The Committee of 100 announced that Elizabeth Keller will become the new Executive Director of the organization effective July 11. She succeeds Jennifer Kmiec who is retiring. Keller moves to The Committee of 100 from the Delaware Tourism Office, which she joined in 2010 and served as Director since 2017. She led state tourism program development, strategies, and community relations. She previously held roles in marketing, public relations, and digital media, leading to multiple award-winning campaigns that increased visitation to the state.
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.
Landmark announces staff additions, promotions
Landmark Science & Engineering, a leading consulting firm in Delaware and Maryland that specializes in site/civil and water resources engineering, environmental sciences, and land surveying, announced that Thomas Krauss, civil engineer, Carlos Azuero, senior designer, have joined the firm’s Engineering Department at the Newark office. Dana Sifford has been promoted to Survey Crew Chief and Shanon Cooney has joined the Survey Department as a survey instrument technician.
Krauss, a graduate of the University of Delaware, earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering (BEnvEng) in 2016. and is working toward becoming a registered professional engineer. He has four years of experience working with consulting engineering firms.
Azuero, a graduate of Delaware Technical Community College, earned an Associate of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology (AASMET) in 2002, and previously studied mechanical engineering at the Universidad Tecnologica de Bolivar in Colombia.
He joined Landmark as a Senior Civil Designer in March and brings over 19 years of experience working in civil engineering. Carlos has worked as a civil designer and project manager for the past 9 years for consulting engineering firms.
Sifford has been promoted to Survey Crew Chief after having worked in the Landmark Survey Department for over eight years as a Survey Instrument Technician. Cooney has been hired as a new Survey Instrument Technician. Division of Public Health management changes announced
Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Secretary Molly Magarik announced five leadership changes for the agency involving the Office of the Secretary and the Division of Public Health.
The changes:
Dava Newnam, who has served as Associate Deputy Cabinet Secretary and Chief Operating Officer for DHSS, has been named Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Special Populations, Strategic Planning and Innovation. Newnam has served in various roles at DHSS for 27 years.
Newnam is replacing Sarah Noonan Davis, who is stepping down after serving as Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Special Populations, Strategic Planning and Innovation since February 2021.
Carla Mitchell-Penny, human resources director for DHSS, has been named Chief of Staff in the Office of the Secretary. Mitchell-Penny replaces Michele Stant, who left to become Chief of Financial Management in the Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance.
In addition to the Deputy Secretary and Chief of Staff announcement in the Office of the Secretary, Magarik also announced temporary changes in leadership at the Division of Public Health:
Dr. Rick Hong, who has served in various leadership roles at the Division of Public Health (DPH) during the past 15 years, has been named Acting Director of the Division of Public Health, effective July 1. Dr. Hong will lead the division temporarily during the search to find a replacement for the departing DPH Director Dr. Karyl Rattay. Dr. Rattay is leaving DPH at the end of June after more than 13 years at the post.
Hong, who served during much of the COVID-19 pandemic as Medical Director at DPH, is currently serving as Medical Director for the Emergency Medical Services and Preparedness Section at DPH.
Jamie Mack, who has served in various positions at DPH during his 18 years with the agency, has been named Acting Deputy Director, effective July 1. He was Section Chief of Health Systems Protection and serving as the State Environmental Health Director for Delaware.
Steven Blessing, who has served as Chief of the Emergency Medical Services and Preparedness Branch of DPH for 10 years, has been named Acting Deputy Director in charge of the State Health Operations Center (SHOC), effective July 1. SHOC oversees the COVID-19 response in Delaware and other public health emergencies. Blessing has served in other DPH leadership roles for the past 28 years.
Mack and Blessing are replacing Deputy Director Crystal Webb, who is leaving DPH at the end of June after 13 years as Deputy Director.
The Department of Health and Social Services has about 3,500 employees.
DiGiovanni named ChristianaCare HR vice president
Don DiGiovanni has been appointed vice president of Human Resources Shared Services at ChristianaCare.
In his new role, DiGiovanni is responsible for the Shared Services Technology, Caregiver Onboarding, HR Transactions and Caregiver Service Center teams.
DiGiovanni joined ChristianaCare in 1997 as a member of the Information Technology (IT) Department. For nearly two decades he held leadership positions for teams that were critical in support of our caregivers across the organization: IT Customer Service Center, IT Access Center, PC Services, IT Facilities/Operations and IT Planners.
Prior to his new role, DiGiovanni was corporate director of Information Services leading the ServiceNow strategy to deploy the platform across the organization. Partnering with Human Resources, his team created the solution to support the Covid-19 employee accommodation process as well as efficiencies for the HR Caregiver Service Center during the height of the pandemic.
Jenkins to head state Vocational Rehab division
Delaware Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Karryl Hubbard has announced that Elisha Jenkins will serve as the new Director of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), replacing former Director Andrea Guest, who retired earlier this year.
DVR is a partner in helping job seekers develop skill sets to find employment. The division strives to build relationships with employers so that Delaware job seekers can compete for opportunities and obtain employment that meets their needs.
Jenkins previously served as the Deputy Chief of Policy & Compliance in the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health for the State of Delaware. Prior to that, she was Director of the Delaware Division for the Visually Impaired.
Savery named Historical and Cultural Affairs director
Suzanne Savery will lead the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs as its next director after Tim Slavin’s departure on June 30, 2022. Ms. Savery most recently served as the deputy director of the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs and will assume the new role on July 1.
Savery has served as the deputy director of the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs since 2012. With over 35 years of experience in the museum and preservation field, Savery has held several positions in various institutions including the Valentine Museum in Richmond, VA, Petersburg Museum in Petersburg, VA and the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society.
Lev joins Beebe staff
Beebe Medical Group added Leonard Lev, MD, to staff as mental health resources are added.
Dr. Lev will start seeing patients in Beebe primary care offices in the coming weeks through referrals from Beebe providers. A board-certified psychiatrist, Dr. Lev will be able to offer a full complement of psychiatric services for patients. He also specializes in the treatment of addiction disorders. Beebe primary care providers can refer their patients to Dr. Lev, meaning fewer Sussex County residents will be referred outside of Beebe or for telehealth services.
Plans are in place to continue growing access for mental health services across Sussex County, a release stated.
“Mental health is an important service, and Beebe is working to create more access for patients who need psychiatric, mental health, and addiction services,” said Stephen Keiser, chief administrative officer, Beebe Medical Group. “Dr. Lev is just the start of our program as we will continue to build on these services for our community. Please welcome him to Sussex County.”
Dr. Lev is board certified in Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine. He obtained his medical degree from Samara State Medical University in Russia in 1988. He completed his psychiatric residency at New York-Presbyterian Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, where he was promoted to Chief Resident.
He has served as an assistant professor at both Weill Medical College of Cornell University, and the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. His most recent position before joining Beebe was as the Delaware State Medical Director of LifeStance Health. He is employed by Beebe Medical Group and is a member of Beebe Healthcare’s Medical Staff.
