC T IC AL PAT H TO A PAPE R L E S S OF F IC E

58

Su PE R STAR S I n Bu SI n E S S n EWS

60

C AL E nDAR OF Ev E nT S

62

JAMeS d. rAndALL LIBerty staffIng serVIces cHiP rAnKin eBc carpet serVIces MicHAeL reAtH DeLmarVa BroaDcastIng company treasurer Scott tHoMAS southern DeLaWare tourIsm PriSciLLA turGon professIonaL staffIng WiLLiAM F. WArd, Jr. BILL WarD, Inc. 2011 SMALL BuSineSS ALLiAnce Senior AdviSory counciL Ken AnderSon De economIc DeVeLopment offIce terrence BArcLiFt Bank of amerIca nASH cHiLdS Bancroft constructIon cyntHiA dWyer WeLLness communIty- DeLaWare MArtHA GiLMAn gILman DeVeLopment company WiLLiAM MAJor WILmIngton trust company JAMeS B. o’neiLL, PH.d. unIVersIty of DeLaWare WiLLiAM B. roBinSon, Jr. george & Lynch, Inc. ricHArd d. roWLAnd roWLanD, Johnson & company, p.a. denniS M. SALter summIt reaLty aDVIsors, LLc MicHAeL S. uFFner autoteam DeLaWare SHAron r. reArdon smaLL BusIness aLLIance eXecutIVe DIrector DSCC

D e l awa r e

the Small business alliance unites State Chamber member companies with fewer than 150 employees. the alliance, with its own by-laws, board of managers, and committee structure, offers strength in numbers, the security of being a part of a powerful and influential organization, savings on benefits purchased at group discount rates, and education and development for small business owners and employees.

B u s i n e s s May Januar / June y / Febr 2 0 1 1uar y 2010

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 57

A P U B L I C AT I o N o F T H E

57

4/25/11 6:04 PM

Small Business Report

A Practical Path to a Paperless Office: Five Ways to Get Started

By JOCElyN COVErDalE

H

ave you counted your file cabinets lately? It costs roughly $25,000 per year to fill a four-drawer file cabinet, and $2,000 per year to maintain it.

Surprised? In today’s info-overloaded world, where grabbing information feels like drinking from a fire hydrant, the information feels almost limitless – but the time and space we have to store and manage it is not.

Large or small, businesses run on information. Some remain very paper-intensive. But organizations must be selective about information retention, keeping only what supports strategic goals, operations and compliance. Even with a selective approach, ask yourself, can you find what you need when you need it?

If you don’t know you have information, or can’t find it, it’s of no value to you.

The digital information landscape is changing rapidly. Sophisticated tools have evolved for tagging and finding what we need in a paperless world and for sorting, purging, organizing and distributing information in more costeffective ways.

The benefits of reducing paper include improved efficiency, immediate access, fewer misfiles, less searching, preservation of critical business records, and a “greener” office. Less paper also lowers overhead costs, including labor, office supplies, shipping and postage, file cabinets, office space, and off-site storage.

Here are five steps to get started on a paperless office strategy: 1. don’t Go cold turkey

Have you been slow to adopt the “paperless” concept because it’s overwhelming? Try eliminating “all or nothing thinking.” Not everything currently stored as paper needs to be converted to digital. A more practical path is a longterm plan implemented in stages. Define your project as “less paper” rather than “no paper.”

Dust off your records management policy. What’s already earmarked for destruction and going out the door in the next 1-5 years? Don’t waste resources scanning that! Are

58

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 58

your vital and permanent records secure and protected?

What doesn’t need to be printed? (Think emails, PDF’s, electronic receipts and statements – anything that’s just printed out of habit.)

Addressing these questions will help you make a start.

2. Purge the clutter

Understand the difference between a “record” and paper clutter – and then purge. Eighty percent of what’s stored on paper will never be looked at again, and more than half of that has no retention value and doesn’t need to be kept.

Research estimates a business document is generally copied 15 times throughout its life cycle, and as much as 30 to 45% of stored paper are duplicates – documents you can purge.

Plan to scan only records that have clear business value or are critical to sustaining the business. Design key questions for everyone to identify filing waste, such as: Is this out of date? Are there tax or legal implications? Could I get another copy if needed? Who is the “keeper” of this record (i.e. who generated it?).

Then schedule a “file clean out day” for your company and make it fun!

3. today’s Mail is tomorrow’s Pile

All incoming items need to be processed in some way: classified, acted on, scheduled or deferred, filed or tossed.

A best practice is to begin with what’s coming at you today, before you try to work on a backlog. otherwise, if ignored, today’s stuff becomes tomorrow’s clutter.

Apply this same principle to your scanning plan by first tackling what shows up on the radar screen today, and implement a scan procedure going forward. Address backlogs in incremental chunks as time permits.

Set clear and realistic goals for how much will be converted and in what time frame. A paperless office won’t happen overnight, but small steps will get you there over time, with big long-term payoffs.

May /June 2 0 1 1 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

4/25/11 6:04 PM

Few things in an office are more frustrating than looking for lost documents. Statistically, business professionals spend 5 to 15 percent of their time reading information, but up to 50 percent looking for it.

However records are stored, a successful “finding system” depends on a current, searchable index. And this is where technology is your best friend. Indexing, tagging, searching – this is what computers do best. Think about what it would be like to “Google” your records and immediately locate any information resource you’re looking for.

Agree on naming conventions for the entire organization, document information policies and procedures, and design training for staff. Finally, remember electronic documents don’t live forever either. Purge them according to your retention schedule.

5. choose a Scanning Solution

Both large and small businesses have a wealth of options when selecting scanners and choices will depend on volume, frequency, and location needs (centralized access or desktop convenience). Features to consider within your budget are page capacity, two-sided scanning, color or B/W only, scan to email, and automatic conversion to the universal PDF format.

D e l awa r e

B u s i n e s s May / June 2 0 1 1

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 59

Small Business Report

4. define your “Paper-to-digital” conversion Process

More important than the scanner, though, is the information architecture – or “Finding System” – to store, manage and access digital information. Again there are many options.

Large companies with servers, data centers, SharePoint, internal IT staff and other resources can host feature-rich document management systems (DMS) in house.

The explosion of cloud-based solutions now gives smaller companies many affordable and secure DMS options, as well as options for locally managed information indexing tools.

Whatever scanner or DMS you choose, look at affordability, ease of use and access, and integration with your existing systems.

We’re all navigating between paper and electronic information, and that will probably continue for a while, perhaps a generation. After all, papyrus and clay tablets coexisted for centuries! Going paperless begins with just “less paper.”

A practical paperless path will evaluate cost, define the process, overcome restrictions, change long-held paper habits, and integrate paper and digital resources with a finding system. n Jocelyn Coverdale, president of Ballantrae Solutions, is leading a “Paperless Office” workshop on May 11 at the DSCC. Register online at www.dscc.com.

59

4/25/11 6:04 PM

Small Business Report

Superstars in Business News COMPIlED By DENEE CrUMrINE

CoreXCel (2001 Superstar in Business) won the Inscape Publishing Diamond Award for the fifth consecutive year in 2010. Diamond Award status is Inscape’s highest award level, bestowed upon less than 1 percent of Inscape’s North American independent consultants last year. “In a time of high unemployment, many organizations are spending less on workforce development. The fact that Corexcel set a sales record during this difficult time is really quite remarkable,” says Jeffrey Sugerman, president and CEo of Inscape Publishing. Corexcel also received national accreditation as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) for the third consecutive time. “ANCC accreditation has been a vital part of our business since 1984,” states Don Bowlby, Vice President of operations. “It demonstrates our commitment to continuing education standards and the development of exceptional learning opportunities for nurses.”

BuCK simpers arChiTeCT + assoCiaTes (2001 Superstar in Business) has been commissioned by Delaware Technical and Community College to design the new Sustainable Energy Training Center which is intended to be a new, Silver LEED-certified building, housing facilities dedicated to the continued instruction of Green building theories and applications. over the last year, BSA+A is proud to announce that it was the recipient of the 2010 AIA Design Award Citation for the Memorial School Solar Courtyard in Union Beach School District and the Merit Award for the Chester Wharf Annex designed for the Buccini/Pollin Group.

Boys & girls CluBs oF Delaware (2000 Superstar in Business) congratulates Delsy Morales of Wilmington, the 2010 Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware’s youth of the year, for winning the Northeast Regional youth of the year Honor.

