People on the Move: July 21
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People on the Move is a rundown of recent hirings, promotions, appointments and other notable movements by professionals in the state. If you’re interested in submitting an entry, please contact news@delawarebusinesstimes.com.
Sallie Mae®, formally SLM Corporation, has named Munish Pahwa executive vice president and chief risk officer. Pahwa will be accountable for the company’s integrated risk and compliance function and maintaining strong relationships with regulators. He succeeds Kerri Palmer, who was named Chief Operational Officer and President of Sallie Mae Bank earlier this year.
Pahwa has served as Chief Credit Risk Officer for Sallie Mae since 2021. Prior to joining Sallie Mae, he spent nearly 16 years at Bank of America in various risk roles. Pahwa also held roles in Risk, Collections, Operations, and Decision Sciences at MBNA, PNC Bank, and Bank of New York Mellon.
“Munish is a proven risk management leader who’s been instrumental in developing and managing our risk management framework,” Jon Witter, CEO, Sallie Mae, said. “He’s served well as our interim Chief Risk Officer for the last 6 months and I’m confident his extensive experience and familiarity with our business will further advance and enhance our strong risk and compliance functions.”
Pahwa earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering from MACT, Bhopal and an MBA from Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta. He earned a doctorate in economics from the University of Delaware.
Danielle Socrates | PHOTO COURTESY OF BEEBE
Beebe Healthcare announce Danielle Socrates, MBA, CPXP, has been promoted to the role of vice president of Value-Based Care.
This newly created position was established by Beebe’s leadership team with a goal to strategically transform the way healthcare is delivered across Sussex County, with focus on value, quality, and experience. Socrates will lead the development of new programs and services that center around care coordination, prevention and wellness, and the delivery of the right care at the right time, for all patients who turn to Beebe for comprehensive healthcare services.
Socrates has served as Beebe Medical Group’s Director of Performance Operations since 2019. Prior to joining Beebe, she was an Administrative Director at Geisinger, overseeing quality and patient experience initiatives. Socrates earned her Master of Business Administration from University of Scranton and is also a graduate of Wilkes University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Health Administration. She is a Fellow of Leadership Delaware, a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, and is certified in Organizational Leadership and LGBTQ Patient-Centered Care. Ms. Socrates is also a Certified Patient Experience Professional (CPXP) and earned her Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.
Jennifer Whaley, BSN, RN, CCRN, a nurse at Beebe Healthcare, was recently recognized by the American Association of Critical Nurses (AACN) for her long-term commitment to excellence in nursing.
Jennifer Whaley | PHOTO COURTESY OF BEEBE
Whaley has maintained her board certification as a critical care registered nurse (CCRN) for 30 years. CCRN certification is one of the most advanced professional credentials that can be achieved by a nurse, whose work involves providing comprehensive care for patients who are critically ill, unstable, and facing life-threatening medical issues or injuries.
Whaley has worked for Beebe Healthcare since 2000 and was named the hospital’s Trauma Program Manager in 2004. Earlier in her career, she worked for Bristol Regional Medical Center, which crosses the Virginia and Tennessee state lines. She was inspired to pursue a career in nursing by many generations of women in her family, who also served as nurses, and who taught her early on how fulfilling it is to care for others.
Additionally, Whaley has valued the opportunity she has had at Beebe to serve as a mentor and role model for others who are pursuing nursing as a lifelong career.
Beebe Healthcare announces Loretta Ostroski, MSN, RN, NE-BC, has been named vice president of Integrative Care, Continuum of Care.
In this role, Ostroski’s priority is to build, bridge, and align the continuum of care for Beebe and the community it serves. Under her leadership, programs centered around care coordination, community health, health equity, mental and behavioral health, post-acute care, home care, and telemedicine will be built or grown, with a vision to reduce social determinants of health, improve health outcomes, and build healthier communities across Sussex County.
