Delaware Business Magazine - September/October 2018

DSCC President Mike Quaranta (right) with Short Order Production House founder and creative director, Zach Phillips (left), and director, Mike Pfeifer (center), at a July networking breakfast.

Message from the President

DELAWARE BUSINESS

EDITORIAL STAFF

Gary R. Stockbridge Chairman Michael J. Quaranta President Denée Crumrine

Editor Christina

Jones Graphic Design

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CHAIR

Gary R. Stockbridge

Delmarva Power

VICE CHAIR

Katie Wilkinson

Fulton Bank, N.A.

TREASURER

Barry Crozier

Michael J. Quaranta

With the adjournment of the 149th General Assembly on June 30, we now adjust our focus to key issues and agenda setting in advance of the next two-year meeting of the Assembly. This will include both legislative and regulatory policy issues from a broad spectrum of topics including tax, employee benefits and training, infrastructure improvements and more. We need your input as we piece together policy issues we want to advance through the Carney Administration or General Assembly. While most of government relations and lobbying is defensive in nature, we need to be for something and not always in a defensive posture.

Our membership has the benefit of being innovative, creative, broad and diverse. We need use these assets to help elected officials shape policies that will enhance the future of the Delaware business landscape in ways that grow our current businesses and attract new entrants. Regulatory policy and approvals must move swiftly and not drag on for months or years. We will never stand for anything that puts public health or safety at risk, but it cannot and should not take months or longer to make decisions that can be made in a matter of days or weeks. Our advantage is our size and we need to reclaim the time when decisions, good decision included, were made in short order. We have work to do, but collectively as a unified front. To that end, please make sure you are connected with us in some way to stay up-to-date on the issues we are tracking for you, our members.

Martha S. Gilman Gilman Development Company

Michael Houghton Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell, LLP

Nicholas P. Lambrow M&T Bank

Scott Malfitano CSC - Corporation Service Company

BOARD OF GOVERNORS

Tony Allen, Ph.D.

Delaware State University

Steve Baccino

Delmarva Power

Christopher W. Baker, P.E.

George & Lynch, Inc.

Greg Ballance

Diamond Technologies, Inc.

Michael B. Berardi

Wohlsen Construction Company

Robert A. Book II

Delaware Electric Cooperative

Pete Booker

The Smart Drive Foundation

Jennifer Gimler Brady

Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP

Mark T. Brainard

Delaware Technical Community College

Kevin Broadhurst

Comcast

Robert L. Byrd

The Byrd Group

Bruce H. Colbourn

PNC Bank

Stuart Comstock-Gay

Delaware Community Foundation

Timothy J. Constantine

United Concordia

Pam Cornforth

Ronald McDonald House of Delaware

Charlie Copeland Associates International, Inc.

Rick Deadwyler

DuPont

Ernest Dianastasis

The Precisionists, Inc.

Brian DiSabatino

EDiS Company

Denis Dunn

AT&T Delaware

Jerry Esposito

Tidewater Utilities, Inc.

G. Kevin Fasic, Esquire

Offit Kurman

Jeffrey M. Fried, FACHE

Beebe Healthcare

Donald T. Fulton

Weiner Benefits Group

Jeffrey Garland University of Delaware

STAFF

Michael J. Quaranta

President

Cheryl Corn

Chief Operating Officer

Denée Crumrine

Communications Manager

James DeChene

Sr. Vice President Government Affairs

Bonnie Metz

Verizon, Delaware

Mac Nagaswami

Carvertise

Janice E. Nevin, M.D., MPH

Christiana Care

Health System

Robert (Rob) Rider, Jr.

O.A. Newton

Jason D. Gonzalez

DuPont

Glen Gray

CAI

Dr. LaVerne T. Harmon

Wilmington University

Pete Hayward

University of Delaware, Retired

John E. (Jack) Healy III

Healy Long & Jevin, Inc.

Vera Holmes

Ashland, Inc.

Tom Horne

JPMorgan Chase

Bryan B. Horsey

Bloom Energy Corporation

Timothy J. Houseal

Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor,

LLP

Christopher L. Kenny

ShopRites of Delaware

Lisa Kirkwood

TD Bank

Richard LaPenta

Insurance & Financial Services Ltd.

Stephan Lehm

VanDemark & Lynch, Inc

Rodger Levenson

WSFS Bank

Alan Levin

SoDel Concepts

Renee Lewandowski

Agilent Technologies

Lisa Lindsey

Delaware City Refining Company

Andy Lubin

Delaware Financial Group

William Manning

Saul Ewing LLP

Guy Marcozzi

Duffield Associates, Inc.

Nick Marsini

PNC Bank, Delaware -- Retired

Paul McConnell

McConnell Development, Inc.

Chad Moore

Beacon Hospitality

Nicholas A. Moriello, R.H.U.

Highmark BCBS

Terry Murphy

Bayhealth Medical Center

Chris O’Neill

PSCI

Mark A. DiMaio

Director Grassroots and Research

Linda D. Walsh

Accounting Associate

Ken Evans

Account Executive

William H. Hastings, Jr.

Controller

Chuck James

Sr. Vice President Membership

Salvatore J. “Chip” Rossi Bank of America

Dennis M. Salter Summit Realty Advisors, Inc.

Mark A. Turner

WSFS Bank

Chris Perdue

Perdue Farms

Robert W. Perkins

Brandywine Public Strategies

Roy Proujansky, M.D.

Nemours Children’s Health System

Ted Prushinski

Citizens Bank, NA

Michael Ratchford

W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.

Bettina Tweardy Riveros

Christiana Care Health System

Rhett Ruggerio

Ruggerio Willson & Associates, LLC

Greg Sawka

Bancroft Construction Company

Fred C. Sears II

Delaware Community Foundation, Retired

Jeffrey Sills

Capital One

Greg Smith

The Chemours Company

William Smith

Environmental Alliance, Inc.

W. Laird Stabler III, Esq.

Laird Stabler & Associates, LLC

Mark Stellini

Assurance Media

Grace Stockley

FideliTrade Incorporated

Dian C. Taylor

Artesian Water

James A. Tevebaugh

Tevebaugh Associates

Michael S. Uffner

AutoTeam Delaware

Richelle Vible

Catholic Charities, Inc.

Michael D. Waite

WJBR FM 99.5

Clinton Walker

Barclaycard, US

Robert W. Whetzel

Richards, Layton & Finger

Stu Widom

Calpine Corporation

Thomas C. (Tom) Wiedemann

AAA Mid-Atlantic

Stephanie Wiswall

AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP

Fred Miller Advertising/Retention

Bill Osborne Interim President, DPPI

Matt Volk

Digital Advertising Sales

Kelly Wetzel

Assistant to the President, Events Manager

Retirements Could Mean Plenty of Retread Legislation

BY JAMES DECHENE

AS THE 2018 CAMPAIGN SEASON continues to heat up, with the larger number of open seats due to retirements (upwards of 20% of the total seats in the General Assembly), there could be big changes coming into, and out of, Dover. It’s worth reviewing legislation in previous General Assembly sessions that either passed one chamber, or was held up in committee. With a greater percentage of progressive members, this legislation could be brought back and have a better chance of passage.

Minimum Wage

An increase to Delaware’s minimum wage was passed in the wee hours of the last night of the 149th General Assembly. An increase of $0.50 an hour will start January 1, 2019, and another $0.50 will happen on October 1, 2019. Supporters of the increase maintain that $9.25 will still be too low for Delaware workers, and point to surrounding states with higher minimum wages. The concern for businesses should be for both those who pay at or near the minimum wage, and for those that pay a few dollars over. An upward pressure to pay employees more as the minimum wage continues to climb will be felt across the board.

Paid Family Leave

Legislation providing 12 weeks of paid family leave upon the birth or adoption of a child for state employees passed last year. Supporters of the legislation pointed to examples of leave policies at some of Delaware’s larger employers while making the argument of parity for state workers. The concern is for future legislation that would require all employers to provide paid leave, regardless of size of company.

Predictive Scheduling

Legislation that would mandate employers provide employees with a set schedule two weeks in advance would have negative impacts on Delaware employers, particularly those in the food service, hospitality and retail industries. Imposing penalties on employers forced to deviate from the schedule due to slow or busy seasons, employees who miss a shift without

providing ample notice, or for any other business reason, would place an undue hardship on industries that already are under strain in Delaware. Given that tourism is Delaware’s second highest revenue generator, care must be taken when considering legislation impacting these industries.

Increase in Renewal Energy Requirements

Efforts to increase Delaware’s renewable portfolio standard, specifically with increases in wind and solar generation, have been considered for a number of years. Issues related to the high cost of renewables, accessibility to Delaware, and reliability, have been the major barriers to mandated increases. While the costs continue to decline, they are still higher than traditional forms of energy, and could have a negative impact on companies considering moving to, or expanding in, Delaware. Add in the potential costs of the Artificial Island project to rate payers, and the increase in utility rates could knock us out of regional competitiveness.

These are by no means the breadth of legislation that could be considered. In recent years we have seen bills impacting the insurance industry, hospitals, and telecommunications, and proposed changes to labor and employment law. Not to mention changes to Delaware’s tax and business incorporation structures, all of which has an impact on Delaware business. When candidates are out knocking doors at your business or at home, ask them where they stand on these issues, and others, important to your business and to Delaware.

Bringing Delaware business leaders and educators together...

2018 DELAWARE

DAY FOR A

October 22-26, 2018

The Delaware Principal for a Day program began in 1993. Since 2004, it has facilitated more than 1,600 school visits, joining principals with local business leaders to build grassroots partnerships that are key to developing the workforce of tomorrow.

More than 130 schools participated statewide in 2017. Sign up today and meet YOUR future workforce!

To register for Delaware Principal for a Day, please contact Kelly Wetzel at kwetzel@dscc.com or (302) 576-6564.

Jerry Esposito of Tidewater Utilities at Mariner Middle School in Milton Mark Brainard of Delaware Technical Community College at Woodbridge Middle School in Bridgeville Roxane Ferguson of Middletown Area Chamber of Commerce at St. Georges Technical High School in Middletown

news&Notes

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT Delaware Safety Council: Nearly a Century of Protection

If you’ve been in Delaware or the Mid-Atlantic region for any of the last 99 years, you’ve likely benefited from measures taken by the Delaware Safety Council. If you have ever taken a public defensive driving course, participated in an antismoking campaign, or received a health certification through a public institution, then you have probably been impacted by this private nonprofit.

The Delaware Safety Council has continually been assertive in education the Mid-Atlantic community in safety practices for nearly a century. To this day, we still use the driver education course, which the Delaware Safety Council introduced to public schools in 1935. Advocacy defined the 1980’s for the Delaware Safety Council as they spent a great deal of time supporting seatbelt legislation. Outreach into different sectors of life really began in 1995 with the introduction of boating safety classes. In 2015, they debuted their wellknown and now annual, anti-smoking campaign, “Smoke and Mirrors.”

“The Delaware Safety Council was founded by pioneers in safety in Delaware; and what makes the Delaware safety council unique as a not-forprofit, is that we have continued for nearly a century, our original mission by providing life safety education and training to Delaware citizens including

BY VIVIANA MARSHALL

topics our founders never would have considered,” said John Fannin IV, executive director of the Delaware Safety Council. “Our goal is to ever adapt and educate our fellow citizens with the intent of saving lives.”

to benefit the safety of both employees and society as a whole.

It is through these invaluable connections with like-minded organizations that the Delaware Safety Council continues to be of great influence today. As the Delaware Safety Council serves more than 350 local businesses and offers over 700 courses for training, the clients served remain diverse. Often, the Delaware Safety Council visits its member organizations to help better inform and educate employers and employees on issues regarding safety which affect both the individual and those surrounding. Their driving courses alone reach an average of 20,000 people each year!

Irenee du Pont founded the Delaware Safety Council in 1919 to better develop safe practices concerning industrial employment. Not long after its establishment, it began to involve itself in training and policy-making within public institutions. Historically, the Delaware Safety Council has strategically partnered with various agencies, including the Delaware State Department of Public Instruction, the Delaware State Highway Department, the Delaware State Police, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Each of these partnerships has led to successful administration of programs designed

Promoting safety-awareness is the foundation that has inspired the creation of many programs and policies to help assure well-being on the highway, and in the workplace, home, and community. Active involvement in the community has been definitional to the Council for these past 99 years. If you’re hosting a safety training or awareness event, the Delaware Safety Council is a dedicated, effective resource that sincerely wants to help. To partner with or find out more about the benefits of this Delaware gem, call (302) 276-0660, Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. or visit their website at delawaresafety.org.

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT: Tech Impact

Nonprofits have found a helping hand when it comes to technology maintenance, support, and large-scale projects. With locations in Delaware, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and Las Vegas, Tech Impact maintains a staff of dedicated problem solvers who consistently deliver the best new solutions to help communities and nonprofits to better serve our world.

Tech Impact was started in 2003 with the help of Microsoft. Since then, they have worked with hundreds of nonprofit organizations all around the world.

As a nonprofit itself, Tech Impact focuses on improving the efficiency and growth of operations by addressing nearly all IT concerns.

Clients who have worked with Tech Impact have had nothing but the best to say regarding their experience. “With the help of Tech Impact, we have developed the tools our staff needs to work effectively and securely in the field, giving us more reach throughout the region,” said the assistant Director of MIS at the Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative. “We are able to support our remote and mobile workers via the Tech Impact Help Desk, a truly invaluable service.”

Tech Impact’s experts give nonprofits the answer to nearly any technology rooted challenge by providing strategic technology planning and support

BY WYATT ALEXANDER

services. Supported by numerous corporations such as JPMorgan Chase, Capital One, Deloitte, Microsoft, and SAP America, it is clear that Tech Impact is a true leader in the field.

What many people don’t know is that Tech Impact has been improving communities in another way. Through three of their education programs, they offer prospective young adults to start careers in IT, customer service, and

fields within six months of graduating.

Tech Impact’s ITWorks program offers free, immersive job training to young motivated adults. It provides trainees with award winning 16-week training, that gives them the certifications and experience they need to compete for entry level IT positions. By strengthening young people, ITWorks helps to strengthen communities.

For those interested in coding careers, Tech Impact provides its progressive PunchCode program.

coding, completely free of charge.

“Tech Impact has been steadily growing both our capacity building technology services to nonprofits, in the form of security and data analytics consulting for nonprofits, and our workforce development programs for youth,” said Executive Director Patrick Callihan. “We are proud to announce that this spring we graduated our 500th student through our training program.” What is perhaps even more impressive is the fact that 65% of these graduates secure employment in their respective

PunchCode is a state of the art coding boot camp where students are taught how to be software developers and find work with their new skill. Tech Impact wants to help as many people as possible learn to code. The company is currently launching official partnerships with lenders who work specifically with code schools to help those interested attend their program.

Tech Impact’s employees are regarded by all as mission-driven, technology experts who are committed to transforming the world through technology. The staff consistently works as a team. With a strong sense of pride and commitment to excellence, Tech Impact’s innovators deliver new solutions and solve problems for all their clients.

To find out more about Tech Impact, Linda Widdop, Director of Client Solutions and Education at linda@ techimpact.org.

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: Final Focus

BY THOMAS KING

Located near the heart of Wilmington, Final Focus has been a consistent destination for high quality photographs for over 25 years. Final Focus offers affordable business headshots, event photography, portraiture, and holiday cards, coupled with a personal experience tailored to the customer. A spacious studio with comfortable furnishings provides a welcoming atmosphere able to accommodate groups of all sizes. But what makes Final Focus a standout business is the team behind the camera.

Pam and Dick Dubroff are a husband and wife duo with decades of experience and though both are talented, they are best when they work together. Dick is the photographer, and a long career along with a creative eye, set his results far forward from his contemporaries. Pam handles the make-up, editing and retouching, while her artistic inclination makes her a valuable second opinion and set of eyes. The flow of ideas between the two provides a breadth of options, and the technical skill makes sure that the vision goes from an idea to a precise result.

Everyone in the business realm recognizes the importance of a good photo, but with the widespread availability of advanced, high resolution digital cameras on modern smartphones, it’s not uncommon to lose appreciation for what can come from a sitting at a talented photography studio. Although Final Focus is a digital studio, the Dubroffs haven’t lost sight of their roots in film photography and the traditional, beautiful photos that film produced. Digital photography allows

Final Focus to show the subjects their photos as soon as they’ve been captured. This encourages the subject to have their own input in the process and helps them achieve the vision they have in mind. On top of this, digital photography allows for easy mass storage of data, but the benefits don’t end there. Tasteful retouching in post-production ensures all photos meet Final Focus’ perfectionist standards.