Morales was chosen from among 12 other teenagers and will be awarded a total of $20,000 in college scholarships from the Reader’s Digest Foundation and Tupperware Brands Corporation. “It’s an honor and blessing to be named the 2010 Northeast youth of the year, if it wasn’t for the Clarence Fraim Boys & Girls Club I don’t know where I would be,” says Morales. Morales will compete in September in Washington, D.C. for the National youth of the year and if awarded the title, will become the National spokesperson for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

60

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 60

home insTeaD senior Care (2010 Superstar in Business) recently developed and filmed segments for a new comprehensive Alzheimer’s Disease training program. This program is to be implemented globally in late 2011. The Wilmington office continues to advocate on issues affecting Delaware’s senior citizens.

The wellness CommuniTy Delaware (2002 Superstar in Business) will host the first annual Wings of Hope – A Butterfly Release on June 25, 2011 at Cape Henlopen High School in Lewes. Wings of Hope – A Butterfly Release is a celebration of life where members of the community may honor a loved one who is currently living with or recovered from a cancer diagnosis, as well as remember the lives of those who are no longer with us. The event culminates with a grand release of monarch butterflies, let free in honor and memory of all those who have faced a cancer diagnosis. For more information, contact Marcia Esposito at (302) 645-9150 or mesposito@wellnessdelaware.org. lanDmarK JCm (2010 Superstar in Business) welcomes Kevin Hansen, a professional geologist and a LEED Accredited Professional with 28 years of professional and innovative business experience, to the New Castlebased integrated engineering and sciences consulting firm. Hanson was recognized by the U. S. Green Building Council in 2008 as a LEED Accredited Professional and has Kevin hansen performed green design consulting on many projects in multiple countries, and has extensive Brownfield redevelopment experience. He specializes in Brownfield redevelopment, hydrogeology (especially in fractured bedrock), groundwater and soil remediation, environmental assessments, environmental modeling/GIS, and Green design.

Delaware hospiCe (2004 Superstar in Business) proudly announces that three physicians on its staff, Andrew Himelstein, MD, medical director, Cynthia Short, MD, physician, and Scott Hammer, MD, physician, have received board

May /June 2 0 1 1 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

4/25/11 6:04 PM

Small Business Report

certification in hospice and palliative medicine. The American Board of Medical Specialties approved the creation of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (HPM) as a sub-specialty just a few years ago. ABMS President and CEo Stephen H. Miller, MD, says, “Physicians who choose to become certified in hospice and palliative medicine are formally showing their commitment to providing quality care in assessing and managing the physical, psychological and spiritual suffering faced by patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families.” In addition, Short recently completed a one-year fellowship in Hospice of Palliative Medicine at the Hospice of Lancaster County in Lancaster, Penn.

deep commitment to promoting and restoring the well-being of people. In addition, four new Board of Directors members have been elected: Julie Hester, St. Francis Hospital in Wilmington; Rich Kolodgie, CBI Group; Ryan Newell, Business Law Group of Connolly Bove Lodge & Hutz LLP; and Fr. Hilary Rodgers, St. Benedict/St. Elizabeth Parish. Plus, Catholic Charities received $25,000 in a grant from Bank of America at the end of last year to assist in the operation of Bayard House, a residential maternity home for teens and young women, the only licensed residential program in Delaware providing direct client care service twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, to at-risk, homeless, and pregnant or newly parenting adolescents, women, and their babies. aloysius BuTler & ClarK (AB&C) (2009 Superstar in Business) announces their acquisition of independent advertising agency, Al Paul Lefton Company (Lefton), based in Philadelphia. This acquisition delivers on the firm’s strategy to grow in the area of business-to-business marketing and will bring top creative and interactive marketing to Lefton’s clients.

“The acquisition of the Al Paul Lefton Company will immediately broaden our scope of business,” says John Hawkins, president and CEo of AB&C. “AB&C has had great success in traditional and interactive consumer marketing, with the addition of the incredibly talented Lefton team, we look forward to further expanding our reach into the business-to-business marketplace.”

Al Paul Lefton Company will continue to operate from its office at Independence Mall in Philadelphia as a division of Aloysius Butler & Clark.

Thomas M. Connelly, Jr., at podium, accepts the Msgr. Thomas J. reese award at Catholic Charities’ annual Dinner. Photo provided

by Catholic Charities

CaTholiC ChariTies inC. (2010 Superstar in Business) awarded Thomas M. Connelly, Jr., DuPont Company executive vice president, with the Msgr. Thomas J. Reese Award at their Annual Tribute Dinner in March, presented by Rev. W. Francis Malooly, D.D., bishop of the Diocese of Wilmington. The award recognizes exemplary individuals who have demonstrated a

D e l awa r e

B u s i n e s s May / June 2 0 1 1

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 61

arCher group (2007 Superstar in Business) recently had some fun working with Investment Technology Group, Inc. on a project for ITG’s new advertising campaign. The Archer Group developed “Create your Popside,” an online micro-site/utility (http://www.createyourpopside.com) that lets users upload a headshot, add a humorous caption and have it stylized in pop art form. The micro-site drew nearly 30,000 votes in its “Create your Popside” competition and the contest winner has been awarded an Apple iPad. The Archer Group is now updating the micro-site to focus on the contest winner and drive a larger audience to the gallery of entrants.

The name, “Create your Popside,” parallels ITG’s marketing message, “Building the New Buyside.” “We take pride in our work for clients in the financial services industry, and enjoyed the challenge of helping ITG strengthen its brand by building a more personal relationship with its clients,” says co-founder Lee Mikles. n

61

4/25/11 6:04 PM

Small Business Report

Calendar of Events may 2

SuPerStArS in educAtion AWArdS dinner

4:45 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Location: Chase Center on the Riverfront, 815 Justison St., Wilmington, DE 19801 Cost: $80/corporate individuals; $50/educators Tables of 10: $800/corporation; $500/education For more information, contact Janine Sorbello at (302) 576-6575 or jsorbello@dscc.com.

may 4, 18 & June 1, 15

WeSt SuSSex LeAd GrouP

8:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.

Location: Jefferson, Urian & Doane, 651 N. Bedford St. Ext. Georgetown, DE 19947 Pre-registration required.

For more information, contact Chuck James at (302) 576-6562 or cjames@dscc.com.

may 4, 18 & June 1, 15

BrAndyWine BuSineSS ALLiAnce

8:30 a.m.

Location: Ameriprise Financial Services offices, 200 Bellevue Parkway, Ste. 250, Wilmington, DE 19809 Pre-registration required.

For more information, contact Arlene Simon at (302) 576-6576 or asimon@dscc.com.

may 4

SuPerStArS in BuSineSS PLAnninG coMMittee MeetinG (oPen to coMMittee MeMBerS onLy)

8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Location: DSCC Board Room, 1201 N. orange Street, Wilmington, DE 19801

For more information, contact Sharon Reardon at (302) 576-6578 or sreardon@dscc.com.

may 5

WoMen in BuSineSS ForuM LuncHeon W/ reP. vALerie LonGHurSt

Sponsored by the Rodel Foundation of Delaware 11:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Location: Legislative Hall, House Hearing Room, Court St. and Legislative Ave., Dover, DE 19901 Cost: $10/members; $20/nonmembers For more information, contact Sharon Reardon at (302) 576-6578 or sreardon@dscc.com.

may 6, 20 & June 3, 17

WiLMinGton (1) LeAd GrouP

8:15 a.m.

Location: DSCC Board Room, 1201 N. orange Street, Wilmington, DE 19801 Pre-registration required.

For more information, contact Arlene Simon at (302) 576-6576 or asimon@dscc.com.

may 9 & June 13

AMBASSAdor coMMittee MeetinG (oPen to AMBASSAdorS onLy)

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Location: DSCC Board Room, 1201 N. orange St., Wilmington, DE 19801 For more information, contact Chuck James at (302) 576-6562 or cjames@dscc.com.

may 10

netWorKinG BreAKFASt

7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Location: Brandywine zoo, 1001 N. Park Dr., Wilmington, DE 19801 Cost: Free Pre-registration required.

For more information call (302) 655-7221.

may 10, 24 & June 7, 21

neWArK LeAd GrouP MeetinG

8:15 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Location: 5301 Limestone Road, Suite 123, Wilmington, DE 19808 Pre-registration required.

For more information, contact Chuck James at (302) 576-6562 or cjames@dscc.com.

may 11

SMALL BuSineSS ALLiAnce PAPerLeSS oFFice WorKSHoP

Presenters: Jocelyn Coverdale, Ballantrae Solutions and Dee Cairo, Excel Business Systems 8:15 a.m. Registration; 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Workshop Location: DSCC Board Room, 1201 N. orange St., Wilmington, DE 19801 Cost: $25/members; $40/non-members For more information, contact Sharon Reardon at (302) 576-6578 or sreardon@ dscc.com.

may 12, 26 & June 9, 23

dover LeAd GrouP MeetinG

8:30 am – 9:30 am Location: Chops Grille in Dover Sheraton, 1570 North Dupont Highway Dover, DE 19901 Pre-registration required.

