Vinessa Williams named a Maryland Young Entrepreneur of the Year

Vinessa Williams of Little Leaders Learning Center in Salisbury has been named Young Entrepreneur of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Baltimore District Office. Williams, along with 13 additional award winners, will be honored at the 36th Annual Maryland Small Business Awards Luncheon on June 9.

Williams opened Little Leaders Learning Center six years ago with a small staff and roster of approximately 40 students. She has quickly grown the operation to now serve more than 100 students, with a staff of 25.

“Vinessa is proof that some people are just born entrepreneurs,” said Steve Umberger, district director, SBA Baltimore District Office. “She has shown that she has the business acumen and leadership skills to build a company that will serve the Salisbury community for years to come. We are pleased to honor Vinessa and celebrate her success.”

TidalHealth Peninsula Regional announces Physician and APP of the Year 

TidalHealth Peninsula Regional recently announced its Physician and Advanced Practice Provider of the Year: Dr. Matthew Stensland and Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner Jeremiah Campbell, both of Emergency Services Associates.

Stensland is known for his excellent bedside manner and the care that he provides to patients. During this challenging time, he has been stepping in to do anything he can to alleviate the burden on the ED team.

He has been known to jump in and draw blood for lab tests and start IVs when nursing team members are attending to other tasks or higher priorities. He has also been seen transporting patients for medical scanning within the department.

Campbell helps the Emergency Department team run efficiently and stay ahead of the tasks at hand. Even during this difficult time, Campbell treats all patients and ED team members with the utmost respect, patience and with a smile.

Erica Williams named Wor-Wic allied health navigator

 Wor-Wic Community College recently welcomed Erica Williams of Salisbury as Continuing Education & Workforce Development allied health navigator.

Williams has a bachelor’s degree in Health Education from Morgan State University in Baltimore, and a master’s in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

She has nearly 10 years of experience working in the office of admissions and recruitment at UMES as an admissions counselor/recruiter.

 Alyson Hickman joins Weight Loss and Bariatric Nutrition

TidalHealth is pleased to welcome Alyson Hickman to TidalHealth Medical Weight Loss and Bariatric Nutrition.

Hickman earned her bachelor’s degree in Human Ecology from University of Maryland Eastern Shore in 2017. She believes in using fun, motivational educational techniques and provides an individualized nutritional counseling approach.

Hickman will see patients four days a week in Seaford at 8472 Herring Run Road. Beginning in late July, she will see patients one day a week in Salisbury at 800 South Salisbury Blvd.

Becker Morgan grows leadership team

Becker Morgan Group has announced additions to its leadership team, welcoming two new Senior Associates and four new Associates. The promotions span across the firm’s Delaware, Maryland and North Carolina offices.

Chad Carter was promoted to Senior Associate. He joined the firm in 2017 and has since grown the firm’s offering of services to include Landscape Architecture as well as Land Planning.

Katie Wear was promoted to Senior Associate. As the firm’s HR Manager, she has streamlined processes and put an emphasis on employee well-being.

David Botscheller was promoted to Associate after earning his license in 2021. Since joining the firm he has developed considerable expertise within the hospitality practice area, serving as project manager and project architect on multiple high-profile projects.

Brian Cusick was promoted to Associate, having been with the firm since 2002. As an integral member of the Dover architectural studio, his experience is exceptionally varied, working on health care, public safety, commercial and residential projects.

Ted Hastings has been a member of the Becker Morgan Group civil team since 2015 and was promoted to Associate. He is a project manager with experience ranging from residential to commercial development and including a significant portfolio of solar development.

Brice Reid has been with the firm since 2015 and was promoted to Associate, after earning his professional licensure in 2021. Brice recently relocated to the Wilmington, N.C., studio after several years in Salisbury. He has developed a specialty in health care and single-family residential design

Becker Morgan Group is a leader in architecture, engineering, surveying, land planning and interior design in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions of the United States.

 Jackson Blake is TidalHealth Peninsula Regional’s April Sunshine Award Recipient

 Jackson Blake of the Emergency Department at TidalHealth Peninsula Regional is the April 2022 Sunshine Award recipient for his kindness and compassion.

Meanwhile, registered nurses Carly Bodolus and Sachin Dhungel, both of the 5 Layfield patient-care floor at TidalHealth Peninsula Regional, are the April 2022 Daisy Award recipients for their compassion and care.

Blake was honored in a ceremony before his co-workers.

Bodolus and Sachin Dhungel, who were also honored in a ceremony, were saluted for showing compassion.

 Porter-Long joins Wor-Wic Student Support Services

 Wor-Wic Community College recently welcomed Caroline Porter-Long of Salisbury as TRIO Student Support Services advisor.