Along with being able to consistently achieve visually pleasing, creative photographs, Final Focus strives to capture something special about the subject and for each photo to be unique. From the moment you walk in, you are a friend of the Dubroffs and they will be completely dedicated to getting the perfect photo

for you. They place no limit on the length of the photoshoots and have a genuine passion - they enjoy photography and have had a connection with the medium from the start. However, the Dubroffs’ beginnings were humbler than their modern, well-appointed studio of today. Initially Dick had picked up photography as a hobby, but he soon discovered he had a knack for it, and that Pam was the ideal partner. It wasn’t long before they had developed a steady customer base. While the Dubroff studio was doing well, things only got better when Dick was inspired by the name of a sailboat he had seen –the Final Focus. At that point, they had a dream, a name, and the talent to back it up. The result? Picture perfect.

Q&A with Martha Gilman and Brett Gilman Smith

BY KELLY WETZEL

The Delaware State Chamber had a chance to sit down with Martha Gilman and her son, Brett Gilman Smith, to chat about the Superstars in Business awards program. While the event celebrates small businesses, this is a very big year – the 20th to be exact. This November marks the 20th annual awards luncheon. This significant anniversary got us thinking about the beginning…

In 1995, State Chamber president, John Burris, took a step back and looked at the makeup of the Chamber’s membership. Recognizing that the vast majority of members were small businesses, John reached out to Mike Uffner and Bill

Topkis to assess the needs of this group further and make suggestions on how the Chamber could better represent them. The result was the creation of the Small Business Alliance and a recommendation to create a new signature event. Three years later, the curtains were raised on Superstars in Business.

MG: I wasn’t involved with the planning of the program initially. The founders were really John, Mike and Bill. They were the ones who created this program and named it after my father. He passed away in April of 1998, and the first awards luncheon was held that November. I am told that it was decided this was the best

way to honor his legacy.

Marvin S. Gilman, who served as head of Gilman Development Company, earned the reputation of a model small business owner and leader in the community for more than 30 years. He worked diligently to improve the world around him, both locally and nationally. In 1995, he and his wife, Muriel, were honored with the State Chamber’s highest award, the Josiah Marvel Cup. MG: My parents adopted Delaware, but Delaware also adopted them. They didn’t just seek out ways to make their community better, it was in their nature to make a difference.

In 1983, Martha went into business with her father, creating Gilman Development Company. Shortly thereafter, Peter joined his sister and father, and together they worked to improve the world around them through their love of housing. Peter retired in 2010, and in 2017, Martha’s son, Brett, approached her about joining the family business.

BS: I feel like it was destiny for me to end up working for the company. Not only am I carrying on my grandfather’s name – my middle name is Gilman –but now I get to carry on his work. As a child, I remember my grandpa and I sharing interests, and I’m often told that my thought process today is reminiscent of his. It’s like everything came full circle when I joined the company.

Brett will also be joining the Superstars in Business selection committee this year.

BS: Last year I had the opportunity to be an observer on the committee. It was

great to meet and interact with community leaders, and I found the selection process to be thorough and challenging. This year I am excited to be an active participant and learn about and deliberate so many interesting applicants.

KW: How did we reach 20 years with this program? Why is it important for the Chamber to strive for 20 more years?

MG: The longevity of this program really is an honor. The program has a strong base of people who believe in the Superstars message, and still do after 20 years – it’s evident each year when you attend the awards luncheon. It’s so special because the business community is recognizing the work of other businesses.

BS: It’s important to tell and discover the good stories of businesses going above and beyond daily operations and expectations. I think the up and coming generation will be inspired by their predecessors.

KW: November 7th is right around the corner. What are you looking forward to most at this year’s luncheon?

BS: It is always so special to hear everyone speak highly of my grandparents at this luncheon, but I am especially looking forward to this year’s event now that I am back working in the community as well as becoming more involved with the behind-the-scenes production of Superstars in Business.

MG: One of the things I love most about this program and hold with me each year is the memory of seeing my mother’s pride when she would attend the luncheons. The Hotel du Pont was one of my father’s favorite Delaware landmarks, and so it is very special to our family to hold the awards luncheon in the Gold Ballroom each year. I’m honored to carry on their good work in this way, and even more so to bring my son in as part of their legacy.

Marvin and Muriel Gilman displayed the highest ethical standards, found innovative ways to improve the world around them, and inspired others to follow in their footsteps. This is what Superstars in Business represents and celebrates. Each year, the selection committee strives to determine the best of the best in Delaware’s business community –companies who Marvin would be proud of as well. Join us on November 7th at the Hotel du Pont as we honor the newest class of Superstars.

Plans to Advance Economic Development in Kent County Underway

The first order of business for Linda Parkowski will be developing a strategic blueprint for economic development in Kent County, Delaware. In early July, Mrs. Parkowski took the helm as Executive Director of the Kent Economic Partnership (KEP), a PublicPrivate Partnership between Kent County Levy Court, County municipalities, and a consortium of Kent County business leaders, known as The Greater Kent Committee. With a wealth of experience as Acting Director and State Tourism Director from the Delaware Economic

Development Office, Mrs. Parkowski’s has ablest experience to transition into her new role.

Rockport Analytics, commissioned by The Greater Kent Committee, was retained to review the current economic climate in Kent County and to identify potentials for economic growth. Data resulting from this study will be used to advance the Kent County economic development plan forward. It

is anticipated that the study will be completed by fall, 2018.

Aimed to stimulate economic development in Kent County, The KEP promotes strategic economic growth by attracting new businesses and industries into the area while at the same time, retain existing businesses and providing resources to enable development to advance the overall welfare of the County.

Division of Small Business – July 2018 update

The Delaware Division of Small Business hosted Governor John Carney recently on two walking tours, during which he experienced firsthand the spirit of the state’s small business community.

The governor visited downtown Dover businesses in April and toured businesses in Rehoboth Beach in May. The latter was in conjunction with the start of the summer season for Delaware’s $3.3 billion tourism industry.

The Dover tour was part of the launch of the Unlock the Block initiative, which aims to recruit small business owners to open a location in select vacant commercial properties on or adjacent to Loockerman Street in downtown Dover.

The governor visited some of the properties that are available for lease

through the program. He also stopped into several existing successful businesses including The Loocke boutique, The Moving Experience,

Petite Sweets and House of Coffi.

The Rehoboth Beach tour included visits to a wide range of businesses. The stops included Thrasher’s, Dolle’s, where the governor got to see taffy being made and Grotto Pizza, where he tried his hand at making pizza.

The Delaware Division of Small Business provides small business owners, or those looking to start a business, with the advice and assistance that will help them take their business to the next level.

The Division’s mission is to make Delaware the No. 1 state in the U.S. for small business.

Learn more at www.delbiz.com.

Linda Parkowski

Gov. John Carney visited The Loocke, a sister store to Bel Boutique, during a walking tour of small businesses.

Scholarship to Continue a Commitment to Education

“The State Chamber has worked with Delaware Technical Community College in establishing programs that address the workforce needs of the business community. This is the cooperative partnership that has evolved as the economy and job requirements have changed. Delaware is, and will continue to be, a great place to do business because of Delaware Tech’s leadership and their goal of providing Delaware students with the tools for success.”

— A. Richard Heffron

Former DSCC President Rich Heffron’s words were not simply sentiment. He has been an influential member of the business community in ensuring students get the necessary education to thrive, and that our businesses have a well-qualified pool of talent to fill their positions. Because of this, the State Chamber established the A. Richard Heffron Scholarship Endowment at Delaware Tech to honor Rich upon his retirement in June after 26 year of service.

Scholarship Endowment to Date: $45,265.50

supporter of ours, whether at legislative hall or out in the community, and we can’t thank him enough. The Chamber’s creation of this scholarship is the perfect tribute to Rich’s work over the years to do things now that contribute to the future,” said Dr. Mark Brainard, President of Delaware Technical Community College.

“Rich has been a strong advocate and friend of the college. He’s been a tireless

The State Chamber sincerely thanks the organizations and individuals that contributed to the A. Richard Heffron Scholarship Endowment. We appreciate you joining us in recognizing the work of our friend, Rich.

Delaware: The Small State Big on Innovation

DELAWARE PROSPERITY PARTNERSHIP TOUTS IMPACT OF ANGEL INVESTOR TAX CREDIT

Some of the world’s most transformative scientific innovations got their start in Delaware. Thanks to Governor Carney and the General Assembly, there’s now an added incentive to nurture Delaware’s storied legacy of innovation with the newly signed legislation - The Job Creation and Innovation Act for Small Technology Companies (HB 170) otherwise known as the Angel Investor Tax Credit.

President of award-winning LabWare, Vance Kershner says “angel investor” tax credits like HB 170 are good news for the scientists and the investor. “Tax credits are a win/win to start-ups as well as investors because the investor is not putting all their capital at risk and the start-ups win because they can attract more investors.”

“Access to capital is the blood of a start-up and consequently they will go where it is available. Too often, that has meant Delaware start-ups leave the state because competing states have better programs. Investor tax credits are available in many neighboring states, and it is great that Delaware is now able to compete on this front,” said Kershner.

The angel investor tax credit offers a 25% tax beak to individual backers who invest a minimum of $10,000 in a qualified Delaware company.

Businesses eligible for the incentive must have fewer than 25 employees and engage in innovation as their primary business activity. The angel investor tax credit incentive canvases a broad range of start-ups including but not limited to renewable energy, food technology, cellulosic ethanol, materials

science technology, nanotechnology, biotechnology, medical device products, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, biologicals, and chemistry.

According to Kurt Foreman, President of Delaware’s lead economic development group, Delaware Prosperity Partnership, angel investor tax incentives play a unique role in Delaware because of its talent pool.

“When you combine Delaware’s new angel investor tax credit with access to an exceptionally experienced and welcoming talent pool from some of Fortune’s most innovative companies as well as some of the nation’s most interesting start-ups, emerging science entrepreneurs have the best of both worlds, as well as the wonderful quality of life Delaware has to offer.”

Just ask research scientist, Sumedh Surwade, Ph.D. He joined Fujifilm in New Castle, Delaware after post-doctoral research at the University of Pittsburgh

and Oak Ridge National Lab. With four patents in review process, Surwade could have started his new company anywhere but he chose Delaware.

He founded SAS Nanotechnologies and is developing a potentially transformative innovation – environmentally friendly, selfhealing, anti-corrosive coatings. It’s not only a green idea, it has implications and applications for everything from aerospace to the marine industry. Industries spend billions annually on repairing or replacing corrosive metallic structures; a planetfriendly, self-healing coating would revolutionize industries that use metal.

The brand name for the planet-friendly coating is Shobha ion. Surwade and his wife named the coating after his mother Shobha which in Indian means Grace and then blended the name with the defining super quality of the coatings “to inhibit corrosion” and came up with Shobhation.

“In my opinion, Delaware is a wonderful place to start a business. It is a welcoming

and friendly state with extremely talented people willing to share and support scientists and engineers starting out on their own. The support and guidance SAS Nanotechnologies received has been essential to our success,” said Surwade.

Shobhation is now being reviewed by industry partners and potential customers for feedback. Based on their insights, it will be further refined inching closer to commercial launch. As a beneficiary of investment capital, Surwade says angel investor tax credits play an important role for science and tech start-ups. “Angel investment is essential in the early days of capital-intensive research. To complete the journey from innovation to bench, to prototype, to commercial scale, is labor and capital intensive. Angel investors make all the difference.”

Mike Patterson, Director, Business Accelerator sees the challenges scientists experience first-hand in his role with the Virtual Incubator Program (VIP), a one-of-kind program that helps science entrepreneurs bridge the gap between research and marketplace with services and mentoring. VIP is a free program open to entrepreneurs and startup companies regardless of geographic location and is offered by the Delaware Innovation Space, an innovation ecosystem designed specifically for science entrepreneurs.

Patterson says, “Increased capital requirements and longer time to market can make the economics less appealing for first money in when compared with other types of ventures. Incentives like the angel investor tax credit helps narrow the gap when considering risk and time adjusted returns.”

Angel investor tax credits benefit everyone and that includes the community because it incentivizes creative entrepreneurs to keep their home-grown ideas right here in Delaware.

Chairman’s Message

With more than half the year behind us, Chamber staff, board members, and committees are hard at work making progress on the priorities our members care about. Our Spring Survey showed that economic development and the quality of our schools remain at the top of the list. I believe these two issues are inseparable. Schools are the foundation for developing the next generation of employees, entrepreneurs, and leaders who will drive economic activity. We continue to focus our efforts on advancing policies and initiatives that will address these concerns.

Delaware Pathways is as an important part of the solution to these issues and we continue to support the program’s growth. Our support provides students with the skills and experience they need to establish successful careers in critical sectors, while giving local businesses new employees who are ready for the job on day one. Delaware Pathways now boasts programs in Manufacturing Production & Logistics and Manufacturing Engineering Technology, as well as a growing list of other in-demand sectors.

We also continue to focus our resources and efforts in Dover. Each year, the legislature considers policies that directly impact economic development and education in the state. Coming out of session this year, I was pleased to see funding for early learning strengthened, an area that continues to offer the best return for every dollar invested. Some inroads were also made to increase transparency on spending in our schools, which will hope-

BY GARY STOCKBRIDGE

fully lead to a better funding mechanism for the State. As we move into 2019, I am optimistic that we can also develop a consistent and timely method to address poor performing schools, so our students do not suffer year after year with the same poor outcomes.

This recent activity underscores the need for us to be engaged and participate effectively in the political process, which requires all of us to know what is going on in the state. When we know what is going on, we can be vocal about what matters to us. To help you keep your finger on the pulse of Dover, we share important updates on legislative issues through our website, email list, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube channel. Not only do we have more impact when all our members are engaged, but also when we work together with other chambers and business organizations across the state. You will continue to see us increasingly collaborate with those partners to make our voice heard. To that end, our new leader, Mike Quaranta, will be embarking on developing a common business agenda to align the business community going into 2019.

Our Spring Survey also showed that member satisfaction is strong, at 86 percent. While most members are satisfied, we are always striving to make sure we are serving the needs of every single member. Whether it’s education, economic development, or a new opportunity, we are here to serve our members and work with you to carry our momentum into the second half of the year and into 2019.

Gary Stockbridge

WELCOME New Members

AMERICANORE INDUSTRIAL CORP.

www.americanore.biz

(302) 479-7764

3524 Silverside Road

35B The Commons

Wilmington, DE 19810

Industrial minerals and natural stones distribution, and sales and trading.

CONDUCERENT

www.conducerent.com

(302) 543-8552

P.O. 237

Rockland, DE 19732

Conducerent is a Staffing, Recruiting and Consulting Firm which is certified by the WBENC and State of Delaware as both women owned and a small business. We are committed to our clients continued prosperity through talent acquisition. Our focus is to ensure that any staffing solution is right for your company and culture.

DBCC GREAT STUFF SAVVY RESALE

www.greatstuffresale.com

(302) 478-7890

3619A Silverside Road

Wilmington, DE 19810

Great Stuff Savvy Resale is the place to purchase almost new and gently worn fashions from designers like St. John and popular brand names like Chico’s at great low prices. All items have been generously donated by community members and all proceeds benefit the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition.

ESS

source4teachers.com

(856) 482-0300

800 N. Kings Highway Suite 405

Cherry Hill, NJ 08034

ESS has grown into the premier full service provider of comprehensive educational management programs for PreK-12 school districts. For over 18 years, we have been partnering with school districts to relieve them of their many administrative burdens, improve their day to day operations, and place high quality substitute personnel, while providing significant cost avoidance and value-added benefits to each district we serve.

MAIN SOCIAL MEDIA

mainsocialmedia.com

(302) 266-2376

1201 N. Orange Street Suite 811

Wilmington, DE 19801

Marketing and consulting firm.

TEMPORAL, LLC

(302) 220-1039

5422 Valley Green Drive

Apartment C3

Wilmington, DE 19808

TRANS PLUS, INC

www.transplusdelaware.com

(302) 323-3051

423 W 7th Street

New Castle, DE 19720

Full Service Auto and Diesel Repair Facility servicing Delaware since 1998.

BELCHIM CROP PROTECTION USA, LLC

www.belchim.com

(855) 445-7990

2751 Centerville Road Suite 100

Wilmington, DE 19808

Belchim Crop Protection carries a broad range of state-of-the-art crop protection products, but also products for home and garden and amenity use.

ILC DOVER, INC.

www.ilcdover.com

(302) 335 3911

One Moonwalker Road

Frederica, DE 19946

Inventors at our core, we develop engineered solutions for our customers’ complex problems. Recognized globally for our flexible containment solutions, ILC Dover serves a diverse range of customers, including pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical manufacturing, personal care, food and beverage, chemical, aerospace, healthcare, and government agencies.

JETER & JOHNSON, LLC

jetercpa.com

(302) 510-4642

812 Philadelphia Pike

Suite C

Wilmington, DE 19809

Full service CPA firm that specializes in CFO services to assist clients in growing their business. We also help client with tax strategies to reduce their tax burdens.