For more information, contact Chuck James at (302) 576-6562 or cjames@dscc.com

may 12

educAtion & deveLoPMent coMMittee MeetinG

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Location: DSCC Chairman’s Room, 1201 N. orange St., Wilmington, DE 19801 Cost: Free Pre-registration required.

For more information, contact Sharon Reardon at (302) 576-6578 or sreardon@dscc.com.

may 13, 27 & June 10, 24

WiLMinGton (2) LeAd GrouP MeetinG

8:15 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.

Location: DSCC Board Room, 1201 N. orange St., Wilmington, DE 19801 Pre-registration required.

For more information, contact Chuck James at (302) 576-6562 or cjames@dscc.com.

may 19

HeALtH cAre coMMittee MeetinG

9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Location: DSCC Board Room, 1201 N. orange Street, Wilmington, DE 19801 Cost: Free Pre-registration required.

For more information, contact Katie Grasso at (302) 576-6566 or kgrasso@dscc.com.

may 24

neWArK LeAd GrouP MeetinG

8:15 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Location: 5301 Limestone Road, Suite 123, Wilmington, DE 19808 Pre-registration required.

For more information, contact Chuck James at (302) 576-6562 or cjames@dscc.com.

Register for events online at www.dscc.com. These dates are subject to change. Please check with the staff person in charge or call (800) 292-9507 to confirm time/speaker/cost, etc. To receive event notices by e-mail, send your name and company affiliation to publications@dscc.com.

62

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 62

May /June 2 0 1 1 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

4/25/11 6:04 PM

Guest speaker: Joseph Masiello, 2011 Delaware Teacher of the year 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Location: Dupont Country Club, 1001 Rockland Road, Wilmington, DE 19803 Cost: $25/young Execs.

Committee Members & Students; $40/Members, $80/ Non Members Pre-registration required.

For more information, contact Liz Pretz at (302) 576-6586 or lpretz@dscc.com.

may 25

BeneFitS & ServiceS coMMittee MeetinG

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Location: DSCC Chairman’s Room, 1201 N. orange Street, Wilmington, DE 19801 Cost: Free

Pre-registration required.

For more information, contact Sharon Reardon at (302) 576-6578 or sreardon@dscc.com.

June 1

SuPerStArS in BuSineSS PLAnninG coMMittee MeetinG (oPen to coMMittee MeMBerS onLy)

8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Location: DSCC Board Room For more information, contact Sharon Reardon at (302) 576-6578 or sreardon@dscc.com.

June 7

netWorKinG BreAKFASt

7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Location: Brandywine Counseling, 2713 Lancaster Avenue, Wilmington, DE 19805 Pre-registration required.

Small Business Report

may 24

LeAderSHiP LuncHeon

June 9

For more information call (302) 655-7221.

June 8

dScc BoArd oF directorS MeetinG (oPen to dScc BoArd oF directorS onLy)

11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Location: Brantwyn 1001 Rockland Rd., Wilmington, DE 19803

SMALL BuSineSS ALLiAnce BoArd oF MAnAGerS MeetinG (oPen to BoArd MeMBerS onLy)

8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Location: The Bellmoor, 6 Christian St., Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 For more information, contact Sharon Reardon at (302) 576-6578 or sreardon@dscc.com.

June 15

June 8

eveninG Mixer

5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Location: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, DE Cost: $20/members; $40/non-members For more information, contact Liz Pretz at (302) 576-6586 or lpretz@dscc.com.

end-oF-SeSSion LeGiSLAtive BruncH

10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Location: Dover Downs Hotel & Conference Center, 1131 N. DuPont Hwy., Dover, DE 19901 Cost: $50/members; $75/non-members Pre-registration required.

For more information, contact Liz Pretz at (302) 576-6586 or lpretz@dscc.com. n

Certified PubliC ACCountAnts & Advisors

WE’RE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD!

Register for a FREE seminar today!

For a full listing of times and locations, visit his registration page: www.ConstantContact.com/philadelphiametro or call our Seminar Registration Desk: 1-888-523-8197.

Celebra ti n

vice

Sinc

The Power of Email Marketing — Learn the strategies and proven techniques that drive a successful email marketing program.

Getting Started with Constant Contact — Gain an in-depth knowledge of the tools and features of Constant Contact's Email Marketing.

r 70 Yea Ove rs Ser

David has helped thousands of small businesses succeed with email marketing. Attend one of David’s dynamic and informative FREE seminars.

g

of

Meet David Yunghans, your local Constant Contact® marketing expert in the Philadelphia Metro Area.

e 19 3 9

Advancing Tradition since 1939 Providing complete Tax, Audit and Accounting Services in Delaware for: • Individuals and Families • Small Businesses • Corporations • Non-profit Organizations Find out how we can put our experience to work for you!

Coverrossiter.com

www.

•

(302) 656-6632

Wilmington Office: 62 Rockford Road • Suite 200 • Wilmington, DE 19806 © 2009 Constant Contact, Inc.

D e l awa r e

09-1229

B u s i n e s s May / June 2 0 1 1

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 63

NEW Middletown Office: Bunker Hill Professional Centre II 102 Sleepy Hollow Drive • Suite 201 • Middletown, DE 19709

63

4/25/11 6:04 PM

64

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 64

May /June 2 0 1 1 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

4/25/11 6:04 PM

DEmEP PROFILE:

Sir Speedy newark

By EIlEEN DallaBrIDa

S

ir Speedy Newark (SSN) launched in 1995 in a 1,600-square-foot space in Newark, a franchisee of the nation’s oldest and largest printing and marketing services network.

SSN began differently than most other operations as it opened without a traditional offset press. With a vision of providing digital and on-demand print services to the tri-state area, SSN embraced the changes that technology was bringing to the industry.

The business grew quickly as partners Alan Gardner and John Riley fostered a “yes-period” culture and developed an immediate reputation for providing quality customer service.

SSN captured the State Chamber’s Superstars in Business Award in 2001. Today, SSN serves customers nationwide and overseas and has grown into a digital, print on-demand printing and fulfillment center occupying more than 30,000 square feet.

With rapid sales growth and expansion, SSN also faced operational challenges, including optimizing its space, streamlining workflow processes and maintaining production efficiency.

“The print industry and the markets it serves were continuing to change and we had to make better use of our resources,” Riley recalls.

Looking for ways to improve the business, he attended an informational workshop on lean manufacturing presented by the Delaware Manufacturing Extension Partnership.

Accredited by the National Institute for Standards and Technology, DEMEP’s mission is to substantially improve the quality, productivity and profitability of manufacturers in the state by identifying, transferring and implementing best practices.

“We are wholly dedicated to teaching businesses ways in which they can be more efficient”, says Stephen quindlen, DEMEP director. “Developing strategies that help manufacturers and other businesses be more profitable is our passion.”

Riley returned from the workshop energized and eager to apply lean principles to his business.

“I was tremendously excited because it was immediately

D e l awa r e

B u s i n e s s May / June 2 0 1 1

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 65

Sir Speedy Newark employed techniques learned from a lean manufacturing workshop presented by DEMEP to optimize production space. Photo provided by Sir Speedy Newark

clear to me that lean techniques could do great things for our operation,” he says.

SSN obtained a grant from the Delaware Economic Development office to train its staff of more than 30 employees in 5-S principles.

“We needed to learn how to process more projects for our customers both faster and at less cost,” says Aileen Huester, vice president of operations. originally rolled out in Japan, 5-S focuses on effective organization and standardized procedures to simply workflow, reduce waste and eliminate non-value-add activities during production while increasing quality, effectiveness and safety.

The 5-S principles translate to: Straightening, Systematic cleaning or Shining, Standardizing and Sustaining.

Lisa Weis, a DEMEP manufacturing specialist, evaluated and analyzed workflow throughout SSN’s operation from administration, creative design services and on-demand printing through fulfillment.

Starting with foot traffic, Weis meticulously mapped the

65

4/25/11 6:04 PM

steps needed to process and fulfill customers’ orders. Her maps, posted prominently throughout the building, highlighted steps that could be eliminated.

Mapping revealed that workers were making multiple trips to move raw materials and works-in-progress. SSN was still making deadlines – but by eliminating unnecessary steps workers could get the job done even faster.

The greatest gains were realized in print and finishing production, where machines were reconfigured to eliminate steps and make the workflow more efficient. Equipment that is used only for special projects is now stored off the work floor, further optimizing space. one large-volume project for a global manufacturer previously required almost three hours to produce and ship. With better alignment of machinery, the project is now completed in 30 minutes.

