Category: Business News

Peter Grim Appointed New Executive Director of Haven Ministries

Peter Grim of Rock Hall, a non-profit executive, has been appointed the new Executive Director of Haven Ministries. Grim replaces Krista Pettit, who founded the organization 20 years ago in Queen Anne’s County to address the need for a homeless shelter there.

At a recent celebration of Pettit’s achievements, Caroline Aland, Past Board President of Haven Ministries recalled, “Krista was sitting in church and got a calling from God. He told her there was a need in her community. There are people without housing who are struggling to survive. He asked her to do something. To start a shelter.”

Krista created the Queen Anne County Christian Assistance program and pretty soon they had a place to shelter people. The first year the shelter was in the Grasonville Community Center. After the first year, the shelter moved to the Kent Island United Methodist Church where it has remained operating as a seasonal shelter.

“But that’s not all… she then organized the Food Pantry, a Resource Center, transitional housing, a Food Pantry Truck in Sudlersville, Our Daily Thread Thrift Store, and Hope Warehouse providing sustainable income for Haven Ministries’ programs and goods for its clients. And now we have the Homes for Hope housing program,” added Aland.

Aland pointed out that all of these projects were opened with tremendous prayer and thought. The organization started with a handful of volunteers and has grown to 14 paid staff, hundreds of volunteers, and has helped thousands of residents over the years.

Pictured is Peter Grim, new executive director of Haven Ministries
Pictured is Peter Grim, new executive director of Haven Ministries – Contributed Photo
Grim, who follows Pettit, has had several years of experience in executive leadership, development, and operational oversight of non-profit organizations. Most recently he facilitated a start-up and served as Executive Director of The Common Place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a non-profit organization providing education, social service collaboration, and faith formation to serve resource-challenged children and families. Before that, he managed retirement communities in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

“Peter’s non-profit experience includes faith-based multiple startups, strategic planning, community-based programs that include nutrition education, food pantry operations, after-school programming, technical education, summer camps, fundraising, and construction. He has held general management positions that cover all the critical skill sets needed for success as Executive Director, including community relations, communications, and group leadership,” states Jack Gottschalk, Haven Ministries Board President.

“One of his endearing qualities is that when you meet him you can see straight through to his heart. He is a caring and devoted Christian who like our founder ‘walks the talk.’ What you see is what you get – an honest, personable, and capable executive with a broad skill set that is already making a difference to Haven Ministries.”

Grim brings an entrepreneurial-driven approach to non-profit management to ensure fiscal stability and growth. His father started a retirement community the year he was born, and Grim grew up working at all levels of the operation.

“Throughout my childhood to adulthood, I gained valuable experience with increasing levels of responsibility working in housekeeping, maintenance, kitchen, bookkeeping, nursing home administration, and overall management culminating in a board position, ownership, and eventual sale of the organization. This vast experience carried over to bring much success in future business endeavors,” he reflects.

Grim holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Miami and an M.B.A. in Health Care Administration from St. Joseph’s University.

“One of the first things I hope to do is to bring additional stability to the organization in terms of structure and processes. The organization grew quickly and is doing lots of amazing things in the community. I want to look at creating efficiencies in our programs to be even more effective. That is something I’ve done in my past, so that was another thing that drew me to this job with Haven Ministries,” Grim explained.

“As a Christian, I believe that you need to help others while also helping them learn how to help themselves. That will be a principle I follow in working with the community we serve.”

For further information about supporting Haven Ministries, visit haven-ministries.org or call Peter Grim at 410-827-7194.

Love shapes the ministry, love transforms people, and hope prevails at Haven Ministries. Haven Ministries operates a seasonal Homeless Shelter, a Resource Center, and Food Pantry in Queenstown, Our Daily Thread Store in Chester, Hope Warehouse in Queenstown, and a Food Pantry Truck in Sudlersville.

