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Carlson named Provost at University of Delaware
Laura Carlson, an administrator, educator, and researcher with more than 20 years of higher education experience at the University of Notre Dame, was named the 12th provost at the University of Delaware.
A member of Notre Dame’s psychology faculty since 1994, she has served as vice president, associate provost and dean of the Graduate School since 2013.
Effective June 8, she succeeds Provost Robin Morgan, who announced her plans to retire last summer.
As the University of Delaware’s chief academic officer, Carlson will be responsible for the administration and continuous enhancement of all programs of instruction, research and service supporting the academic mission of the university.
She most recently served as vice president and associate provost. In this role, Carlson has promoted diversity, equity, and inclusion related to faculty hiring; examined faculty climate and governance issues; supported faculty leadership development; fostered policies related to how faculty service is defined, reported, evaluated and compensated; and overseen the process for reappointment, promotion, and tenure of all tenure/tenure-track faculty.
As dean of Notre Dame’s Graduate School, she developed a comprehensive diversity pipeline that included a summer research opportunity program for undergraduates, graduate student diversity fellowships and a faculty development program..
Small Business, Historical Affairs chiefs move to new posts
Delaware Secretary of State Jeff Bullock announced on Friday that Jordan Schulties, director of the Division of Small Business, and Tim Slavin, director of the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, will move to posts at the Delaware Department of Technology and Information and Fort Dupont Redevelopment & Preservation Corporation, respectively.
“I am grateful to both Jordan and Tim’s dedication and service to their divisions throughout these past few years,” said Secretary of State Jeff Bullock. “Jordan rose through the ranks from Deputy Director to Director of the Division and her steadfast commitment helped so many small businesses in the community receive all types of assistance from grants to resources, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Regina Mitchell, Deputy Director of the Division of Small Business, will serve as Acting Director until a successor is named.
Slavin will serve until June 30, 2022. A successor will be named to head the division before June 30th.
Bhai named Woman Hotelier of the Year
Pinky Bhai, president and co-CEO of SSN Hotels, Wilmington, was selected by the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) as the Outstanding Woman Hotelier of the Year.
SSN operates hotels in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Committee of 100 elects 9 directors
The Committee of 100 elected nine directors to help lead the organization in its mission to promote responsible economic development in Delaware.
Joining The Committee of 100 board of directors are Helen Apostolico, principal and chief financial officer of Landmark Science & Engineering; Douglas Eitelman, partner at VanDemark & Lynch; Clay Greer, president of the Newark Office of Ten Bears Environmental; A. Kimberly Hoffman, partner at Morris James, LLP; Christin Joyner, executive vice president and chief human resources officer at AAA Club Alliance; Jeff Miller, director, design and construction for ChristianaCare; Robert Rescigno, associate vice president of Partnerships & Community Affairs for Wilmington University; and Christina Summa, vice president, and relationship manager at First Citizens Community Bank. Elected for a second term as director was Kathleen Corcoran, director of Wheeler, Wolfenden & Dwares, P.A.
New officers were also elected by The Committee of 100 board for two-year terms. J. Gregory Ellis, Managing Principal at Patterson-Woods Commercial Properties, assumes the role of President from Pamela J. Scott, Partner at Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr, LLP, who becomes the Immediate Past President. Also elected to board leadership positions were Nicholle R. Taylor, president of Artesian Water Company, as First Vice President; Deirdre Smith, vice president, Mid-Atlantic area manager for Verdantas, as Second Vice President; and Third Vice President Paula J. Swain, executive vice president, human resources for Incyte. The new Secretary is Allison Kerwin, vice president and group manager of Commercial Real Estate for M&T Bank. Phillip Hough, senior vice president of commercial real estate for WSFS Bank, will serve as the Treasurer.
Founded in 1967, The Committee of 100 is a non-partisan, non-profit association of Delaware business leaders that works to promote responsible economic development and address issues that affect Delaware’s economic health.
New managers at Whisman Giordano & Associates
Whisman Giordano & Associates, LLC (WGA) is proud to announce three new Managers:
- Christopher Kobus, CPA,
- Brian K. Moreau, MS, CPA, CFE
- Kevin Sanok, EA, MSA
Kobus joined WGA in 2015 and took on various leadership roles, such as managing engagement teams and the education schedule. He is a native of Delaware and attended Salesianum School and DeSales University.
Sanok joined WGA in 2017 and strengthened the tax department with his ability to research, understand and implement tax rules to benefit WGA’s clients. He holds degrees in accounting from both the University of Delaware and Wilmington University.
