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Newsbites
Buccini/Pollin Group Appoints Chief Operating Officer
Wilmington-based developer the Buccini/Pollin Group (BPG) welcomed Ann Shepard Visalli to the position of chief operating officer. Visalli joins BPG with over 30 years of experience in budget, finance, and economic development. She had a successful 22-year career in Delaware state government, which included serving as the director of the Office of Management and Budget under former Governor Jack Markell. Most recently, Visalli served as the chief operating officer for St. Andrew’s School in Middletown, Delaware.
Although most known for its real estate investments, BPG is also a multifaceted operating company with various businesses in food and beverage, sports and entertainment, retail and parking, and commercial and residential property management.
As chief operating officer, Visalli will be responsible for the oversight of financial operations for all BPG operating entities including budgeting and forecasting, long term financial planning, and strategy. She will also directly supervise human resources, information technology, risk management, marketing and, in conjunction with asset management, and commercial and residential operations and leasing.
“Ann’s extensive experience as a strong, compassionate leader and her financial acumen will be critical in supporting BPG’s strategic growth. She will play an integral role in continuing to build a strong company culture across all divisions at BPG.” said Chris Buccini, co-president of the Buccini/Pollin Group.
Food Bank of Delaware Receives Grant
The Food Bank of Delaware received a $20,000 grant from ACME Foundation’s Nourishing Neighbors Program. The grant was provided as part of the company’s O Organics “Fight Hunger, Serve Hope” cause program to combat hunger during the summer months when households with school-aged children face higher rates of food insecurity. According to Feeding America, during the summer months, as many as 22 million children lose access to the free or reduced meal programs they rely on during the school year.
For every customer purchase of the company’s private label O Organics Product, the brand donated one meal to a child in need. The grant awarded to Food Bank of Delaware will enable the donation of 80,000 meals for local children through the weekend Backpack Program.
“We’re excited to partner with ACME to make sure children in our have access nutritious foods over weekend,” said Food of Delaware President CEO Cathy Kanefsky. “Together with ACME, we’ll continue to tackle the ongoing food insecurity issues in our community.”
The Food Bank’s Backpack Program provides food year-round to children in need for weekends and holidays when school is not in session and federal
school meal programs are not available. Backpacks are stocked with kid-friendly, food including shelf-stable milk juice, meals such as macaroni and spaghetti and meatballs and stew, granola bars, apple sauce, cereal, and more.
Sussex Family YMCA Welcomes New Hire
YMCA of Delaware recently welcomed LoriKay Paden as community vice president and executive director of the Sussex Family YMCA. In her role, LoriKay will lead the Sussex Family Y located on Church Street in Rehoboth and will also provide leadership support to the Dover YMCA.
“The opportunity to join this incredible team excites me to no end,” said Paden. “To see the Y’s impact throughout the state is awe-inspiring. I’m grateful for the opportunity and can’t wait to help improve outcomes for our members and communities.”
Whisman Giordano & Associates Receives National Recognition
Whisman Giordano and Associates, LLC (WGA) was ranked as one of the top 100 accounting firms to work for in the United States by Accounting Today Magazine. This is the second time in two years WGA has earned this recognition. The firm moved up nine spots on the list between 2022 and 2023.
Lisa K. DeRose, chief operating officer, said, “We’re honored to win this award again because it’s a true reflection of the positive and caring environment we’ve created as a team. Our clients experience this firsthand because they can see and feel how we value them and their trust. It’s the importance that we place on our relationships with clients and each other that makes all the difference.”
Navient Named a Best Place to Work for Caregivers
Navient, a leader in technologyenabled education finance and business processing solutions, has been recognized for the second year as a Best Place to Work for Working Daughters, according to Working Daughter, a community for women balancing eldercare with their careers. The annual list recognizes companies that support family caregivers and raises awareness of how businesses help make caregiving and professional success compatible.
Working Daughter finds that more than one in six working Americans assist with the care of a family member, relative, or friend who is elderly or has a disability. Seventy percent of those caregivers suffer workrelated difficulties due to their dual roles.
“We’re proud of the employee benefits Navient offers to help relieve the unique pressures of working caregivers,” said Mike Smith, Navient’s chief human resources officer. “From dependent care assistance and employee resource groups to mental health and wellbeing programs, we’re doing our very best to ensure our team’s success and help each employee fulfill commitments to families of all kinds.”
DEMEC Launches Joint Lineworker Training Yard
The Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation (DEMEC) celebrated the groundbreaking of their Joint Lineworker Training Yard, which is designed to support workforce development and safety training for apprentice and journeyman lineworkers for DEMEC’s municipal member utilities. Phases are planned to include climbing, transformers, substations, bucket trucks, meters, and other trainings.
