WILMINGTON — Leadership Delaware Inc. has found its next leader in Michael Eppehimer, a former health care executive and organizational change and leadership consultant.
Eppehimer has served in several senior executive roles in health care, notably as president and chief operating officer at ChristianaCare Medical Group for three years, before he ultimately started his consulting firm, Threefold Yes. Eppehimer said he will announce his upcoming plans for his consulting firm in the days to come as he steps up as CEO of Leadership Delaware.
Eppehimer first came to Delaware for a vice president role with ChristianaCare in 2010, after serving as an administrator and director at the George Washington University Hospital in Washington D.C. for a few years. He told the Delaware Business Times that his own journey with Leadership Delaware had inspired him to apply for the top job after he was in the 2013 cohort. He currently sits on the nonprofit’s board.
“My story is a Leadership Delaware story. When I first came to Delaware I didn’t know anyone, and it really helped me make those connections on a personal and professional level,” Eppehimer told DBT. “Over the years, I had sent people to LDI while I was working with ChristianaCare and also just on a personal basis. It’s a great institution and I’ve been lucky to be part of it. I’m really excited to be part of its next chapter.”
Leadership Delaware is a yearlong program that unites rising Delawareans to leave lasting change on the First State through issue-based focus forums on diverse topics ranging from the economy to corporate governance and more. Terry Strine had founded the organization in 2009 with his wife, Sandy, and former Gov. Pete du Pont after he stepped down as the chair of the Delaware Republican Party.
In March, Leadership Delaware announced that its current CEO, Jennifer Cohan, would step down after three years of service. As the former Transportation Secretary from central Delaware, Cohan saw herself as a transformational leader, taking the job from Strine who held the post since the organization’s inception.
Leadership Delaware also contracted with Placers to recruit candidates, which resulted in a highly-competitive field, according to the organization. Interviews were held with the Leadership Delaware’s succession planning committee, and a final offer was made to Eppehimer at the end of August.
“Mike’s deep connection to Leadership Delaware and innovative leadership style make him the ideal choice to guide our organization forward. His creative background in the arts and strategic expertise will further our mission to develop exceptional leaders prepared to address Delaware’s challenges,” Leadership Delaware Board Chair Joel Brown said in a prepared statement.
Eppehimer will start in November, alongside Cohan to ease the transition, mirroring how Strine and Cohan navigated that changeover in 2020. He will effectively become the nonprofit’s leader come Jan. 1.
Eppehimer praised the strong foundation Cohan laid, which included expanding the organization’s outreach to Kent and Sussex County, developing a series that focused on soft skills of any adult professional and creating a pipeline with Kent County’s professional development counterpart, Leadership Central Delaware.
“We’re a statewide organization, and I love Jen’s vision on that and I want to double down on that so we’re not just in New Castle County,” he said. “We’re creating leaders for the whole state. Success to me means that we’re creating the highest level leaders we can, to better equip people as they reach positions to position Delaware in a better place.”
Eppehimer’s varied background in health care and consulting has helped organizations improve financial performance and improve company culture. But he also points to his undergraduate experience in improvisation comedy as a big boost when he formed Threefold Yes Consulting in 2020, through which he coached executives and organized team-building events for clients in health care, nonprofits and government agencies.
Looking ahead, Eppehimer hopes to ease into Leadership Delaware’s CEO role but also work on developing programs for professionals at all ages and stages in their careers.
“I’d love to grow the work that Jen has already done, and grow to reach others. That also means reaching leaders at any stage in their career, whether they’re just starting out or even at the end of their careers. We’re pushing 400 people in past cohorts, and I think there’s opportunities to stay connected there,” he said.