“Today, our equipment and workflow processes are in sync,” Huester says.

A new filing system for completed job instructions and sample storage streamlined a process that once evolved over the course of days down to minutes. The time savings freed a team member to assume another position.

Improved storage and inventorying processes for specialty papers used in the printing process freed up space for additional customer fulfillment and reduced inventory costs.

Utilizing rolling carts enabled workers to move materials between work stations in one trip. Redesigning production layout improved speed and efficiency, as on-time delivery improved from 99.3 percent in 2009 to 99.9 percent in 2010.

The company’s Delighted Customer Index – SSN’s measurement for Customer Service – improved from 97 percent to 98.8 percent.

Lean manufacturing practices have allowed SSN to add new services, such as personalized on-demand book production, integrating the equipment into existing space that was freed due to DEMEP’s analysis. These books are produced and shipped within 24 hours.

Efficiencies in time and space have enabled Sir Speedy to invest in other equipment, including a NexPress 2500, which can accommodate larger sheets of paper. Bigger paper means Sir Speedy can fit more postcards and other products on a single sheet, resulting in reduced costs for customers.

Recently, SSN joined with Auctus Communications to provide a full-range of creative and marketing services. As a result of lean manufacturing, the company is able to roll out this new enterprise to customers without the expense of expanding its space and workforce.

“The process has become a way of life here at SSN and it is working,” Huester says. “It was a team effort, with everyone coming together and committing to the process.” n

Delaware State Chamber of Commerce

END-OF-SESSION LEGISLATIVE BRUNCH Meet and share issues and goals with Delaware legislators and business leaders at this annual State Chamber event.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 2011 8:30 A.M. – 12:30 P.M. DOVER DOWNS HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTER $50.00 Members • $75.00 Non-members • $35 Young Executives Register online at www.dscc.com.

For more information, call DSCC at (302) 655-7221.

Sponsorships available.

66

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 66

May /June 2 0 1 1 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

4/25/11 6:04 PM

®

HTC HD7 ®

Our Smartest Smartphones (After $100 mail-in rebate card) New activation of qualifying plan with Unlimited Web on 2-year contract required.

DSCC <<Extralong Company Name>> get your initial $35 activation fee waived, 10% OFF monthly recurring plus XX% charges on select plans.

Limited Time Offer!

Switch to T-Mobile and save!

Call 1-866-464-8662, option 3 Use Promotional Code: 12795TMOFAV <<TMOXXXXXX>>

Get post-rebate sale price of 50% less than post-rebate regular T-Mobile retail price.

T-Mobile’s HSPA+ 4G network is not available everywhere. See coverage details at T-Mobile.com.

Limited time offer expires 3/9/2011; subject to change. Offer applies to featured devices only; while supplies last. Taxes and fees additional. Must call number listed above and use promotional code to take advantage of offers. Device Offers: New activation on qualifying postpaid plan with Unlimited Web and 2-year contract required; one device per newly activated line. Mail-in rebates do not apply in RI, CT or Miami-Dade County. Rebates provided in form of VISA card; must remain active and in good standing on account at time rebate is processed. Allow up to 8 weeks for processing. See rebate card form for details.

Monthly Discount: Qualifying postpaid individual-liable plan on new 2-year agreement required; FlexPay, Even More Plus and certain other plans excluded. Monthly discount is applied to recurring charges and does not apply to overage, long distance, roaming, taxes and fees, or other charges. Offer may not be combined with other discounts. General Terms: Credit approval and $35 per line activation fee may be required; up to $200/line early cancellation fee applies to two-year agreements. Device and screen images simulated. See Representative, brochures and T-Mobile’s Terms and Conditions (including arbitration provision) at www.T-Mobile.com for additional information. T-Mobile and the magenta color are registered trademarks of Deutsche Telekom AG. myTouch and G2 are registered trademarks of T-Mobile USA, Inc. America’s Largest 4G Network is a trademark of T-Mobile USA, Inc. Android is a trademark of Google, Inc. © 2011 T-Mobile USA, Inc.

Meet the

SUPERSTARs in business Small Business, Great Big Event

This year’s business superstars will be recognized during the 2011 Marvin S. Gilman Superstars in Business Awards Luncheon at the Hotel du Pont on

DICKDUBROFFFINALFOCUS

Wednesday, November 9, 2011 2011 Applications will be available soon.

Sponsorships arewelcome, call (302) 655-7221 for more details.

P.O. Box 232 Wilmington, DE 19899 Phone 302.655.7718 Fax 302.655.7918 rdubroff@finalfocus.com

D e l awa r e

B u s i n e s s May / June 2 0 1 1

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 67

see it all at www.finalfocus.com

Save the Date

67

4/25/11 6:04 PM

68

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 68

May /June 2 0 1 1 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

4/25/11 6:04 PM

neWSMAKerS

newsmakers COMPIlED By DENEE CrUMrINE

cover & rossiter Partners Honored Delaware Today recently honored Delaware’s most exceptional business women with a luncheon at the Chase Riverfront Center in Wilmington. Thirty-five outstanding women were recognized by 500 attendees at this exclusive luncheon.

Among those recognized were two partners of Cover & Rossiter – Diane Burke, CPA, MBA, AEP and Marie Holliday, CPA, MBA. “It is very rare that we offer two honorees from the same company. However, Marie and Diane were so impressive, we opted to tell the world about both,” said Maria Hess, editorin-chief of Delaware Today.

Burke joined Cover & Rossiter in 1996, was named a director in 2003 and now leads the Personal Tax Practice.

Holliday joined the firm in 2007 and is also a director of Cover & Rossiter and head of the Corporate Tax Practice.

She earned her BS and MBA degrees from the University of Delaware. She was selected for membership in the Beta Gamma Sigma honor society for the school of business and has been a guest lecturer at the university’s Academy of Lifelong Learning.

“We are thrilled to have such distinguished and talented

D e l awa r e

women as leaders of our firm.

Marie and Diane are integral to Cover & Rossiter’s success,” said Geoff Langdon, Managing Director. reading ASSiSt names Board Members State Representative Darryl Scott and Timothy McIntosh joined the The Reading ASSIST® Institute’s Board.

Scott has served since 2008 in the General Assembly as the State Representative for 31st District and is vicechairman of the Education committee and Chairman of the Telecommunications, Internet and Technology committee. Additionally, he served three and a half years on the Capital School District Board of Education. He is currently Director of Account operations at Sitel in Milford.

McIntosh is a 2010 graduate of the University of Richmond with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. He is employed by yet2Ventures in Wilmington, a venture capital firm.

WSFS celebrates 179 years WSFS Financial Corporation, the parent company of WSFS Bank, celebrated its 179th Anniversary in February.

B u s i n e s s May / June 2 0 1 1

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 69

international Print competition Winner David Koster, Certified Professional Photographer and owner of Portraits in the Sand in Rehoboth Beach, recently attended Imaging USA in San Antonio, TX, one of the

largest

conventions

exclusively for photography and imaging professionals.

“I

look

forward

to

attending this major event each year in a different city,” said David Koster. “As a businessman, I can learn more about my profession, elevate my skills and gather David Koster

new ideas to keep up with the changing market.”

Koster’s work was on display at the San Antonio Convention Center this year as three of his prints were recently accepted into the Collection of Professional Photographers of America’s 2010 International Print Competition which honors the world’s best photographic images and photographers. Koster receives a merit for each winning print toward his Master of Photography degree, which is awarded for superior photographic competence demonstrated through photographic competition, advanced education, and service to the profession.

In 1832, seven days before the City of Wilmington was chartered, WSFS opened its doors to provide a safe place for the local citizens to deposit and grow their money. Now, WSFS has grown to be the oldest, and soon to be largest, full-service bank and trust company headquartered in

Delaware.

“It is with great pride and sincere humility that we celebrate our 179th anniversary,” said Mark A. Turner, president and CEo of WSFS Bank.

“As WSFS Bank expands throughout the Delaware Valley, we are more committed than ever to continue to stay

69

4/25/11 6:04 PM

neWSMAKerS

true to our mission of delivering world-class service and strengthening the communities we serve.

WSFS currently has a lot to celebrate. In 2011 we will open at least six new branches or offices throughout Delaware and Southeastern Pennsylvania; we will continue to provide our Customers with the largest ATM network in the area with over 380 ATMs;

and we continue to hire new Associates to support our strategic growth efforts.” children’s Museum elects Board The Delaware Children’s Museum (DCM) recently elected its 2011 Board of Directors. The newest members are: Julia Caslin, a senior vice president and leadership development executive

for Bank of America’s Deposits & Card Products; Carin Mueller Rollins, principal of CR Consulting, LLC, and 5AM Ventures, both biotech finance consultancy firms; and Ronald A. Street, principal of NorthStar Museums, the firm which successfully managed the construction and exhibit fabrication of the DCM. “Julia, Carin and Ron will be great additions to our Board

two Lives to be Long remembered in delaware In February we said goodbye to two of Delaware’s greatest examples of dedication and service to the community.

