DOVER, Del. (December 12, 2023) – Following an extensive application and interview process, LEADelaware has seated 12 fellows representing Delaware’s agriculture industry, who will begin a 2-year journey to develop leadership skills within the food, fiber, and natural resources industries.

“With 21 applicants, we had the second-largest pool of applicants in the program’s history, and these 12 fellows really rose to the top throughout the selection process for Class VII. This class will gain a unique perspective with five fellows actively farming in the state,” said LEADelaware Co-Director Chris Brosch. “The class represents all three counties, and we have a wide representation, including educators, growers and producers of poultry, specialty crops, grain, individuals involved in food access, and agency employees.”

The LEADelaware Fellows for 2024-2026 include Justin Blessing, Mule Run Farms; Kyle Brolis, Food Bank of Delaware; Nate Bruce, Delaware Cooperative Extension; Logan Field, Growmark FS; Nichole Krambeck, Insight Crop Scouting, LLC; Ash Kunder, Pint Family Farms / DNREC; Ashley Tabibian, DNREC; Lisa Porter, L & L Farms; Jill Pollock, Delaware Cooperative Extension; Melissa Tracy, Odyssey Charter School; Brooke Walls, Delaware Department of Agriculture; and Rebecca Schaller, Delaware Department of Agriculture.

“Chris and I are very pleased with the exceptional pool of applicants to Class VII. We are excited to get the program back up and running after a two-year hiatus, which allowed us to take time to assess what was working well with the program and what modifications were necessary,” said LEADelaware Co-Director Jennifer Volk. “With this cohort, we plan to not only discuss leadership and experience Delaware’s agriculture and natural resources but also focus on how we can all contribute to addressing the issues that challenge the sustainability of agriculture.”

The program offers unique learning opportunities where fellows will do site visits, attend seminars and expert panels, and participate in team activities and workshops. At the end of the program, the cohort will go on an international agriculture study trip to be determined in 2025. The trip will last roughly ten days, exhibit a country or region’s diversity of agriculture, and offer a behind-the-scenes look into an industry that is very different but likely has surprising similarities.

According to Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Michael T. Scuse, “Agriculture is Delaware’s number one industry, providing more than 69,000 jobs and nearly $10.3 billion of economic activity. While Delaware farmers produce various agricultural products on 530,000 acres of farmland, many Delawareans do not understand the importance of protecting our land from development. The LEADelaware graduates play an integral role in communicating and promoting the importance of agriculture to the communities and industries throughout our state.”

LEADelaware Alumni from Classes I – VI are invited to gather on January 9 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Delaware Ag Week to meet the newest members of Class VII and learn what is planned for their cohort. Alumni Amber Bataille, Lindsay Lancaster, and Patti Web will share about their recent travels to Wyoming for the International Leadership Alumni Conference and discuss opportunities for additional alumni engagement going forward. Alumni must register before January 3, 2024, by contacting Karen Adams at adams@udel.edu or calling 302-831-3328 to ensure an accurate count for food.

LEADelaware is a partnership between the University of Delaware’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Delaware Department of Agriculture to build the next generation of leaders in agriculture, natural resources, and sustainability. For more information on the program, visit http://sites.udel.edu/leadelaware.

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Pat Emory Has Served 39 Years with the Department

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Environmental Control has named Pat Emory to lead its Division of Fish and Wildlife. Emory has served his entire career with the Department, most recently as director of DNREC Division of Community Affairs.

Emory is to replace former Director David Saveikis, who recently retired from DNREC after a nearly 40-year career with the Department, and had served as Division of Fish and Wildlife director since 2011.

Emory will assume the official title on Monday, March 13.

The division director manages fish and wildlife conservation management policies of the state and runs day-to-day operations of the division, which includes 114 full-time positions and an annual budget of more than $10.7 million.

“Pat is an experienced and trusted leader in the state who has demonstrated his passion for the mission of the Department over the course of his career,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “I am pleased he will continue his commitment to public service and environmental stewardship in this role.”

Emory joined DNREC in 1984 as a seasonal park ranger and led the Division of Fish and Wildlife from 2003 to 2011. He has been the director for the Division of Community Affairs for the last five years. A former president of the Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, he holds certifications in several environmental areas, including sediment and storm water management, emergency response and hazardous material handling. A native of Milford, he is a graduate of the Delaware State Police Academy and earned a Bachelor of Science from Salisbury University.

For more information about the division, visit de.gov/fw.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife conserves and manages Delaware’s fish and wildlife and their habitats, and provides fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing and boating access on nearly 68,000 acres of public land owned or managed by the Division of Fish and Wildlife. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram,  Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov; Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov

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NEW CASTLE (June 22, 2022) – Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Secretary Molly Magarik today announced five leadership changes for the agency involving the Office of the Secretary and the Division of Public Health.

The changes:

Dava Newnam, who has served as Associate Deputy Cabinet Secretary and Chief Operating Officer for DHSS, has been named Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Special Populations, Strategic Planning and Innovation.

