The annual award was made at the Annual Dinner of the Chamber at the Chase Center on the Riverfront. The award is named in honor of a founder of the Delaware corporate law system.
Laskowski, known to many as Dr. Bob, recently retired as the CEO of Christiana Care, the state’s largest private employer. The nonprofit health system employs more than 10,000.
The health care system has made major changes that included a $200 million-plus expansion of Wilmington Hospital and expansion of the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center at the Christiana Hospital campus.
Laskowski said he was surprised by the award, which came after 11 years at Christiana Care. He came to the post after serving as a health care executive in Lehigh Valley, Pa.
The award often goes to a Delaware executive or community leader living in Delaware for decades. Laskowski, while an exception, clearly earned the respect of a wide segment of the community during his tenure at Christiana.
Presenter Mike Uffner, who heads Auto Team Delaware, Wilmington, told those in attendance athat he had once called Laskowski on a medical situation, thinking he was in the area.
Laskowski took the call and got in touch with Christiana staff. Only later did Uffner learn that Laskowski was vacationing overseas.
In brief remarks, Chamber President Rich Heffron said the state has made progress in areas such as the economy and education, but added that at the environment remains challenging.
He also mentioned the crime rate in Wilmington and elsewhere. The city’s homicide rate and concerns about crime by business leaders have been in the headlines in recent weeks.
Chamber Chairman Mark Stellini agreed that the Chamber has made progress after a rough patch that including the departures of two presidents, with Heffron, who had served as interim president, agreeing to take the top post for two years.
The dinner drew nearly 900, a figure that was one of the highest in years.
In remarks at the dinner, Gov. Jack Markell was more upbeat about the economy, taking note of job growth that is in the top five among the 50 states.
At the same time, he acknowledged that many Delawareans have been left behind as jobs were lost due to new technology and outsourcing of some jobs.
The format of the annual meeting was changed to include a conversation-interview with Laskowski’s successor Dr. Janice Nevin, in lieu of a keynote speech. Conducted the interview was Sharon Baker, president of Teleduction, a movie and video production company.
As a top executive of Christiana Care, Nevin led the Wilmington Hospital expansion project