Former Governor Russell W. Peterson served the state from 1969 until 1973, enacting and advocating for changes that bettered our government, protected our environment and enhanced the quality of life for Delawareans. Prior to serving as governor, Peterson showed the makings of a great leader at E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company. He continued his admirable work after leaving office, being appointed as an advisor to President Nixon and serving as President of the National Audubon Society, among other achievements. He will be remembered as an honorable and determined leader guided by principle and the desire to always do the right thing.

Muriel E. Gilman was an extraordinary model of volunteerism and community service, championing for the rights of those in need. She was

gov. russell Peterson. Photo provided by June Peterson

a managing executive for United Way of Delaware for over 20 years before retiring, but her good works did not stop there. Her active participation within the community was invaluable. Gilman made sure her voice was heard in matters that were important to the people of Delaware she so deeply cared about. The State Chamber, Goldey-Beacom College’s board of trustees, the state Commission on Women, Girl Scouts of America and the YWCA of Delaware are just a few of the many organizations she loved and served. Her genuine commitment to community is a model sure to be emulated by her loved ones and all whom she has inspired.

Both Peterson and Gilman were recipients of the State Chamber’s distinguished Josiah Marvel Cup Award. These exemplary members of society have left lasting legacies sure to be followed by all those touched by their good work.

— Denee Crumrine

70

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 70

Muriel gilman, center, with alan and Ellen levin at the Marvin S. gilman Superstars in Business awards in November 2010. Photo by Dick Dubroff

of Directors. We are pleased that Bank of America has connected us with Julia – she will be an incredible asset to the DCM as we enter year two and undergo strategic planning and human resource development activities. Carin has been a cheerleader for the DCM for several years, and brings to the table a great mind for finances and startup. Ron knows the DCM in and out and we are fortunate to have his expertise at our fingertips,” said DCM’s Board President William Smith. dtcc President Awards rep. castle Dr. orlando J. George, Jr., president of Delaware Technical & Community College, presented Mike Castle with the National Education Service Award on behalf of the Association of Community College Trustees and the American Association of Community Colleges in Washington, D.C. in February.

This annual award honors a national leader who has made extraordinary contributions to national public policies and resources that support education, training and postsecondary learning.

“I am honored to present Mike this award,” George said.

“Mike’s courage to stand up for what he believed in and his ability to find common ground with his colleagues on both sides of the aisle made him uniquely qualified to tackle the serious issues facing education. He is truly deserving of this national recognition.”

During his nine terms in Congress, Castle was a strong advocate for community

May /June 2 0 1 1 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

4/25/11 6:04 PM

neWSMAKerS

the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and the Delaware Society of CPAs. Corcoran received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Delaware and has more than ten years of experience in public accounting. Corcoran provides instruction for staff and clients on new tax legislation and is active in the firm’s accounting and audit group. She is a member of the Delaware Society of CPAs, the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), and serves as a member of the board of directors for Cornerstone

West Community Development Corporation and as treasurer for the Executive Women’s Golf Association.

Di Luzio received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Goldey-Beacom College. Di Luzio has more than 17 years of experience in accounting and is responsible for all aspects of audit and attest engagements for the firm. She is a member of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), the Delaware Society of CPAs and serves on the board of directors for Westside Family Healthcare, Inc.

neWSBiteS Delaware Technical and Community College President Orlando george, left, presents Mike Castle with the National Education Service award. Photo provided by DTCC

colleges, having served as a member of the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness and later as Co-Chair of the Congressional Community College Caucus.

Castle consistently took tough stands that supported community colleges and helped the Community College Caucus gain prominence and widespread Congressional support.

During the Higher Education Act reauthorization in 2005, he advocated strongly to protect federal funding for community colleges.

And he voted to support the American Graduation Initiative in September 2010 when efforts were made on the House floor to eliminate the program from the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act.

D e l awa r e

Wheeler Wolfenden & dwares Announce Promotions Wheeler Wolfenden & Dwares, Certified Public Accountants and Business Consultants is pleased to announce the promotions of Thomas Atkinson, Kathy Corcoran and Carol Di Luzio to principals at the firm.

Atkinson graduated magna cum laude from GoldeyBeacom College. He has more than eight years experience in public accounting, primarily serving clients in construction, manufacturing, and distribution. He is active in the Delaware Contractors Association (DCA), Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. (ABC), the Committee of 100, and the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA). He is also a member of

B u s i n e s s May / June 2 0 1 1

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 71

n Michael Waite, former on-air radio personality at WJBR, has been named director of Marketing & Community Relations for Blood Bank of Delmarva. Waite will serve as the organization’s primary media spokesperson and will collaborate with executive management on strategic initiatives to improve organizational performance and enhance competitive positioning. n Rob Martinelli, publisher of Delaware Today and president of Today Media, has named Maria Hess the editor-in-chief of Delaware Today magazine. Hess, the magazine’s senior editor since 2005, has earned several awards for writing and editing from the Delaware Press Association and the National Federation of Press Women.

Michael Waite

Maria hess

n First Lady Carla Markell is this year’s recipient of the 21st Century Fund for Delaware’s Children Muriel E. Gilman Award. The award was established as a tribute to the late Muriel Gilman for her public service and volunteerism working directly to improve the lives of children. n The Better Business Bureau of Delaware, regional advocate for ethical business in the State, named Jon Bell as its new Director of Business Relations. Bell, who has managed marketing and communications initiatives for various Delaware firms over the past four years, will be in charge of Accredited Business involvement in the organization, with a focus on strengthening relationships businesses have with the BBB of Delaware.

71

4/25/11 6:04 PM

neWSMAKerS

donors achieve their philandcF names Friends thropic goals,” said Schutt. “A Fund campaign gift to this fund supports our chair Laurisa S. Schutt a commu- infrastructure and operanity and education activist tions, and enables us to maxihas been named chairman mize our mission. This past of the Delaware Community year’s gifts helped us build Foundation’s (DCF) annual coalitions to feed hungry Friends Fund Campaign. Delawareans, provide respite Schutt, a Wilmington, Del. for those caring for loved ones resident, is a member of the and to encourage nonprofits DCF’s Board of Directors, throughout the state to link services and work member of the more closely Grants Committee, together.” and a DCF Friend.

Last year’s Friends Since the campaign raised Foundation began more than $220,000. in 1986, support “Each year we through the Friends receive hundreds of Fund Campaign laurisa Schutt. grant requests from has enabled the Photo provided by people in our state DCF to research DCF whose nonprofits community needs, provide selfless and empaenhance grant making programs, customize services thetic services that fill innuto nonprofits, work with indi- merable gaps in the social viduals to meet their chari- network of our community table goals and provide lasting statewide,” Schutt added. “The charitable funding for future Friends Fund aggregates and compounds gifts that made generations.

“Each year, our Friends significant contributions to Fund provides the funding the people in our state who for the human and financial in turn help others. Kindly resources we need to help our consider making a generous

from left: DBCC Board Member Dennis r. Witmer, MD, faCS, DBCC Director of Information Services Vicky Tosh-Morelli, DBCC Executive Director Vicky Cooke, and DBCC Trustee Emeritae Maureen lauterbach pose for a photo with the award. Photo provided by DBCC

contribution this year. Gifts of any amount are needed and very much appreciated.” dBcc Wins Award The Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition, Inc. (DBCC) was presented with the Executive Director’s Award as part of the Academy’s Annual Awards Ceremony and Dinner.

The Executive Director’s Recognition Award honors a non-profit in the community that embodies the principles of education and the promotion of

Bayhealth’s Biggest Loser challenge ends Dover resident Jose Rivera is the winner of the Bayhealth Lifestyles’ Fitness Center’s Biggest Losers Contest, shedding an astounding 40.4 pounds in a little more than two months, while dieting and working out at Lifestyles Fitness in Dover.

Rivera’s drive to lose weight was buoyed by a friendly but intense competition from the Bayhealth Lifestyles’ Fitness Center’s Biggest Losers Contest, in which 64 Lifestyles’ Fitness members competed to see who could lose the greatest percentage of body weight Jose rivera works out on an elliptical. he is the winner of Bayhealth’s Biggest loser Challenge.

Photo provided by Bayhealth

in ten weeks, from January 10 through March 21, 2011. Lifestyles’ Fitness trainers assisted contestants with coaching and evaluation of food diaries. The 64 contestants lost a combined 602.41 pounds.