Newnam has served in various roles at DHSS for 27 years. In January 2021, she was named Associate Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer for the department, with responsibility for managing a $3 billion budget and 3,500 employees. During her tenure, she led the consolidation of business operations department-wide under the Office of the Secretary, including procurement, accounts payable, accounts receivable, grants administration and budget development and helped organize DHSS’ first employee Leadership Academy. In her previous role as Director of the Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities, she led more than 700 employees and was responsible for directing the state-run Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill in Smyrna; community-facing units serving about 20,000 vulnerable Delawareans older than 60; and the Adult Protective Services unit, which protects vulnerable adults who are at risk of abuse, neglect or financial exploitation. She will begin her new role July 1.

“Dava Newnam is a strong leader who has a wealth of knowledge about DHSS and the people we serve,” said Secretary Magarik. “As a former Director of both the Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities and our Division of Management Services, I know she understands the evolving needs of Delaware’s seniors and adults with disabilities, and is strategic in prioritizing and maximizing the resources that DHSS receives on both the state and federal levels. Dava also has been working on the frontlines to reduce the staffing shortages that DHSS is facing, especially in health care-related positions.”

Newnam is replacing Sarah Noonan Davis, who has served as Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Special Populations, Strategic Planning and Innovation since February 2021. During her tenure, Noonan Davis focused on special populations, as well as strategic planning and innovative practices that are needed to move the department into the 21st century. She oversaw the Divisions of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities, Substance Abuse and Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities Services, and Visually Impaired, and the Department’s three in-patient facilities, the Stockley Center, the Delaware Psychiatric Center, and the Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill. During her tenure, Noonan Davis’ accomplishments and contributions included overseeing the transition of services from one of the state’s largest providers of substance use disorder (SUD), mental health, and intellectual and developmental disabilities services; spearheading continuous quality improvement initiatives at the Delaware Psychiatric Center and within the Psychiatric Residency program; overseeing the implementation of the Homebound COVID-19 Vaccine program; and aligning initiatives and services across the DHSS divisions through the creation of the internal SUD Workgroup and the Pregnant and Post-partum People with SUD subgroup. Her final day at DHSS will be June 30.

“I am grateful to Sarah Noonan Davis for the energy, compassion and strategic thinking she has brought to her role as Deputy Cabinet Secretary,” Secretary Magarik said. “I know this was a difficult decision for Sarah, and I join other DHSS employees in wishing her the best in her endeavors to come.”

Carla Mitchell-Penny, Human Resources Director for DHSS, has been named Chief of Staff in the Office of the Secretary. She will work in conjunction with executive team members to determine and prioritize departmental strategies and goals, ensure the cohesive movement of departmental objectives toward the mission, and streamline and standardize daily operations in the Secretary’s Office. Mitchell-Penny replaces Michele Stant, who left to become Chief of Financial Management in the Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance. Mitchell-Penny began her new role June 21.

In addition to the Deputy Secretary and Chief of Staff announcement in the Office of the Secretary, Secretary Magarik also announced temporary changes in leadership at the Division of Public Health:

Dr. Rick Hong, who has served in various leadership roles at the Division of Public Health (DPH) during the past 15 years, has been named Acting Director of the Division of Public Health, effective July 1. Dr. Hong will lead the division temporarily during the search to find a replacement for the departing DPH Director Dr. Karyl Rattay. Dr. Rattay is leaving DPH at the end of June after more than 13 years of leading Delaware’s public health team and serving the people of Delaware.

Dr. Hong, who served during much of the COVID-19 pandemic as Medical Director at DPH, is currently serving as Medical Director for the Emergency Medical Services and Preparedness Section at DPH.

“I am grateful to Dr. Hong, who has so much experience with the Division of Public Health programs and especially its COVID-19 response, for assuming this additional role,” Secretary Magarik said. “Having him lead the division until we can find a physician to lead DPH means that all of our programs there, including the COVID response, are in very good hands.”

Jamie Mack, who has served in various positions at DPH during his 18 years with the agency, has been named Acting Deputy Director, effective July 1. After stints in the Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention and Community Environmental Health programs, Mack joined the Director’s Office as the DPH Policy Lead in 2015. He completed his Master’s Degree in Public Administration while working as the Division’s Liaison with the General Assembly, supporting policy efforts across a wide range of public health priorities. Mack returned to his roots in December 2017, taking over as Section Chief of Health Systems Protection and serving as the State Environmental Health Director for Delaware. He lives in Magnolia, with his wife, son and daughter.

Steven Blessing, who has served as Chief of the Emergency Medical Services and Preparedness Branch of DPH for 10 years, has been named Acting Deputy Director in charge of the State Health Operations Center (SHOC), effective July 1. SHOC oversees the COVID-19 response in Delaware and other public health emergencies. Blessing has served in other DPH leadership roles for the past 28 years, including Emergency Medical Services Director, Paramedic Administrator and Executive Assistant to the Director of Public Health. Prior to his work with DPH, he was an investment banker with Dean Witter Reynolds and served eight years as an Officer in the U.S. Army. Blessing earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Delaware and a Master’s Degree from Webster University in Webster Groves, Missouri.

Mack and Blessing are replacing Deputy Director Crystal Webb, who is also leaving DPH at the end of June after 13 years as Deputy Director.

