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.
National Alliance on Mental Illness Delaware named Marie Wenzel, MSW, LSW, its new chief executive officer.
NAMI Delaware is one of 700 state organizations and affiliates that comprise the largest grassroots mental health service organization in the United States. With more than 40 years of service to Delawareans with mental illness and their families, NAMI Delaware provides peer support and peer education, training, advocacy, and affordable housing.
A resident of Claymont, Wenzel is enthusiastic about joining NAMI Delaware after working in Philadelphia region for much of her career. “It is truly an honor to join NAMI Delaware as the new CEO. I am looking forward to connecting with a community that shares my passion for mental health awareness, support and advocacy. I know how effective NAMI programs can be from my own experience and have always held NAMI in the highest regard. Its programs and its commitment to being peer-led and peer-supported are critically important resources to people living with serious mental health challenges and their loved ones.”
Wenzel was most recently the former executive director of Hand2Paw in Philadelphia, the only nonprofit organization in Philadelphia whose mission is to teach youth practical work skills in a trauma-informed animal welfare setting. Leading the organization’s impact, growth, and community outreach initiatives, she focused on equipping underrepresented young people with resources to thrive through socioemotional learning and career readiness, all centered around animal well-being and community connection.
Wenzel holds a Master of Social Work from Temple University and is a licensed social worker in Pennsylvania. She has contributed to academic research on early intervention in psychiatry and has held leadership roles in community organizations, including serving on the Alumni Association Board for Temple University’s College of Public Health.
Bayhealth welcomed Dr. Rithikaa Ellangovan, an endocrinologist specializing in hormone-related conditions, and Dr. Ivana Deyl, a specialist in gastroenterology and hepatology.
Prior to joining Bayhealth, Dr. Deyl was at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky where she completed a gastroenterology and hepatology fellowship. Prior to that she did an internal medicine residency at Allegheny Health Network in Allegheny, Pennsylvania. She previously graduated magna cum laude from St. George’s University in True Blue, Grenada to earn her Doctor of Medicine degree.
Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, has announced Linda Eirhart has been appointed the Alice Cary Brown Director of the Garden.
Eirhart started at Winterthur in 1986 as associate curator of garden education, working in positions of increasing responsibility, most recently as director of horticulture and senior curator of plants since 2014. She received her bachelor of science and master of science degree in ornamental horticulture from University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
“Linda’s experience and expertise are invaluable,” Strand said. “I look forward to her continuing contributions to preserve the historic garden, natural areas, and fields, provide a fantastic experience for our visitors, and present quality educational programs. Her contributions will be important as Winterthur prepares to celebrate 75 years as a public institution in 2026.”
“Winterthur is respected and loved by so many for all that makes it unique. Throughout my career here, I have had the opportunity to work with the dedicated staff, volunteers and supporters who continue its legacy. I look forward to continuing that work as we plan for Winterthur’s 75th anniversary and beyond,” Eirhart said.
Eirhart is the author of The Winterthur Garden Guide: Color for Every Season and of multiple articles in magazines and journals. In addition to her duties at Winterthur, Eirhart is a member of the American Public Garden Association, serving as past co-chair and chair of the Historic Landscapes community and as a Plant Collections Network reviewer. She volunteers for the University of Delaware Botanic Garden, Marian Coffin Gardens at Gibraltar in Wilmington, Delaware, and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.
NAI Emory Hill announced the addition of Kyle McLaughlin as a commercial real estate sales associate. McLaughlin brings over a decade of diverse experience in real estate management, hospitality, and entrepreneurship. He will focus on sales and leasing, representing both tenants and landlords in transactions across the Mid-Atlantic Region.
McLaughlin’s background includes owner-user sales, mixed-use development, and leasing in sectors such as retail, medical, flex, and industrial. His deep expertise, coupled with his passion for business and entrepreneurship, makes him a valuable asset to the Emory Hill team. In addition to his commercial real estate work, McLaughlin is an adjunct professor at the University of Delaware, where he teaches entrepreneurship and consults on various business projects.
McLaughlin holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Delaware and an MBA from Providence College. His professional affiliations include the Goodwill of Delaware and Delaware County (Vice Chair), CIRC, CII, and ICSC. He is licensed to practice real estate in Delaware and Pennsylvania.
Zip Code Wilmington has appointed technology executive Michael Warthen to its board of directors, bringing over two decades of technology leadership experience to the role. He currently serves as an advisor to the CEO of Microsoft. Warthen leads initiatives that drive digital transformation and innovation, working directly with some of the world’s largest companies to solve complex technical challenges, including the adoption and use of artificial intelligence tools.
“We are truly honored to have Michael join the Zip Code Wilmington board,” said Ben duPont, co-founder of Zip Code Wilmington and president of its board of directors. “His extensive experience at Microsoft, familiarity with the latest technological advances in artificial intelligence, and his leadership in technology uniquely qualifies him to serve. His deep understanding of today’s technology landscape will help drive our vision forward, and his commitment to fostering growth, creativity and innovation will greatly benefit our students whose careers we transform and employers that need highly trained software developers and data engineers.”
Before joining Microsoft, Warthen held key leadership roles at NBCUniversal, BNY Mellon, PNC and other major companies, where he spearheaded work in cloud architecture, software development and business process management. His career has focused on leveraging technology to achieve business goals, improve efficiency and drive innovation. He has a strong background in cloud and edge delivery as well as engineering best practices.
Warthen earned a B.S. in computer science from Temple University and an executive MBA from Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business.