72

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 72

public health through collaborative programming. Last year it was awarded to the Heart Truth Delaware Program.

DBCC Executive Director Vicky Cooke, DBCC Trustee Emeritae Maureen Lauterbach, DBCC Board Member Dennis R. Witmer, MD, FACS, and DBCC Director of Information Services Vicky Tosh-Morelli received the award that was presented

by Delaware Academy of Medicine Executive Director Tim Gibbs.

DBCC has developed and implemented unique programs not available from other cancer-related agencies, including targeted programs for young women with breast cancer, African American women, Latinas, women who partner with women, and women with disabilities. DBCC strives to improve access for all women and men to highquality breast cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment as well as increase awareness of breast cancer and the influence of breast cancer survivors in research, clinical trials, and national policies. n

May /June 2 0 1 1 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

4/25/11 6:04 PM

D e l awa r e

B u s i n e s s May / June 2 0 1 1

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 73

73

4/25/11 6:04 PM

neWS cHAMBer

Welcome new members AdvAnicon

StAte

Advanicon is a program management support and engineering consulting firm established in late 2010.

Advanicon supports both public and private clients.

Ms. Stephanie Eldridge 204 Wickerberry Drive Middletown, DE 19709 (302) 376-8636 AFLAc-dover diStrict

Insurance agents, brokers and services for sickness, hospital indemnity, etc.

Ms. Nancy MB Feldman 134 Middessa Crossing Dover, DE 19904 (302) 734-4364 Fax: (302) 734-4567 www.aflac.com ArrAyA SoLutionS

Full service technology consulting firm and value-added reseller.

Mr. Corey P. Yantz 521 Plymouth Road, Suite 113 (J) Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462 (866) 229-6234 Fax: (610) 825-1653 www.arrayasolutions.com

8 Kelly Lane Newark, DE 19711 (302) 345-5116 www.bcmconsulting.com BrooKS courier Service, inc.

Courier services.

Mr. Jeffrey B. Hauserman 831 East 38th Street Wilmington, DE 19802 (302) 762-4661 Fax: (302) 397-2800 www.brookscourier.com

(302) 834-6033 Fax: (302) 834-6016 www.PBFenergy.com deLAWAre vALLey FieLd ServiceS

Real estate.

Ms. Allyson Saccomandi 321 Robinson Lane Wilmington, DE 19805 (302) 384-8617 Fax: (302) 250-4804 www.delawarevalleyfieldservices.com

A major U.S. power company.

Mr. Stuart Widom 500 Delaware Avenue, Suite 600 Wilmington, DE 19801 (302) 468-5324 Fax: (302) 468-5401 www.calpine.com

Automobile manufacturer.

Mr. Jeff Garland 801 Boxwood Road Wilmington, DE 19804 (949) 677-4549 www.fiskerautomotive.com Ge cerAMic coMPoSite ProductS

Commercial and residential construction.

Mr. Eric Duckworth 2419 Rambler Road Wilmington, DE 19810 (800) 385-4097 www.coliseumconstruction.net dAMiAn G. Guerin, eSQ.

HeritAGe SHoreS cLuB

Legal services.

Mr. Damian Guerin 2708 Pecksniff Road Wilmington, DE 19808 (302) 683-0698 Fax: (302) 683-0699

Ms. Stephanie Barfield 1 Heritage Shores Circle Bridgeville, DE 19933 (302) 337-9926 Fax: (302) 337-9915 www.heritageshoresgolf.com

BAinBridGe LAndScAPeS LLc

dArreLL AndreWS enterPriSeS

Lawn and garden services.

Mr. Jeffrey Bainbridge 2 Westhill Drive Camden, DE 19934 (302) 697-0526 www.bainbridgelandscapesllc.com

Training and development.

Mr. Darrell Andrews 1201 N. Orange Street, Suite 7059 Wilmington, DE 19801 (302) 834-1040 www.coachdspeaks.com

ion PrActice SoLutionS MedicAL BiLLinG LLc

BcM conSuLtinG

deLAWAre city reFininG coMPAny LLc

Sell, install, and service all types of automotive sound, video, and security systems.

Mr. Michael Mir 227 Governor Square Bear, DE 19701 (302) 832-2868 Fax: (302) 832-2888 www.audiojamonline.com

Project management and manufacturing improvement consultant focusing on reducing costs, increasing capacity and leading change full time.

Mr. Edward Kohl

74

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 74

MidcoASt coMMunity BAnK

Banking and financial services.

Mr. Brian D. Bailey 5161 West Woodmill Drive, Suite 15 Wilmington, DE 19804 (302) 353-1164 www.midcoastbankonline.com

FiSKer AutoMotive cALPine corPorAtion

Fabrication of high-temperature, ceramic-composite components for the aviation, aerospace, and rocket industries.

Mr. Brian Dix 400 Bellevue Road Newark, DE 19713 (302) 631-1356 Fax: (302) 631-1320

Audio JAM

1521 Concord Pike, Suite 300 Wilmington, DE 19803 (610) 995-1223 Fax: (610) 989-3692 www.kforce.com

coLiSeuM conStruction LLc

Petroleum refining.

Ms. Lisa Lindsey 4550 Wrangle Hill Road Delaware City, DE 19706

Billing services.

Mr. Henry Sinyangwe 10 Hillary Circle New Castle, DE 19720 (484) 802-8414 Fax: (610) 457-1433 www.biz@ionpractice.com KForce tecHnoLoGy, inc.

nutrition StAtion, inc.

Health services.

Ms. Heather Gregg 11 Prestbury Sq, 1st Floor Newark, DE 19713 (302) 525-4900 www.NutritionStation.net oPen rAnGe coMMunicAtionS

We run door-to-door representatives who sell home phone and internet services.

Ms. Laura Passalacqua 6430 South Fiddlers Green Circle, Suite 500 Greenwood Village, CO 80111 (609) 351-3135 www.openrange.us StePHen BArcZyKoWSKi conSuLtAnt

Business consulting services.

Mr. Stephen Barczykowski 507 N. Barrett Lane Newark, DE 19702 (302) 299-6339 totAL FitneSS exerciSe & nutrition center

Fitness centers, training and tanning.

Mr. Bob Konza 4401 Governor Printz Blvd., Merchant’s Square Wilmington, DE 19802 (302) 764-5656 Fax: (302) 764-8755 www.totalfitnessen.com

Employment agencies.

Ms. Alexis Scalzi

May /June 2 0 1 1 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

4/25/11 6:04 PM

StAte

DELAWARE STATE CHAMBER MEMBERS GET EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTS!

Truck sales.

Mr Patrick Walsh 201 E. 6th Street New Castle, DE 19720 (302) 235-8781 Fax: (302) 276-1257 www.tristatetrucksales.com

Venture Tech Consulting is an IT services company. Our mission is to help organizations save money and improve the quality of their lives through information technology.

Mr. Rand Callahan 12 Tavernier Drive New Castle, DE 19720 (484) 324-8827 www.vtcphilly.com

triton conSuLtinG ServiceS, inc.

Specializing in business and information technology process consulting including strategy alignment, change management, security assessment and policy administration. Can also perform interim CIO support, business continuity and DR planning.

Ms. Camillo Ciamaricone 32912 Ocean Bluff Lewes, DE 19958 (302) 494-4969

neWS

venture tecH conSuLtinG

cHAMBer

tri-StAte trucK & eQuiPMent SALeS

viStAGe

Management consulting, services and training.

Mr. James D. Lucas 300 Harvest Lane, Suite 100 Avondale, PA 19311 (410) 302-2500 Fax: (484) 732-8307 www.vistage.com n

Our Service is Always Special, Now Our Prices are Even Better for DSCC Members.

Contact Doreen Miller at: doreen.miller@wbmason.com

1-888-WB-MASON

Y O U

Goodwill Working for You

Goodwill Staffing Services can help you meet all of your recruiting needs! We can save you time and money as we carefully select applicants whose skills and experience match your business needs.

We offer: 1. Direct Hire 2. Temporary to Hire 3. Contracted Employees

Goodwill Staffing also offers: 1. Payroll Service 2. Background Checks 3. Skills Assessment

Goodwill

For more information call 302-504-5725 or email pbeane@goodwillde.org

www.goodwillde.org D e l awa r e

B u s i n e s s May / June 2 0 1 1

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 75

C A N ’ T

G O

W R O N G

W H E N

Y O U

Member Dental & Vision Benefits Delaware State Chamber of Commerce Members have access to high-value dental and vision benefits through Dominion Dental Services.

Benefits Include: Three unique dental options Use a network dentist or any dentist Coverage for over 250 dental services Extensive coverage for eye exams, eyeglass lenses, frames and contact lenses Simple online enrollment and administration Who can participate?