Cambridge Harbor REOI Released

CAMBRIDGE, Md. On July 15, 2022 Cambridge Waterfront Development, Inc (CWDI) released a Request for Expressions of Interest for its Cambridge Harbor Development.
Cambridge Harbor is planned as a premier, highly activated mixed-use development and waterfront district to include public spaces, amenities and events focused on creating a strong sense of community in Cambridge, while establishing a desirable destination for regional tourism and visitors alike.
The final Cambridge Harbor plan consists of approximately 30 developable acres along the Choptank River and Cambridge Creek in Cambridge, Maryland, that includes a (A) deep-water port, a 470-foot wharf, (B) a public boat ramp and the foundation of a continuous waterfront promenade. Adjacent to the Development Area and also on the waterfront is (C) Sailwinds Park—public open space that continues the waterfront promenade and includes a beach, a playground and a visitors center with an iconic 100-foot sail. Also adjacent to the site is (D) a gateway with public art, (E) maritime museum with historical boat-building facilities, and (F) a working waterfront. Anticipated uses for the Development Area include hospitality, food and beverage, entertainment and assembly space, retail, mixed-use residential, and possibly office space.
The waterfront will be a robust and activated public space. CWDI is committed to creating and managing an environmentally sustainable, active and enjoyable world-class waterfront experience that is attractive to residents and visitors. An improved continuous public promenade and beach along with public art and educational exhibits will be the foundation of the experience.
“We’re looking for the best partners to help us bring the Cambridge Harbor vision to reality,” says Matt Leonard, CWDI’s Executive Director. “This REOI is a critical step in that search.”
CWDI is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit development corporation formed through joint Agreement of the City of Cambridge, Maryland; Dorchester County, Maryland; and the State of Maryland for purposes of collaboration and cooperation in the comprehensive planning and redevelopment of certain properties along and adjacent to the Cambridge waterfront extending from the Choptank River Bridge Fishing Pier/Gateway to Cambridge Creek for the betterment of Cambridge, Dorchester County, and the region.
CWDI’s mission is to develop the Cambridge Waterfront in partnership with the community to create an inviting, accessible, active and enjoyable place to live, work, play and visit.
The REOI will be open until November 15, 2022. The REOI process will include rolling submissions by interested entities as they complete their proposals. CWDI will evaluate the proposals received throughout the proposal period and during the final quarter of 2022, during which time demolition of the existing buildings will be accomplished.
A pre-submittal meeting is scheduled at the Cambridge Harbor site at 9:00AM on Monday, August 15, 2022. To register for the meeting and/or to receive a copy of the REOI, those interested should email Matt Leonard at matt.leonard@cwdimd.org, with cc to Gwen Fike at gwen.fike@cwdimd.org. The REOI can also be found at the following link (Download REOI).
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Think Visually: Amplify the Impact of Your Ideas

Raleigh, NC — If a picture is worth a thousand words, why do so many of us insist on a thousand words alone?

Visuals transcend language barriers, push thinking in new directions, engage audiences, pinpoint the essence of lessons or conversations, and clarify misconceptions. Simply put: they make our thoughts visible.

Whether you’re in a school setting or place of business, visual thinking strategies can drive collective understanding and engagement. Plus, studies show that information is recalled exponentially more when paired with visuals than without them. So why wouldn’t you use visuals?

Wendi Pillars can’t stop thinking in pictures. She has been an educator for more than two decades in both military and civilian settings—overseas and stateside—with learners of all ages, from toddlers to adults. She uses visuals to explain, clarify, ease anxiety and add humor, finding that this inspires others to be creative, encourages new ways of thinking and fuels the leap from abstract thoughts to concrete action steps.

“Thinking visually can command a world of clarity that may not have previously existed among clients, students, colleagues and more,” Pillars says.

Her insightful, cleverly constructed new book, Visual Impact: Transform Communication in Your Boardroom, Classroom, or Living Room, is an A-Z reference guide full of original illustrations that complement and/or supplement the text on the facing pages. The idea is to help readers fully visualize ideas, see different styles and have a starting point to create their own visuals.

Designed so readers can dip in and out as needed for inspiration, Visual Impact provides clear examples that show readers what visual thinking looks like in reality.

“When you sketch more, you think more,” Pillars adds. “When you think more, you connect more dots. And when you connect more dots, you accomplish more. My markers are ready. Are yours?”

About the Author
As a curiositarian and lifeaholic, Wendi Pillars thrives on thinking creatively and communicating visually to get to the heart of any message. A consummate explorer of ideas, cultures and people, she enjoys crafting concepts that add a cognitive push and being able to share that with others. She is an award-winning lifelong educator with experience teaching, learning and living across the globe, as well as a love for languages, writing and our planet. She can always be found immersed in some sort of project or creative endeavor, ideally one that empowers others to create and think differently, or serves a community need. She currently lives in North Carolina with her 16-year-old son, rescue cat and dog, and beloved bees. Pillars is also the author of Visual Notetaking for Educators: A Teacher’s Guide to Student Creativity.

For more information, please visit www.sketchmorethinkmore.com, or follow the author on Instagram (sketchmore_thinkmore) or Twitter @wendi322).

