Delaware State University Board selects Mishoe as chair
At their semi-annual retreat, the Delaware State University Board of Trustees elected Dr. Wilma Mishoe as their Chair. Mishoe is the first woman in the institution’s 126-year history to serve as the chair of the Board of Trustees.
Mishoe – who in addition to her DSU board service has more than 35 years as a higher education administrator – is the daughter of the late Dr. Luna Mishoe who served as President of then-Delaware State College from 1960 to 1987, an era of unprecedented growth and transformation for the institution.
In addition to Dr. Mishoe’s election, the Trustees also elected Dr. Devona E. Williams as Vice Chairperson – making it the first time in DSU history that two women are serving as the board’s top two executive officers. D. Williams is founder of Goeins-Williams Associates, a 27-year management-consulting group that is well regarded in the region and throughout the nation. She has served on DSU’s board since 2011 and has been an integral part of the University’s College of Business and its international programs.
Williams also spoke of the contributions of outgoing Board Chairperson and DSU alumnus David Turner of Sovereign Partners Consulting, as well as Vice Chairperson Barry Granger, formerly of the DuPont. “Both David and Barry have been at the forefront of getting the University to the point where we can begin a process of dynamic transformation,” Williams said. “We are extremely thankful for the time and energy they’ve devoted to the university.”
Both will remain active members of the Board of Trustees.
Delaware State Chamber of Commerce welcomes staffers
The Delaware State Chamber of Commerce welcomed two new members to their staff: William H. Hastings, Jr., and Matt Volk.
Hastings will serve as the Chamber’s Controller. His career includes extensive experience in the nonprofit world as a Senior Controller as well as many years as a consultant to small businesses, nonprofits and investment banks, advising them on accounting systems, processes and procedures. He is a graduate of Trinity College with a Bachelor’s in English, and the Columbia University Graduate School of Business with an MBA concentrating in Finance and Accounting. He served in the Army attaining the rank of 1st Lieutenant.
Volk who will be a contact for digital advertising with the Chamber, has over 20 years of sales, marketing, and advertising experience. He is certified in solution-based sales, value-based sales, and SPIN sales. He has more than ten years of experience working with Chambers of Commerce. As a successful sales executive and leader, he has grown business through new account acquisitions and exceeding sales quotas in the Chamber of Commerce vertical as Weblink International’s Top Advertising Sales Person of the Year in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Volk is also an entrepreneur who co-founded Noah’s World LLC, which manufactures and sells beds uniquely designed for children with special needs.
Bryn Mawr Bank Corporation named controller
Bryn Mawr Bank Corporation announced the appointment of Michael LaPlante as Controller and Chief Accounting Officer.
LaPlante has more than 20 years of progressive experience in SEC and regulatory reporting, controllership, and accounting operations. He joins BMT from The Bank of Princeton, where he served as Chief Accounting Officer and Senior Vice President. Prior to that, he was a Senior Manager in Deloitte’s National Financial Services Practice. LaPlante also previously served as Chief Accounting Officer and Corporate Controller at First National Bank of Chester County.
He earned his BA, Accounting from Fox School of Business and Management – Temple University, and holds a CPA Certification.
First State Community Loan Fund names program director
Sara A. Crawford-Jones has been named program director of the Women’s Business Center (WBC) at First State Community Loan Fund. Crawford-Jones was formerly a program specialist with the WBC.
The WBC provides training on critical areas for success such as business plans, business financing, social media and marketing, and also facilitates mentoring by experienced women business owners. The WBC is a federally funded program of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the nation’s platform for small business support that leads the charge for economic growth in cities around the U.S. The partnership between the WBC and First State Community Loan Fund allows women and entrepreneurs to access capital and receive valuable business assistance pre- and post- loan. As an official SBA Resource Partner, the WBC also partners with SCORE and the Small Business Development Center, in addition to other State agencies to help ensure the success women and entrepreneurs.
A veteran small business owner, Crawford-Jones, of Wilmington, founded a fashion brand, Anara Original, for which she is owner, designer, marketer, and management. Anara Original was featured in LA Fashion Week and major publications such as Lucky Magazine and Teen Vogue. Black Celebrity Giving named her a “Change Maker and Young Philanthropist” and Sara was voted People’s Choice Best Designer by Delaware Fashion Week 2015.
Crawford-Jones received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design and Marketing from the International Academy of Design and Technology. She established herself and her skills at highly identifiable fashion brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, H&M, and DDC Lab.
Benchworks names director
Benchworks welcomed Chuck Heinz as Executive Director of Strategic Planning. His extensive background in consulting, development and marketing make him an asset to the Benchworks team.
His professional experience encompasses marketing and differentiation consulting, business strategy development, new product marketing and global commercial development for pharmaceutical and consumer clients including Spherix Global Insights, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Pfizer Inc.
The Joshua M. Freeman Foundation names development director
The Joshua M. Freeman Foundation announce that Kristie Maravalli will join their team as our new Director of Development. She has served as the Executive Director of the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce since 2014, where she started as the Director of Membership in 2013. Her experience and partnerships in the area are essential strengths in this position, as the Director of Development is responsible for all aspects of fundraising within the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation.
Patel joins Nanticoke Health Services
Nanticoke Health Services announce the addition of Rakesh Patel, DPM, to its active medical staff.
Patel received his Doctorate of Podiatric Medicine from Barry University in Miami, Florida. He completed his residency in podiatric medicine and surgery at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Jacksonville, Florida. He is board eligible by the American Board of Podiatric Medicine and the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery.
Berkshire Hathaway additions
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach, Realtors Greenville Home Marketing Center, welcomed Maya Paveza as a sales associate. Licensed since 2001 and obtaining her Associate Broker license in 2013, she specializes in relocation and horse properties. With 30+ years of experience as a social media specialist, she is a trainer, speaker and author in digital technology, development and social networking. She has also been a trainer for the NAR product Realtors Property Resource (RPR) since 2012, and frequently has trained at various BHHS Fox & Roach office around Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She serves Northern New Castle County, Delaware, as well as Chester and Delaware Counties in PA.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach Hockessin-Pike Creek Home Marketing Center, welcomed Faith Rice as a sales associate. Licensed since June 2017, Rice serves New Castle County.