Ostroski has devoted her career to Beebe. She joined the organization in 1988 as a nursing technician in the Emergency Department. Over the years, she was continuously promoted as a clinical care provider and educator, and ultimately transitioned into leadership roles that have supported Beebe’s strategic growth and patient care optimization goals – from Director of Patient Care Services to Assistant Vice President of Nursing, and most recently, Vice President of Inpatient Nursing and Emergency Services.
Ostroski earned both a Master of Science in Nursing and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Wilmington College. She is also a graduate of Beebe School of Nursing. On the local level, Ostroski is a member of the Delaware Hospital Association Chief Nursing Officer Council and the Delaware Organization for Nursing Leadership, where she serves on the Mentorship Committee. She is also a member of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership and the American Nurses Association.
Dianna Barr was promoted to executive chef of the iconic restaurant, which has become as much of the southern Delaware experience as a stroll on the Bethany Beach Boardwalk or a snapshot by the signature totem pole.
The café is famous for Delmarva favorites — such as crab cakes and three crab soups — and comfort classics, including pot roast.
Dianna Barr | PHOTO COURTESY OF THE COTTAGE CAFE
“Dianna understands our loyal fan base and the importance of The Cottage Café to the community,” Ronnie Burkle, the restaurant’s corporate chef, said. “What’s more, she’s a hard worker respected by her staff. She truly loves what she does, and I look forward to watching her grow as a chef and leader.”
Barr grew up in southeast Georgia and moved to Delaware for a degree in human services from Delaware Technical Community College.
However, she was drawn to the hospitality industry — and no wonder. She was just 13 when she got a job as a dishwasher at Jekyll Island, Georgia, restaurant. Barr worked her way up to serving and helped prep and cook.
While pursuing a degree in psychology, she fell in love with The Cottage Café and decided to pursue her culinary career, a job that plays to her Southern roots.
The chef credits her mother and her daughter as her biggest inspirations. She lives in Frankford, Delaware, with her brother and daughter.
Nicholas Petrelli, M.D., Bank of America Endowed medical director of ChristianaCare’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute, has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, Louisiana. Petrelli is a 1973 graduate of the school.
The award recognizes an alumnus of the school who has made significant contributions to the field of medicine and has offered outstanding leadership in the community.
Under Petrelli’s leadership at ChristianaCare since 2001, the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute has become a national model for multidisciplinary cancer care and a top enroller in U.S. clinical research trials. The Graham Cancer Center is a National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program and one of only five hybrid academic community cancer centers in the nation.
Through the work of the Graham Cancer Center and partnerships with health care providers, community organizations and the state to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer, Delaware’s cancer mortality rate has dropped twice as fast as the national rate. In addition, the state is outpacing the nation in reducing deaths from a number of cancers. Delaware has gone from number one in cancer mortality 22 years ago to number 17 today.
Petrelli has received numerous awards and has authored 360 peer-reviewed manuscripts and 31 book chapters. He has served on advisory panels of the National Cancer Institute, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Cancer Society and the Society of Surgical Oncology. He was president of the Society of Surgical Oncology from 2007 to 2008. In 2013 he received the Order of the First State Award, the highest honor in the state, from Delaware Gov. Jack Markell. In 2019 he received the James Tilton award (named for the first U.S. Army Surgeon General) from the Medical Society of Delaware.
Miri Shlomi | PHOTO COURTESY OF BEEBE
Beebe Healthcare has announced the appointment of Miri Shlomi, MD, as associate program director of the Family Medicine Residency at its R. Randall Rollins Center for Medical Education. She will also see patients at Beebe Primary Care Long Neck.
Dr. Shlomi plays an instrumental role in the newly established Family Medicine Residency, with an ultimate goal to train incoming residents to become exceptional family medicine physicians. She is committed to the development and execution of a cutting-edge curriculum that embraces innovation, fosters compassionate care, and emphasizes the importance of holistic approaches to care in medicine.