Any individual or member company.

DominionDental.com/edental/dscc The Dominion Group of companies includes Dominion Dental Services, Inc., the licensed underwriter of the dental plans, and Dominion Dental Services USA, Inc., a licensed administrator of dental and vision benefits. This policy includes limitations, exclusions and terms under which the policy may be continued in force or discontinued.

We Work For Your Benefit.

75

4/25/11 6:04 PM

neWS cHAMBer StAte

State Chamber Scene Women in Business Forum

Wilmington Lead Group

February 8, 2011

February 18, 2011

Nancy Karibjanian shares stories from her career in broadcast media at the Women in Business forum. Photo by Denee Crumrine

lead group members got to meet and greet with Shih Tzu puppies from the Delaware humane Society. Photo by Denee Crumrine

Superstars in Business tribute February 23, 2011

lisa Detwiler, COO of SSD Technologies, accepts a framed remembrance of the firm’s 2010 Superstars in Business award, surrounded by colleagues and DSCC representatives. Photo by Denee Crumrine

76

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 76

May /June 2 0 1 1 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

4/25/11 6:04 PM

StAte cHAMBer

Superstars in Business tribute February 23, 2011

neWS

DSCC representatives presented Kevin Smith, executive director of habitat for humanity of New Castle County, and staff and volunteers with its Superstars in Business memento. Photo by Denee Crumrine

Superstars in Business tribute

Wellness at Work conference

February 23, 2011

March 3, 2011

from left: 2010 Superstars in Business Chairman Don fulton of george J. Weiner and associates helps Jim Wolfe and Sharon reardon of the DSCC, right, present laura Novak, center, and Michele Strum with a Superstars in Business commemoration.

Photo by Denee Crumrine

Conference attendees Cindy Crompton Barone and Cara liter of WSfS Bank, louis Memmolo and Mike reckner of george J. Weiner and associates posed for the camera after networking and meeting with exhibitors at the Wellness at Work Conference at UD’s Clayton hall in Newark. Photo by Denee Crumrine

For more photos from Delaware State Chamber of Commerce events, go to to www.dscc.com/newsevents/photo_gallery.aspx

D e l awa r e

B u s i n e s s May / June 2 0 1 1

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 77

77

4/25/11 6:04 PM

neWS cHAMBer StAte

Wellness at Work conference

Wellness at Work conference

March 3, 2011

March 3, 2011

Drs. robert abel and gerald lemole speak to the importance of healthy living as the keynote presenters at the Wellness at Work Conference. Photo by Katie Wilson

young executives committee Meeting March 16, 2011

richard Killingsworth spoke on the Business & health Panel at the Wellness at Work Conference and stressed the high value of communities that encourage and support healthy lifestyles.

Photo by Katie Wilson

networking Breakfast March 15, 2011

More than 50 people came to the young Executives Committee luncheon to hear from guest speaker alan levin, Delaware Economic Development Office director, at the Doubletree Downtown hotel on March 16, 2011. levin (pictured left) greets Stephanie fitzpatrick of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and Nick adams of Wilmington Trust. Photo by Denee Crumrine

78

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 78

from left: John Barone of DEMEP, J. Morgner of Sunday Breakfast Mission and Kory hitchens of Bramhall & hitchen, Inc. meet at the networking breakfast at Verizon Wireless in Wilmington. Photo by Katie Wilson

May /June 2 0 1 1 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

4/25/11 6:04 PM

StAte

April 6, 2011

from left: Jim Jones, Steve quindlen and John Barone of the Delaware Manufacturing Extension Partnership (DEMEP) were exhibitors and sponsors at the event. Photo by Katie Wilson

Scott Welch, co-chair of the Delaware Manufacturing association, welcomed those in attendance at the Manufacturing Conference. Photo by Katie Wilson

Manufacturing conference & Legislative Brunch April 6, 2011

neWS

Manufacturing conference & Legislative Brunch

April 6, 2011

cHAMBer

Manufacturing conference & Legislative Brunch

crumrine Joins dScc Staff

Denee Crumrine has joined the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce staff as Programs and Communication Specialist.

In this role, Crumrine assists the marketing and communications team with promoting Chamber benefits and events through the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce’s print and e-mail publications, as well as through social media. Crumrine also assists with the activity of the Small Business Alliance.

Denee Crumrine. Photo

by Dick Dubroff/Final Focus

Crumrine is a 2010 graduate of the University of Delaware where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Chris Clifton of the Milton-based atlantis Industries Corp. posed for the camera during the Manufacturing Conference. Photo by Katie Wilson

D e l awa r e

B u s i n e s s May / June 2 0 1 1

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 79

Communications. She was previously an intern with the Archer Group, an interactive marketing agency in Wilmington, Del., and a design consultant with Preston’s Stationery, Inc. in Bel Air, Md.

79

4/25/11 6:04 PM

neWS cHAMBer StAte

from left: DSCC President and CEO Jim Wolfe moderates a panel discussion on local business held at the DSCC in March.

Panelists include U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Delaware), Delaware Economic Development Office Director alan levin, PNC Bank President Connie Bond Stuart and aaa Mid-atlantic CEO Don gagnon. Photo by Katie Wilson

Business and Government Leaders Discuss Local Business

By KaTIE WIlSON

C

hallenges to local business was the topic of a roundtable discussion at the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce on March 14, 2011. U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Delaware), Delaware Economic Development office Secretary Alan Levin, PNC Bank President Connie Bond Stuart and AAA Mid-Atlantic CEo Don Gagnon took part in a discussion led by DSCC President and CEo Jim Wolfe.

They covered the challenges to local businesses and offered a dialog on what these businesses in Delaware can do to prosper.

Wolfe remarked, “We need to get back to work and this topic is a big piece of the puzzle.”

Coons pointed out small businesses are not only competing with other local businesses, they are now sharing a global marketplace, and to compete internationally they need worldclass access to capital, a solid infrastructure and a strong workforce, among other ingredients.

Stuart said there is capital available to small businesses. “[PNC has] our feet on the ground, looking to grow our loan portfolio.” Wolfe added that focusing on local business is good for Delaware’s economy. “For every dollar spent with a local business, 60 cents stays in the local economy, compared to 40 cents if that dollar is spent at a chain store,” he said.

Levin said government “can’t impede business, we need to

80

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 80

help it grow. This is Delaware – there are only 900,000 of us and we’re competing with big states.” But Delaware’s small population size is what Levin says helps government attract and keep business. “We are quicker and able to get to the table faster than anyone else.” And, he added, government is more accessible to local businesses that need help linking up with government resources.

Setting themselves a part from competitors was another way small businesses in Delaware can compete with their larger counterparts. “Focus on a niche and then expand regionally, nationally and globally,” Gagnon said. He noted that businesses also need to focus on customer relationships rather than just the “transaction.” Levin also discussed the need for small businesses to be on the Web, utilizing social media to provide constant communication with customers. Stuart added that small businesses can set themselves apart by knowing their local marketplace and creating custom solutions for those clients. Stuart also offered giving back to the community as a way local businesses can better understand their customers.

Levin said that small business owners need to adopt the right mentality when they see challenges to their business, whether it is a lagging economy or a national competitor moving into town. “It’s about attitude. Believe that you can succeed.” n

May /June 2 0 1 1 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

4/25/11 6:04 PM

T:7.5”

Wachovia is now Wells Fargo in Pennsylvania More than 150 years later, we’ve returned to the East Coast

T:10”

822 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA

Together we’re one team moving forward stronger than ever, working with you. This means more bank locations, more ATMs, and more online capabilities. You’ll have the same great customer service you’ve come to expect from Wachovia, along with more than 150 years of strength and stability from Wells Fargo.

At Wells Fargo, we’re with you when you’re working toward your financial goals.

Talk with a Wells Fargo banker about what this means for you. Call 1-800-TO-WELLS (1-800-869-3557), click wellsfargo.com/wachovia, or visit us today.

Banking • Investments • Financial Planning Business Banking • Mortgage • Insurance Investment and insurance products:

NOT FDIC-Insured

NO Bank Guarantee

MAY Lose Value

Wells Fargo Insurance, Inc., is a licensed agency that represents — and is compensated by — the insurer based on the amount of insurance sold. © 2011 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC.

D e l awa r e

B u s i n e s s May / June 2 0 1 1

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 81

81

4/25/11 6:04 PM

neWS

Delaware State Chamber of Commerce

cHAMBer

Small State. Big Benefits.

tHe StAte cHAMBer HeALtH PLAn

StAte

The cost of employee health care is a top concern among Delaware business owners. DSCC has devised an affordable, quality health care plan for its members. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware announced new reduced rates and added an additional lower-cost plan choice. Visit www.dscc.com/healthplan. htm today or call (302) 576-6580 for more details.

