[Not a valid template]Gore engineering chair named
Marianthi Ierapetritou, distinguished professor of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at Rutgers University, joined the University of Delaware as the Bob and Jane Gore Centennial Chair of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.
Ierapetritou has served as a departmental leader and role model for young faculty, most recently as the associate vice president for the promotion of women in science, engineering, and mathematics.
The endowed named professorship was made possible by a gift from Robert W. Gore, a 1959 graduate and 2010 honorary doctor of science recipient, and his wife Jane. He served as president of W.L. Gore and Associates, Inc., from 1976 until 2000 and was a member of the UD Board of Trustees from 1992 until 2010.
Ierapetritou received her doctoral degree in 1995 from the Imperial College, London, and completed post-doctoral research at Princeton University. She joined Rutgers in 1998 as an assistant professor and spent 21 years at the university.
Delaware Realtor of the Year announced
Monica LeBlanc (Kent County) has been named the 2019 Delaware Realtor of the Year. The award was presented by Beau Zebley, 2019 president of the Delaware Association of Realtors.
The award honors the Delaware Realtor whose service has delivered a positive impact to Realtor organizations on the national, state and local levels as well as the real estate industry and community.
LeBlanc has been a broker since 2014 and is the owner of Diamond State Realty in Dover. She currently is president-elect of the Kent County Association of Realtors and serves on the Government Affairs committee. She is a member of the DAR Board of Directors, serves on their Strategic Planning and DelPAC (Delaware Political Action) Committees, and represents DAR on the National Association of Realtors (NAR) Housing Committee.
She holds numerous certifications and designations granted by the NAR, including e-Pro (Advanced Digital Marketing) and Graduate Realtor Institute. She also holds a Home Builders designation as a New Construction Sales Professional.
Three other Realtors were honored with 2019 Good Neighbor Awards, honoring their commitment to volunteer efforts that made a positive impact in their local communities.
Kim Rochford of the Kent County Association of Realtors was recognized for her work with the Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay, serving more than 200 young women and raising more than $15,000 for the group.
Bonnie Sherr, New Castle County Association of Realtors, served on the board of the Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Chapter, helping to both raise funds and advise caregivers.
Kristina Lingo, Sussex County Association of Realtors, logged more than 1,000 hours as a volunteer for Sussex Strong, including the October Gala that brought in more than $50,000 to assist nearly 300 underprivileged children.
DAR also recognized the work of Kent County Code Purple, Good Neighbors Home Repair in New Castle County, and Crises House in Sussex County. A donation was made by DAR to each of the six community organizations.
Easterseals names board member
Easterseals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore welcomed Rotary District Governor, William Ferguson Sr., of Salisbury, MD, and Jen Mathews, of Hockessin, DE, to its Board of Directors.
Ferguson is District Governor for Rotary District 7630, which includes the areas served by Easterseals. He is very active in the Salisbury Sunrise Rotary Club and has been a longtime volunteer at Rotary Work Days at Easterseals Camp Fairlee, as well as contributing to many other Rotary projects benefitting Easterseals. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Baltimore. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, he worked at Royster Company for 25 years before moving to Salisbury, MD and joining Choptank Electric. He retired in 2015. Ferguson and his wife have one son and two grandchildren.
Mathews is a Marketing Director for CSC. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Delaware. She has been very actively involved with Easterseals, spearheading CSC’s 2015 initiative to build and donate 10 ride-on cars modified for children with disabilities. In 2016, Mathews helped establish an Adapted Toy Library as part of the Easterseals Resource and Technology Demonstration Center through CSC’s donation.
Gonzalez joins Nanticoke Physician Network
The Nanticoke Physician Network welcomed Aaron Herrera Gonzalez, MD, to its active medical staff. Gonzalez specializes in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Gonzalez completed medical school at the Universidad De Monterrey Medical School in Monterrey, Mexico. He completed his residency within the St. Luke’s University Health Network in Bethlehem, PA.
SoDel Concepts names executive chef
SoDel Concepts announced that Ray Kumm was named executive chef at Lupo Italian Kitchen in Rehoboth Beach. Lupo is one of the hospitality company’s 11 restaurants in coastal Delaware.
Krumm, a native of Baltimore County, Maryland, has more than 10 years of experience in high-end restaurants, including establishments in Baltimore and Chicago.
Kumm was previously the sous chef at Sotto Sopra, a top-rated Italian restaurant in Baltimore. He was also executive sous chef at Bad Hunter, a produce-focused concept in Chicago. Kumm also spent time in Philadelphia, where he was a produce buyer and cheese program manager for a food distribution company.
SoDel Concepts is currently building its 12th restaurant, Thompson Island Brewing Company, in Rehoboth Beach.
Whalen named sales associate
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach, Realtors Hockessin-Pike Creek Home Marketing Center, welcomed Paige Whalen as a sales associate. Formerly with Patterson-Schwartz Real Estate, she has been licensed since 2014. Whalen serves the state of Delaware, Chester and Delaware Counties.
