Retired utility executive Gary Stockbridge received the Josiah Marvel Cup from the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce at its annual dinner on Monday night.
The State Chamber’s highest honor is named in memory of Josiah Marvel, who reorganized and served as the first president of the Delaware State Chamber in 1913.
“He is someone who leaves a place better than he found it,” stated Delaware State Chamber President Michael J. Quaranta.
Stockbridge joined Delmarva Power in 1997 and was named region president of Delmarva Power in 2005 and later combined those duties with the top post at Atantic City Electric. He retired in 2021.
During his career, he served as vice president of customer care at Delmarva Power and held various positions related to operations, marketing, and customer service at Delmarva Power, PECO Energy, and Pepco Holdings, which later become part of Exelon Corporation.
“He is a servant leader,” stated Enid Wallace Simms, retired senior public affairs manager at Delmarva Power. “He was always willing to do what needed to be done to make sure that the greater community was taken care of. When he had issues come up with employees or on the boards that he was serving on, his main goal was to make sure those individuals were taken care of.”
“Gary is exactly the sort of business leader we all hope that Delaware has in the future,” stated U.S. Senator Chris Coons. “He is tirelessly dedicated to civic leadership and engaged in making a difference, a fearless and capable business leader. This is someone whose heart is big, whose dedication has been tireless, and whose impact has been broad.”
He served as board president for the Delaware Workforce Development Board, appointed by then-Governor Jack Markell; state chair of the Delaware Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR); board president of the United Way of Delaware; chair of the Vision Coalition of Delaware; board chair of Junior Achievement of Delaware; and chair of the advisory boards for the Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay and Kingswood Community Center. He also served on the board of the Delaware Business Roundtable.
“It is rare to find someone who possesses strong intellectual prowess with a heart of gold—I knew he was always someone to count on,” according to Markell, now the U.S. Ambassador to Italy.
He had long been active in the State Chamber. He joined the Board of Governors in 2005 and moved to the Board of Directors in 2014. Stockbridge served as the organization’s board chair in 2018 and 2019.
He is credited with launching the Joint Military Affairs Committee, a partnership between the Delaware State Chamber and New Castle County Chamber that brings the business community and the Delaware National Guard together to connect and support service members and their families.
Stockbridge was not present for the presentation, due to a conflict in his schedule. His family accepted the award. He made his acceptance speak via video.