The Department of Health and Social Services, with about 3,500 employees, is responsible for meeting the health and social service needs of Delawareans by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency and protecting vulnerable populations.

DNREC Division of Water Director Steven Smailer.

New Director for The Division of Water, Chief of Staff Within DNREC’s Office of The Secretary

Secretary Shawn M. Garvin announced changes today to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s leadership structure, selecting Steven Smailer as new director of DNREC’s Division of Water and naming Kim Siegel as chief of staff within DNREC’s Office of the Secretary.

Smailer succeeds environmental scientist and wetland and stream restoration expert Virgil Holmes, who retired from DNREC after two stints with the Department totaling 15 years, including the last seven years leading the Division of Water. Smailer, a hydrogeologist, worked as an environmental program administrator in the division. He originally came into the Department and the then-Division of Water Resources in the early 1990s, then worked as a hydrogeologist for an extended period in the private sector, before returning to DNREC in 2015 as manager of the Division of Water’s Wetlands and Subaqueous Lands Section.

“Steve’s breadth of knowledge covering water resources top to bottom is unmatched,” said Secretary Garvin. “He has long been seen by peers as having a ‘most versatile player’ role for overseeing many aspects of Delaware’s most precious natural resource, our water. As the Department begins to implement Governor Carney’s Clean Water for Delaware Initiative, there couldn’t be a better choice to lead our Division of Water.”

Smailer is a Delaware-licensed professional geologist, Secretary of the Delaware Board of Geologists, a Groundwater Protection Council National Board Member, and has served as the chair of the State’s Water Supply Coordinating Council since 2017.
He is a Pennsylvania State University graduate with degrees in Earth Science/Geology and Marine Science. Smailer lives in Rehoboth Beach with his wife Laurie and their three children.

As chief of staff, Ms. Siegel succeeds Gregory Patterson who earlier this year moved to the Office of the Governor as the state’s infrastructure implementation coordinator to manage funding received by the State of Delaware through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

“We’re excited to add Kim to the team whose knowledge of the legislative process and public policy experience will help us tackle Delaware’s environmental priorities across a range of issues, including air quality, clean water, climate change, wildlife protections and more,” said Secretary Garvin.

Siegel arrives at DNREC with 20 years of experience in state government and nonprofits. She most recently was the assistant director of government relations and advocacy at Mental Health Partnerships in Philadelphia, overseeing workforce development and individual advocacy programs and monitoring state legislative activity.

Prior to that, she was the FOIA coordinator and legislative affairs manager at the Delaware Department of Justice and the research director to then-Lt. Gov. Matt Denn.

Until 2014, Siegel served in several roles at Autism Delaware where she led a successful campaign to get insurance coverage for autism therapies and launched the Walk for Autism in Bellevue and Cape Henlopen State Parks. She has also worked for NAMI Delaware and was a legislative fellow in the General Assembly.

Siegel received her Master of Public Administration and Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Delaware with a service term in the AmeriCorps program Public Allies between them. She currently resides in the city of Wilmington.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Water manages and protects Delaware’s water resources. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media contact: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov or Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov

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Dover, Del.—Secretary of State Jeff Bullock announced on Friday that Jordan Schulties, Director of the Division of Small Business, and Tim Slavin, Director of the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, will depart from their roles to embark on new journeys at the Delaware Department of Technology and Information (DTI) and Fort Dupont Redevelopment & Preservation Corporation, respectively. 

“I am grateful to both Jordan and Tim’s dedication and service to their divisions throughout these past few years,” said Secretary of State Jeff Bullock. “Jordan rose through the ranks from Deputy Director to Director of the Division and her steadfast commitment helped so many small businesses in the community receive all types of assistance from grants to resources, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.” 

“Tim’s leadership and passion throughout these past 17 years have transformed the division into what it is today and strengthened how Delawareans connect with all aspects of history. He has served Delawareans well. I wish both Jordan and Tim all the best in their new roles,” said Bullock. 

“It has been a privilege to lead the Division of Small Business, and I am honored to have served in this important role,” said Director Schulties. “In my time with the division, our team has provided millions of dollars in assistance to businesses throughout Delaware, creating and sustaining thousands of jobs and helping to grow our economy. I am incredibly proud of the team we have and the hard work they do every day to support our state’s small businesses.” 

Regina Mitchell, Deputy Director of the Division of Small Business, will serve as Acting Director until a successor is named. 

 “I owe a debt of gratitude to my colleagues at Historical and Cultural Affairs for all that we have accomplished,” said Director Slavin. “Their work continues to improve our lives in Delaware; they are truly dedicated public servants.” 

Slavin will serve until June 30, 2022. A successor will be named to head the division before June 30^th.    

The Division of Small Business is a service-focused agency committed to supporting businesses starting and growing in Delaware. Small businesses can reach out to the Division for assistance in connecting to the resources and advice to succeed. To learn more about the Division of Small Business, click here. 

The Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs serves the public by identifying, collecting, preserving, and interpreting inclusive Delaware history and engaging diverse cultures. HCA activities foster strong communities, engaged citizens, economic vitality, and a deeper understanding of Delaware’s role in world history. To learn more about the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, click here.