KUNST, LLC

kunstllc.com

(855) 340-3473

1201 N. Orange Street Suite 7080

Wilmington, DE 19801

Kunst Creative Bureau (KCB) was established in 1997 in Athens, Greece by Antonios Koumoundouros, focusing to unique and innovative ways to serve customers in the advertising and promotions arenas. Flexible proposals, creative designs and deep knowledge of communication distinguished each project.

MS. ASCHTEN.C.WATERS

(302) 353-6153

844 Lissicasey Loop

Middletown, DE 19709

NEWMARK KNIGHT FRANK ORGANIZATION

www.ngkf.com

(302) 655-0600

800 Delaware Avenue Suite 802

Wilmington, DE 19801

Commercial Real Estate

PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS, INC.

www.Pathways 2 Success.org

(302) 858-4861

31 The Circle

Suites A & B

Georgetown, DE 19947

Nonprofit providing mentoring, tutoring, and character education programs for at risk youth and their families.

PHRMA PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH & MANUFACTURERS OF AMERICA

www.phrma.org

(202) 429-4390

950 F Street NW, #300

Washington, DC 20004

*New members as of July 31, 2018.

DSCC welcomed the previous quarter’s newest members at a Meet the New Members breakfast in July.

YMI I #

...popular Chamber topics on social media

You could be on the cover of Delaware Business magazine! Apply for the 2018 Superstars in Business Awards today and be one step closer to your close-up: bit.ly/2KBEHRV #netde #debiz

Time is running out! Deadline to apply for the 2018 Superstars in Business Awards is this Thursday, August 16 at noon! Today’s #TestimonialTuesday is from @EDiSCompany, three-time winner. Click bit.ly/2KBEHRV #netde #debiz #superstarsinbiz

We’re hosting a Superstars in Business application workshop!

*Facebook Live Video*

Eat, drink, and be merry! The July/August issue of Delaware Business magazine is out, featuring our annual #Restaurant, Meeting & Banquet Guide, with an introduction to Southern Delaware Tourism’s Culinary Coast! Read it now: bit.ly/2DHHG6F #netde #debiz

DSCC President and Bob Perkins of the Delaware Business Roundtable co-authored an op-ed on the budget smoothing process. Click here to learn more: bit.ly/2I73Lxy

#budgetsmoothing #positivepolicy #bipartisan @DelawareBRT

Know a veteran-friendly business? Nominate them NOW for our Warrior Friendly Awards! Download the form here: www.dscc.com/jmac.html #veterans #military #netde

DSCC Sr. VP of Government Affairs James DeChene shares a brief recap of the end of this year’s #legislative session: bit.ly/2KGob2v #advocacy

Debuting the new Chamber Action Network with James DeChene! Short and sweet video updates from our Sr. VP of Government Affairs on #legislative issues. Check it out: http://bit.ly/2Ibjn3h

Our friend @DrMarkBrainard on #Leadership#onethingseries: Making Better Connections w/ President Mark Brainard... theschoolhouse302. com/2018/07/08/onethingseries-making-better-connections-w-president-mark-brainard-drmarkbrainard/ … via @josephjonessr

DSCC President Mike Quaranta shares #advocacy and engagement plans on @ComcastNewsmkrs during his initial transition into the role: bit.ly/2NKA6NZ #leadership

#netde

Former DSCC President Rich Heffron speaks about his retirement after more than 26 years at DSCC on Comcast Newsmakers: bit.ly/2Oi2et9 #leadership

#ARichLegacy #netde #advocacy

THREE SECRETS TO A Happier Family

EVERYBODY HATES CHANGE. While change is inevitable, no one likes it. We would much rather not change or have someone else change – such as our spouses, kids, or bosses. It is only when we see the benefit to change that we are motivated to do so.

Secret No. 1: Realizing that change is a process. Believe it or not, people change the same way -- at least that is what research has found -- and the Transtheoretical Model of Change actually describes it. The first stage of change – Precontemplation -- is thinking that we don’t need to change. When we recognize that we might have a problem, but we’re not quite ready to do anything, that’s Contemplation. Then we plan to make the change. Think about if you have ever decided to lose weight. We prepare: We get rid of junk food, get new work out clothes, buy a Fitbit, etc. That is the Preparation stage. Finally, when we are ready, we take Action.

The Stages of Change make intuitive sense, but how they can be most helpful is when we are trying to help people change. Change often goes awry is when we try to get people to do something when they are not

ready. You will know that someone is not in the Action stage when you say, “You could do X,” and the person responds by saying, “Yeah I could do X, but I (insert all the reasons the person is not ready here.)”

Secret No. 2: Reality - expectations = happiness. Tim Urban, on his “WaitbutWhy.com web site, has used simple math to explain happiness. His contention is that Happiness is equal to Reality minus Expectations.

Basically, when reality is better than we expect we are happy and when reality is worse than we expect we are unhappy. So both our thoughts (expectations) and what we experience (reality) influence how we feel about our lives. For a long time I’ve wanted a book called, “Striving for Mediocrity: Secrets to a Happier Life.” It would include chapters on Mediocre Parenting, Mediocre Housekeeping, even, Mediocre Sex.

Hear me out: I understand that we live in a culture in which we want to be the best, and that wanting to simply be “good enough” clashes with that. But being good enough is sufficient most of the time! For example, I had almost no knowledge of soccer, but I knew enough to coach my

8-year-old son’s team. I had fun hanging out with my son, and he and his friends had a blast playing blob-soccer – they all just ran after the ball!

We often put pressure on ourselves, our kids, and our partners to be the best, when sometimes all that is necessary is being mediocre. When get more than that, it’s wonderful, and even more special because it’s unexpected. Now that’s happiness!

Secret No. 3: Kids need a boss. Most of my clinical work is with families who are struggling after a divorce or separation. Generally there is a significant amount of disagreement and conflict. Often, one parent suggests that the children should live with them because that’s they are the parent the child prefers to live with. “Shouldn’t we respect the wishes of the child?” the parent asks. My response is an emphatic and categorical “NO!”

There is a reason we don’t let people under the age of 18 make decisions for themselves: They are not very good at it. I ask the parents, had they stayed together, whether they would let their 11-year-old daughter live with her best friend’s family simply because she wanted to. The answer would always be “No,” so why would we allow her to make that decision just because her parents decided they couldn’t make it work and will be living separately?

Children need guidance — and sometimes they need more than that. I believe as parents it is our responsibility to provide the direction and do the best we can to not let children make huge mistakes that have long-term consequences. This is not to say we shouldn’t give children opportunities to make choices and live with the consequences. We should. That is how they

learn to handle more serious situations in the future. As children, however, they need a boss.

William F. Northey, Jr., PhD, LMFT, is the director of clinical innovation at Connections Community Support Programs, Inc. Among other functions, he oversees the Connections Center for Children and Families.

True Performers know preventive care is better care.

As part of our True Performance program, we’re helping Dr. Christine Florendo keep her patients healthy — and rewarding her for it. By using our data, she and her staff are able to identify patients who need specific vaccines. It also allows them to take a more proactive role in scheduling routine follow-ups. Because of doctors like Christine, to date, this program has saved $260 million in emergency room visits and hospital stays.* There’s value in that.

Download the True Performance ebook at HighmarkTruePerformers.com

True Performance results:

11% fewer emergency room visits

16% fewer hospital admissions

$260 million in cost avoided

Christine Florendo, MD Kids Care Pediatrics True Performer

*Based on reduction in hospital costs for patients with True Performance doctors compared to those without from January 2017 to December 2017. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

Problem Gambling

“The Hidden Addiction” Is Not So Hidden Anymore

BY ARLENE M. SIMON

THE DELAWARE COUNCIL on Gambling Problems is the only public health agency in the state of Delaware whose sole mission is to facilitate the development of a network of services for compulsive gamblers and their families, and to raise awareness about problem gambling. Like other addictions, such as alcohol and drugs, disordered gambling can be successfully treated.

It is important to note that the staff and counselors representing the DCGP make no moral judgements about gambling, but are committed to helping those who do it to detrimental excess. “We take no position as to the existence of gambling; we are gambling neutral,” says Arlene M. Simon, the Executive Director of DCGP. Most people safely gamble, or drink alcohol, in a social setting without severe consequences. However, for the addict, there is always a tumultuous outcome.

An addiction is a brain disorder where an individual seeks rewarding stimuli – things that make them feel good – without regard to the consequences. The powerfully good feeling that results can lead to continuous use of an addictive substance, or continuous engagement of the addictive behavior, which essentially desensitizes the brain to dopamine. This results in the substance addict having to increase the amount of the substance used to achieve the desired “high.” And the addicted gambler gambles with increased amounts of money to achieve the desired “excitement.” Both substance addicts and gambling addicts are marked by unsuccessful efforts to cut back or stop the addiction. A substance addict’s focus is on controlling the substance. A gambling addict’s focus is on controlling the behavior. Problem gamblers show few physical signs of their problem and therefore it is often referred to as a “hidden addiction.”

Statistics show there are more than 2 million people in this country who meet the criteria for being a disordered gambler and 4 to 6 million who are considered problem gamblers. In Delaware this translates to more than 15,000 individuals. With the advent and legalization of online gambling, fantasy sports and now sports betting, the numbers

are steadily growing. Easy access and availability have resulted in a major rise in problem gambling, including among youth and young adults. An important fact to keep in mind is that when problem gamblers finally seek help or treatment, most have already committed embezzlement or other types of fraud to finance their habit, and many have attempted or seriously thought of suicide.

Our government has just added fuel to the fire of this already serious problem. In May, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states could legally offer sports betting. For the experts and the organizations already concerned about the pervasiveness of problem gambling, it promises a whole new list of worries.

“We think this is the biggest expansion of gambling in our nation’s history, in one fell swoop,” says Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling. “Absolutely, there will be more risk factors for addiction – we’ve never had that much high-speed, high stakes, interactive access to any sort of betting.”

These expanded forms of sports betting intensify the allure that fantasy sports leagues already have for vast numbers of people, especially young men. You watch obsessively and ignore your family, instead of making sports an enjoyable activity for the whole family.

The National Council on Problem Gambling believes the expansion of legalized sports gambling in the United States will likely increase gambling participation and problems unless important steps are taken to minimize the harm. Sports betting should not be allowed in a state where no funds are dedicated to preventing and treating gambling problems. Sports betting and other gambling venues must implement responsible gaming programs which include good employee training, self-exclusion and the ability to set limits on the time and money spent betting.

As with other forms of gambling, there will be a significant portion of people who have no negative consequences as a result of sports betting. But for those people who will experience harmful effects from gambling, it is important that our government helps both betting venues and their customers by requiring reasonable regulations that will protect individuals from these insidious addiction issues.

PROJECTEDOPENING 2020

Nemours duPont Pediatrics and Nemours SeniorCare, Sussex Campus

Nemours duPont Pediatrics and Nemours SeniorCare will be moving from Milford to the state-of-the-art Bayhealth Sussex Campus. Nemours duPont Pediatrics, Sussex Campus will provide health care services staffed by the pediatric experts from Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children. Nemours SeniorCare, Sussex Campus will provide dental and vision services, as well as hearing screening, for eligible Delaware residents. Nemours will occupy 35,000 square feet on the first floor of the brand new medical office building.

Nemours services at this new location will include:

Specialty Care: Allergy, audiology, behavioral health, cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, general surgery, neurology, orthopedics, otolaryngology (ENT), pulmonology, urology and weight management

Therapy Services: Physical, occupational and speech therapy

Diagnostic Services: EKG, ECHO, EEG, spirometry, X-ray, ultrasound and MRI without sedation

Primary Pediatric Care: Routine, well and sick child care, immunizations, care for all stages – birth through adolescence

SeniorCare: Dental and vision services and hearing screening for eligible Delaware residents

Community Meeting Room

Just Keep Swimming

BY MICHAEL RAMONE

IN 1992, one of our businesses, the Wilmington Florist Exchange, on 3rd and Church St, burned to the ground in a fire started by a lightning strike. We lost everything. At the time our other business, Ramone’s Flower Shoppes was still a young business, not able to fully support a family of 5 on its own, so I went to work for Bob Carpenter at the Pike Creek Fitness Center, in search of an additional paycheck.

While fighting through the trials of losing a business to fire, I managed the Pike Creek Fitness Aquatics program, coached their small swim team, and built the Delaware Swim Team. It was during that transition year that I knew I needed to continue coaching and working with families and children in USS swimming.

I’ve always said everything happens for a reason.

By late 1993, an opportunity was presented to me to purchase the swim and fitness facility in New Castle formerly known as the Wilmington

Aquatic Club. For years I had been an independent businessman operating multiple businesses in Delaware. Additionally, throughout my life I had been involved in competitive swimming in many different capacities. Since the early 80s I was a swimmer, a teacher of swimming, and a coach of multiple programs; YMCA, AAU/USS, various High Schools and even local Summer League throughout the state. I had grown to highly respect the value of the sport of competitive swimming and loved being a positive part of young people’s lives. Mentoring children - and then young families was a passion. I personally had experienced the benefits of a very fine mentor and wanted to pay that forward. My wife Lisa and I also had 3 young children who had become excellent swimmers. As parents, we could clearly see the many benefits afforded to those individuals and families who chose swimming as part of their lives; healthy minds, disciplined routines, healthy bodies and lots of family togetherness with other likeminded families. The

values of those in this environment were very similar, and the kids generally became super people. It was really all about the kids.

Thus by 1993 emerged The Delaware Swim and Fitness Centers (of New Castle), The Delaware Swim Team and the Delaware Swim School. Needing more pool space for the thriving Delaware Swim Team and Swim School, by 2006 we had also purchased the Pike Creek Fitness Center from Bob Carpenter. This facility became The Delaware Swim and Fitness Center, Pike Creek.

Although not a big money-making business, we always prided ourselves on the good work we did with families and the lifelong benefits the swimming lifestyle provides. The Delaware Swim and Fitness Center facilities lend themselves to organizations such as the Boy Scouts for special events and water training, the Special Olympics for teaching, competition and recreation, our local Fire companies for training, Make-a-Splash outreach for inner city youth, just to name a few. These are special benefits to the community that we can graciously provide. It feels good to be able to contribute in this way.

“Triathlons are my outlet to achieving a healthy mind. With a demanding and stressful job, I know having a positive attitude will lead to my increased success.

I’m entering my eight season of competing, with 20 triathlons under my belt. I genuinely love swimming, biking and running. Dedicating myself to training helps me start each day centered and ready to take on any challenge. Every day is truly a new adventure when training.”

— Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst

Guide to Health & Wellness

Competitive swimming not only provides confidence through the training and winning races but improves the person by experiencing loses. The sport of swimming teaches teamwork and camaraderie along with pride in personal accomplishment.

“I love to ride whether it is on a road bike, mountain bike, or spin bike. When I stay active, I sleep better at night, am more alert during the day, and feel much less stressed. Regular rigorous exercise definitely improves my quality of life.” — Senator David Sokola

Senator Sokola after Jack Markell’s cross country ride at Rehoboth. He joined Markell in Sioux Falls, SD and biked approximately 1,700 miles with him to finish the route.

LETTER FROM THE CHAIR

Greetings!

This year will mark some major milestones for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) National Network and the Delaware Manufacturing Extension Partnership (DEMEP). Thirty years ago, Congress passed the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act, effectively creating the organization that has evolved into today’s MEP National Network. Twentyfive years ago, the Delaware Economic Development Office (now the Division of Small Business) and Delaware manufacturers collaboratively established the Delaware Manufacturing Alliance to support Delaware manufacturers in an ever-changing economy. In 1998, the Delaware Manufacturing Alliance rebranded as DEMEP to align with the national program. At that same time, DEMEP joined with Delaware Technical Community College to strengthen the level of support available for manufacturers.

Three decades in the making, the services provided by the MEP continue to evolve in response to the ever-changing global marketplace in its support of small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers. In response to the market, the program has evolved through five major stages: Building a System, Delivering Higher Value, Focusing on Management, Fostering Innovation, and Increasing Economic Impact. As we enter the sixth stage – Enabling Manufacturing 4.0, DEMEP continues to add programs to its portfolio to help advance U.S. manufacturing.

Recently, the DEMEP team and Board members visited the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, MD to continue to expand its capability to support the manufacturing community. NIST writes thousands of standards for industry, the essential requirements to measure and quantify innumerable products and services. In order to write these standards, significant research hours and expertise have been gained, resulting in innovative solutions for manufacturers. Through your MEP center, local companies can access NIST experts to help solve problems and accelerate learning curves when developing their own internal capabilities.

In other exciting news, to assist with developing and disseminating new technologies, various U.S. government departments established Manufacturing USA to help secure the superiority of U.S. manufacturing. Established through the U.S. Department of Commerce, Delaware is fortunate to host the Manufacturing USA’s National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL) at the University of Delaware. DEMEP is proud to have entered into a collaborative project with NIIMBL to help advance small- and mid-sized companies in the biopharmaceutical space. Helping to grow a manufacturing ecosystem with strong supply chains and workforce development resources in the biopharmaceutical space will improve Delaware’s position as a leader in biomanufacturing.

