The Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce (CDCC) held its renowned annual Awards for Excellence Celebration on Thursday at Bally’s Dover Casino Resort, presented by Signature Sponsor: Merrill Lynch - Connell, Alexander, Duncan & Associates.
This CDCC celebration was devoted to recognizing the exceptional contributions and achievements of its members. The sold-out event brought together more than 300 of Central Delaware’s leading business professionals, community advocates, and chamber members to celebrate a year of hard work, community, and excellence.
The air was filled with a sense of camaraderie and celebration as attendees mingled, walked the red carpet, posed for the paparazzi, tapped their toes to the jazzy live music, sipped celebratory drinks, and enjoyed a delicious dinner. The highlight of the night was the exciting announcement of the award winners, each representing the pinnacle of excellence, voted on exclusively by their fellow CDCC business members.
The 2026 Excellence in Business Award Winners:
Young Professional of the Year: Joselito “Jose” Arroyo, Bright Side Roofing
Small Business of the Year: La Baguette French Bakery
Large Employer of the Year: Delaware Hospice Inc.
Additional awards were presented during the celebration; please join the CDCC in giving these award winners a round of applause:
Outstanding Partnership Award: Tre Sorelle Dolce Ice Cream & Mini Golf
Volunteer of the Year: Dawne Nickerson, AFMES – Dover Air Force Base
Board Member of the Year: Laura Garofoli, Lean On Me Caregiving
Ambassador of the Year: Sal Watson, Bally’s Dover Casino Resort
Retiring Board Member: Charmaine Whyte, Delaware State University
Leadership Central Delaware (LCD) Best in Class: LCD Class of 2023
Special recognition continued with the graduation of the Leadership Central Delaware Class of 2026. Please join the CDCC to congratulate the following 28 business leaders who successfully completed the CDCC’s Diamond Program:
Donna Akins-Hawkes; Taylor Alexander — Del-One Federal Credit Union; Joselito Arroyo — Bright Side Roofing; Jennifer Bobel — Bayhealth; Kai Bower — Bally’s Dover Casino Resort; Maurico Campino — DAFB – 436th Airlift Wing (Public Affairs); Stephanie Cantres — Westside Family Health Care; Gemini Cornish — Delaware Division of Small Business; Michael Cronin — Century Engineering: A Kleinfelder Company; Kaitlyn Cupelli — Daily State News; Charles “Chuck” Desch — Bayhealth Foundation; Tiffany Fluhr — Dover Federal Credit Union; Kylie Frazer — Bayhealth; Stephen Hart — DAFB – 512th Airlift Wing; Monica Hoeflich — Dedicated to Women; Jaclyn Hulihan — Lt. Governor’s Office; Adam Insley — Merrill Lynch – Connell — Alexander — Duncan & Associates; Adin Lewes — Advantech; Tyler Majchrzak — Chesapeake Utilities; Cherelle Mullen — Dover Federal Credit Union; Nicholas Murphy — Faw Casson; Stefi Myers — Central Delaware Housing Collaborative; Glenn Outten — Bally’s Dover Casino Resort; John Rice — YMCA of Delaware – Dover; Morgan Russum — Downtown Dover Partnership; Shaquille Turner — Willow Construction; Lynae Walker — Delaware State University; Kayla Whitley — Harrington Raceway & Casino.
Following the LCD Graduation ceremony, the Leadership Class of 2023 took a moment to remember their classmate, Danielle Conklin, who lost her life in a tragic accident earlier this year. The CDCC paid tribute to Danielle with their first Legacy Award “to honor her passion for life, her love of family, her compassion for those around her, her joyful spirit, and her mission to spread light — all of which live on and serve as an inspirational legacy for our next generations of leaders.”
The CDCC extends a big thank you to Bally’s Dover Casino Resort for being an accommodating host and the Royal Prime Events staff for serving a delicious meal. Thank you to the Tom Baione Trio (part of the Joe Baione Vibraphone Experience) for setting the mood with their dynamic music, to Top Spin Productions for their fun and festive photo booth, and to Heather Contant from Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation and Denise Vendrick from Faw Casson for acting as “paparazzi” and snapping glamorous pics of the attendees arriving on the red carpet.
This event would not be possible without supportive and generous sponsors. The CDCC graciously thanks them all: Signature Sponsor: Merrill Lynch - Connell, Alexander, Duncan & Associates; Wine Sponsor: Faw Casson; Chairman’s Circle Sponsor: Bally’s Dover Casino Resort; Benefactors: Delaware Division of Small Business and L&W Insurance; Donor Sponsors: Allen Insurance and Delmarva Power; Contributors: Advantech, Burns & Ellis Realtors, Dover Pools, Lean On Me Caregiving, and Sambo’s Tavern; and Platinum Sponsors: B.I.G. Investment Services, Century Engineering – A Kleinfelder Company, Chesapeake Utilities Corporation, Daily State News, Dover Federal Credit Union, G. Fedale, Harrington Raceway & Casino, Kraft Heinz Company, Pratt Insurance, R&R Commercial Realty, and Royal Prime Events & Steakhouse.
The Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce extends its heartfelt congratulations to all the winners and nominees. CDCC President Dina Vendetti shared these sincere sentiments, “I count it an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to lift up the excellence that is found in our Central Delaware Business Community. Our business leaders here in Kent County are creative, innovative, persistent, and inspiring. They work hard every single day to bring something unique and life-changing to our community. To celebrate them at this event is the least we could do for all that they give our community day in and day out. They give us MUCH to be proud of!”
For more information about the CDCC’s Awards for Excellence Celebration, the Leadership Central Delaware program or a Chamber membership, please visit www.cdcc.net or call 302-734-7513.
Upcoming vents
•June 24 – Sunset Business Mixer, Delaware State Police Museum, 5 – 7 p.m., Members and invited guests.
•July 3 – Independence Day Holiday, CDCC Office Closed.
•July 9 – Member Orientation, Zoom, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m., Members only.
•July 29 – Sunset Business Mixer, Sheridan’s Irish Pub, 5 – 7 p.m., Member and invited guests.
•Aug 6 – Kent County Open for Business, Kent County Levy Court, Rm 220, 8:30 – 10 a.m., Open to the public.
