[Not a valid template](Editor’s note: Since releases and higher-resolution photos under 1 MB to drainey@delawarebusinessnow.com).
Newark names finance chief
Newark City Manager Carol Houck announced that Louis Vitola is the new Director of Finance. Vitola has most recently served with the State of Delaware as Director of Finance and Investment Services. Prior to his role with the state, Vitola was Director of Finance for Middletown, Delaware.
While serving as Director of Finance for Middletown, Vitola restructured general obligation debt saving taxpayers over $1.4 million, managed the issuance of $62 million in general obligation debt, developed annual operating and capital program budgets of $35 million and $10 million, respectively, and directed financial operations of electric, water, and sewer utilities grossing as much as $26 million in revenues – Newark posted $23.8 million in utility revenues in 2012.
Vitola spent several years with private sector businesses as a Financial Analyst. He received his undergraduate degree in Finance-Business Administration from the University of Delaware and a Masters in Business Administration from Temple University.
“I am very pleased to be welcoming Lou to our management team and for him to assume the leadership role of our Finance Department,” says Houck. “I believe Lou is uniquely positioned to serve our community and organization and to do so quickly given his State of Delaware and municipal experience. His enthusiasm to work with our departments, Deputy City Manager Andrew Haines, and me to ensure our ability to serve our community well into the future was another important aspect of Lou being the right fit for this position.”
Upon Vitola’s arrival, work began on the preparation of the 2014 operating budget. Additionally, he will jump right in to represent Newark with the Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation, which he is already familiar with as both Newark and Middletown are members.
Chief prosecutor
Deputy Attorney General Joseph Grubb has been named to the position of Chief New Castle County Prosecutor, the Attorney General’s Office announced.
Grubb, an experienced prosecutor and manager who has tried a full range of criminal cases, will direct more than 100 prosecutors, legal support, and victim services personnel who prosecute criminal cases throughout New Castle County.
As Chief County Prosecutor, Grubb reports to State Prosecutor Kathleen Jennings. “Joe is a first-class prosecutor who has successfully prosecuted a full range of cases from misdemeanors to murders. He is a respected manager who knows how to set goals and accomplish them,” Attorney General Beau Biden said. “He will be a tremendous asset as he employs his knowledge and experience to helping us keep our communities throughout New Castle County safe and secure.”
Grubb joined the Delaware Department of Justice as a Deputy Attorney General in 2005 after graduating from Widener Law School. He has prosecuted cases in the misdemeanor crimes, Domestic Violence, and Felony Trial Units.
Since October, 2010 he has been assistant unit head in the New Castle County Felony Trial Unit. Grubb has handled numerous homicide cases, including the successful prosecutions of defendants Luis Sierra, Davear Whittle, and Monir George, as well as scores of violent gang, gun, and drug cases.
He also led the prosecutions of a trio of defendants – Leshawn Washington, Anthony Stanley, Tyrone Walker Jr. – who were charged with a violent shootout in the crowded First State Bowling Center in January, 2011. Each of the three defendant received more than 45 years in prison.
Grubb succeeds Diane Coffey, a 27-year veteran who served with distinction as Chief County Prosecutor for two years. Coffee most recently helped lead the successful prosecution of convicted killer James Cooke, will serve as an attorney in the Department’s Appeals Unit.
Masllowsky joins WSFS
WSFS Financial Corp., the parent company of WSFS Bank, announced that Eric S. Maslowsky has joined WSFS Investment Group, Inc. as a Financial Advisor. WSFS Investment Group is a subsidiary of WSFS Bank, providing brokerage, retirement and insurance services.
Previously Maslowsky was employed with Morgan Stanley Wealth Management in Berwyn, Pennsylvania where he worked as a Financial Advisor to provide financial planning analysis, investment and portfolio management, as well as business 401(k) plan administration and management.
Maslowsky attended Purdue University in Indiana where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and received his Master of Business Administration in International Business from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is an INVEST Registered Representative and holds his Series 7 and 66 securities registrations and his Life and Health Insurance License.
Maslowsky resides in Berwyn, Pennsylvania with his wife and three children.
Bintz joins Lightwave
Lou Bintz has joined the Lightwave Logic team in Newark as its Product Development Manager.
Bintz has nearly two decades of experience in research and business development activities involving fiber and polymer optical sensors, electro-optic modulators, high power laser diodes, HDTV CRT systems, and OLED design fabrication and testing. His technical management experience includes principal investigator for a USAF electro-optic polymer modulator government contract, group leader of image quality and electron deflection units for Philips Global USA, and engineering manager of process development at Nlight.
He was an original member of Lumera and was the lead device scientist whose duties included device design and modeling capabilities, optical testing specification and build out of optical test and characterization facilities, as well complete ground up build out of class 100 clean room electro-optic waveguide fabrication facilities. He received a tB.S. in engineering physics and M.S. in electrical engineering degrees from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Lightwave Logic, Inc. is a development stage company that p is moving toward commercializatio of organic polymers for applications in electro-optical device markets. Electro-optical devices convert data from electric signals into optical signals for use in high-speed fiber-optic telecommunications systems and optical computers.
Smith named president
Spicer Mullikin Funeral Homes announced that co-owner Matthew C. Smith was recently inducted as president of the Delaware State Funeral Directors Association.
Smith is originally from New Castle and now lives in Middletown.
He is a graduate of William Penn High School and holds an associate’s degree from Catonsville Community College in mortuary science. He is a charter member and past president of the Rotary Club of Southern New Castle County in Middletown.
Spicer-Mullikin has locations New Castle County.