DEMEP continues its commitment to growing, connecting and building Delaware’s manufacturing ecosystem. We hope you will call us to help your company join the effort.

Kathy A. Janvier, Ph.D.

Chair, DEMEP Board of Directors Vice President and Campus Director, Stanton Campus, Delaware Technical Community College

Growing, Connecting, and Building Delaware's Manufacturing Ecosystem

Delaware Manufacturing Extension Partnership (DEMEP) is a federally and state funded non-profit organization committed to helping Delaware’s manufacturers improve their global competitiveness.

DEMEP is the official representative of the MEP National Network™ in Delaware. The MEP National Network™ is a unique public-private partnership that delivers comprehensive, proven solutions to U.S. manufacturers, fueling growth and advancing U.S. manufacturing.

DEMEP operates as a recipient through Delaware Technical Community College in partnership with the United States Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Delaware Division of Small Business (formerly the Delaware Economic Development Office) (DEDO), and the Delaware State and local Chambers of Commerce. Through these partnerships, DEMEP draws its resources from local and national universities, community colleges, research institutions, private consultants, and a network of 51 MEP Centers located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. With these unique relationships, DEMEP can provide its clients confidential access to their industries best practices, processes and business improvement methodologies.

DEMEP and the MEP National Network™ have developed a collection of tools, products and services customized to meet the unique needs of Delaware’s manufacturers, financial institutions, and health care and service providers.

To learn more about DEMEP’s services and training, visit www.demep.org or call 302.283.3131.

Our Capabilities

The list below is a sample of some of DEMEP’s most popular service offerings. However, DEMEP is able to bring together resources to provide any type of training that a manufacturer may need.

• Principles of Lean Manufacturing with Live Simulation

• Value Stream Mapping

• 5S Workplace Organization and Standardization (Creating a Visual Workplace)

• Set-up Reduction/Quick Changeover

• Total Productive Maintenance (TPM)

• Performance Measurement for Lean Enterprise

• Leadership for Value Stream Management

• Poka-Yoke (Mistake Proofing)

• Tools and Techniques for Problem Solving

• Team Building for a Lean Culture

• Standardized Work

• Cellular/Flow Manufacturing

• Lean Office & Administration: Value Stream Mapping for Non-Production Processes (Office Value Stream Mapping)

• Pull/Kanban

• Practical Statistics Tools

• Design of Experiments

• Essential Leadership Skills for a World Class Enterprise

• ISO 9001 Overview of the Standard

• ISO 9001 Internal Auditing – A Process Approach

• Transitioning to ISO 9000:2015

• Additional ISO Course Available Upon Request

• Six Sigma Greenbelt and Blackbelt

• Strategic Planning

• First Line Supervisory Training

• Health & Safety

• Health & Safety Training

• Lean Product Development: Reducing Time in New Product Development

• Lean Product Design: Reducing Cost in New Product Development

• 3P: Production, Process, Preparation

• Supply Chain Optimization

• Total Cost of Ownership

• A3 Report Writing

• ISO 14000

• IATF 16949:2016

• Innovation Engineering Jump Start, For Small & Mid-Sized Companies

Continuous Improvement Brings Success to Family Business

By Allison Hayes

“Anybody can make a washer…what sets us apart is customer service and quality,” says Carl W. Peters, President/CEO of New Process Fibre Company (NPF), Inc., a Greenwood, Delawarebased custom manufacturer of top-quality plastic, vulcanized fibre and other non-metallic components.

NPF is a family business located in Greenwood, Delaware with approximately 73 employees. In 1927, F. Carl Porter founded the business with a desire to improve manufacturing processes. Porter coined the company name after the innovative process he had planned to develop for a new, lower-cost means of turning cotton paper into vulcanized fibre. Although his “new process” never really panned out, the company did manufacture vulcanized fibre for about 20 years before ceasing that operation to concentrate on fabricating parts and eventually distilling that down to mainly stamped parts.

Today, NPF is a major supplier of non-metallic stamped components to many of the largest original equipment manufacturer (OEM) companies in the world. NPF’s mission focuses on stamping non-metallic parts, mostly thermoplastics as well as thermoset plastics, vulcanized fibre and a wide array of other engineering plastics, paperboards and some

rubber. They also have in-house capabilities to extrude thermoplastic materials and fabricate their own Class A, hard tooling to stamp simple to very complex non-metallic components. These two important in-house capabilities give NPF the ability to control costs and reduce production cycle time, which is critical for their customers.

Now in its third generation, the family’s desire to constantly improve operations has never wavered.

One of the ways that they do this is through continuous process improvement. They have been working with the Delaware Manufacturing Extension Partnership (DEMEP) on this for about 20 years.

DEMEP is a federally and state funded nonprofit organization committed to helping Delaware’s manufacturers improve their global competitiveness. DEMEP is the official representative of the MEP National Network™ in Delaware. The MEP National Network™ is a unique public-private partnership that delivers comprehensive, proven solutions to U.S. manufacturers, fueling growth and advancing U.S. manufacturing.

DEMEP operates as a recipient through Delaware Technical Community College in partnership with the United States Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Delaware Division of Small Business (formerly the Delaware Office of Economic Development) (DEDO), and the Delaware State and local Chambers of Commerce. Through these partnerships, DEMEP draws its resources from local and national universities, community colleges, research institutions, private consultants, and a network of 51 MEP Centers located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. With these unique relationships, DEMEP can provide its clients confidential access to their industries' best practices, processes and business improvement methodologies.

NPF first called upon DEMEP in 1998 for help with software selection of a new ERP package in anticipation of the coming Y2K crisis. This led to some consulting work for help with various issues relating to the culture and climate at the then-70-year-old family business and the coming succession planning that would soon be

necessary. Several years later, DEMEP was called in again to provide process improvement training such as Lean. More recently, NPF worked with DEMEP to update its ISO 9000 standards to the latest iteration: ISO 9001: 2015. ISO 9001 is the international standard that specifies requirements for a quality management system. Organizations use the standard to demonstrate the ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements.

“ISO 9001 certification is a first step to competing in the global marketplace. For manufacturers, it opens the door to certain industries and countries that may otherwise be closed,” said Kit Eisel, a consultant brought in by DEMEP to work with NPF on the updates and revisions that were required to their current Quality Management System to comply with the ISO 9001:2015.

ISO updates its standards every five to seven years, and this round of changes was extensive, said Eisel. “The new standard requires leadership involvement and commitment of the whole organization.”

“We can’t operate the same way we did 10 years ago, or even three years ago. The better you get, the more that is expected.”

The certification process took about five months, and was laborintensive, consisting of trainings and implementation of new work processes and strategies.

“We were overwhelmed at first by all the requirements,” said Scott D. Jerman, Quality Assurance Manager at NPF. “Kit helped us break the process down into manageable pieces.”

The work started by training the NPF Project Team on the new ISO 9001 standards, followed by a two-day gap analysis to identify any deficiencies in complying with the new ISO 9001:2015 revision. DEMEP then worked with the team to develop a plan for closing the gaps for NPF to comply with the standard.

Eisel then helped the implementation team identify the action steps they would need to take. NPF’s management team wanted to develop a cross functional Project Implementation Team by adding more internal auditors and including representatives from various departments.

“DEMEP is able to provide training, and we are also able to provide resources for implementing some of the changes that come out of this training,” said DEMEP Field Agent Kim Kilby, who is the Client Manager for NPF. For example, an energy-efficient lighting project for the facility was an improvement the company was looking into, and Kilby was able to connect NPF with some grant resources for this purpose.

Ultimately, the hard work paid off, and NPF earned their ISO 9001:2015 certification.

“Although the certification is expected in the manufacturing world, we got a lot of positive feedback from our customers for how quickly we obtained it,” said Jerman. The certification signals to customers that NPF is ready to do business in the most efficient and effective way possible.

One of the most gratifying parts of the certification process was a company-wide training that gave an overview of company history, competition and strengths.

“Projects like this are great because they get you to break away from the day-to-day operations and focus on the big picture,” said Peters. “Overall, I’m proud of everyone who contributed and I think they got a lot out of it.”

NPF team member Cliff Larrimore agrees. “The training allowed everyone to see how their piece fit into the puzzle,” he said. “We all felt more a part of the company after.”

In addition to improving morale, the positive changes that have resulted from the quality management project

include incorporating more risk-based thinking into the company strategy, rewriting the company’s quality manual to be more user friendly, and changing the way they track and communicate business metrics. The company also is increasing its on-time delivery rate and better understanding customer expectations.

In the first quarter of 2018, the company has seen a significant increase in profitability, due, in part, to an issue that was identified in a DEMEP strategic planning session with their leadership team and that was also part of the risk management aspect of the quality management system requirements review. In the strategic planning sessions, NPF identified orders with a value of $250 and less were seldom profitable and, as a result, a new pricing structure with a higher minimum order was implemented.

“The world is changing, and we have to change with it,” said Jerman. “We can’t operate the same way we did 10 years ago, or even three years ago. The better you get, the more that is expected.”

DEMEP Trains High School Students on Lean Manufacturing

Delaware Technical Community College is a proud partner in the Delaware Pathways initiative. Delaware Pathways is a vehicle to ensure all high school students have the opportunity to fulfill their educational goals and career aspirations. Career pathways begin in the public education system (K-12) through the development and implementation of Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs of study. These pathways allow students to participate in work-based learning opportunities and provide articulated credit toward many Delaware Tech degree and workforce training programs.

Delaware Pathways has programs that match Delaware’s job needs, including 12 critical, in-demand areas such as Manufacturing Engineering Technology and Manufacturing Production & Logistics.

Because of its relationship with Delaware Tech, DEMEP can help to share its knowledge and contribute to

the future of manufacturing in Delaware by lending its expertise to the Pathways programs. In a recent manufacturing Pathways course, DEMEP experts taught a lesson on Lean manufacturing, which is a systematic method for waste minimization within a manufacturing system without sacrificing productivity. Lean also takes into account waste created through overburden and waste created through unevenness in work loads.

The lessons were well received by students, who gained valuable skills to bring to the craftsmanships that are a key component of the Pathways program.

“It was a positive experience for both the students and for us as instructors,” said Jim Jones, a DEMEP Specialist who led the training. “I think the students really benefited from the training.”

DEMEP Hosts Second Annual Delaware Strategic Exporter Challenge

On Thursday, March 29, 2018, the Delaware Manufacturing Extension Partnership (DEMEP), along with resource partners, hosted the second annual Delaware Strategic Exporter Challenge. The event showcased three small businesses who had participated in an ExporTech™ training with DEMEP.

ExporTech™ is a national export assistance program helping companies enter or expand in global markets. Jointly offered by the U.S. Department of Commerce's MEP National Network and U.S. Commercial Service, ExporTech™ applies a structured export strategy development process that helps four to eight companies accelerate growth. It is the only national program where each company develops a written export plan that is vetted by a panel of experts upon completion. ExporTech™ efficiently connects companies with a wide range of world-class experts to help navigate the export sales process. The result is that companies rapidly expand global sales and save countless hours of effort.

Since 2006, 210 ExporTech™ programs have been delivered in 36 states and Puerto Rico with over 1,080 participating companies.

The companies competing in the event included Avkin, a leading manufacturer of wearable technology for patient-centered simulation; B&W Tek, a global leader in innovative mobile spectroscopy solutions; and Polymer Technologies, a leading manufacturer of noise reduction, thermal insulation, and vibration isolation products.

Representatives from each company presented their ExporTech™ journey and the audience, including peers and exporting experts, scored each presentation based on product description, global readiness, export events compliance and export success.

Polymer Technologies was voted the Strategic Exporter of the Year, and Beth Pomper of the Delaware Department of State presented the winner with a Gold Key service. A Gold Key service identifies and coordinates meetings with potential new clients in international markets. Jarred Prybutok, Polymer’s Executive Vice President and COO, accepted the award on behalf of the company, and said it was an honor to receive the acknowledgement of the company’s hard work. He also said he appreciated the opportunities that the state provides for manufacturers who want to expand their businesses into a global economy.

U.S. Senator Christopher Coons, an avid supporter of manufacturing, also spoke at the event, and said he enjoyed hearing stories of startups and entrepreneurs that are going global. “These are great examples of what I fight for,” he said. “These companies are not just surviving, but thriving; not just thriving, but helping.”

The Kuehne Chemical Company, located on River Road in New Castle, is a producer of sodium hypochlorite, otherwise known as bleach.

Kuehne is the largest producer of bleach in the Mid-Atlantic region. Our Delaware Plant services water and wastewater municipalities, as well as many industrial users, distributors, pool companies, and packagers up and down the I-95 corridor, from North Carolina to New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Kuehne has always been an innovator, and in 1999 of its kind, state-of-the-art brine electrolysis process for producing bleach. That spirit of innovation, sustainability, and change remains meet our customers and communities high expectations.

• 48 employees across 2 sites in Delaware

• 125 employees company-wide

• Includes our own Transportation Fleet

• Jobs in Manufacturing, Electricity & Instrumentation, Transportation, and Engineering

• Family owned and operated for nearly 100 years

Quick Facts about Kuehne:

WHAT ARE YOUR SUPPLY CHAIN WEAKNESSES?

Risk is everywhere. It doesn’t sleep. It often shows up uninvited and at the most inopportune time. Manufacturers most trusted resource, the NIST-Manufacturing Extension Partnership, provides a step-by-step roadmap to help manufacturers address risk, increase visibility and create supply chains that function at optimum capacity.

We’ll show you how to apply constraint theory concepts that address risk and account for total cost of ownership, so you may make informed sourcing decisions that increase the flow of products from suppliers to customers, using a value system model.

To learn more about Supply Chain Optimization, visit www.demep.org or call 302.283.3131.

THE NUMBER OF MASTER’S DEGREES conferred by U.S. institutions has risen dramatically since 1980. According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, 303,000 master’s degrees were conferred in 1980. Flash forward to 2012, and the figure rose to 754,000. While the number of bachelor’s degrees conferred since 1980 has risen as well, the bachelor’s 48 percent increase falls short of the master’s dramatic rise of 60 percent.

Debra W. Stewart, former president of the Council of Graduate Schools, stated in The New York Times that nearly two Americans out of 25 who are age 25 or older now hold a master’s degree, which is roughly the same proportion of those who held bachelor’s degrees or higher in 1960.

Meanwhile, Fast Company reports that a recent, nationwide online survey conducted by CareerBuilder shows that more than 27 percent of employers are recruiting master’s degree holders for positions that previously only required a bachelor’s degree. Similarly, 37 percent of employers are hiring college graduates for positions that in the past only required a high school diploma.

These and other data lead many to believe that the master’s degree has replaced the bachelor’s degree as the recognized benchmark of employability.

Why? Employers who took part in the CareerBuilder survey (more than 2,300 hiring and human resource managers in industries spanning the private sector) cite the following reasons:

• Today’s jobs require an increased level of specialized knowledge and skillsets that a bachelor’s degree does not typically provide.

• Advanced education makes a clear, positive impact on productivity, communication skills and innovation.

• Filtering applicants by education level provides a simple sorting system for hirers who are flooded with résumés from job seekers.

Is a Master’s Degree the New Bachelor’s Degree?

BY LAURIE BICK

The idea that a master’s degree is becoming the new standard can be hard to swallow at a time when basic higher education is difficult for many families and individuals to afford. However, greater focus through specialized courses of study make advanced degrees as desirable for improving operations and running a business as they are for enhancing individual employment options and earning potential.

According to Dr. Stewart, master’s degrees are more desirable to students and have become more valuable to employers because they are evolving into more relevant, specific and utilitarian degrees. No longer built to be generalist programs with broad scopes like public policy or administration, even the revered M.B.A. is often viewed as too generalized. Today’s higher education now offers master’s degrees in targeted and growing segments and aligns them with particular disciplines, such as cybersecurity, which is in high demand for business, nonprofit and government information systems.

Adding to the professional sheen of a master’s degree is the growth of certificate programs that allow students to specialize even further. For example, a student completing a master’s in cybersecurity may also include the additional credits for a certificate in digital forensics or digital evidence discovery, investigative disciplines in information systems technology that can, among other things, help to identify how malicious hacks are constructed – and, because the code each hacker writes produces a certain “signature,” by whom. This combined master’s degree with certificate is highly valued by business, nonprofits and government agencies alike. Graduating students are assured of excellent employment prospects, and many advanced degree graduates assume executive and leadership roles.

If you are thinking of specializing your education with an advanced degree, here are some things to consider:

It All MATTERS.

Guide to Education

Practicality: Will your master’s program provide you with usable skills that employers value? Look for an institution that offers work-integrated learning opportunities, such as internships with area employers, which often lead directly into employment in your chosen field.

Flexibility: Many graduate students must continue working while attending school. Does the master’s program you are considering offer online, evening or weekend courses? Are accelerated classes available? Answers to these questions will help you to keep your current job while furthering your education.

