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. 

Jewish Family Services of Delaware announced Karen "Renna" Van Oot has been selected the chief executive officer. [caption id="attachment_225143" align="alignright" width="250"] Karen Van Oot | PHOTO COURTESY OF JFS[/caption] Van Oot was raised in Wilmington, DE and received her BA from the University of Delaware. She earned a dual master's degree in Social Service and Law and Social Policy from Bryan Mawr College. Renna was awarded her Juris Doctor from Widener University School of Law. Renna is a dynamic and versatile professional with over 30 years of experience in the development, growth and leadership of government, non for profit and business organizations. She has expertise in nonprofit management with emphasis on strategic planning and organizational restructuring and is knowledgeable in a breadth of nonprofit related issues. She brings a talent for building and maintaining strong business and community relationships. Renna comes to JFS after serving as executive director of Family Promise of Southern Chester County; prior to that, she was the COO of Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence Region (Philadelphia).

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President Joe Biden has appointed Annie Norman to the National Museum and Library Services Board. Norman is State Librarian of Delaware and director of the Delaware Division of Libraries. Under her leadership, the Delaware Library Catalog was established; currently 74 participating libraries are sharing 2.5 million items for the benefit of Delawareans. Delaware Libraries launched Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in 2020; now every Delawarean under age 5 is eligible statewide. Norman received her Doctorate of Education in Innovation and Organizational Leadership from Wilmington University and is a recipient of the Audrey K. Doberstein Award for Leadership for her dissertation, “Librarians’ Leadership for Lifelong Learning.” She is the first librarian to be inducted into the Hall of Fame of Delaware Women.

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The Chicago Network and Investor Cash Management (ICM) has recognized Delaware Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long for her support of female leaders in government, finance, and technology at The Chicago Club.

The Chicago Network and Investor Cash Management (ICM) were joined by a cross-section of female business leaders to recognize the importance of collaboration among government, finance, and technology

The Chicago Network is an organization of Chicagoland’s prominent and most influential female leaders whose purpose is to empower women to lead.  Investor Cash Management (ICM) is a financial technology (FinTech) company transforming individuals into investors with a simple, inclusive approach to finance, with headquarters in Wilmington, DE and offices in Chicago, IL. The group met to discuss best practices and ideas to advance more women into leadership roles to benefit the economy in their states.

“Supporting future female leaders will empower our economy and our state,” Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long, Ph.D., R.N said. “Thanks to groups like The Chicago Network and ICM, women have made great strides in breaking barriers, tearing down walls, and closing the gap. But there’s more we can do, and I am grateful to have joined Lt. Governor Stratton to discuss how we can best support female leaders now and in the future.”

“Be the catalyst for change and a force for good.  The Chicago Network members do just that as they live into our mission of advancing civic, business, and philanthropic communities and inspire and support the next generation,” Maria Doughty, president and CEO of The Chicago Network, said  “We are at an inflection point that presents an opportunity to work together to increase the number of women on corporate boards and in the C-Suite.  We know that when women are at the table, productivity and profitability will follow.”

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Delaware Theatre Company’s Artistic Executive Director Bud Martin has announced his retirement in 2023. [caption id="attachment_225108" align="alignright" width="289"] Bud Martin | PHOTO COURTESY OF DELAWARE THEATRE COMPANY[/caption]

“I have been honored to lead DTC for 10 years, working with a talented staff to position the theatre as one of the preeminent regional theatres in this country,” Martin said in a statement. “I’m deeply grateful for the tremendous support I’ve had over the past 10 years from community leaders such as Jack and Carla Markell and Secretary of State Jeff Bullock, as well as from countless trusted board members.”

Martin enjoyed a 10-year career in the theatre from 1972 to 1982, then entered the world of corporate finance. He started five successful companies from 1982 to 2008, receiving the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2006. He returned to the theatre at the end of 2007. Martin became producing artistic director of Act II Playhouse in Ambler, Pennsylvania, in April 2008 after selling his company to Walgreens. He leveraged his commercial theatre experience and relationships for the benefit of Act II, producing the national tour of Act II’s Respect: A Musical Journey of Women and the critically acclaimed New York transfer of Bruce Graham’s Barrymore Award-winning play, Any Given Monday. He received his MA in Theatre from Villanova University and his BA from De Sales University. This season, Martin will direct One Man, Two Guvnors by Richard Bean. The British farce will run in February 2023.

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Del.- Former Delaware Electric Cooperative (DEC) President and CEO Bill Andrew has received the President’s Award from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association for his two-decade-long career at DEC. Andrew received the award for his leadership at DEC which resulted in innovations that helped electric cooperatives across the nation save their members money. Andrew oversaw the launch of the Co-op’s Beat the Peak program that asks members to conserve energy when the price of energy is high. The program has saved DEC members more than $36 million since 2008 and more than 100 cooperatives are now using the program to keep their electric rates affordable. During Andrew’s tenure, the Cooperative also earned the highest customer satisfaction scores in the country among electric cooperatives. [caption id="attachment_225109" align="alignleft" width="374"] Bill Andrew | PHOTO COURTESY OF DEC[/caption] During his virtual acceptance speech, Andrew said, “It is a great honor to be recognized by your peers and colleagues regarding your life’s work.  I would like to offer a special thanks to the employees of Delaware Electric Cooperative for believing that we would make a difference, for the Board of Directors for allowing us to be innovative and for the Cooperative Family for adopting our ideas.” NRECA bestows the President’s Award on individuals who have made significant contributions to the cooperative movement across the country. According to Richard Johnstone, former President and CEO of the Virginia, Maryland and Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives, “Bill Andrew is among the most dynamic, creative, informed, influential, successful cooperative leaders whom I have ever met. His pursuit of excellence is second to none, as is his passion to provide the very best service to the member-consumers of Delaware Electric Cooperative, at the lowest possible cost and in the safest manner possible.” Andrew retired from DEC in July of 2021 after more than twenty years working at the not-for-profit utility. He joined the Cooperative as Vice President of Operations and Engineering in 1998 and was promoted to CEO in 2005.

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Belfint Lyons & Shuman, CPAs (BLS), an accounting firm, has been awarded the Best of Accounting Award for providing superior service to their clients. BLS received satisfaction scores of 9 or 10 out of 10 from 88.1% of their clients, significantly higher than the industry’s average of 53%.

"The entire BLS Leadership team is incredibly proud of the feedback we received through our client survey. Being client-focused and open to continuous improvement is instrumental in ensuring our service philosophy is designed to meet the expectations of the great people and organizations we serve. The testimonials and positive responses validate the tremendous efforts of the BLS team and are motivation to keep raising the bar in the future." BLS Director, Jonathan D. Moll, CPA said.

“Winners of the 2022 Best of Accounting award for client satisfaction have demonstrated their commitment to delivering exceptional client service, even as Covid-19 has forced them to reimagine and rebuild their approach to business," said ClearlyRated's CEO and Founder, Eric Gregg. "These service leaders have kept the client experience at the heart of their business strategy, and it's my honor to celebrate and showcase the 2022 Best of Accounting winners alongside feedback from their actual clients on ClearlyRated.com!”

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