Porter-Long has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va., and a master’s degree from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C. She has held a variety of positions in her career, including writing counselor and teaching positions at Wor-Wic, Salisbury University, Bennett Middle School, Nanesemond-Suffolk Academy in Suffolk, Va., and Wake Forest University.

Insley and Christina Rice earn Delaware licenses

Senior Advisor Tonney Insley and Advisor Christina Rice of SVN Miller Commercial Real Estate have earned their Delaware real estate licenses.

Insley and Rice have teamed up to cover the Delaware real estate market in western Sussex County.  Insley is now licensed in Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania; Rice is licensed in Maryland and Delaware.

Rice began her career with SVN Miller in 2007 as an Executive Assistant to Brent Miller. In the last 15 years, she has provided Administrative and Business Support services to select SVN Advisors. In 2021, she transitioned to an Advisor position working alongside Insley.

Insley joined SVN Miller in 2014 as an Advisor. His primary focus has been projects throughout the Wicomico and Worcester counties.

Within the past 12 months, Insley has earned his Delaware and Pennsylvania licenses.

 Chesapeake Housing Mission Names New Executive Director

David Mayonado, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Chesapeake Housing Mission has announced Michael Franklin as its new Executive Director to lead the continued growth of the nonprofit organization moving forward.

Don Taylor, founder and Executive Director for the past 13 years, asked to step back from the day-to-day operation to focus on starting similar nonprofits in the surrounding counties.

Taylor will hold the title of Director of Development and sits on the Advisory Board of Directors.

Franklin, a resident of Berlin, comes to CHM following a 16-year career as President/CED of the Atlantic General Hospital.

Chesapeake Housing Mission serves low-income families in Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties by providing critical home repairs and the construction of wheelchair ramps for those who are unable to pay for them.

CHM partners with volunteer teams from local organizations, businesses, and churches, giving them the opportunity to give back.

Sonia Baker promoted at Bank of Delmarva

 John W. Breda, President and CEO of the Bank of Delmarva, announced that Sonia Baker was promoted within the corporation.

Baker joined the bank in March 2017.  She was recently promoted to the role of Vice President of New Business Development and Relationship Manager in the bank’s 26th Street office in Ocean City office.

The Bank of Delmarva has 12 locations on the Eastern Shore of Maryland/Delaware metro market.

Allison Canada named to national board

 Allison M. Canada, Director of Purchasing and Auxiliary Services for Wor-Wic Community College, has been elected to the national board of directors of the National Association of Educational Procurement.

Canada will serve a five-year term on the board of NAEP, the nonprofit professional association primarily dedicated to serving higher education procurement officers in the U.S. and Canada. Canada has worked for Wor-Wic since 2004. She is a certified public procurement officer and a certified purchasing manager. She has served as NAEP District II board director and is a past president of the DC/MD/VA Region.

In her role at Wor-Wic, Canada has been a champion for procurement effectiveness at small schools. She is a past president of the Maryland Association of Community College Procurement Officers, co-chair of the Eastern Shore of Maryland Educational Consortium Energy Trust and founder of the Lower Shore Public Procurement Professionals.

Donald Owrey name to lead Atlantic General Hospital

Donald Owrey has been selected to serve as the next President and CEO for Atlantic General Hospital and Health System beginning June 1.

Owrey brings more than 30 years of health care experience and leading regional health care strategy to AGH. He has spent the past 20 years in various leadership roles with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Most recently, he served as the COO for UPMC’s northern region, which included six rural and community hospitals, a 450-provider medical group and more than 5,000 employees.

The AGH Board of Directors described Owrey as a transformational leader with excellent organizational skills and a proven track record of success in hospital progression, clinical program development, improved patient experience and quality outcomes, employee and physician engagement, revenue growth and care model redesign.

George, Miles & Buhr  announce promotions 

The architectural and engineering firm of George, Miles & Buhr has announced the following promotions: 

Stephen L. Marsh has been promoted to East Region Director of Operations. Marsh is a Senior Vice President with the firm and has served on the Board of Members since 2013. He began his career with GMB in 1994 as a civil engineer focused on hydrology and low-impact development, ultimately establishing the firm’s Site/Sustainable Design Group.

Christopher B. Derbyshire, Morgan H. Helfrich and Katherine J. McAllister have been selected as Senior Vice Presidents on GMB’s Board of Members, after serving six years as Vice Presidents.

Derbyshire joined GMB’s Water/Wastewater Engineering Group in 2002 and now serves as Group Leader.

Helfrich has served as GMB’s Architectural Group Leader since 2016, after joining the firm in 2006. A registered architect in Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia, she works with public and private clients on a wide variety of projects.

McAllister joined GMB's Water/Wastewater Engineering group in 2005. As a Project Director in the Salisbury office, she has extensive knowledge of municipal public works, funding agency requirements, rate structures and grant writing.

GMB is a premier Architectural & Engineering firm with offices in Salisbury, Baltimore and Seaford.