
Delaware Commission for Women taps philanthropy leader for advisory board
Delaware women are making big moves this month.
From the elections, where Lisa Blunt Rochester became the state's first Black senator and Sarah McBride became the first ever openly trans member of the US Congress, to other organizations in the state.
Cora Castle of Omnipotential Energy Partners and Tynetta Brown of Philanthropy Delaware are among the women — and a few men — making Power Moves in Delaware this month.
Keep reading to get the details. But first, check out our monthly look at which companies are hiring for tech jobs in the area.
New executive director at sustainable chemistry organization
Cora Castle, cofounder and president of OmniPotential Energy Partners, is taking on an additional role as executive director of the Delaware Sustainable Chemistry Alliance (DESCA), starting Nov. 25.
'I'm incredibly grateful to the DESCA board members for entrusting me with this opportunity to drive innovation, support STEM startups and champion sustainable chemistry in Delaware and beyond,' Castle said in a LinkedIn post, noting that she will continue to serve as president of OmniPotential. 'My entrepreneurial experience in building a STEM company from the ground up with a sustainable mission, aligns closely with my new role.'
Castle also serves as secretary of the executive committee for Sierra Club, Delaware, vice chair on the New Castle County Board of Adjustment and senior cloud partner for the AAA Club Alliance.
State gov adds philanthropy pro as an advisor
Tynetta Brown, president and CEO of Philanthropy Delaware, has been appointed to serve on the Delaware Commission for Women advising the Delaware Office of Women's Advancement and Advocacy (OWAA).
'This is an honor,' Brown posted on LinkedIn. 'Thank you Speaker Valerie Maglio Longhurst for the recommendation to be appointed by Governor John Carney to join those currently serving. I truly look forward to working to further advance and support women in the first state.'
OWAA oversees Delaware's women's rights work, including evaluation, support and implementation of women's rights legislation. Its efforts include advising the governor, legislature and the secretary of the Department of Human Resources.
More Delaware Power Moves:
Alonna Berry, senior director at community impact consulting firm Social Contract, has been appointed by Gov. John Carney to serve on the Delaware Community Foundation's board of directors.
Dubard McGriff, former organizer for the ACLU of Delaware's Smart Justice campaign, is the new executive officer at Northeast Community Development Corporation in Wilmington.
Sarah Fulton, former director of development for the nonprofit leadership hub Spur Impact, was promoted from deputy director of communications of outreach and engagement to director of communications for the State of Delaware.
The Delaware State Chamber named Danielle Blake, who worked for 10 years for the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, as vice president of member engagement.
WSFS Bank announced that James Wechsler has been named executive vice president and chief commercial banking officer.
Hashtags
- BusinessPolitics#Moves,Black,SmartJustice,CoraCastle,TynettaBrown,Castle,JohnCarney,LisaBluntRochester,SarahMcBride,Brown,ValerieMaglioLonghurst,AlonnaBerry,DubardMcGriff,SarahFulton,PhilanthropyDelaware,DESCA,LinkedIn,OWAA,USCongress,OmnipotentialEnergyPartners,OmniPotentialEnergyPartners,DelawareSustainableChemistryAlliance,OmniPotential,SierraClub,NewCastleCountyBoardofAdjustment,AAAClubAlliance,DelawareCommissionforWomen,DelawareOfficeofWomen'sAdvancementandAdvocacy,DepartmentofHumanResources,SocialContract,DelawareCommunityFoundation,ACLUofDelaware,NortheastCommunityDevelopmentCorporation,SpurImpact,DelawareStat

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Technical.ly
4 days ago
- Technical.ly
Universities are economic engines. Will they survive?