Moreau joined WGA in 2015 and started as a staff accountant and worked his way up the WGA ranks. He holds a Master of Science in Accounting and Financial Management from the University of Maryland University College. Additionally, he is a Certified Fraud Examiner and is an adjunct professor of accounting at a local college.
Pruden joins GillespieHall
GillespieHall, a strategic communications firm based in Hockessin, appointed Scott Pruden to the newly-created role of director of content development. Pruden has worked with GillespieHall as a freelance marketing and PR writer and editor since December of 2020. He is the former executive editor of Delaware Today magazine.
In his new role with GillespieHall, he will manage the production of creative content across the firm’s client base and provide creative leadership to the team of writers and PR professionals.
Jeff Flynn moves to the private sector
Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki announced that Jeff Flynn, the City’s longest-tenured economic development official, has left city government to take a position in the private sector as Vice President at Applied Bank, where he will be responsible for commercial and real estate lending.
Flynn started his City career with the Economic Development Office in 2001 during the Administration of former Mayor James M. Baker and served with then-Economic Development Director Dick Pryor. Jeff was initially the City’s Brownfield Program Manager. He was appointed Deputy Director of Economic Development in 2008 and became Director in 2015.
Jeff has served three Mayoral administrations over the past 20 years, managed $2 billion in private investment, coordinated the development and expansion of the City’s downtown residential district, and redeveloped countless former industrial sites in Wilmington’s neighborhoods such as the former Harper Thiel Electroplating facility on Miller Road, which is today the home of Wilmington Brew Works, Metro Pizza, and other new businesses, as well as the South Wilmington Wetlands, which will soon be officially dedicated as the Southbridge Wilmington Wetlands Park. Jeff reorganized the Office of Economic Development and forged partnerships with DNREC, DelDOT, True Access Capital, WEDCO, and Delaware Prosperity Partnership.
Sean Park, who is deputy director of the city’s Office of Economic Development, will have lead responsibility for the office and will be the main contact for Wilmington’s economic development activities in the wake of Jeff Flynn’s departure.
GOLO adds executives
GOLO LLC, a wellness solutions company located in Newark, announced additions to its team.
Alex Razzook will serve as the company’s first Chief Growth Officer (CGO), tasked with engineering profitable growth strategies across GOLO’s customer acquisition and retention channels. He also supports GOLO’s analytics efforts, empowering teams to execute data-driven decision-making strategies. Most recently serving as GOLO’s Chief Technology Officer.
Scott Bradley Schwartz joins GOLO’s legal team as Corporate Counsel. He brings more than 25 years of legal practice experience to GOLO, serving as in-house counsel for much of that time. Before joining GOLO, he was the General Counsel at a leading footwear company for nine years. He also served as Senior Attorney at Intel. Scott was previously a shareholder at Cozen O’Connor, representing a wide range of clients in the firm’s intellectual property practice.
“We are thrilled to have Alex and Scott take on these new roles at a moment where we find ourselves poised for continued growth,” said Jennifer Brooks, President, GOLO LLC. “I look forward to working closely with both of them as they take on these important assignments.”
Staff changes in Governor’s office
Gov. John Carney on Tuesday announced that Jonathan Starkey, deputy Chief of Staff for Communications, will leave the Office of the Governor early next month to join Newark-based private student lender Sallie Mae as Director of Corporate Communications.
Emily David Hershman, currently the Director of Engagement & Special Projects, will take on the role of Director of Communications and serve as the Office of the Governor and main point of contact for the media.
Jessica Borcky Weinberg, currently the Deputy Communications Director/Digital Director, will take on the new role of Director of Digital Government & Senior Advisor to the Governor, responsible for coordinating digital government activities across cabinet agencies, and creating content to communicate Carney’s priorities to the public.
Christiana Care personnel moves
Lija Gireesh has been appointed manager of Employee Health Services. In her new role, she will provide leadership and direction to clinical staff to ensure smooth and efficient daily operations and quality outcomes for optimal caregiver experience.
She started at ChristianaCare as a registered nurse in 2004 and joined Employee Health Services as a nurse practitioner in 2011. Her most recent role was lead nurse practitioner at EHS. She is also a faculty member in the College of Nursing at Walden University in Minnesota.
Kathleen Eldridge, M.D., has been named clinical director of Population Health Partnerships. In this role she will serve as ChristianaCare’s physician leader across population health partnerships to design, implement and evaluate the effectiveness of clinical initiatives on quality, patient experience and total cost of care. She remains clinical director of Acute Care Services and vice chair of the Department of Medicine.
Dr. Eldridge joined ChristianaCare Hospitalist Partners as a staff hospitalist in 2011. Dr. Eldridge previously served as medical director of Christiana Care Hospitalist Partner