Affordability: Will your master’s program fit your budget? Are financial aid options available? Consider the return on investment of your master’s program. Be sure your increased earning potential will outweigh the cost of your advanced degree.

A Local Leader in Master’s Level Education: Wilmington University (WilmU) offers 70+ master’s degree programs in business, technology, education, health professions, social and behavioral sciences, and more. A local leader in advanced education, in recent years WilmU has conferred more than 60% of the master’s degrees in the state of Delaware. Wilmington University is a leader in affordability, convenience, flexibility in higher education with a focus on the adult learner.

To learn more, attend the WilmU graduate studies fair on Wednesday, November 14, from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m., at the Wilson Graduate Center in New Castle, or at the university’s Dover and Georgetown locations. To see the variety of graduate degrees offered, visit www.wilmu.edu/academics.

16,014 local students served

362,779 instructional contact hours delivered

2,110 business, parent and community volunteers

535 educators in 738 classes in 167 schools and agencies during the 2017-18 academic year

Francis Alvarez

JA Ambassador

Class of 2019

Workforce Training at Delaware Tech

BY ALLISON HAYES

WHILE DELAWARE TECHNICAL COMMUNITY

COLLEGE is well known for its degree programs such as nursing and engineering technology, the College also offers a wide variety of workforce training for those looking to upgrade their skills or find a career path in a trade such as construction, plumbing, HVAC, welding or heath care.

In each county throughout Delaware, the College has a training center that offers state-of-the-art, hands-on instruction in many different fields. These training centers include:

The Innovation and Technology Center (ITC) in New Castle, Delaware: The ITC is a 20,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility that teaches programs such as HVACR, welding, manufacturing technologies and OSHA safety. Training utilizes a range of learning systems from handson to e-learning laboratories to develop job-ready skill sets. Students put theory to practice in classrooms built to mirror the real world.

The Innovation and Technology Partnership Center (ITPC) in Bridgeville, Delaware: This facility located in western Sussex County accommodates manufacturing, HVACR, and construction training, including the Pathways program for high schools students to study advanced manufacturing.

The Environmental Training Center (ETC) in Georgetown, Delaware: The mission of the ETC is to provide applicable classroom training and onsite technical assistance to Delaware’s environmental workforce.

Classroom training consists of credit and non-credit programs for onsite technicians, well drillers, water and wastewater operators, as well as sustainability professionals.

Included in the non-credit programs are courses which prepare operators, onsite technicians and well drillers to successfully complete the state’s licensing examinations. These licenses are required to be employed within the industry. After becoming licensed, the ETC provides on-going continu-

ing education classes, seminars and workshops.

The Environmental Training Center has aggressively developed its Environmental Technology programs in water and wastewater to ensure the quality of this vital resource. The Center is now one of the premier training sites on the East Coast for the certification of water and wastewater operators. The College has been recognized internationally as a leader in environmental protection.

Middletown Facility for Construction and Diesel Mechanics (Coming Soon!): The College is currently renovating a 7,500 square foot space in the old armory in Middletown as a training center for heavy equipment operators and diesel mechanics. The goal is to open this Center of Excellence for Construction Trades in early 2019. Created due to workforce needs in the state, students will be able to earn stackable credentials to work in these high-demand fields.

“The need for this type of technical training cannot be underestimated,” said Paul Morris, associate vice president for Workforce Development and Community Education at Delaware Tech. “The state has a demand for skilled workers, and Delaware Tech is stepping up to provide individuals with the training and credentials needed to secure these well-paying jobs. It’s a win-win situation.”

How to Up your Success in Hiring

BY LINDA PAPPAJOHN PRINCIPAL AND DIRECTOR OF HR CONSULTING SERVICES, SANTORA CPA GROUP, NEWARK, DE

FINDING A STRONG HIRE who has the skills, experience, and traits you need can be challenging. And the current 4% Delaware unemployment rate can be discouraging.

Following are some tips to help you attract better suited candidates and ways to interview them to get good insight into how the candidate will function in the job. Write a thorough job description so both you and the interviewee know exactly what the position entails. Along with skills and experience, include desired behavior traits of the person whom you believe will succeed in that position.

Up your chances of a “good fit” responding to your posting by describing your work environment. Tell applicants about company culture and values, and special perks, i.e. flexible hours or work-from-home schedules. If you’re not sure what makes your company attractive, ask current employees why they applied, and what keeps them there.

Use words in your posting that will resonant with your ideal candidate. For example, “high-energy, fast-paced environment” will likely attract someone who prefers a rapidly changing, growing workplace with lots of opportunities to advance. But those same words could deter someone who has settled into their career and likes tried-and-true procedures and processes that rarely change.

Implement an Employee Referral Bonus Program. Let your employees know when you have openings. Since they know what it is like to work at your company, they can be your best advocates. By offering an appealing recruiting bonus, you can tap into their social networks and reach candi-

dates you may not have otherwise. It can also be more cost effective than a recruiting agency.

Consider using social media – LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook – as a recruiting tool for passive candidates who may not be actively searching job sites.

Screen resumes and cover letters against your list of “must have” experience, skills, behavior characteristics, and education. For applicants who seem closely matched, set up a prescreening call. This allows you to get answers to any initial questions or concerns you may have, and to find out their career goals.

During a screening, clarify salary expectations and be prepared to share a salary range to avoid any confusion. Remember that it is against Delaware law to ask about salary history or current salary during the interview and hiring process.

Prepare your interview questions in advance and stick to them. With the myriad of advice available on the internet today, job seekers are savvy about interview questions. Avoid only using standard questions, such as, “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” or, “Tell me why I should hire you over the other candidates.” Instead, focus on behavioral interview questions.

How someone behaved in one company is likely how he/she will behave in yours. Behavioral interview questions provide you with real life examples that display the candidate’s skills and work demeanor. Questions should be relevant to your job, its duties, and required skills. Hint: if you have employees who perform this job well, consider their work behaviors, skills, and traits. Each candidate should be asked the same questions to

compare across interviews.

Examples of behavioral interview questions:

• How would your current boss describe you? What would he/she say are your greatest strengths? What areas of training would he/she say you would benefit from the most?

• What aspects of your current (or previous) position(s) did you enjoy the most? What was most challenging? Why?

• Share a time when you were working hard to complete a task but then asked to leave that task unfinished to begin a different task.

• Share a time you went out of your way to please a client or a manager.

• What is the most stressful work situation you’ve handled, and what was the outcome?

Toss in a couple untraditional questions, though be clear in what you are trying to garner from the candidates’ answers. Unique questions can give you insight into the candidate’s character. For example, if your company has an upbeat, light-hearted culture, asking off-centered questions can give you a feel for whether their personality is a good fit for your organization.

Make sure candidates feel comfortable, come away with a good impression of your company, and gain a sense of your corporate culture. You can do this by:

• Not making candidates wait when they arrive for the interview. Offer

a beverage and create conversation to put them at ease.

• Having several people interview the candidate.

• Inviting final candidates to lunch or happy hour with some of your more personable employees who would be the candidate’s peers. This would serve as a casual, ask-anything meeting. Make sure to have separate meetings for each candidate.

Time is of the essence! All interviewers should know the hiring process and timelines. Interviewed candidates will want to know your next step and you should keep the process moving quickly so you don’t lose a good candidate. Create a schedule of the hiring process that shows where each candidate stands, and make sure everyone involved adheres.

Once you have decided on a candidate, but before you make an offer, check references and verify prior work history. A written offer to the candidate should state it is contingent on them passing a background check, and any other requirements your organization may have.

If your hiring process gets delayed, do a courtesy email or call with the candidates to update them. It is also an opportunity to ensure that they are still interested.

Finally, remind anyone conducting interviews that they should be listening 80% of the time and talking 20% of it. They have two ears and one mouth – make sure all interviewers are using them in that proportion!

Return to College, Boost your Career

BY NORA ZELLUK

YOU MAY HAVE DECIDED you need to add a credential to your resume, or you might be thinking of a college degree to boost your career.

The research would back you up. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that earnings consistently increase with level of education. On average, workers over 25 years old with bachelor’s degrees earn an astonishing 70 to 80 percent more than their counterparts with high school diplomas. Education beyond a bachelor’s degree increases earnings even further.

For many individuals, completing a college degree they may have started earlier in life is an option well worth pursuing, and education researchers project continued growth in the number of individuals enrolling in college after the age of 25.

In addition, people are turning to certificate programs to boost their earnings, add competencies to their professional toolboxes and improve their career prospects. Professional development certificate programs also provide an excellent way to earn a credential or retool for a job change.

Certificates are non-degree programs that offer practical, concentrated study in a particular professional area. They take a relatively short time to complete, often less than a year.

“Certificates are a homegrown American invention and are expanding rapidly in response to a wide range of educational and labor market demands,” reported researchers at Georgetown University. A major finding of their study is that the postsecondary certificate has become a cost-effective tool for increasing educational attainment and gainful employment in the U.S.

The study also highlighted the flexibility of certificates, reporting that they can “serve as a stepping stone to further education and training or as a supplement to workers who already have a college degree.” For those already employed, researchers reported that certificates “can be the most effective way to catch up, keep up and get ahead in their chosen field,” and for the unemployed and underemployed, “certificates can offer a jumpstart in the labor market.”

But if it has been a while since you were in school, you may be wondering if college is still right for you. Some prospective returning students feel

unsure whether they could be successful in college-level coursework after being away from a classroom environment for a long time.

But time and again, once they’ve started, returning college students report finding a renewed commitment for success. “In college this time around, I’m focused and I’m here to earn my degree,” said one returning student. “I found that my studying techniques and my time management skills were much improved from when I was a younger student,” reported another. Most colleges and universities have a continuing education department that will help returning students choose a program or degree that fits with their educational goals and guide them through enrollment or registration process. At the University of Delaware, the ACCESS Center provides free academic advisement for those considering a return to college, whether for a degree or certificate program. Advisors can help identify career and educational goals, develop educational plans, implement decisions and build learning skills.

To help meet the needs of professionals seeking career advancement or a new credential, the University of Delaware’s Division of Professional and Continuing Studies offers a range of professional development certificate programs and short-term courses in the healthcare, legal and business fields.

Offered in Newark, Wilmington or online, this fall’s programs include clinical trials management, data analytics, healthcare risk management, human resources/aPHR prep, nursing home administration, paralegal, project management, six sigma and business process improvement, sleep health education, social media marketing, telehealth and an extensive new drone pilot training academy with five courses targeting novice to advanced users. For more information about UD continuing education and professional development programs, call 302-831-7600, visit www.pcs.udel.edu or email continuing-ed@udel.edu.

To make an appointment with an ACCESS advisor and learn more about career assessment and academic options, call 302-831-8843 or write to access-advise@udel.edu.

BeyondBoundaries

ILC Dover delivers safety in the home and out in space

ILC DOVER HAS BEEN PROVIDING SOLUTIONS

to customers for their most complex problems for over 70 years. Headquartered in Frederica, Delaware, and employing over 600 people, the company continues to innovate and develop new ideas and technologies. ILC Dover is best known for the spacesuit technology that enabled man to walk on the moon as part of the Apollo missions in the late 1960s and 1970s. Since those early Apollo missions, and still today, ILC Dover has provided every space suit used by NASA astronauts working on the Space Shuttle and International Space Station. There is so much more that ILC Dover is doing to create innovation and solutions for customers in a wide array of industries. ILC Dover today participates in five distinct markets, each of these markets requiring very different and unique solutions and engineering, which ILC Dover is uniquely able to provide. Not only is the company highly innovative, but we pride ourselves on the responsiveness and dedication to the customers, which is a cornerstone of the company philosophy. ILC Dover is engineering evolution Beyond Boundaries.

In Frederica today, ILC Dover is focused on five key product lines: Space systems, blimps and aerostats, plastic film-based disposable containment systems for pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical processing, deployable fabric walls for flood protection, and respirators for personal safety. Each of these product lines have integral parts that are made of “soft goods.” Soft goods are defined as being made from fabric, cloth, laminates or plastic films. ILC Dover core technologies in “soft goods” engineering enables us to share design and manufacturing resources across the different products we design and manufacture.

SPACE

In space and here on Earth, ILC Dover goes above and beyond to protect people, payloads and our national security. From spacesuits and space vehicle landing airbags for NASA and commercial advertising, heavy-lift and passenger airships and surveillance radar aerostats, ILC Dover routinely overcomes technical, logistical and geographical barriers to engineer advanced solutions that work in the real world.

SPACE SUITS

Since the beginning of project Apollo, ILC has been the designer and producer of the space suit for NASA. These space suits enabled astronauts to walk on the moon. Today, ILC Dover continues to produce the Space Suit Assembly (part of the Extravehicular Mobility Unit), which is used to build and maintain the International Space Station (ISS).

AIRBAG SYSTEMS

To accomplish the Mars Pathfinder and Mars Exploration Rover missions, ILC designed and manufactured a unique all-encompassing airbag system to safety deliver the Sojourner, Spirit, and Opportunity rovers to the surface of Mars. ILC Dover’s airbag systems safely return manned and unmanned space systems back to earth and deliver exploration systems to the Mars. ILC’s vented airbag technology has the capability to land extremely heavy payloads returning from orbit.

Guide to Manufacturing

INFLATABLE HABITATS

ILC Dover continues to develop and manufacture a variety of inflatable habitats, air-locks and shelters for use in earth orbit and lunar/ planetary exploration. ILC’s engineers built upon work conducted by NASA in the 1960s, and our own work in space suits and high strength inflatable structures, to create deployable habitats for space exploration. ILC has proven systems and processes that ensure the level of quality, reliability and safety to meet all spaceflight requirements. We perform the design and systems engineering, manufacture and test on site or at remote locations.

LIGHTER THAN AIR

In the air above your head, you may see ILC’s airship about. Flown in many countries, ILC’s airships provide a high-profile advertising platform used successfully by The Lightship Group, Van Wagner Outdoor Advertising and by Zeppelin, which has a new partnership with Goodyear. ILC has produced more than 50 airships structures since 1995 to support the advertising and tourism industries.

One of the airship envelopes that ILC Dover fabricated for Zeppelin is designed to interface with a semi-rigid passenger airship structure. Tight tolerances are maintained during production to assure the envelope interfaces properly with the rigid superstructure. The new Goodyear ships incorporate the ILC envelope structure. As part of our development of the airships for The Lightship Group, we qualified a unique translucent multilayer film laminate envelope for internally illuminated airships. These eyecatching vehicles have operated successfully on six continents.

As intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems (ISR) are becoming increasingly vital to national security, ILC Dover has developed aerostats for various ISR applications. ILC Dover has manufactured helium-filled aerostats to carry surveillance radars up to 15,000 feet altitude while tethered to the ground by a single tether. ILC aerostats have helium volumes from 56,000 to 595,000 cubic feet and range in length from 109 to 240 feet. In addition, our aerostats have been used by the military to carry surveillance payloads. ILC Dover’s aerostats have been used extensively in Iraq and Afghanistan to support and protect our troops during the war and still today as we work to keep the region safe.

PHARM

At ILC Dover, the company is focused on providing film-based systems for containing toxic drug compounds during the manufacturing processes. These systems help customers deliver their products to market faster, safer, and in a more cost-effective process. ILC Dover has taken our ability to protect the life of an astronaut in space and applied that learning and experience to protect pharmaceutical products and the people who make them. ILC Dover supports Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical customers with disposable systems engineered to contain powder (chemicals and manufactured drugs) during the manufacturing of medicines.

With over 300,000 successful installations world-wide since 1997. One of the key elements of their products is the regulatory friendly, slip agent

Guide to Manufacturing

INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION (INPRO)

Today, severe weather events, rising sea levels, climate change, hurricanes and the all too frequent “100 year and 500 year” storms, put cities, buildings, utilities, industrial operations and transportation networks at evergreater risk for flooding of critical infrastructure and assets. ILC Dover has pushed beyond traditional rigid water barriers and post-event strategies to develop forward-thinking, flexible technologies such as gate, wall, cover and plug systems that prevent flood damage. The goal of ILC Dover is to provide clients with “point-of-use” solutions that are deployable in minutes.

free, and proprietary material. These films are custom formulated to deliver superior performance for ruggedness and high strength.

The pharmaceutical industry has evolving containment needs as they develop highly potent active pharmaceutical ingredients. ILC Dover is the global pioneer of disposable process and powder containment systems engineered to contain powder transfers during the medicine manufacturing process. These engineered solutions have been proven to improve profitability by reducing capital and cleaning costs, reliably support operations from R&D through production, and reduce the time to get new medicines to market and to the people who need them.

The Side-Deployed Flex-Wall™ is a high strength flexible wall that can be deployed rapidly for flood protection of buildings or equipment. It is constructed from textile-based materials that reside in a storage container and are manually deployed. Both units are stored at Point-of-Use, thus providing deployment and retraction in minutes, with minimal manpower or equipment required. The Side-Deployed Flex-Wall® can be customized to a wide variety of openings and widths, as well as accounting for significant Design Flood Elevations and storm surges.