American higher education faces several intersecting challenges, including declining enrollment, reduced job prospects for graduates, demographic shifts and political funding pressures. International competition, particularly from China, is eroding the US's long-held research dominance, with experts pointing to immigration policy, lack of coordinated innovation strategy and underinvestment in science as key factors. Emerging reforms suggest paths forward for universities to adapt, re-engage with their communities and sustain their role as essential 'anchor institutions' for local economies. Victor Hwang's immigrant parents started a small business to help pay for his shot at an elite university that changed the course of his life. Brian Brackeen dropped out of a state school to start a tech career that led him to launch one of the country's few Black-led venture capital firms. Both represent how American higher education has changed over the last 50 years. Each can tell us something about where this country's colleges and universities might go in the future. No question it's a moment of peril. For centuries, universities have intended to do two things: create new scholarship, and train students in it. In the American style, this meant colleges and universities have been powerful economic engines, most notably through breakthrough invention. The world's first supercomputer and the mRNA research that powered the historically-fast deployment of the COVID-19 vaccine happened at the University of Pennsylvania. Johns Hopkins University researchers isolated the first human embryonic stem cells and landed the first spacecraft on an asteroid. Modern robotics and artificial intelligence were pioneered at Carnegie Mellon University. Examples like this come from across the country. Big breakthroughs are historic. More practically though, higher education commanded social currency in the United States by driving economic mobility for individuals. After the Second World War, elite universities established a merit-based admissions system. For a time, standardized tests gave kids from different backgrounds a better shot at prestigious schools. As the American economy changed, the so-called college wage premium grew. By 2012, a college-degree holder could expect nearly double the earnings of a peer with only a high school diploma. The relatively big generation of millennials stormed college campuses throughout that decade — reshaping cities along the way. The peak had already passed. College enrollment in the United States hit its zenith in 2010 and has declined since. Worse still, 2018 marked a reversal: For the first time on record, the unemployment rate for recent college graduates (those aged 22-27) was higher than the national average, and it has accelerated since the pandemic. Whether that's because of encroaching artificial intelligence or an over-supply of degree holders is for another story. The point is that existential threats are growing for US higher education. Alongside the so-called enrollment cliff, due in part to continuing demographic changes, American research universities are losing status abroad, and entangled in a political battle domestically. Where do we go from here? Hwang, founder of entrepreneurship advocacy group Right to Start, told me during a recent Builders Live podcast recording that universities are overdue for an overhaul, from their century-old curricula to how they handle innovation and research. 'The way our current university curricula are designed, they were created over a hundred years ago,' Hwang said. 'If I were running a university now, I would shift the focus toward how you apply knowledge to actually make stuff happen in the world — make people into builders, makers and doers.' Brackeen, a managing partner at Cincinnati-based venture firm Lightship Capital, agrees institutions must adapt. He advocates making higher education more flexible and accessible, reshaping the very structure of how universities deliver learning. 'This idea that you all have to start as one class and finish in a specific amount of time — why does it matter?' Brackeen said. 'Decoupling line-by-line matriculation would allow more people to participate.' American higher education is at a crossroads These shifts are not merely hypothetical. The data shows that American higher education is at a crossroads. Controversially, the Trump administration has withheld federal funding from a growing list of universities on cultural issues. University of Virginia's president resigned amid the pressure. The administration's anti-immigrant rhetoric is suppressing international students, long prized by college admissions for high tuition fees. Already cash-strapped community colleges are enacting budget cuts. Close to 100 colleges and universities are expected to close in he coming years, according to a Federal Reserve Bank analysis. Dozens have already shut down, of the close to 6,000 that exist. No question some consolidation and closures are an inevitable response to a changing landscape. Even higher ed insiders have acknowledged that colleges and universities let a liberal bias grow, leaving the trade politically vulnerable. Meanwhile, higher ed has suffered 'administrative bloat,' in which an arms race of services has propelled spiraling professional staff that do not contribute to core learning. So higher ed has problems, yes, but its importance is unrivaled. The Federal Reserve Bank's 'anchor institutions' initiative has quantified the economic impact of 'eds and meds,' or the preponderance of universities and health systems at the center of local economies. Weak regions rely on them, and strong regions are powered by them. What can be done about it? One key point from the Fed research is that colleges and universities ought not be seen as solely coastal phenomena. According to a analysis of federal data, every US state has at least one university that is among the 200 largest R&D spenders in the country, and most rank in the top 150 (South Dakota State University is a laggard). Each contributes meaningful inventions to our lives, and effective graduates to our communities. That story is lost on a growing number of Americans. University communication strategies matter. Elite schools like Harvard and Yale, with endowments in the tens of billions, attract particular criticism: that they're hedge funds with mascots hoarding resources rather than investing in broader economic growth. Competing for lower acceptance rates is an unjust — and politically tenuous — strategy for nonprofit institutions, Brackeen notes. Brackeen advocates for redistributing some of these financial resources across the higher education system, particularly to historically underfunded institutions. 