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.

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John McMahon has been named Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Dewson Construction Company. Since joining Dewson in 1993 John has worked in multiple capacities with ever increasing responsibilities including Field Manager, Project Manager, Estimator, Director of Operations and Vice President.  In his expanded role John will provide company-wide leadership, team management and will oversee the day-to-day operations of Dewson which include Project Operations, Estimating/Pre-construction and Administration. Additionally, John will lead corporate planning efforts and continue to execute Dewson’s strategic vision.  “John has been a vital part of Dewson’s success and growth over the last 27 years. He is a seasoned and trusted leader who has consistently delivered the highest level of client satisfaction and operational excellence. I am extremely proud of John’s accomplishments and have tremendous confidence in his ability to oversee current Dewson Operations and ensure our core values and standards of excellence remain at the center of all we do. I look forward to our continued partnership as we lead Dewson into the future,” said Tim Dewson in a statement. 

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Sara Gelsinger has been invited to become a parter at Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP, effective January 1, 2021. “Sara is an exceptional attorney and we are thrilled to welcome her to the Morris Nichols partnership,” said Andrew M. Johnston, chair of the firm’s executive committee in a statement. Gelsinger’s practice focuses on Delaware limited partnerships, limited liability companies and statutory trusts, including private equity, hedge and mutual funds. “Sara’s thorough understanding of Delaware’s alternative entity law, her commitment to client service, and readiness to tackle the most complex issues exemplify the Morris Nichols approach to the practice of law,” said Louis G. Hering, senior member of Morris Nichols’ Commercial Counseling practice in a statement. “As a partner, Sara will continue the Firm’s tradition of providing the highest quality legal service.” She has strong experience advising Delaware alternative entities on formation and governance matters and in commercial transactions, including acquisitions, debt and equity financings, securitizations and reorganizations. Gelsinger frequently works with other attorneys, domestically and internationally, to advise on Delaware law, and provides third-party legal opinions for Delaware entities. In 2020, Gelsinger was included in the inaugural edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for her work in private equity law. Active in the Delaware legal community, Gelsinger is the secretary of the Delaware State Bar Association (DSBA) Commercial Law Section, which is responsible for proposing legislation involving Delaware statutory trusts, the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), and banking. She also serves on the Firm’s Diversity Committee and as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware. Gelsinger is a 2012 graduate of The Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law where she served as executive comments editor of the Penn State Law Review and was a member of the Woolsack Honor Society. She earned her B.A. in communication arts with a focus on political communication from Cedarville University in 2009.

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Chris Honeman has joined Shore United Bank as a Relationship Manager. Honeman will be working from our Office in Cambridge, Maryland. Chris joins Shore United Bank with fifteen years of customer service experience, and eight years of retail and commercial bank management experience. “We are excited about having Chris on our team. He is enthusiastic about his career with Shore United Bank, and always willing to take on any task. His passion for connecting with people, and helping others achieve their goals is what makes him such a great community banker,” says Butch Townsend, Market Executive for Shore United Bank in a statement. “I look forward to developing strong relationships with the businesses in the local communities by learning and truly understanding how businesses operate, deciding what is most important to the individual business owners, and honing in on opportunities to grow the business organically, said Honeman in a statement. Honeman is a Member of the Board for The Salvation Army Cambridge, a Treasurer for Talbot Young Professionals through the Talbot County Chamber of Commerce and sits on the Finance committee for Critchlow Adkins Children’s Center. He resides in Cambridge, Maryland with his wife, Brittyn, and their daughter, Londyn. Chris enjoys the beauty of Dorchester County – fishing, boating, and enjoying a sunset with his family and friends.