DEMEC’s training yard in Smyrna will be the only of one its kind in the state of Delaware, offering local, certified training for new and seasoned lineworkers at a 66% savings to member communities.
“As a joint action agency and not-for-profit, DEMEC is always looking for economies of scale opportunities to bring our members additional savings.
Safety and education are part of our organization’s core values, and lineworkers are the backbone of public power. We are pleased to support our members’ workforce, resilience, and reliability through a diverse training yard,” said Kimberly Schlichting, DEMEC president and CEO.
PCOnline Chooses Newark for Strategic Spinoff Location
EtailFlow LLC, a supply chain management company created as a strategic spinoff from Delaware-based national ecommerce leader PCOnline earlier this year, will grow its operations alongside its parent company in Newark.
PCOnline leadership actively searched sites in Delaware and throughout the region for a new location to grow EtailFlow before selecting space adjacent to its 80-employee headquarters. The EtailFlow facility will add at least 45 jobs and feature a fulfillment center; a fully customized ERP system, including a smart warehouse; fulfillment of Seller-Fulfilled Prime orders; Fulfilled by Amazon preparation services; direct business-to-consumer orders; purchasing agent services; and return processing services.
“We’re pleased that EtailFlow LLC is expanding their operations and creating new jobs in Newark,” said Governor John Carney. “We remain committed to helping entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses here in Delaware. This decision reaffirms that Delaware is the ideal place for businesses to thrive.”
“At EtailFlow, our core mission is to redefine the supply chain industry while leaving a meaningful impact on our community,” said Charles Zhang, chief executive officer, EtailFlow. “We are dedicated to generating more employment prospects for our local community, ultimately infusing vitality in the Delaware economy.”
Vance Kershner Honored with the Freedom Award
Trailblazer and champion for entrepreneurs, Vance Kershner—founder and CEO of LabWare—was recognized with the esteemed Pete du Pont Freedom Award in September.
Kershner’s introduction was delivered by his children, Katie and Kyle Kershner, who provided a touching glimpse into Vance’s journey as an entrepreneur. They recounted his early days working in his parents’ soft pretzel factory, his tenure at DuPont, and the launch of LabWare in 1987, which has since become a leading global software company in laboratory informatics. Kershner continues to serve as the president and CEO of LabWare, a company still headquartered in Wilmington, DE, with a sprawling international presence encompassing 40 offices across 6 continents.
In addition to his role at LabWare, Kershner wears many other hats. He is a general partner at Leading Edge Ventures, chairs the Advisory Council for UD’s College of Engineering, holds a significant stake in Scrub Island, and co-owns Buckleys Tavern, among numerous other endeavors.
“I am so honored to be your recipient of this Freedom Award, but also so humbled. The goals of the foundation to reinvent Delaware by fostering education, scientific innovation and entrepreneurship are truly special. And I make a promise that I will do whatever I can to help this mission to succeed and further Delaware for the benefit of everybody,” said Kershner.
Blue Blaze Associates Named to Philadelphia100®
Blue Blaze Associates has been named for a second time to the Philadelphia100®, an annual list honoring the fastest-growing, privatelyheld companies in the tri-state area. The integrity of this merit-based selection process has made the Philadelphia100® one of the most sought-after awards in the region for the past 35 years.
“We’re privileged to stand with these other Delaware-based companies as representatives of our state’s economic vitality,” said Wendy Scott, chief strategy officer and co-owner of Blue Blaze. “This recognition spotlights my team’s commitment over the last three years to strengthening our clients’ brands during a time where effective marketing and creative solutions are more crucial than ever.”
Beebe Center for Breast Health Opens in Rehoboth
Beebe Healthcare opened the Beebe Center for Breast Health in October at its new location on the Rehoboth Health Campus. The site was previously a Walk-In Care Center but was remodeled and designed for patients.
“Throughout my career, I’ve learned that receiving care in a familiar, welcoming environment improves a patient’s experience during such a difficult journey. It is one less thing you have to worry about if all your services are in one place,” said Diana Dickson-Witmer, MD. “What Beebe and our team have done is special—we have built a destination for breast care in Sussex County that will deliver a superior patient experience.”
The Center is the only breast center in Delaware that is accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers and was one of only six such programs selected from the 600 nationally to pilot new standards for the NAPBC, a testament to Beebe’s focus on quality and safety in addition to delivery of patient centered care.