'I would love to see the larger universities democratize their access to financial resources,' Brackeen said. 'Their immense war chests could provide critical support to smaller state institutions and HBCUs.' One analysis in the United Kingdom, which itself faces a high cost higher education system, advocated for a two-tier system: national institutions that should be evaluated on selective admissions and scientific breakthroughs, and local ones that should be evaluated on producing more in-demand graduates at ever lower costs. A 'lifelong-learning entitlement' is being piloted there, reflecting that though there may be fewer younger people now, a growing share of the population is older. Continuing education, both for career changing, upskilling and fulfillment, seem obvious priorities. The 'university retirement community' seems like a bet on that the international reputation of American research universities — long an undisputed advantage — is under pressure. According to Nature's latest global university rankings, only two US institutions remain in the top 10 (Harvard and MIT), while Chinese universities dominate. This marks a profound shift from two decades ago, when American institutions filled most top slots. Victor Hwang points to outdated federal immigration policies and a lack of strategic thinking about global competitiveness as partly responsible for this decline. 'We trained up the best minds in the world and sent them back home again,' Hwang said. 'We haven't fundamentally redesigned our scientific-industrial complex since World War II. We need to intentionally focus on innovation and entrepreneurial activity.' Whether the Trump administration's attacks allow that to happen, or not, remains unclear. One analysis is tracking more than $3.5 billion of federal funding to colleges and universities that is in question. But amid the gloom, signs of change are emerging, particularly from regions and institutions experiencing a renaissance. The Midwest, notably, is experimenting with solutions. Ohio, for instance, implemented the 'Ohio IP Promise,' which streamlined intellectual property rules across all state universities to accelerate innovation. Marshall University in West Virginia, under former Intuit CEO Brad Smith, now mandates design thinkin g as part of its freshman experience — a practical move to foster problem-solving and resilience in first-generation college students. These examples may offer a blueprint for broader reforms. 'There is not a vibrant ecosystem in our country that is not situated in some form or way to a university. They're vital,' Brackeen said. 'But they need to get off the sidelines and actively invest in communities again.'


Technical.ly
07-08-2025
- Technical.ly
7 things every leader should hear from Delaware's Spur Impact Summit
The MILLSUMMIT is dead. Long live the Spur Impact Leadership Summit. The rebranding of the 8-year old annual event became official halfway through the event that returned on Aug. 5 to 1313 Market in Wilmington, with a theme that, appropriately, was about embracing change and moving forward. Originally called the Millennial Summit, the brainchild of Spur Impact founder Charles Vincent was aimed at young future leaders when it started in 2017. It soon dropped the generational focus, as millennials grew out of the professional youngster demo and it became clear that people of all ages attended and benefitted from the event. The shortened MILLSUMMIT name became more of a reference to Delaware's historical and modern mills that helped establish it as a center of business. Some things haven't changed: Equity is still a focus, with attendees picking up advice on protecting their rights in the workplace and knowing when a workplace no longer aligns with their core values. Whether you're a business leader, future leader, founder or technologist, here are seven of the biggest takeaways from the day. You can find a live recap and pics in our Delaware Slack channel. (Not yet a member? Request an invite here.) 1) No job in your industry? Use your transferable skills It's rough out there for people breaking into new careers, whether you're fresh out of college/training or a mid-career pivoter. Until you find the job in your preferred industry, many of the skills you've picked up can still serve you in the meantime, said Nicole Denson, a managing director at JPMorgan Chase. 'If your industry of interest is not available, take your skills to another industry until your industry becomes available, and then transfer them,' Denson said. 2) Choose quality over quantity Whether it's network connections or social media followers, quality over quantity was a recurring theme. (second only to 'Everyone has imposter syndrome'). Glenn Jackson, an executive VP with M&T Bank, offered advice on finding meaningful professional relationships. 'Slowing down for me was really important,' Jackson said. 'Instead of stacking up relationships and you're checking a box… just engage people, meet them where they're at, stay present in that moment, and something will happen' 3) Mentors aren't just for young people Marlow Levy, president of St. Francis and Mercy Fitzgerald hospitals, never got to be guided by his dream mentor when he was young, but he eventually found others in hospital leadership positions who helped him reach his goals. And even then, he never stopped seeking guidance. 'I think it becomes a sort of hubris to think that you ever get to a point where you don't need a good mentor to help guide you,' Levy said. 'I have a couple of mentors, and I think the most difficult sort of advice one may have given me at some point during my time with them was probably [that] sometimes being uncomfortable leads to growth.' 4) Don't save being nice for the CEO Leaders who took the time to treat people well as they rose to the top, regardless of their rank in the organization, are some of the most effective, said Natalie Edwards, global chief diversity officer of National Grid. 