The Delaware State Chamber of Commerce awarded the Marvin S. Gilman Bowl to Julian H. “Pete” Booker CEO of Delmarva Broadcasting Co. at the 16th Annual Marvin S. Gilman Superstars in Business Awards luncheon on Wednesday.
The event was held in a packed Gold Ballroom at the Hotel duPont that earlier honored small businesses and nonprofits.
The program included video tributes to the Superstars in Business award winners, as well as keynote remarks by author and small business expert, Steven Strauss. Click here for a list of winners
The Gilman Bowl was established as a tribute to small business leadership. It is named in memory of Marvin S. Gilman, who served as a business and community leader at Gilman Development Co., a developer and builder.
The identity of the winners of the Gilman Bowl was held confidential until its presentation at the awards luncheon.
A University of Delaware grad, Booker began his career on air, Booker became program director of Delmarva Broadcasting station WDEL in 1980. By 1993, he began serving as vice president and general manager of WDEL and WSTW, before ascending to president and CEO upon the retirement of C. Robert Taylor. Taylor passed away recently.
Delmarva Broadcasting is part of a family company that also owns newspapers in Lancaster, Pa.
In 1996 Delmarva Broadcasting began a program of growth through acquisition. Today, in addition to WDEL and WSTW, DBC now owns and operates 10 other radio stations throughout the Delmarva Peninsula and an interactive and internet content, design and e-commerce division.
Under Booker’s leadership, the company has maintained and expanded its commitment to creating unique and compelling local content. More than 935,000 people tune in every week to Delmarva Broadcasting radio stations, according to the company.
While radio has suffered some of the same problems as print media, Delmarva has found opportunities, one recent example being the highly successful reformatting of 105.9 in Sussex County into a news and talk station.
Booker has been active in nonprofit and charity organizations. In 2004 he founded an organization called SmartDrive, which is dedicated improving the driving skills of teenaged drivers. This year alone, 40,000 students from 169 high schools in the region will participate in the program.
Booker is a past chairman of the board of trustees for Ursuline Academy, a past president of the Wilmington Rotary Club, and a Big Brothers/Big Sisters youth mentor. He’s served on the board and chaired the marketing committee for the United Way of Delaware.