PreScriPtion druG diScount cArd

The 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. diScounted ceLL PHone ProductS And Service

State Chamber members can get a 10-percent discount from T-Mobile on qualifying monthly recurring charges and other special offers. Contact Melissa Williams at melissa.williams2@tmobile.com to learn more about this benefit. notAry Service

Did 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 SuPPLieS

W.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 doreen. miller@wbmason.com or (888) 926-2766, ext. 8358.

BLood BAnK MeMBerSHiP

Member companies with five employees or less are offered unlimited group coverage in the Blood Bank of Delmarva. Call (302) 655-7221 for more information.

dScc AFFinity credit cArd WitH WorLdPointS reWArdS

The 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 PLAn

Dominion Dental Services provides dental and vision benefits on a group and individual basis with competitive, memberexclusive 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 e-MAiL MArKetinG Service

State 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.

Access full details on these benefits of membership in the membersonly section of the DSCC Web site. For more information about obtaining your company’s members-only login credentials, please e-mail webmaster@dscc.com. n

certiFicAte oF oriGin docuMentS

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

MeMBer-to-MeMBer diScount directory

deLMArvA BroAdcAStinG coMPAny

and services to fellow members. To see the full list of discounts

Fifteen percent in bonus airtime on commercial orders placed by new advertisers on any Delmarva Broadcasting radio station.

Contact Mike Reath at mreath@dbcmedia.com or call (302) 478-2700 for more information.

82

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 82

State Chamber members offer substantial savings on products

online, visit www.dscc.com and click on Member2Member Discounts.

May /June 2 0 1 1 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

4/25/11 6:04 PM

StAte

Chamber Committees & Forums

cHAMBer

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.

coMMittee:

This committee identifies group-oriented benefits, such as health care coverage, dental and vision care, discounted office supplies, phone service, direct mail, radio advertising and much more to help Chamber members be healthy and competitive.

Contact: Sharon Reardon at (302) 576-6578 or sreardon@ dscc.com.

BeneFitS & ServiceS coMMittee:

This committee provides practical, valuable and affordable education and development programs to help existing members and potential members be more successful. Contact: Sharon Reardon at (302) 576-6578 or sreardon@dscc.com.

educAtion & deveLoPMent coMMittee:

This committee meets each month and brings in knowledgeable experts to discuss ever-changing labor and employment laws and regulations that impact all Delaware businesses.

The interaction between speakers and committee members provides a cost-effective and efficient way to obtain up-to-date information that helps employers create or modify personnel policies and procedures before legal problems arise. Contact: Greg Gross at (302) 576-6568 or ggross@dscc.com. tHe

eMPLoyee

reLAtionS

coMMittee:

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: Greg Gross at (302) 576-6568 or ggross@dscc.com.

Members discuss key health care issues facing Delaware businesses and provide feedback to the Chamber legislative team to assist in formulating policy.

Contact: Katie Grasso Wilson at (302) 576-6566 or kgrasso@ dscc.com.

HeALtH cAre coMMittee:

D e l awa r e

B u s i n e s s May / June 2 0 1 1

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 83

neWS

The Ambassador Committee is a specially chosen group of volunteers that assists in increasing membership 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 cjames@ dscc.com.

AMBASSAdor

Provides a forum to discuss issues affecting Delaware holding companies on the state and national levels. Contact: Katie Grasso Wilson at (302) 576-6566 or kgrasso@dscc.com.

HoLdinG coMPAny coMMittee:

Members, lobbyists and legislative representatives work together to address legislative issues of interest to Chamber members. Monthly lunchtime meetings feature guest speakers who cover current topics of interest to the business community. Contact: Greg Gross at (302) 576-6568 or ggross@dscc.com.

LeGiSLAtive ForuM:

tAx coMMittee: This committee reviews tax legislation and lobbies for the reduction of personal and business taxes in Delaware. Contact: Greg Gross at (302) 576-6568 or ggross@ dscc.com.

The transportation committee creates a unified voice when making recommendations to the Delaware Department of Transportation. Contact: Greg Gross at (302) 576-6568 or ggross@dscc.com. trAnSPortAtion coMMittee:

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 young Executives Committee, for professionals between the ages of 21 and 40, aims to develop Delaware’s young workforce through professional business networking and personal growth. Contact: Liz Pretz at (302) 576-6586 or lpretz@dscc.com.

younG executiveS coMMittee:

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: Sharon Reardon at (302) 576-6578 or sreardon@ dscc.com. n

83

4/25/11 6:04 PM

For Assistance, Call the Chamber

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 e-mail addresses, as well as individual areas of responsibility. If you need business assistance or information, please don’t hesitate to call.

James a. wolfe President & CEO

a. richard heffron Sr. Vice President Government Affairs

576-6563 rheffron@dscc.com

gregory l. gross Director of Government Affairs Employee Relations Committee Environmental Committee Legislative Forum Tax Committee Transportation Committee

sharon r. reardon Sr. Vice President Marketing & Exec. Director, Small Business Alliance Superstars in Business Wellness at Work Media Relations Marketing Benefits & Services Committee Education & Development Committee Women in Business Forum

576-6578 sreardon@dscc.com

Chuck James Account Executive

Janine g. sorbello Sr. Vice President Education & Exec. Director, The Partnership Business Mentoring Alliance Principal for a Day Teacher Externship Superstars in Education

576-6575 jsorbello@dscc.com

marianne K. antonini Sr. Vice President Finance & CFO

576-6560 jwolfe@dscc.com 576-6567 mantonini@dscc.com

liz pretz Events Manager young Executives Committee

Cheryl Corn Executive Assistant to the President Denee Crumrine Program & Communications Specialist linda D. eriksen Accounting Associate

576-6572 ccorn@dscc.com 576-6564 dcrumrine@dscc.com 576-6569 leriksen@dscc.com

576-6562 cjames@dscc.com 576-6586 lpretz@dscc.com

arlene m. simon Account Executive

John h. Taylor, Jr. 576-6590 Sr. Vice President & jtaylor@dscc.com Exec. Director, Delaware Public Policy Institute

576-6568 ggross@dscc.com

576-6576 asimon@dscc.com

Bill stephano Director of Membership patrina wallace Information Secretary 576-6566

576-6574 bstephano@dscc.com 655-7221 pwallace@dscc.com Katie wilson

Katie wilson Communications Manager Delaware Business Production Web Site Health Care Committee Holding Company Committee young Executives Committee miller publishing, inc.

Fred miller President, Miller Publishing, Inc. Advertising Sales

576-6566 kgrasso@dscc.com

576-6579 fmiller2@dscc.com

Delaware State Chamber of CommerCe 1201 N. oRANGE STREET, P.o. Box 671 WILMINGToN, DE 19899-0671 (302) 655-7221 / FAx (302) 654-0691 (800) 292-9507 KENT & SUSSEx CoUNTIES WWW.DSCC.CoM BLoG: DSCC.WoRDPRESS.CoM FACEBooK: FACEBooK.CoM/DELAWARESTATECHAMBER FLICKR: FLICKR.CoM/DSCC TWITTER: @DESTATECHAMBER

84

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 84

May /June 2 0 1 1 D e l a w a r e B u s i n e s s

4/25/11 6:04 PM

Not many people grow up dreaming that one day, they’ll be a leader in the measurement business.

We Did.

Is this baby formula wholesome? Is this tap water pure? Did this athlete use banned substances? Will this therapy be effective against this type of tumor? These are the kinds of questions that inspire us at Agilent.

And it’s why we’ve grown into the world’s premiere measurement company.

Food, the environment, energy, forensics and scientific research profoundly affect everyone’s quality of life. This is our inspiration for developing innovative instrumentation, software and support used by scientists around the world to understand this world better. We’re steadfast believers that tools should expand the horizons of science, not restrict them. It’s why we adhere to the practice of “relentless innovation.” It’s also the motivation behind the biggest expansion in our 70-year history. At Agilent, every day we build on our history of fueling scientific discovery. It’s how we measure our success.

Learn more about Agilent Technologies at www.agilent.com

© Agilent Techonogies, Inc. 2011

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 85

4/25/11 6:04 PM

DuPont & Education at Work in Delaware

Advancing the Future, TOGETHER Since 1802 DuPont has supported education and led education reform efforts worldwide. Together we can advance the future.

Congratulations 2011 Superstars in Education. www.dupont.com Copyright © 2011 DuPont. All rights reserved. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont™, The miracles of science™ and all products denoted with ® or ™ are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company or its affiliates.

190776 DSCC_MayJun11.indd 86

4/25/11 6:04 PM