'People often forget what you did, but people rarely forget how you made them feel,' Edwards said. 'Some of the best relationships in my career… the ones that will actually get you more opportunities than knowing the CEO, is how you treat your peers and the people who are junior than you, because at the end of the day, those are the people you work on projects with across the organization.' 5) AI is not the Terminator, but ethical concerns shouldn't be ignored Today's leaders need to keep up with AI and understand its importance as a tool that can greatly increase efficiency, according to Greg Watkins, cofounder of and an AI advocate. The fears that surround AI as it changes the business landscape like nothing since the advent of the internet (if not the Industrial Revolution) often to focus on science fiction-type fears of self-aware cyborgs, while the biggest risks are actually more mundane, he said, tied to data centers powered by fossil fuels and ethical concerns in education and medicine. 'Out in Delaware City, they're trying to build a data center,and it's getting a huge pushback from the community due to environmental issues,' Watkins said. 'There are ethical concerns around the usage of AI, right down to is a student cheating when they use it in school, or are they using a tool to make their work better?' 6) Rethink the 'Golden Rule' in the workplace Discrimination in the workplace — and retaliation for reporting discrimination — is real, said Richard Sexton, senior counsel for labor and employment at BAE Systems, American University. Workers should know their rights, and understand that protection from discrimination doesn't mean a perfect workplace. From a leadership perspective, Fleur McKendell, president of the Delaware NAACP State Conference of Branches, made a counter-intuitive suggestion: 'I think it's important that we understand that we need to have a paradigm shift away from treating people the way you want to be treated,' she said. 'We need to treat people the way they want to be treated, because what's acceptable to you may not be acceptable to someone else.' 7) Remember to have fun Wally Koval, the Wilmington-based cofounder and CEO of the adventure brand Accidentally Wes Anderson, found success building an online community by listening to followers and continually re-evaluating what works (and what doesn't), as he and his wife Amanda followed a path that has so far included global travel and a New York Times bestselling book. Becoming successful doing something that started out as a personal project is a unique position in some ways, but Koval's advice applies to everyone: 'Don't forget to have fun with it,' Koval said. 'This [takeaway] is easy to an extent, and, I think, the hardest one.'


Technical.ly
06-08-2025
- Technical.ly
Founded by one of Pennsylvania's first Black veterinarians, this Germantown animal care center is still thriving
A Germantown animal care center founded almost 50 years ago by one of Pennsylvania's first Black veterinarians is still active in the community — thanks to dedication from its second-generation owner. Over the last eight years, Greene Street Animal Care has gone through shifts in business model and branding, but the core of the business has always been focused on making every animal and owner that comes through the door feel at home, CEO Kathleen Walls told 'Our motto is, we treat your pet like family,' Walls said. This philosophy is inspired by Walls' father, Orville R. Walls, who opened Greene Street Animal Clinic in Germantown in 1976 and provided community vet services for over 40 years. After he died in 2017, it made sense for Walls and her family to keep the business going, especially because the clinic had become a community staple in the neighborhood. 'It was, how do we maintain this animal care in our own way,' Walls said, 'yet continue the legacy that my father had set forth.' Now, the business offers things like doggy day care and monthly wellness checks from a traveling vet, but the main focus is on boarding services. The center prioritizes letting animals spend time outside their crates, with access to an enclosed dog park and the opportunity to roam around the building, Walls said. 'Normally there's three or four [pets], whether they're under the desk or behind,' she said. 'We wanted to create that same type of home away from home space for them.' Shifting the business model to meet neighborhood needs After taking over the business, the biggest challenge for Walls and her team was to figure out what their niche was. Walls, who is actually a clinical psychologist and not a veterinarian, decided to start by becoming a certified dog groomer. While the center no longer offers grooming, it helped introduce her to the world of animal care. Walls' father offered boarding services as part of his clinic, so it made sense for the business to continue that, she said. There's no shortage of pet care centers in Philadelphia, with 55 dog kennels in Philadelphia listed on and over 200 listed on Yelp. An average night of pet boarding in Philly can cost anywhere from $50 to $70 per night, according to Rover. However, Greene Street's prices are purposefully lower than average, $35 per night for dogs and $30 per night for cats, to make care more accessible for its customers, Walls said. They also had to figure out how to build their brand so they weren't only seeing business during summer break and the December holidays. The small business built on the community it already had in Germantown, a dedicated client base with most new business coming via word of mouth. But this new era of business also called for building relationships with other facilities, and getting referrals for animals that those other centers couldn't take. They also started tapping into other reasons people may need pet care, like if they experienced a medical event, traveled for work, or had an emergency and couldn't keep their pet in their home, she said. Some families have been with Greene Street since Walls' father first started his clinic, she said. 'We've had people who even have us in their wills,' Walls said. 'They're like, if anything happens to us, they know to bring our animals to you until the family comes to get them.'