Prior to joining Beebe, Dr. Shlomi served as a hospitalist at Southcoast St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford, Massachusetts. She earned her medical degree at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, and then went on to complete a family medicine residency at Florida State University, during which time she pursued international clinical experiences in both Cambodia and Guyana. Dr. Shlomi also holds a Master of Science degree in physical chemistry from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Science degree from Tel Aviv University.
The Principals of Gillis Gilkerson (GGI) announce the addition of Jamie Heater as Gillis Gilkerson’s director of marketing. Heater joins the team with over 15 years of experience, having previously served as Executive Director for Salisbury Arts and Entertainment District and as an advertising Account Executive with 47-ABC. Heater’s experience in communications, marketing, event planning, community development and public art administration make her an excellent fit for the construction and development firm.
Jamie Heater | PHOTO COURTESY OF GGI
“I am thrilled to begin this new chapter with Gillis Gilkerson,” Heater said. “Gillis Gilkerson embodies the principles of community, passion and integrity with a trusted reputation for investing in the Delmarva community. It will be an honor to continue serving the area through the work of this company.”
Heater is a graduate of Salisbury University with a degree in Accounting and a Masters of Business Administration. In addition to her role with Gillis Gilkerson, Heater serves on the Maryland Public Art Commission and as Board Member for Salisbury Arts Alliance. She is well known for her role managing events in Downtown Salisbury including 3rd Fridays, New Years Eve Ball Drop and the Friday Night Live Concert Series at Riverwalk Amphitheater. Heater has also played a large part in the proliferation of public art in Salisbury, through the implementation of several projects including the City of Salisbury’s upcoming Public Art Master Plan.
BBB welcomes the following four new members to the Board of Directors.
Dave Archer is a vice president at M&T Bank with responsibility as a Business Relationship Manager in Wilmington, DE. In this role, he is responsible for understanding business owner’s needs and assisting them to achieve their growth goals. Dave spent several years with the Delaware Economic Development Office helping Delaware businesses navigate through the red tape of government programs and attracting new businesses to the state. He has been with M&T for three years and has been in banking over 15. He currently represents M&T on the boards for Better Business Bureau and Wilmington Economic Development Corporation. Dave is a Delaware native and graduate of Goldey-Beacom College.
In 2022, Shane Breakie became the Company’s first Environmental Sustainability Officer, a role in which he leads the Company’s environmental sustainability efforts and organic growth initiatives. Previously, Mr. Breakie was appointed Assistant Vice President, and then Vice President of Chesapeake Utilities and Sandpiper Energy in 2019, with expanded responsibilities regarding the day-to-day activities of Chesapeake Utilities, Elkton Gas Company, Sandpiper Energy and Florida Public Utilities. He has also held roles as the Director of Energy Services, Director of Consumer Services and Director of Operations and is approaching 30 years of service with the Company. Mr. Breakie has also been on several boards including prior roles as Chairman of the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce, Treasurer of Connecting Generations, and President of the SHARING program, a non-profit established by Chesapeake Utilities to assist those in need with their energy bills.
Jennifer Brooks is president, and Co-founder of GOLO. Board-certified in holistic nutrition, Jennifer Brooks holds degrees in Culinary Arts and Mind-Body Transformational Psychology. Her unique perspective is at the center of GOLO, the health and wellness solutions company, and its mission of empowering people by helping them take control of their personal health and wellness. In 2022, the Healthcare Technology Report named Brooks one of The Top 25 Women Leaders in Consumer HealthTech. Jennifer is also a Certified Dietary Supplement Professional (CDSP) and a National Association of Nutrition Professionals (NANP) member.
Greg Middlemas serves as senior digital marketing leader at CSC, which is headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware. With more than 12 years of experience in marketing, his responsibilities include both the strategic growth and operational effectiveness of all digital marketing channels, as well as helping to integrate acquired companies into CSC’s global marketing operations. In early 2023, Greg graduated from the University of Delaware’s MBA program with a major in Strategic Leadership. Earlier in his career, he worked in sales and marketing operations at The Eastern Group, known locally as Eastern Marine, and in marketing at Chadds Ford-based Vizant.