The Stairwell Flex-Gate™ is a high strength flexible wall that can be deployed rapidly for flood protection of subway stairwell entrances and other types of stairwell openings. It is constructed from textile-based materials and sturdy, corrosion resistant hardware, stored in a container typically mounted at the end of the stairwell opening at surface level. It is manually deployed in minutes with minimal manpower or equipment. The Stairwell Flex-Gate provides effective flood protection of lower levels of infrastructure while allowing critical entrances to remain open to the last minute.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)

Employees in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries — as well as in other industries — face significant respiratory risks from airborne chemical, biological, radioactive and nuclear contaminants. ILC Dover has overcome the barriers to advance personal protection with government (NIOSH) approved powered air respirators to help workers get the job done more safely and efficiently. During the Ebola outbreak of 2014, the medical profession looked to ILC Dover’s respirator technology to provide protection to the emergency responders and medical staffs who were treating patients in Africa and the various medical centers around the United States.

ILC Dover has been in business over 70 years and are perhaps best known for providing spacesuits to NASA and the astronauts to ensure their safety as they walked on the moon or completed repairs outside the International Space Station. The company today offers a wide variety of safety and protection solutions to many industries and continues to develop unique engineered solutions for their clients. ILC Dover is providing customers with technologies and innovative solutions that make the world a safer place.

ILC Dover is recognized globally for their products, serving a diverse range of customers since 1947.

MANUFACTURING DAY

Host an Event October 5

MANUFACTURING IS THE BACKBONE of the American economy. So, with manufacturers needing to fill as many as 3.5 million jobs by 2025, according to Deloitte and the National Association of Manufacturers’ (NAM) Manufacturing Institute, we face an urgent challenge: building the modern manufacturing workforce.

In America today, there are around 400,000 jobs unfilled in the manufacturing industry. As manufacturers know, a driving factor is the skills gap. Too few workers possess the skills—often high-tech skills—that manufacturers need. Too few young people are pursuing careers in modern manufacturing. These careers offer high-paying, meaningful work. But too few students—and their parents and teachers—know this. Manufacturing Day (MFG Day) is about changing that.

Each year, on the first Friday of October—October 5 this year—manufacturers open their doors to students, parents and educators to see what modern manufacturing looks like firsthand. Nearly 300,000 youth and parents will get a glimpse of the bright future that’s possible in manufacturing.

NAM research has found that once parents and students see modern manufacturing in action—and hear about opportunities it offers—they are much more likely to consider it as a viable career. In fact, after attending an MFG Day event, 84 percent of students felt more convinced modern manufacturing provides interesting and rewarding careers.

According to research from Deloitte and the Institute, the more familiar someone is with manufacturing, the more likely he or she is to have a positive view of it. Parents who are familiar with the industry are twice as likely

to encourage their children to pursue a career in modern manufacturing. When manufacturers open their doors on MFG Day, they are changing minds and recruiting the next generation of manufacturing talent.

Young people need a chance to see that manufacturing offers them a way to change the world. And parents need to understand that they are likely to have outdated perceptions of what manufacturing looks like. As NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons says, “Manufacturers are making lifesaving medicines and life-changing technologies, revolutionizing food production, making our societies more sustainable and transforming the way we commute and communicate…. If you want to create change, be a manufacturer.”

Manufacturers have a great story to tell, and we need to tell it. It’s not just the success of our industry that’s at stake but the strength of the entire American economy. Participating in MFG Day is a simple but consequential way to be part of the solution. Access to our MFG Day Host Toolkit is completely free to all manufacturers and educators, thanks to the investment of our sponsors. And it’s easy to host an event—resources are available at www.mfgday.com. For more information about the MFG Day mission or available resources to host an event, email info@mfgday.com.

FROM THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MANUFACTURERS

Chemours Partners with the NHL

United by the pursuit of sustainability, The Chemours Company and the National Hockey League have formed a multi-year partnership.

AT FIRST GLANCE, it might not seem that a company that produces performance chemicals and the sport of hockey have much in common. Yet the Wilmington-based Chemours Company’s Opteon™ refrigerants have become the centerpiece of a multi-year partnership between Chemours and the National Hockey League (NHL).

The announcement of the partnership followed the release of the 2018 NHL Sustainability Report, which assesses the NHL’s environmental

impact and its commitment to ensure that all levels of hockey—whether on frozen ponds, at community rinks, or in professional arenas—thrive for future generations. The report in turn follows the NHL pledge made in last September’s Declaration of Principles, which states: “Hockey should be an enjoyable family experience; all stakeholders—organizations, players, parents, siblings, coaches, referees, volunteers and rink operations—play a role in this effort.”

The Mars Lakeview Arena in Duluth, Minnesota is among the skating rinks using Chemours’ Opteon™ low GWP refrigerant.

The NHL’s commitment to sustainability goes back much farther. Since its launch in 2010, NHL Green has been committed to promoting green business practices across the League as well as preserving the environment, including the frozen ponds that inspired and cultivated the game more than 100 years ago.

“The NHL is focused on environmental sustainability because of two major points: The roots of our sport are tied to playing outdoors and we need cold weather; and we play on frozen fresh water. We want to continue to be authentic to the game for future generations so we need to be aware of the challenges and take a leadership role to ensure the game thrives,” Omar Mitchell, vice president, NHL Green, said.

The partnership supports the NHL Greener Rinks Initiative, a League-wide program committed to sharing sustainable business practices with community rink owners and operators. Through this initiative, the NHL is committed to reducing the environmental impact not just in NHL rinks, but across all levels of hockey. The initiative measures and evaluates the combined environmental impact of approximately 4,800 indoor ice rinks across North America. The program aims to help rink owners and operators make sustainable business decisions regarding their aging community rinks, some of which are 30 years old or older. The efforts to reduce energy costs will enable more rinks to remain operational, which in turn maintains access to the sport for future generations.

The partnership comes at a time when many community rinks across North America are using HCFC-22—which is being phased out pursuant to the Montreal Protocol—or HFCs, which are being phased down through the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. Enter

Chemours, which brings more than 85 years of experience in innovation for the refrigeration industry. Chemours will work with the NHL and community rink owners and operators to identify cost-effective, sustainable alternatives, including Opteon™ refrigerants, which are non-ozone depleting and have a low global warming potential (GWP).

Community rink owners and operators must consider several factors when selecting refrigerants and refrigeration systems to create the perfect sheet of ice. These include equipment age, installation and ongoing maintenance costs, safety, performance, and the energy efficiency of the cooling fluid. The opportunity to use Opteon™ refrigerants increases the options for community rinks across North America that are faced with the need to address environmental regulations while also providing solutions for more sustainable, cost-effective business practices designed to ensure hockey thrives at all levels.

“Chemours is proud to partner with the NHL to help the league achieve its sustainability goals,” said Paul Kirsch, president of Chemours Fluoroproducts, adding. “We are committed to providing innovative refrigerant solutions that balance performance, cost, and impact on the planet.”

This panel from a recent trade show in which Chemours participated highlights the partnership.

Chemours Fluoroproducts President Paul Kirsch

Directors Peter Kennedy, Loretta Manning, Marie Holliday, Jennifer Pacilli and Eric Williams

Esposito Elected Chairman; Four Individuals Named to BBB Delaware Board of Directors

Better Business Bureau® Serving Delaware has announced it has added four members to its board of directors with industry expertise in consumer and business banking, incorporation services and FinTech.

New board members include: Ann Marie Archino, Barclays Bank; Barnaby Hughes, M&T Bank; Catrina Jefferson, Corporation Service Company; and Jason Swift, Marlette Funding.

Gerard L. Esposito, President of Tidewater Utilities, Inc., a whollyowned subsidiary of Middlesex Water, will serve as Chairman. Jerry has been serving on the Better Business Bureau Serving Delaware’s Executive Committee since 2013 and brings extensive private and public sector leadership as well as non-profit board leadership to this position.

Navient Foundation supports the YMCA of Delaware summer camp programs

Delaware children will continue to learn and explore throughout the summer with the YMCA of Delaware statewide summer camp program. The Navient Foundation, the company-sponsored philanthropic fund, donated $6,000 to provide financial assistance to help more children attend camp this summer.

“We are grateful for Navient Foundation’s continuous support of our youth development programs including summer camp,” said Deborah BagattaBowles, president and CEO, YMCA of Delaware. “Their support helps our mission of remaining open to all, regardless of ability to pay. A positive summer expe-

rience is vital to each child’s future, and we are very grateful for community partners like Navient, who also recognize this experience is crucial for all children.”

This summer, more than 3,000 students will engage in positive youth development opportunities at eight summer day camps throughout the First State. Participants are socially and physically active, participate in daily literacy activities and are provided with a free and healthy lunch.

DESEU Executive Director Anthony DePrima Receives Doctorate in Urban Affairs and Public Policy from University of Delaware

In a Doctoral Hooding Convocation ceremony held Friday, May 25, at the University of Delaware, Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility (DESEU) Executive Director Anthony DePrima received his Doctorate of Urban Affairs and Public Policy. An audience of over 1,000 guests witnessed a record 321 doctoral degrees awarded, according to UD’s Office of Graduate & Professional Education. Dr. DePrima was one of only four graduates of the 2018 class to be awarded the Urban Affairs and Public Policy degree.

Joining a select group of 2% of American citizens to hold a doctorate degree, DePrima earned his new status while continuing full-time work as the executive director of the DESEU.

“It’s about a passion for learning and a passion for public service,” DePrima wrote in his acceptance remarks. “It is that passion that carried me through this experience while working full time and it is that same passion that will allow me to share what I have learned with others, hopefully for a better

world.” DePrima also thanked his wife and family for never questioning why he would pursue this degree after an already long career in public service.

Nanticoke Health Services Among Nation’s Top 2% for Achievements in Patient Safety and Experience

Nanticoke Memorial Hospital announced that it has been once again recognized for two distinctions in quality excellence: the Healthgrades 2018 Patient Safety Excellence Award™ and the Healthgrades 2018 Outstanding Patient Experience Award™. This is the second year in a row that Nanticoke has received both of these awards.

Only 65 out of just over 4,500 hospitals evaluated for patient safety and patient experience excellence achieved both distinctions. This places Nanticoke Health Services within the top 2 percent of eligible hospitals in the nation to receive both awards and, once again, the only healthcare organization on the Delmarva Peninsula to receive both awards. This distinction recognizes Nanticoke Hospital for excellent performance in safeguarding patients from serious, potentially preventable complications, as well as providing a positive experience for patients during their hospital stays. Healthgrades is the leading online resource for comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals.

Saint Francis Hospital First in Delaware to Offer Inspire® Upper Airway Stimulation (UAS) Therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Saint Francis Hospital is now offering Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation (UAS)

therapy, a breakthrough obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) treatment option for those who cannot use Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy.

OSA affects 18 million Americans. It occurs when a person’s airway collapses during sleep and blocks the flow of oxygen to their brain. The brain senses a lack of oxygen and wakes the person up just long enough for them to take a breath, and then they fall back asleep. This cycle continues throughout the night, repeatedly disrupting the person’s sleep. When left untreated, OSA can cause vehicle and workplace accidents, worsening mood and memory, stroke, heart attack, and even death.

“Inspire therapy represents a significant advancement in treating sleep apnea,” said Dr. Michael Polnerow, Chief Medical Officer at Saint Francis Healthcare.

“It is clinically proven to reduce sleep apnea events and also has a high level of patient satisfaction and therapy adherence. We’re excited to be offering this promising therapy to sleep apnea patients who struggle with CPAP.”

AAA Club Alliance Announces Appointment of Thomas

C. Wiedemann as Chief Executive Officer

AAA Club Alliance is pleased to announce the appointment of Thomas C. Wiedemann as Chief Executive Officer, effective June 1, 2018.

Wiedemann replaces Bernhard “Berni” Koch, who had been with the organization since 2002 and had served as CEO since 2012.

Tom Wiedemann began his career with AAA in 1989 and has served in many capacities throughout those 29 years, including President of AAA Southern West Virginia in 1998 and President and COO of AAA Allied Group in 2012.

Future Soccer Stars Foundation, in Collaboration with the Delaware Art Museum, Celebrates 3rd Annual “City on the Pitch” PlayDay

Wilmington-based Future Soccer Stars Foundation (FSS), powered by the financial support of the Buccini/Pollin Group (Buccini/Pollin) and the Philadelphia Union, announce the celebration of its FSS “City on the Pitch” Annual Playday. This will be the third time this event has been held at the University of Delaware. The one-day event was held on Wednesday, June 13, 2018, at the Delaware Stadium.

The PlayDay was created to celebrate and bring together all of FSS’ free soccer programs hosted (and to be hosted) throughout the city of Wilmington. This year, nearly 300 children aged 8-16 are expected, more than quadrupling last year’s PlayDay.

This year, through an opportunity sponsored by the Delaware Art Museum, the PlayDay will include Marc Bamuthi Joseph’s Moving & Passing. The outreach program was first commissioned in April of 2016 by the Guggenheim Museum in New York City, and will include music, artmaking, food, and dance performances. The Moving & Passing program also serves as a prelude to Mr. Joseph’s multimedia spoken word and dance performance /pehLOtah/, which was presented by the Delaware Art Museum on Friday, June 15 at 8 p.m. (Grand Opera House).

“I want to build on the legacy that is AAA, which means helping our members get where they need to go as we continue our legendary roadside assistance and offer new ways of meeting members’ mobility and lifestyle needs. New technologies, great associates, and a

continued commitment to our members are driving our future. I look forward to the opportunity to lead this organization as we continue to add value to a AAA membership and embed innovation in everything we do to serve our members,” said Wiedemann.

SoDel Concepts expands with no end in sight

Visitors could spend a week at the Delaware beaches and dine at one of SoDel Concepts’ restaurants each day. That’s because the hospitality group owns 10 eateries, from Lewes to Fenwick Island.

While the company has never shied away from rapid growth, it’s been on a fast track since 2016, when a second Matt’s Fish Camp opened in Lewes. In 2017, a second Bluecoast Seafood Grill + Raw Bar opened in a new building in Rehoboth Beach. During that time, the company also took over The Clubhouse at Baywood, the restaurant and banquet facility on the grounds of Baywood Greens Golf Course in Millsboro.

The team accomplished all of this while coping with the sudden loss of the well-known founder, Matt Haley. Haley, who’d just received the James Beard Foundation’s philanthropy award, died from injuries suffered in a motorcycle crash in August 2014.

Led by Scott Kammerer, who became the company president, the managers and chefs kept the business running smoothly. In Haley’s honor, SoDel Concepts started SoDel Cares, a foundation that donates to causes that improve the lives of local children, seniors and others who are at risk.

KSI’s Aktion Club Donates to Delaware Veterans Home

KSI’s Aktion Club collected and donated assorted items and gift cards to support the bi-weekly bingo activities at the Delaware Veterans Home. Aktion Clubs are community service organizations for adults with developmental disabilities sponsored by Kiwanis International.

KSI learned through a volunteer rela-

tionship with Delaware Veterans Home that the resident veterans enjoy regularly scheduled bingo games and the prizes that come along with winning BINGO. They wanted to help so they initiated a drive for bingo prizes.

Four State Chamber Members earn Recognition from Delaware Business Times

On Wednesday, June 20, family-owned businesses with hundreds of years in combined experience gathered at the Hilton Wilmington/Christiana for the 2018 Family-Owned Business Awards ceremony. Delaware Business Times Publisher Rob Martinelli and Associate Publisher Fay Steiger led the ceremony, which included the presentation of short videos highlighting all 16 honorees.

Two State Chamber members earned awards with two others receiving honorable mention. Boulden Brothers and Kreston Wine & Spirits received the Large Business and Medium-Sized Business Awards, respectively.

Boulden Brothers – New Castle – Large Business Awards WINNER

Budget Rooter – New Castle - Large Business Award HONOREE

Kreston Wine & Spirits – WilmingtonMedium-Sized Business Award WINNER

Whisman Giordano & Associates –Newark - Innovation Award HONOREE

The State Chamber extends their congratulations to its members and all the winning organizations.

Hyatt Named Bariatric Program Coordinator for Nanticoke Physician Network

The Nanticoke Physician Network is proud to announce that Kimberly Hyatt, RD, LDN, has been named Bariatric

Program Coordinator for Nanticoke Weight Loss and General Surgery. Since 2016, Ms. Hyatt has worked at Nanticoke Weight Loss as a bariatric dietitian and will continue to see patients in addition to her new duties as Program Coordinator.

Ms. Hyatt graduated Summa Cum Laude from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. Prior to obtaining her registration, Ms. Hyatt worked as a nutrition educator in the school district of Philadelphia. She is a 2010 graduate of the dietetic internship at Immaculata University in Immaculata, Pennsylvania and is currently a licensed dietitian in Maryland and Delaware.

