(Send personnel news to drainey@delawarebusinessnow.com)
Visalli named COO of Buccini/Pollin
Wilmington-based developer the Buccini/Pollin Group named Ann Shepard Visalli Chief Operating Officer.
Visalli joins BPG with over 30 years of experience in budget, finance, and economic development. She had a successful 22-year career in Delaware state government, which included serving as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget under former Governor Jack Markell. Most recently, Visalli served as the Chief Operating Officer for St. Andrew’s School in Middletown.
Visalli’s experience includes strategic budgeting, financial management, facilities and construction oversight, human resources, compensation, health and retirement benefits, risk management, teaching, and building high functioning teams.
Although best known for real estate investments, BPG has various businesses in food and beverage, sports and entertainment, retail and parking, commercial and residential property management.
As Chief Operating Officer, Visalli will be responsible for the oversight of financial operations for all BPG operating entities including budgeting and forecasting, long term financial planning, and strategy. She will also directly supervise Human Resources, Information Technology, Risk Management, Marketing and, in conjunction with Asset Management, Commercial and Residential Operations and Leasing.
Holliday named chair of State Chamber
The Delaware State Chamber of Commerce announced that Marie Holliday, CPA, managing director of Cover & Rossiter, has been elected as chair of the organization’s Board of Directors—assuming the role following the retirement of Nick Lambrow, Delaware regional president of M&T Bank.
Holliday joined Cover & Rossiter in 1997 and was elevated to managing director in 2016. She is a longtime volunteer at the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce having served on multiple committees, including tax and Superstars in Business. In 2019, she joined the State Chamber’s Board of Governors and in 2
Healthcare Association names new CEO
The Delaware Healthcare Association (DHA) Board of Directors has named Brian Frazee as the new President & CEO.
He has been with the Maryland Hospital Association for eight years and currently serves as the Vice President of Government Affairs leading advocacy efforts at the local, state, and federal levels on behalf of 60 hospitals and health systems. He is President of the Maryland Government Relations Association, President of the Alumni Association Board of Directors for the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) and has been a member of the Maryland Nonprofits Policy Council for over a decade.
Prior to joining MHA in 2015, Frazee represented over 100 nonprofit agencies providing supports to people with developmental disabilities as Director of Public Policy for the Maryland Association of Community Services. He will begin his tenure on October 2.
Slocum named director of research program
Amy Slocum is the newly appointed director of the Delaware Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research.
EPSCoR is a federal-state partnership sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) that engages Delaware’s academic institutions in research and training activities that address critical needs of the state. Delaware was designated an EPSCoR state in 2003, and the program supports activities at its partner institutions, the University of Delaware, Delaware State University and Delaware Technical Community College.
Slocum previously served as associate director of EPSCoR and as assistant director of the Delaware Environmental Institute (DENIN). She succeeds Don Sparks, Unidel S. Hallock du Pont Chair in Plant and Soil Sciences at UD, who served in the role from 2012-2023.
Slocum earned her doctorate in educational leadership, administration and policy and a master’s degree in public administration at the University of Delaware.
To date, the program has resulted in $101 million in direct EPSCoR funding to the state and $139 million through leveraged funds and 293 additional research, education and innovation awards to EPSCoR faculty. This work has led to the development of 75 patents, 17 new products , five new businesses and as 25 new faculty hires.
Paden to head Sussex Family YMCA
The YMCA of Delaware hired LoriKay Paden as Community Vice President and Executive Director of the Sussex Family YMCA. In her new role, LoriKay will lead the Sussex Family Y located on Church Street in Rehoboth and will also provide leadership support to the Dover YMCA.
Most recently, she served as the Senior Executive Director at the YMCA of Western North Carolina. There, she managed the Association’s Healthy Living Department for 7 branches, the operations of three branches, and the Community Health Department.
The Bridge announces new team member
The Bridge, a network of Christian formatted radio stations serving Delaware, Maryland, South Jersey and the Eastern Shore of Virginia, has announced the addition of Christian radio veteran Chris Scotland to its team.
Scotland will join Bill Sammons and Denise Harper as co-host of the Morning Show on The Bridge. His resume includes stints at WRBS, Baltimore, KNWI, Des Moines, and most recently WCIC, Peoria. He also served nine years as a worship pastor in Colorado Springs.
The Bridge consists of four FM radio stations reaching a population of over 1.5 million people in four states, plus an audience via its app and web stream.
