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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[caption id="attachment_211420" align="alignleft" width="240"] Dr. Robert Ddamulira[/caption] Dr. Robert Ddamulira has joined the Board of Trustees of the Delaware and Pennsylvania Chapters of The Nature Conservancy.   Dr. Ddamulira is currently a Researcher at the Biden School’s Center for Energy and Environmental Policy at the University of Delaware and is the founder and CEO of GreenPesa, a startup focused on helping small business owners improve their energy efficiency.   He has been tapped to serve on the Board’s Conservation Committee focused on tackling climate change. “This unique opportunity to serve on The Nature Conservancy’s Pennsylvania and Delaware Board allows me the opportunity to contribute towards the important environmental conservation work happening across the two states and beyond.  I am excited to share my ideas on sustainable cities, forests, climate solutions, and so much more,” said Dr. Ddamulira. “We are thrilled to have Dr. Ddamulira join the Board of Trustees and help shepherd the chapter’s work in Delaware and Pennsylvania, said Board Chair Rich Aneser. “His expertise in the fields of energy and policy and his work with the private sector on energy efficiency will be invaluable to the chapter’s efforts to address climate change and advocate for a clean energy future in our region.” “In Delaware, we are working in cities to deliver nature-based solutions that help address flooding and stormwater pollution, while improving human health and urban wildlife habitat and we’re building resilience in the communities we know that are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, such as sea-level rise,” said Lori Brennan, Executive Director for The Pennsylvania & Delaware chapter. “We are thrilled to have Dr. Ddamulira join us at this pivotal time and look forward to him helping us achieve our mission.”

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Bill Dugdale has been named to the Board of The Pilot School. Dugdale has long been a leader in the Delaware community, with a particular focus on causes related to children, health, and early childhood education. In addition to The Pilot School, he is the chair of the Delaware Community Foundation, and serves on the boards of the A. I. duPont Nemours Hospital for Children and St. Michael’s School & Nursery. Since joining Bernstein, he has served as the ultimate trusted advisor to his clients. We are proud of his continued impact on the community, and his leadership of Bernstein’s practice in Delaware.

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[caption id="attachment_211426" align="alignright" width="240"] Sarah Rigot[/caption] Sarah Rigot, an architect for Solutions IPEM, has completed the requirements to become an American Institute of Architects registered, licensed Professional Architect. Rigot is also a member of the Young Professional’s organization, active with the Chamber of Commerce and American Builders Contractors, as well as volunteering her time with Habitat for Humanity builds.  In her spare time, she works on her home improvement projects designing and constructing the renovations herself. She joined the architecture department in 2019 and has been involved with designs for The Grove and Friendship Creek townhomes, private residence designs, community clubhouse designs for River Run, Chase Oaks and Sycamore Chase as well as medical office designs for Bay health and private clients.

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Lori Aiken has been named the Chief Diversity Officer of Sallie Mae. Aiken will lead the company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, including the hiring and development of a diverse workforce and reinforcing the company’s inclusive culture. “Increasing access and opportunity through higher education is core to who we are at Sallie Mae,” said Aiken. “By ensuring an environment where our people thrive, we can continue to advocate for students and families, from all backgrounds, who aspire to forge their future through education. Our diversity, equity, and inclusion focus will reinforce our commitment to our customers by becoming more intentional about our culture. This will, in turn, allow our team members to further support our customers and the communities where we live, work, and serve.” Aiken joins Sallie Mae with extensive experience in human resources and talent management and brings a strong background in creating and reinforcing cultures focused on diversity and inclusion. She most recently led the human capital effort for JPMorgan Chase’s market expansion division. Aiken has also developed and supported human resource programs at Sony Pictures Entertainment, Viacom Media Networks, Merrill Lynch, and AT&T. “Our company culture is rooted in indisputable values and a moral obligation to do right by each other and our communities and that also extends to how we do business,” said Jon Witter, CEO, Sallie Mae. “Lori will further this mission-critical work and advance our efforts to become one of the most just and inclusive workplaces in the country.”

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Dover Motorsports, Inc. board of directors have appointed Anastasia Thomas Nardangeli, as a director of the company. Nardangeli, a graduate of Yale University and University of Maryland School of Law, specializes in business formation, capital raises, financings, corporate governance and mergers and acquisitions. Dover Motorsports, Inc. chairman, Henry B. Tippie stated, “We are pleased to add Stasia as a new independent director. Her legal background and experience representing public and private companies of all sizes will provide valuable perspective and complement our existing Directors’ skills and experience.

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[caption id="attachment_211418" align="alignleft" width="240"] Matt Chacko[/caption] Matt Chacko recently joined the NAI Emory Hill Brokerage team where he will focus on multi-family investment sales, land development, and commercial sales and leasing. Prior to joining Emory Hill, Chacko worked on the principal side with a private investment group sourcing multi-family deals in Delaware and Pennsylvania. He also spent the last several years in the technology space where he specialized in capital fundraising and business development. His experience includes the development and execution of databases, CRMs, and sales pipelines. Chacko has been an Adjunct Professor at Wilmington University since 2011.

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[caption id="attachment_211425" align="alignright" width="240"] Dr. Evelyn Edney[/caption] The National Association of Secondary School Principals has named Dr. Evelyn Edney, director of Delare State University’s Early College High School, as the 2021 Delaware Principal of the Year. Dr. Edney is the second director of the ECHS, assuming the school’s top post in 2015 one year after its founding. Since then she has overseen the graduation of the first three graduating classes of ECHS students – which totaled 201 graduates. Under Dr. Edney’s leadership, the ECHS boasts a high school graduation rate of 90% over the last three years. Dr. Marsha Horton, president of the 13-member ECHS board of directors, expressed great pride in the honor for Dr. Edney “As the President of the Board for the Early College High School, as well as the parent of an ECHS student, I know firsthand that she is an amazing school leader – academically gifted; a passionate advocate for all things ‘education’; a wonderful motivator of faculty, staff and students; and a valued colleague,” Dr. Horton said. “We are proud to claim her as the leader of our school!” Dr. Tony Allen, president of Delaware State University, said the statewide recognition of Dr. Edney is reflective of the high school she leads. “It is a high honor and indicative of Early College High School’s quality offerings and Evelyn’s tremendous leadership,” the University President said. Dr. Edney said that she is “completely overwhelmed and completely humbled” by the honor, but also noted that the ECHS faculty and staff deserved some credit for the award. “A leader is only as good as the people around them, and I have the best supporting cast that there is,” Dr. Edney said. “They are truly the hardest working staff on the planet. She is the past recipient of the 2017 Delaware NAACP Education Award, the Delaware Charter Network’s 2019 IDEA Award, and the 2019 National Charter School Community Service Award.

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