Richards Layton Attorneys Named on the Lawdragon 500 and Lawdragon Legends Lists

Richards, Layton & Finger directors Catherine Dearlove and Gregory Williams have been named in the 2018 edition of the Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America. Mr. Williams was also recognized as a Lawdragon Legend, an honor given to attorneys who have been listed among the acclaimed Lawdragon 500 for 10 years running. In recognition of their exceptional skill and significant accomplishments, Ms. Dearlove and Mr. Williams are among only eight lawyers and two judges in Delaware named on the 2018 Lawdragon 500 list.

Ms. Dearlove represents Delaware corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, and their officers, directors, and managers in corporate and fiduciary litigation, including M&A litigation, derivative suits, and corporate control disputes. She has appeared as lead or co-counsel in many notable cases in the Court of Chancery and the Delaware Supreme Court, and

also advises clients on corporate governance and fiduciary duties outside of litigation.

Mr. Williams, noted by Lawdragon as “a true legend in Delaware’s tight but elite corporate bar,” is past chair of Richards Layton’s Corporate Department and a past president of the firm. Widely recognized as a leading corporate litigator in Delaware, he represents corporations, corporate directors and officers, and board committees, providing advice to his clients and representing them in courts in Delaware and across the country.

Easterseals Welcomes New Board Member

Easterseals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore recently welcomed Mindi Moore Tunnell, of Lewes, to its Board of Directors.

“I am excited to be a part of an organization that has such far reaching effects in our community,” Tunnell said. “The services and resources that Easterseals provide are indispensable for children and adults with disabilities, as well as their families and caregivers.”

Tunnell is an attorney with Tunnell & Raysor, P.A. focusing on real estate settlements and land use matters. She is strongly involved in her community and serves on the Beebe Medical Foundation board of directors. She received her Bachelor’s degree in English from Salisbury State University and her law degree from Widener University School of Law.

Easterseals Receives $30,000 Grant from Bank of America

Easterseals of Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore announced that it has

Nanticoke Health Services Awards Scholarships to Local Students

Nanticoke Health Service (NHS) recently presented both the NHS Healthcare Education Scholarship and the Jill Hickman Nursing Scholarship to seven local high school graduates who plan to enter the healthcare field.

This year’s NHS Healthcare Education Scholarship recipients are Amy Craft, Kayla Dewey and Claire Trimble from Sussex Technical High School; Taylor Evick from Sussex Central High School; Nyra Giles from Laurel High School; and Darshil Patel from Woodbridge High School.

This year’s Jill Hickman Nursing Scholarship recipient is Bryanna RojasSotelo of Seaford Senior High School. The Jill Hickman Nursing Scholarship was established to honor Ms. Jill Hickman’s service and dedication to the profession of nursing. Ms. Hickman was a Laurel native and dedicated nurse of over forty year at Nanticoke Memorial Hospital.

Ms. Craft will attend Towson University to study Audiology/Deaf Studies, Ms. Dewey will attend Delaware Technical Community College to study Physical Therapy, Ms. Evick will attend Towson University to study to become a Physician Assistant, Ms. Giles will attend the University of Delaware to study Allied Health/Obstetrics, Mr. Patel will attend the University of Delaware to study Neuroscience, Ms. Rojas-Sotelo will attend Delaware Technical Community College to study nursing, and Ms. Trimble will attend Delaware Technical Community College to study Occupational Therapy.

Nanticoke Health Services would again like to congratulate the 2018 scholarship recipients. We wish them all good luck with their future endeavors!

received a $30,000 grant from Bank of America for its Supported Employment services, which help individuals with intellectual disabilities work in the community.

“Easterseals is pleased to partner with Bank of America to ensure that people with intellectual disabilities find meaningful work earning competitive wages,” Easterseals President/ CEO, Kenan Sklenar, says.

“Easterseals Supported Employment services supports people with disabilities in our community by helping them meet their full potential.”

Easterseals’ Supported Employment services provide participants with professional skills training, job search guidance and ongoing coaching to help them secure and manage successful employment with local organizations. Bank of America’s support for these services is part of its larger commitment to building a diverse workforce throughout Delaware.

“At Bank of America, our mission is to help foster communities where people of all abilities can thrive,” Chip Rossi, Delaware market president at Bank of America, said. “We are honored to partner with organizations, like Easterseals, that are on the front lines championing for diversity and inclusion in the workplace and throughout our region.”

Karins Engineering, Inc. Announces Expansion Plans and New Team Members

Karins Engineering, Inc., plans to expand into Maryland and further into Delaware. Karins is a client-focused engineering and surveying firm that goes beyond traditional design and planning.

“We are adding talented people to our Newark and Georgetown, DE, offices as well as to our office in Bryn Mawr, PA,” stated Dev Sitaram, PE and president of Karins Engineering, Inc.

Steve Monz Receives KSI Champion Award

Steve Monz, a local radio celebrity for Delmarva Broadcasting Company (DBC), was named a KSI Champion during KSI’s 56th Annual Awards Dinner. A KSI Champion is someone who fully believes in KSI’s mission and the abilities of people with disabilities. A Champion willingly shares their experiences with others, and conducts business with a spirit of partnership, always seeking the win/ win outcome.

Steve doesn’t just talk the talk, he walks the walk. He helps share KSI events on the air and on DBC’s Face book pages. He has provided amazing gift baskets for KSI fundraisers, and has been caught unexpectedly sharing fun DBC goodies along the course during KSI’s 3 Club Golf Tournament. He has participated for the last ten years in the “Lewes Polar Bear Plunge” and has gone “Over the Edge” to raise funds for Special Olympics. Steve is extremely supportive of his community, especially people with special needs.

John V. Mettee, III will be located at their headquarters in Newark, DE, and is a licensed professional land surveyor in MD, DE, VA, PA, NJ, and Washington, DC. Sam Caltagirone joined the survey department at the Georgetown, DE. He graduated from Delaware Technology Community College with an Introduction to AutoCAD Certification. Dave McCloskey is in the Bryn Mawr, PA office as a Staff Engineer, with a bachelor’s degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from West

Virginia University. Michael Brereton joined Karins and Associates full-time following his graduation from the University of Delaware, having completed his degree in Civil Engineering.

Matthew Johnson is an intern with the Survey Department in Newark, DE and has been spending time in the field and learning AutoCAD. Dante Falcone joined Karins and Associates at Momenee, Inc. in the Bryn Mawr, PA office and is currently working toward his under-

graduate degree in Civil Engineering at Temple University. Tyler Shoop is an intern in the Newark, DE, office and is majoring in Civil Engineering with a minor in Architecture at Delaware University. Austin Vantrease is located at the Newark, DE office and attends the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, PA, where he is majoring in Physics. He is located at the Newark, DE, office.

AKA Announces 2018 Firm Promotions

Albero, Kupferman & Associates, LLC (AKA), a certified public accounting and consulting firm headquartered in Wilmington DE, is pleased to announce the following well-deserved promotions:

Laura Lloyd, CPA has been promoted to Tax Supervisor. Laura has been with AKA for almost five years and has been vital to the Tax Team in advising individuals and small business clients on a variety of tax issues. Laura has also been a key contributor to internal firm initiatives, such as overseeing the internship program, presenting internal and external educational seminars, planning the firm’s social events and heading up the marketing/social media initiatives.

Stephanie Bupp has been promoted to a Senior Accountant. Steph joined AKA almost two years ago and has been a major contributor to both the Audit and Accounting and Tax departments. Stephanie works with a wide range of clients spanning many different industries. In addition, Steph has recently completed the CPA exam and will be applying for licensure as a Delaware CPA.

Richards Layton Elects New Directors and Counsel

Richards, Layton & Finger is pleased to announce it has elected Robert L.

Burns, Travis S. Hunter, and Amanda R. Steele as directors, and Drew G. Sloan as counsel of the firm.

“Our firm continues to attract exceptional talent,” said Greg Varallo, president of Richards Layton, “and we’re confident that this group of lawyers will carry on our long tradition of delivering outstanding service and excellent legal counsel.”

Robert Burns focuses his practice on corporate and commercial litigation in Delaware’s state and federal courts. Travis Hunter litigates complex disputes involving business acquisitions, trade secrets, insurance, products liability, and intellectual property. Amanda Steele focuses her practice on corporate bankruptcy, restructuring, and other insolvency matters, representing both creditors and debtors in all aspects of chapter 11 cases. Drew Sloan provides counsel and legal opinions in connection with a wide range of formation, operational, and governance matters involving Delaware limited partnerships and limited liability companies.

Cover & Rossiter New Location - Little Falls Centre One, Delaware

Cover & Rossiter is excited to announce that on July 2, 2018, they relocated from their Rockford Road office to their new office located on the first floor of Little Falls Centre One, Wilmington. Little Falls Centre One is conveniently located on Centerville Road between Lancaster Pike and Faulkland Road.

“We recognized that in order to be a CPA and advisory firm positioned for growth well into the future, we needed a new location to support our expanding client base,” said Managing Director, Marie Holliday. “We also wanted to create a unique, state-of-the-art work environment that would attract and retain the best talent.”

The new location is designed to meet the needs of clients and employees alike. Neil Kilian of NAI Emory Hill was helpful in the process of securing office space at Little Falls Centre One, a Class A, premier office building with multiple amenities and ample parking for clients and staff. “Our clients will love the convenient first floor location with plenty of parking in front,” Holliday added.

Despite the change in address, our clients can expect the same great people giving the same great advice. Come visit us at Little Falls Centre One and see what’s new!

Richards Layton’s Doneene Damon Named One of 2018’s “Most Influential Black Lawyers”

Doneene K. Damon, a director of Richards, Layton & Finger, has been honored as one of Savoy magazine’s 2018 “Most Influential Black Lawyers.” Identifying lawyers who are visionaries, leaders, and advocates, Savoy’s annual list features African-American partners from top law firms and general counsel from Fortune 1000 companies who have demonstrated exceptional legal achievement and leadership.

Ms. Damon is executive vice president of Richards Layton, co-chair of the firm’s Business Department, and chair of the Corporate Trust and Agency Services Group. In addition to her key roles within the firm, Ms. Damon has held many leadership positions in the American Bar Association, the Delaware State Bar Association, and other legal organizations, and serves on the boards of the Delaware Prosperity Project and the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights under Law. She is currently the chair of the board of directors of Christiana Care Health System.

Newsbites

Jewish Federation of Delaware receives 2018 APEX Award of Excellence

The Jewish Federation of Delaware has received an Award of Excellence in the 2018 APEX Awards for its monthly publication, the Jewish VOICE.

APEX 2018 – the 30th Annual Awards for Publication Excellence – is an international competition that recognizes outstanding publications from newsletters and magazines to annual reports, brochures and websites.

A total of 1,408 entries were evaluated within 12 major categories including: newsletters; magazines, journals and tabloids; annual reports; print media; electronic media; social media; apps; websites; campaigns, programs and plans; writing; design and illustration; and one-of-a-kind publications.

Richards Layton Attorneys Featured on the Benchmark 40 & Under Hot List

Richards, Layton & Finger directors Kelly Farnan, Kevin Gallagher, and Rudolf Koch have been recognized as leading litigation attorneys in the 2018 Benchmark 40 & Under Hot List. Benchmark Litigation selected the top litigators aged 40 and under who were involved in some of their firms’ most noteworthy cases and earned praise from their clients and peers.

Ms. Farnan, Mr. Gallagher, and Mr. Koch are among only ten Delaware lawyers chosen, and Richards Layton is the only firm in the state with three lawyers selected for the 40 & Under Hot List.

Masley Enterprises named Employer of the Year

Masley Enterprises has been selected to receive the Service Source Delaware

2018 Employer of the Year Award. This award recognizes Masley Enterprises as an organization that has supported the provision of training, assessment and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. Masley employs two clients from Service Source program.

“Service Source has provided Masley Gloves with support to their employed clients, assisting us in training and mentoring successful employees on our factory glove line,” says Donna Masley. Masley Enterprises also provided intern work, including providing Service Source clients the opportunity to learn a work environment in a real setting.

Additionally, a Masley hire won the Service Source 2017 Employee of the Year Award. Masley Enterprises is proud to be a partner with Service Source.

Masley Enterprises representing Delaware at Made in America Product Showcase

Masley Enterprises will represent the state of Delaware at the 2018 Made in America Product Showcase. President Donald J. Trump will host companies from across the country at the White House for the event, highlighting and celebrating each state’s effort and commitment to American made products. All 50 states will display items that are made and produced in the United States.

ILC DOVER was the Delaware representative in 2017. The Trump Administration honours the incredible workers and companies who make “Made in America” the world standard for quality and craftsmanship. Masley Enterprises is proud to attend this event to support the work of gifted and skilled tradespeople.

Belfint Lyons & Shuman, CPAs Announces Firm Promotions

It is with great pleasure that Belfint, Lyons & Shuman, P.A. (BLS), a certified public accounting and consulting firm with offices in Delaware and Pennsylvania, announce the following well-earned promotions.

Tyler Dorso has been promoted to Senior Accountant in the firm’s Tax & Small Business Department. He assists individuals and small businesses with tax planning, compliance, and financial statement services. Emily Schmidt, CPA has been promoted to Senior Accountant in the firm’s Accounting & Auditing Department. Emily has gained experience in audit and assurance services for privately held corporations, nonprofit organizations, and employee benefit plans and assists with tax services for individuals and small businesses.

Tyler Starr, CPA has been promoted to Staff II Accountant in the firm’s Rotational Development Program. He provides compliance services to individuals, small businesses, and nonprofits, as well as assisting the firm’s employee benefit plan audit team. Val Allston has been promoted to Lead Bookkeeper in the firm’s Tax & Small Business Department. She provides back office functions, outsourced accounting, and software conversion for a variety of clients, including consulting on the most effective use of accounting software. Sinclair Gibore has been promoted to Senior IT Specialist in the firm’s subsidiary, BL&S Technologies. He provides IT support to BLS CPAs, along with many BL&S Technology clients.

Gardner Named Director of Cancer Care Services at Nanticoke

Nanticoke Health Services is proud to announce that Rachel Gardner, RN,

BSN, has been promoted to Director of Cancer Care Services. In this position, Ms. Gardner will manage operations that continue to provide lower Sussex County with quality cancer care at the Allen Cancer Center at Nanticoke Memorial Hospital. This includes planning for strategic and operational needs, resource allocation, administrative duties, marketing, and leadership of staff.

Ms. Gardner has been an employee with Nanticoke Health Services for the past 35 years. During her time at Nanticoke, she has touched almost every nursing area throughout the organization either providing direct care or leadership. She has served in multiple disciplines including charge nurse, mentor, manager, and director.

Ms. Gardner received her Associate’s Degree in Nursing from Delaware Technical Community College in 1982 and received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Chamberlain School of Nursing in 2015. She is a member of numerous infection prevention, quality and safety committees within the organization. Among these several committees, she has served as chair of the hospital’s Fall and Clinical Alarms committees and is an active member of the Leadership Coordinating Committee.

WSFS Announces Leadership Succession Plan: Mark A. Turner to be elevated to Executive Chairman of the Board, Rodger Levenson to be named President and CEO

Changes will take effect January 1, 2019.

WSFS Financial Corporation

(NASDAQ:WSFS), the parent company of WSFS Bank, announced that effective January 1, 2019, Mark A. Turner, Chairman, President and CEO, will

DEMEC Commissions New 1.5MW Smyrna Solar Facility

The Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation (DEMEC), in partnership with American Municipal Power (AMP), a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, and the Town of Smyrna celebrated the completion of the Smyrna Solar Facility community solar project. The Smyrna Solar Facility is designed to deliver 1.5 megawatts (MW) of electric energy to residents and businesses located in the Town of Smyrna. That is enough to power 158 homes, on average, for an entire year. DEMEC’s latest community solar project brings their total solar generation over 26MW, taking DEMEC and its member communities over 50% of the solar generation in the state of Delaware.

“We are pleased to offer solar generation that is both beneficial and economical to our members’ customers. Thanks to the partnership of AMP, NextEra Energy Resources, and the Town of Smyrna, we are able to provide solar energy that is on par with the price of fossil fuels,” said Patrick McCullar, DEMEC President & CEO.

become the Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors and that Rodger Levenson, WSFS’ Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, will become the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board.

As Executive Chairman, Mr. Turner will lead the Board of Directors with Lead Independent Director Eleuthère I. du Pont and facilitate the seamless transition to Mr. Levenson. He will also leverage his decades of experience in and knowledge of local markets and the banking industry

to serve as an external champion for the Company, further enhance WSFS’ culture and reputation, and help shape the next chapter of the Bank’s growth story.

Dr. Anthony Named Chief Medical Officer at Nanticoke Health Services

Nanticoke Health Services is proud to announce that Harry C. Anthony, Jr., MD, has been named Chief Medical Officer at Nanticoke. In this role, Dr. Anthony will be responsible for heading

the Nanticoke Physician Network (NPN) leadership team and interacting with senior leadership at the hospital. He will also supervise all NPN employed physicians and advanced practice clinicians while maintaining a relationship with the hospital’s medical staff.