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Lisa Mathena of the Lisa Mathena Group, Inc. has again been selected as a member of America’s Top 100 Real Estate Agents for 2020. Selection to America’s Top 100 Real Estate Agents is by invitation only and is reserved to identify the nation’s most esteemed and skilled Real Estate Agents and Brokers with a history of routinely selling homes above market value. According to Mathena, “Only the Top 100 qualifying Real Estate Professionals in each region receive this honor, and I am extremely humbled to be selected for membership in 2020.”  The Lisa Mathena Group recently opened their own independently owned and operated real estate brokerage firm based in Sussex County. Members are selected through a comprehensive multi-phase selection process involving proprietary algorithms using advanced data analytics to assess a broad array of criteria and data for each candidate, including (but not limited to) the Real Estate Professional's total yearly sales volume, notable above market value sales, luxury home sales, efficiency rating for closing sales, lifetime professional experience, client satisfaction ratings, and other notable recognitions, among many other proprietary factors. Based on these criteria, a measure/rating for each Real Estate Professional is established indicating their relative effectiveness in closing high-value sales above market value in comparison to other Real Estate Professionals in their region. Accordingly, the most efficient and effective Real Estate Professionals among the community are then identified for selection among America’s Top 100 Real Estate Agents. “With these extremely high standards for selection, less than one percent (1%) of active Real Estate Professionals in the United States will receive this honor — truly the most exclusive and elite level of Real Estate Agents and Brokers in the community. I consider it a privilege, and it is a real testament to the high value I place on outstanding customer service, ethics and professionalism”, said Mathena in a statement.

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Natalie Ridgeway, Assistant Director of Creative Services at Wilmington University, will receive a 2020-2021 Rising Star Award from the Delaware ACE Women’s Network (DAWN).

The award will be presented by DAWN President Dr. Regina Allen-Sharpe, who also serves as dean of students and assistant vice president of Student Affairs at Wilmington University, at a virtual celebration on November 12. “Natalie personifies the best attributes of a Rising Star Award recipient,” said Dr. Allen-Sharpe in a statement. “She’s a natural leader who raises the profile of her colleagues, co-workers, and the entire University. Her ‘can-do’ spirit and collaborative nature have been profoundly influential.”

The Rising Star Award is presented annually to a woman in higher education in Delaware based on leadership activities and contributions to the field, and whose potential to achieve is evident. “We extend our warmest congratulations to Natalie,” said Wilmington University President Dr. LaVerne T. Harmon in a statement. “We are delighted that DAWN has recognized her work ethic, talent, and dedication.”

“It’s an honor to have been selected as a DAWN Rising Star Award winner,” said Ridgeway, who leads marketing, promotional and creative projects for internal clients on behalf of the University Relations Department in a statement. “It’s both fulfilling and exciting to work with a team of talented people, all of whom collaborate with others across the University to find, discuss, develop, and execute new ways to promote Wilmington University. It’s humbling to be recognized, and I see this award as recognition not just for me and my efforts, but for the entire team.”

Ridgeway has worked at Wilmington University since 2011 and holds an MBA in Marketing Management from Wilmington University.

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Barbara Day joins Instant Imprints of Delaware in a role focused on Business Development and Marketing.  Day has over 30 years of experience in providing excellent client relationships, building sales opportunities, exhibiting a collaborative spirit and nurturing business development for a wide array of business genres. She joins Instant Imprints from Unique Impressions where she spent four years as the Director of Marketing and Business Development helping to grow the business in many ways, including the much sought-after invitation to the annual Death by Chocolate networking event.  It has been rumored that this event will continue in the future (once it is safe to gather in large numbers again) to showcase premier clients both in person and in the Swag Bag full of goodies, promotional products, free gifts and services. Prior to the tenure with Unique Impressions, Day worked at a private school as the Director of Admissions, in an Executive Administrative role and coached volleyball for over nine years; Kahunaville in Recruiting, Human Resources and Training; and MBNA in Human Resources. “Barbara Day is a wonderful addition to the Instant Imprints team and we look forward to her helping us move our business to the next level with her contacts and ability to network with others knowing that she is focused on helping people with their branding/marketing,” said Brian Drysdale, Owner of Instant Imprints of Delaware in a statement.  “She brings an awesome energy to Instant Imprints as well as a wealth of experience.  We have no doubt Barbara will strengthen and elevate our customer experience.”