People on the Move: Jan. 7

People on the Move is a rundown of recent hirings, promotions, appointments and other notable achievements by professionals in the state. If you’re interested in submitting an entry, please contact news@delawarebusinesstimes.com.

Claire DeMatteis | PHOTO COURTESY OF STATE OF DE

Gov. John Carney announced that he will nominate Claire DeMatteis to serve as secretary of the Delaware Department of Human Resources (DHR), where she would provide support for Delaware’s state workforce and manage recruitment and retention programs across the executive branch of state government. She is currently serving as a special assistant to the governor tasked with tracking the federal stimulus funds allocated to Delaware from pandemic relief bills.

If confirmed by the State Senate, DeMatteis would focus on modernizing the state workforce post-pandemic, including efforts to recruit a new generation of workers into state government that reflects that state’s population; address compensation inequities across state government agencies; and increase efforts to provide professional development and training for all state employees, including diversity and inclusion training, leadership development, and mentorship programs. 

In fulfilling DeMatteis’ current role, Carney announced that A.J. Schall, director of the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA), will manage recovery efforts and implementation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) investments, while remaining in his current DEMA role.

Greg Patterson, currently the chief of staff at the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), will move to the governor’s office as infrastructure implementation coordinator to manage funding received by the state through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. 

WSFS Financial Corp. added three new members to its Board of Directors following completion of its acquisition of the Bryn Mawr Bank Corp.: Frank J. Leto, Lynn B. McKee, and Diego F. Calderin.

Leto served as the president of Bryn Mawr since May 2014, and CEO of Bryn Mawr and Bryn Mawr Trust since January 2015. McKee, executive vice president for human resources for Aramark, a global services management company, had previously served as a member of the Boards of Directors of Bryn Mawr and Bryn Mawr Trust. Calderin, the co-founder and managing partner of Banbury Systems, a data acquisition platform company, previously served as a member of the Boards of Directors of Bryn Mawr and Bryn Mawr Trust. 

Donielle Haughton I PHOTO COURTESY OF MARRIOTT

Donielle Haughton has joined the Courtyard by Marriott Newark – University of Delaware Hotel as its new director of sales. 

Prior to joining the Marriott, she held the position of director of sales and operations at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites, where she was responsible for managing and overseeing the corporate sales and the daily functions and management of the hotel’s operations. In her new role at the Marriott, she will be responsible for leading, planning, and executing all sales-related initiatives and activities.

Howard A. Cohen has joined Fox Rothschild LLP as a partner in the firm’s Wilmington office working in the Financial Restructuring & Bankruptcy Department.

Cohen has done significant work representing financially distressed companies, official committees of unsecured creditors and other key constituents in financial restructuring, bankruptcy and creditors’ rights matters. He has worked on many high-profile bankruptcies and has worked with a broad range of clients in the retail, energy, manufacturing, technology, transportation, horticulture, restaurant and life sciences industries.

Dr. Afua Nyanin I PHOTO COURTESY OF BEEBE MEDICAL 

Beebe Medical Group announced board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. Afua Nyanin has been appointed to its Women’s Health team. 

Prior to joining Beebe, Nyanin worked at the Luminus Health Chesapeake Women’s Health in Easton, Md. She is a member of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. She has numerous leadership and teaching experiences, as well as published research and presentations.

Edward Devenny I PHOTO COURTESY OF WHISMAN

Edward Devenny, CPA, has been promoted to director at Whisman Giordano & Associates, LLC.

Devenny is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Delaware Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He serves on the Delaware Contractors Association Young Executives Committee, Scholarship Committee, and was recently the chair of the Young Executive Committee’s Time Charity Committee.

Stephanie Chapman I PHOTO COURTESY OF BLS

Stephanie L. Chapman, CPA, was named a shareholder of Belfint, Lyons & Shuman, P.A. (BLS) and director in the International Services Practice Group, effective Jan. 1.

Not long after joining BLS, Chapman began to focus on building an international services practice that now represents 10% of the firm’s revenue. Along with assisting her clients and her team, she regularly performs educational events throughout the world and has been published in local and international publications. 

Jordon Rosen I PHOTO COURTESY OF BLS

Belfint, Lyons & Shuman, P.A. announced that Jordon N. Rosen, CPA, has retired. 

Prior to joining BLS, Rosen served as a partner in other prominent CPA firms, but he specifically mentions Carolyn Fausnaugh of Carolyn J. Fausnaugh & Associates, P.A. as having the most impact on his career. He credits her (one of the first female CPAs to have her own firm in Delaware) with bringing him to Delaware, and mentoring his 26-year-old self on the journey of owning a CPA firm himself when he ultimately purchased half her practice. 

  Rosen shared that the most meaningful relationships he’s made during all these years of service, were those that turned from professional to friends.  He is especially grateful for his time helping his clients, especially the more than 20 clients that have been with him since he first came to Delaware in 1983. 

Christopher Chuff I PHOTO COURTESY OF TROUTMAN PEPPER

Troutman Pepper recently announced 21 new partners nationwide, including Christopher Chuff in the firm’s Wilmington office, who will work in business litigation. 

Chuff focuses his practice on complex corporate and commercial litigation in the Delaware Court of Chancery, including merger and acquisition (M&A) disputes, fiduciary duty actions, and statutory proceedings.

Maron Marvel Bradley Anderson & Tardy, LLC added three new firm members: Onofrio “Reno” de Gennaro, Stephanie A. Fox, and Antoinette D. Hubbard. 

Gennaro helped build the firm’s National Litigation Coordination and Risk Management teams. His diverse litigation practice comprises asbestos defense, toxic tort, products liability, personal injury, and complex commercial litigation. Fox is an experienced litigator concentrating her practice in the areas of asbestos and toxic tort defense, general business, and commercial litigation, including Chapter 11 insolvency matters. Hubbard brings nearly four decades of legal experience from several jurisdictions and principally defends asbestos, product liability, premises liability, and personal injury matters. 

Antoinette Hubbard I PHOTO COURTESY OF MARSON

Onofrio de Gennaro I PHOTO COURTESY OF MARSON

Stephanie Fox I PHOTO COURTESY OF MARSON

Joshua Shaver I PHOTO COURTESY OF DIAMOND

Joshua Shaver, CFP, has been named a managing partner with Diamond State Financial Group, a Newark-based financial services firm.

Shaver joined the firm in 2007 giving him over 15 years of experience in the industry. Josh has worked primarily with young professionals, business owners, and clients nearing retirement, helping them secure their financial future.  Josh takes every opportunity to educate and advise clients, other advisors, or other partners in business to create a brighter tomorrow for all.

Michael Dustein I PHOTO COURTESY OF DIAMOND

Diamond State Financial Group announced Michael Dustein, CFP,  has a new role as senior associate. 

Dustein works closely with individuals, couples, organizations, and small businesses to provide short and long-term comprehensive financial services based on solid research and informed choices.

Manning Gross + Massenburg (MG+M) announced that William B. Larson Jr. from the firm’s Wilmington office has been promoted to partner, effective Jan. 1. 

William Larson I PHOTO COURTESY OF MG+M

Larson is a problem solver, litigator, and trial attorney with experience in national product liability litigation, Delaware general and commercial litigation, and local government matters. He is in the firm’s Delaware-based

litigation group and focuses on arbitrations and litigation handling construction, real estate, business, contract, and estate matters.