Dr. Anthony received his Doctor of Medicine from the Stony Brook University School of Medicine in Stony Brook, New York, and completed his residency at South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside, New York. He has practiced Family Medicine for 21 years and sees patients at Nanticoke Primary Care in Georgetown.

Dr. Anthony currently serves on the eBright Health ACO Board of Directors and has previously served as Medical Director of the Nanticoke Physician Network. He played a crucial role as clinical lead for Nanticoke’s new Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and is a member of the American Association of Family Practitioners.

University of Delaware Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance Selected as Successor Organization to IRRC Institute

Weinberg Center to Receive Grant in Excess of $1 Million, Expand Research Initiatives and Sustain Full Public Access to IRRCi Research Library

The Investor Responsibility Research Center Institute (IRRCi) today announced that it has selected the John L. Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance (Weinberg Center) at the University of Delaware as its successor organization. The Weinberg Center will receive a grant from IRRCi in excess of $1 million as part of the successor transition. With these funds,

the Weinberg Center will materially expand its environmental, social, corporate governance and capital market research, and also maintain the full IRRCi research library so that more than 75 research reports remain publicly available at no cost. The Weinberg Center also will continue to fund and manage the annual IRRCi Investor Research Award that recognizes outstanding practitioner and academic research.

Weiner Benefits Employee Earns CEBS Designation

Debra S. Shears, CEBS, CHRS, GBDS, Partner, Weiner Benefits Group in Wilmington, Delaware, has been designated a Certified Employee Benefit Specialist® (CEBS) by the International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Ms. Shears, who has been in the insurance industry for 28 years, qualified for the designation by passing a series of college level national examinations on employee benefits subjects, and by meeting and attesting to high standards of business and professional conduct. Ms. Shears is one of more than 14,000 graduates.

KSI Celebrates CARF Accreditation

KSI is proud to report that CARF International, (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) has again presented a three-year accreditation to KSI, and has done so continuously since 1982. CARF sets very rigorous international standards and promotes best practices for organizations that provide health and human services.

CARF surveyors spent two days at KSI researching KSI practices, programs and

procedures, talking with staff and interacting with the community about KSI’s quality services. The staff at KSI works year-round to ensure quality standards are being met. CARF surveyors listed among its strengths KSI’s person centered programming, risk management procedures and focus on quality services.

The Autism Society of America 2018 Adam Heavner National Award is given to The Precisionists, Inc. (TPI)

The Autism Society of America (ASA) has bestowed its top business award to The Precisionists, Inc. (TPI), a Wilmington, Delaware-based company who will create over 10,000 jobs for adults with autism and other developmental disabilities by the year 2025.

“When properly assessed, trained and employed, people with autism and other developmental disabilities are extremely high-performing employees in critical and challenging jobs, such as administrative business functions, software testing and data analytics,” says Ernie Dianastasis, CEO of The Precisionists. “When you consider that more than 80 percent of people with autism in the country are either unemployed or underemployed, we are making a true difference in engaging a significant, untapped and high-performing labor force.”

Participants in TPI’s program are identified, assessed, trained and employed by The Precisionists and carry out project-based work, including software development, software testing, database analytics, cybersecurity, back-office accounting, data entry and auditing reports. Some of these tasks are performed on-site at member companies’ locations; and others are performed at TPI’s Innovation & Technology Centers throughout the U.S.

Navient Foundation gives $10,000 grant to support college completion programs at University of Delaware

This summer, incoming freshmen enrolled in the University of Delaware’s NUCLEUS Program will take steps to prepare for life and academic success at the university. The Navient Foundation, the company’s philanthropic fund, contributed $10,000 to the program to help cover costs like tuition, fees and books.

“This generous donation assists the NUCLEUS program in accelerating its efforts to provide outreach to incoming freshmen to deliver additional academic support to foster students to attain a college degree,” said Rosalind Johnson, assistant dean of student success, College of Arts and Sciences.

Students will participate in a five-week summer program prior to the start of their freshman year. The summer program includes a course and a weekly student success seminar designed to help students adapt to life and learning at the university. Upon completion, students will earn four college credits.

Concord Plaza Office Park Has Been Reimagined as a Mixed-Use Community Now Known as the Concord

Wilmington-based developer, The Buccini/Pollin Group, Inc. (BPG), along with ResideBPG and BPG|360 are pleased to announce Phase I of construction at 3535 Silverside Road, is nearing completion with two restaurants by Platinum Dining Group, retail, spacious office buildings and luxury apartments. The new mixed-use high-end community atmosphere has been rebranded The Concord and when completed will consist of four 5-story and two four-story residential and retail buildings along with the existing office buildings and one new 60,000 square foot office (build-to-suit) building.

ResideBPG will be managing the residential portion of the development as BPG’s premier full-service residential management and leasing company. The office portfolio will continue to be managed by BPG|360, a full-service real estate asset and property management company.

Richards Layton’s Trusts & Estates Group Recognized in Chambers HNW

Richards, Layton & Finger’s trusts and estates practice has received the highest ranking in Chambers HNW, the international guide to the world’s leading high net worth advisors.

The 2018 guide also recognizes all of the firm’s trusts & estates directors—W. Donald Sparks, II, F. Peter Conaty, Jr., and Beth Gansen Knight—for excellence in Private Wealth Law. Chambers notes that Richards, Layton & Finger is “a top name in Delaware” with “a stellar reputation in the market.” Clients report that the firm has “a great bench, and they have always been known to provide great and high-end service for clients” (Chambers HNW, 2018).

Morris Nichols Receives Band 1 Rankings from Chambers HNW

In its 2018 guide, Chambers High Net Worth ranked Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP in the highest tier for Private Wealth Law in Delaware. Sources report the Trusts, Estates & Tax team is “extremely high-quality” with “good strength and depth.” A market insider enthuses, “We go to them all the time as my colleagues and I think they are amazing. They are our first point of reference.”

Three Morris Nichols attorneys appear in the individual rankings of leading Delaware Private Wealth Law lawyers.

Todd Flubacher (Band 1) is “a wonderful lawyer and one of the best in the business.” Peers applaud his skill, noting “he can advise on anything to do with Delaware structures.”

Tom Pulsifer (Band 1) earns high praise as “a pioneer in this field” with sources reporting “he is a super bright guy and has very strong experience.”

Chambers sources say Kimberly Gill McKinnon (Band 2) is “fantastic and an excellent writer,” “a very talented young lawyer,” and “very thorough, smart.”

Morris Nichols remains the only law firm with two attorneys ranked Band 1 on the Delaware Private Wealth Law table.

Wohlsen Celebrates Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony at DE Army National Guard’s Field House

Wohlsen Construction Company and the Delaware Army National Guard celebrated the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the new, state-of-the-art Field Maintenance Shop on Friday, July 13th, in Dagsboro, DE.

Designed by STV Inc., the 16,400-square-foot maintenance shop will house vehicle maintenance services and on-the-job-training. Equipped with oversized work bays and overhead cranes, training areas, offices, and locker rooms, the facility provides guardsmen and guardswomen with a one-stop facility that enhances their ability to respond to situations and improves readiness.

“It’s good for the Citizen Soldiers that they have a brand-new building to work out of,” said adjutant general Maj. Gen. Carol Timmons. “They now have a great place to work, and a great shop to train and learn their skills.”

The Field Maintenance Shop can also serve as a relief station for residents of Sussex County during snowstorms, flood, hurricanes, or other disasters.

This design/build project was designed and constructed to achieve LEED Silver, and utilizes several sustainable features including geothermal wells and a new underground stormwater management system.

Jewish Federation of Delaware Named 2018 dotCOMM Awards Gold Winner

The Jewish Federation of Delaware received Gold Award recognition in the 2018 dotCOMM Awards, an international competition honoring excellence in web creativity and digital communication. Federation’s website, ShalomDelaware.org, landed a Gold Award in the Nonprofit Website category, positioned as the portal to Jewish life in Delaware and the Brandywine Valley.

The competition is unique in that

it reflects the role of creatives in the dynamic web that is transforming how we market and communicate products and services. Award categories represent the elements of the web’s evolving tools.

“ShalomDelaware.org serves as Federation’s primary online communication vehicle and as such, must provide an easy to navigate platform that informs, inspires and builds community,” stated Seth J. Katzen, Chief Executive Officer of the Jewish Federation of Delaware. “Federation’s website is an online extension of our brand messaging, ‘We Grow Stronger TOGETHER’.”

CHAMBER SCENE

Lots of friendly faces made appearances at

The State Chamber’s DYPN braved the rain at their annual golf outing, where young professionals teamed up with mentor leaders

Short Order Production House hosted a networking

Delaware State University in their Renewable Energy

Committees 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.

Small Business Alliance

The Small Business Alliance serves Delaware businesses of fewer than 150 employees by coordinating with the Chamber at-large in legislative advocacy. The SBA and DSCC work to ensure the business climate in Delaware is conducive to the support of new and existing small businesses in a dynamic economy, safeguarding their long-term competitiveness and the retention of private-sector jobs.

Contact Kelly Wetzel at (302) 576-6564 or kwetzel@dscc.com.

Delaware Young Professionals Network

The Delaware Young Professionals Network was formed to encourage young professionals, aged 21 to 40, in Delaware to get involved in the Chamber, develop relationships with peers, colleagues and mentors, and encourage personal growth through professional development opportunities.

Contact Kelly Wetzel at (302) 576-6564 or kwetzel@dscc.com.

Ambassador Committee

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.

Economic Development Committee

The Economic Development Committee promotes policies and regulations that facilitate the expansion of existing companies, and advocates for practices that expand the tax base and create higher-income employment opportunities. The committee will also act as a key resource for businesses that are considering locating in Delaware by partnering with the Delaware Prosperity Partnership, County and City Economic Development Offices and local chambers, to promote innovative strategies that foster a business climate that attracts new and cutting-edge companies to Delaware.

Contact Mark DiMaio at (302) 576-6575 or mdimaio@dscc.com.

Environmental Committee

The Environmental Committee works closely with the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) and is

involved in the review and shaping of environmental legislation and regulation.

Tax Committee

The Tax Committee reviews tax legislation, and lobbies for the reduction of personal and business taxes in Delaware.

Employer Advocacy and Education Committee

The Employer Advocacy and Education Committee discusses and evaluates human resource and personnel issues, advises Chamber leadership on the impact of proposed legislative and regulatory measures, and educates the membership about regulatory requirements affecting their bottom line.

Healthcare Committee

Members of the Health Care Committee discuss key health care issues facing Delaware businesses and provide feedback to the Chamber legislative team to assist in formulating policy.

Infrastructure and Transportation Committee

The Infrastructure and Transportation Committee monitors issues, policies, and trends affecting Delaware’s infrastructure and transportation systems, as well as advises the Chamber’s Board of Directors on related policy issues.

Joint Military Affairs Committee

The Joint Military Affairs Committee aims to build efforts to support the hiring of military veterans, and to support the local branches of the military on other relevant issues. Its goals include building business relationships to support the military community, and to create jobs for reserve components and veterans.

Contact James DeChene at (302) 576-6560 or jdechene@ dscc.com.

Chamber Member Delmarva Power received the 2018 Warrior Friendly Award from the Joint Military Affairs Committee for outstanding commitment to military veterans and their families in the workplace.

Delaware State Chamber of Commerce

SMALL STATE. BIG BENEFITS.

UPS Shipping Discounts

Save up to 34% on a broad portfolio of shipping services including:

• Up to 34% on UPS Air letters including UPS Next Day Air®*

• Up to 30% on UPS Air packages (1 lb.+)

• Up to 32% on UPS International imports and exports

• Up to 16% on UPS Ground shipments

• Savings begin at 70% on UPS Freight® shipments over 150 lbs. DSCC members can receive these discounts even if you already have a UPS account. Whether you need your documents or packages to arrive the next day or are looking for the most affordable shipping option, UPS understands the importance of reliability, speed, and cost. Plus, the more you ship, the more you can save with UPS.

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

UD Online MBA Scholarship

Through an Affiliate Partnership with the Lerner College of Business & Economics, Chamber members will receive a 10% discount off of their tuition for the University of Delaware Online MBA Degree Program.

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

Prescription Drug Discount Card

The Delaware Drug Card will provide savings of up to 75% 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.

Member-to-Member Discount Directory

State Chamber members offer substantial savings on products and services to fellow members. To see the full

list of discounts online, visit www.dscc.com and click on Member2Member Discounts.

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.

Certificate of Origin Documents

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

Delmarva Broadcasting Company

15% 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.

Dental and Vision Plan

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

Constant Contact Email Marketing Service

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

Continuing Education Certificate Discounts

The University of Delaware offers a 10% discount to State Chamber members when they choose to sign up for continuing education certificate programs.

LegalShield

All Delaware State Chamber members and member companies now have the opportunity to access affordable legal services. LegalShield is one of the nation’s leading providers of legal safeguards for individuals, families, small businesses and employee groups.

Member companies can join the more than 37,000 companies currently offering LegalShield’s personal legal plans as a voluntary benefit to their employees. Through LegalShield’s personal legal plans, employees gain access to unlimited personal legal advice from LegalShield provider attorneys on topics such as mortgages, wills, contracts, and more. Employees also have the option to enroll in LegalShield’s identity theft plans for the added benefits of identity monitoring

and identity restoration services. LegalShield’s personal legal plans also effectively reduce employee stress and absenteeism while driving increased productivity.

The Small Business Plan provides member companies with legal advice and counsel on any business legal issue, contract and document review, debt collection, trial defense and more. In eliminating cost barriers associated with obtaining legal counsel, LegalShield’s Small Business Plan ensures members have access to the legal support they need to grow and protect their businesses. Currently, LegalShield services 140,000 businesses.

LegalShield now offers Launch – a superior program that helps people start and protect new business entities, such as DBAs, LLCs and corporations. LegalShield helps people looking to start their own business. To get started with LegalShield, visit www.legalshield.com/info/dscc. For more information, contact Independent Associate Mike Schwartz at (302) 275-8898 or visit www.legalshield.com/hub/mikeschwartz.

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

CALL THE CHAMBER

The State Chamber of Commerce staff works for you, serving our member companies and organizations statewide. This State Chamber staff directory lists phone numbers and email addresses, as well as individual areas of responsibility. If you need business assistance or information, please don’t hesitate to call.

Michael J. Quaranta President 576-6585 mquaranta@dscc.com

Cheryl Corn Chief Operating Officer 576-6572 ccorn@dscc.com

Linda D. Walsh Accounting Associate 576-6569 leriksen@dscc.com

Ken Evans Account Executive 576-6576 kevans@dscc.com

Denée Crumrine Communications Manager Delaware Business Production Digital Communications Website 576-6566 dcrumrine@dscc.com

James DeChene Sr. Vice President, Government Affairs Small Business Alliance 576-6560 jdechene@dscc.com

Mark A. DiMaio Director, Grassroots and Research 576-6575 mdimaio@dscc.com

William H. Hastings, Jr. Controller 576-6567 whastings@dscc.com

Fred Miller Advertising Sales Member Retention 576-6579 fmiller2@dscc.com

Bill Osborne Interim President, DPPI 576-6590 bosborne@dscc.com

Matt Volk Digital Advertising Sales 576-6571 mvolk@dscc.com

Chuck James Sr. Vice President, Membership Ambassador Committee 576-6562 cjames@dscc.com

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: delawarebusinessmagazine.com facebook.com/delawarestatechamber twitter: @Destatechamber

Kelly Wetzel Assistant to the President, Events Manager Delaware Young Professionals Network 576-6564 kwetzel@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.

How can you ensure the people you care about will be taken care of when you move on?

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For a deeper understanding of business transition planning, call Tony Lunger and his team at 302-651-8800. Download our research The Power of Planning at wilmingtontrust.com/businessowners.

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* Private Banking is the marketing name for an offering of M&T Bank deposit and loan products and services.

Investments: • Are NOT FDIC-Insured • Have NO Bank Guarantee • May Lose Value Wilmington Trust is a registered service mark. Wilmington Trust Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of M&T Bank Corporati on. Wilmington Trust Company, operating in Delaware only, Wilmington Trust, N.A., M&T Bank, and certain other affiliates provide various fiduciary and non-fiduciary services, including trustee, custodial, agency, investment management, and other services. International corporate and instit utional services are offered through Wilmington Trust Corporation’s international affiliates. Wilmington Trust Investment Advisors, Inc., a subsidiary of M&T Bank, is an SEC-registered investment advisor providing investment management se rvices to Wilmington Trust and M&T affiliates and clients. Loans, credit cards, retail and business deposits, and other business and personal banking services and products are o ffered by M&T Bank, member FDIC. ©2018 Wilmington Trust Corporation and its affiliates. All rights reserved. ADV2054

isn’t a substitute for a plan.