First Shore Federal announces promotions

Diane M. Turner, President and CEO, First Shore Federal Savings and Loan Association, has announced the promotion of Richard A. Ashley to  Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

Ashley, who joined First Shore in 2018, holds a bachelor’s in Business Administration from Towson University and a bachelor’s in Accounting at Salisbury University’s Perdue School of Business.

Ashley has held the designation of Certified Public Accountant since 2016.

Turner also announced that Kristen Pilchard will assume the role of Controller.

Pilchard joined First Shore in August 2021 as Assistant Controller. She brings an extensive background in tax, finance and accounting experience.

She holds a bachelor’s in Accounting and in Finance from Salisbury University’s Perdue School of Business.

Pilchard has held the designation of Certified Public Accountant since 2015.

Robert Jeter named  InFocus Financial partner

Robert Jeter has been named a partner at InFocus Financial Advisors in Salisbury.

Since joining the Financial Advising industry in 2012, Jeter has acquired extensive experience in financial planning and investment management.

He is involved in the community as a board member of the Southern Delaware Estate Planning Council and Professional Partners of the Eastern Shore. A graduate from the Franklin P. Perdue School of Business at Salisbury University, Jeter earned a bachelor’s in Finance. He is a Certified Financial Planner as well as a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor.

Nicholas W. Rice earns CPPO credential

Nicholas W. Rice, Purchasing Agent for the Wicomico County government, was recently notified by the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council that he has earned the Certified Public Procurement Officer credential.

Rice was among 35 professionals who successfully completed the CPPO examination held in October. The highly coveted credentials are recognized throughout the public procurement profession and demonstrate an individual's comprehensive mastery of public procurement competencies.

The CPPO certification recognizes only those professionals who have fulfilled these prescribed standards of competency. To date, 3,020 procurement professionals have achieved this accomplished status.

Cody Adams joins SVN Miller Commercial Real Estate

SVN Miller Commercial Real Estate in Salisbury has welcomed Cody Adams as a Property Manager. He will be based out of the Salisbury office.

Adams was born and raised on the Eastern Shore and lives in Salisbury.

If you are interested in discussing property management with SVN Miller, Rick Tilghman at 410-543-2440.

Tim Gonzales joins Comprehensive Financial Solutions

Certified Financial Planner Tim Gonzales has joined Comprehensive Financial Solutions Inc. in Salisbury.

Gonzales has 17 years of experience in the financial industry, including earning the Accredited Asset Management Specialist designation.

A graduate of Salisbury University, he has lived on the Eastern Shore for more than 25 years and lives in Salisbury.

Comprehensive Financial Solutions has been helping families pursue their financial goals for over 35 years. Securities and advisory services are offered through Cetera Advisors.

Gray Buffalo Consulting welcomes Jennifer West

Gray Buffalo Consulting, a business consulting firm that transforms businesses through accounting services and operational improvements, announced the addition of Jennifer West to its team.

A 13-year business owner, West’s responsibilities as a bookkeeper for the company include the management of financial reports, records and general ledgers, as well as account reconciliations and supporting monthly, quarterly, half year and year-end financials.

Gray Buffalo Consulting is based in Salisbury. For more information and a full list of services, visit graybuffaloconsulting.com.

Megan Caton to serve as Salisbury Human Resources Director

Salisbury Mayor Jake Day announced the hiring of Megan Caton to lead its Human Resources Department, after conducting a thorough national search for candidates. 

Caton most recently served as TidalHealth Foundation Assistant Director. She holds a master’s in Business Administration and Human Resources from Columbia Southern University, as well as a bachelor's in Communication from Salisbury University.

She has more than 10 years of experience in the field of Human Resources.

Caton joins a team of eight other women in directorship roles throughout the city of Salisbury. She actively volunteers in the Salisbury community with several Salisbury Police Department activities and is also a member of the Board of Directors for The Village of Hope.

Caton's first day on the job will be Monday, Feb. 14. She is replacing Director Jeanne Loyd who announced her retirement in September.

Dr. Kathryn Fiddler appointed to Commission for Women

Dr. Kathryn M. Fiddler, Vice President of Population Health at TidalHealth, was recently appointed by Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan to serve on the Maryland Commission for Women. 

The commission is a 25-member board established by state law and charged with the responsibility to study the status of women in our state; recommend methods of overcoming discrimination; recognize women's accomplishments and contributions; provide informed advice to the executive and legislative branches of government and direct attention to critical problems confronting women. 

Commissioners are appointed with the consent of the state Senate and serve four-terms without compensation. 

Fiddler joined TidalHealth in 2016, and is responsible for leading its Population Health efforts in the health system and in the community.

Laurie Scherer to lead SU Counseling Center

Salisbury University has announced Laurie Scherer as the new Director of its Student Counseling Center.

Scherer comes to SU from St. Mary’s College of Maryland, where she served as its Wellness Center Director. In that capacity, she managed operations including mental health services, medication management, psychiatric services, sexual assault advocacy and physical health center services.

At SU, Scherer will lead the University’s Counseling Center staff in providing professional mental health services for students, including prevention efforts, assessment and treatment of psychological problems, emotional concerns, and other individual and group mental health issues.

Prior to her career in higher education, she operated a private counseling practice and served as a community health crisis and trauma counselor with Walden/Sierra, Inc.

Scherer earned a master’s in Counseling Psychology from Capella University and her bachelor’s in Psychology from Mary Washington University. She also holds a post-master’s certificate in clinical community counseling from Johns Hopkins University.

Gia Bruce honored for nursing kindness

TidalHealth Peninsula Regional recently honored Certified Nursing Assistant Georgia “Gia” Bruce with the Sunshine Award for Outstanding CNAs, PCAs and PCTs.

Bruce works on patient care unit 5 South at the Salisbury hospital. She was recognized after a coworker nominated her for extraordinary compassion to a female patient who was recovering from a violent assault.

“Gia was an angel. In these delicate situations, it is so vital to provide patients a safe environment conducive to healing. Gia did everything she could think of that would support this patient in recovering emotionally and physically. I definitely believe that God placed her in the right place at the right time to help this woman through a very dark and scary time,” wrote the nominator.

Bruce was honored in a ceremony before her co-workers and presented with fresh flowers, a pin and a certificate recognizing her exceptional care.

Jake Day chosen for Just City fellowship

 Salisbury Mayor Jake Day has been selected for the 2022 Mayors’ Institute on City Design’s Just City Mayoral Fellowship.

Over a series of convenings in spring 2022, this program will bring together a small group of mayors and city design experts from around the country to directly tackle racial injustices in each of their cities through planning and design interventions.

The Just City Mayoral Fellowship will help mayors navigate a just and equitable recovery from the pandemic, providing actionable ideas for city leaders rising to meet this moment of change. The program will explore ways to create lasting, transformational impacts from new federal funding streams such as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the American Rescue Plan Act.

 The Lab’s Just City Index will frame dynamic presentations and dialogues with experts in the fields of architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, art activism, housing and public policy. Over the semester-long program, mayors will identify how racial injustices manifest in the social, economic, and physical infrastructures of their cities and develop manifestos of action for their communities.

Salisbury City staff members will also participate in some of the sessions: Amanda Pollack, Director of Infrastructure & Development, handles Salisbury’s planning, development review, and engineering portfolios; Ron Strickler, Director of Housing & Community Development, handles City’s homelessness, housing, code enforcement and neighborhood relations portfolios.