Dare to Scale Offers Strategies for Growing a Business Gracefully and with Confidence

NYC, NY/Dubai, UAE – Start-ups start out with big dreams: The entrepreneur has a great product or service that can deliver something of value. Eager to share this vision with the world, he or she launches the business and quickly becomes consumed by the day-to-day stresses of putting out fires, overseeing tasks and managing people. The dream has become a nightmare. What went wrong?

“When founders start a business, it’s because they have a great product or a great service. Very rarely do people get into business because of running a business. Those are two very distinct skills,” said business mentor Warsha Joshi. “So how do you set up and found a strong business that is scalable and sustainable?”

Dare to Scale: How to Grow Your Business Gracefully, by Joshi and her business partner (and husband) Evan Le Clus, details an effective framework to help owners of small and mid-size enterprises (SMEs) break free from founder’s funk and pursue their dreams with renewed confidence — even amid today’s challenges in an ever-evolving global business climate.

Dare to Scale thoroughly explains the five elements that are critical to growing a business: strategy, business model, people, cashflow and operations, and the role each element plays in a business’s “Scalability Quotient.” The authors expertly simplify complex business concepts using relatable success stories, tips and easy-to-absorb information.

The result is a concise, actionable business handbook that walks readers through a holistic approach to growing a business, beginning with cultivating proven strategies and culminating in delivering great customer experiences. Dare to Scale can help readers reawaken their dreams, reinvent their businesses and reconnect with their chosen paths.

“SMEs are the life-blood of the economy,” Joshi said. “Your vision is achievable. Dare to Scale is a milestone book to enable business owners, entrepreneurs, founders — you — to dare to dream big and achieve those dreams.”

About the Authors
Authors Warsha Joshi and Evan Le Clus are also life and business partners who bring fresh perspectives to the business world through the global ecosystem they are building to help nurture entrepreneurship. Joshi is a business scaling up mentor specializing in strategy, people and leadership for the SME founder. Le Clus is a senior corporate executive turned entrepreneur and CFO mentor, helping CEOs run profitable and efficient businesses.

They are the creators of the popular Scalability Quotient for assessing the health of an SME, experienced business mastermind facilitators and business podcasters with their successful show, “Dare to Scale.”

For more information, please visit https://daretoscale.com, or follow the authors on Facebook (@DareToScale) or Instagram (daretoscale).

Dare to Scale: How to Grow Your Business Gracefully
Publisher: Panoma Press
ISBN-10: ‎1784529370
ISBN-13: ‎978-1784529376
Available from Amazon.com

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Nominations Sought for the 9th Annual MCE Palmer Gillis Entrepreneur of the Year Award

Maryland Capital Enterprises is proud to nurture and encourage entrepreneur growth on the Eastern Shore. MCE is now accepting nominations for the 9th Annual MCE Palmer Gillis Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The award will be presented to the winner and two runners up in person, however due to Covid 19 we will not be able to host our Awards Banquet this year. Nomination Deadline is 5:00 p.m. Friday, October 16th, 2020.

The winner will receive the MCE Palmer Gillis Entrepreneur of the Year Award and a check.
Award Eligibility Criteria:
• Must be a small business owner/majority partner involved in daily operation of the business
• The business must be located in the Wicomico, Worcester, Somerset, Kent, Queen Anne, Talbot, Caroline or Dorchester County
• The company must employ 100 employees or less
• The business must have been established locally for two years
• It must be a “for profit” business
• The business must be good standing with the State of Maryland

https://www.marylandcapital.org/about/entrepreneur-of-the-year-nomination
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State of Delaware, New Castle County Launch $100M Grant Program for Small Businesses and Nonprofits Statewide

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney, New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer and the Delaware Division of Small Business on Wednesday announced grant program of at least $100 million to assist Delaware small businesses and nonprofit organizations affected by the COVID-19 crisis.

The DE Relief Grants program announced on Wednesday is a joint initiative of the State of Delaware and New Castle County, and is funded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

The program is expected to reach more than 3,000 small businesses and nonprofit organizations with grants of up to $100,000. The Division of Small Business is administering the program and will begin accepting applications in early September at delbiz.com/relief.

“Delaware small businesses are the backbone of our economy and they have made considerable sacrifices during the COVID-19 crisis. We owe them our gratitude and support,” said Governor Carney. “These relief grants will help Delaware small businesses begin the process of recovering and will help make investments necessary to create safer spaces for their customers and staff.”

“Small businesses and nonprofits are facing expensive costs as they retrofit their workplaces,” said New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer. “We’re pleased to be able to join with the State of Delaware in supporting this important program.”

DE Relief Grants can be used for:

  • Purchasing equipment to make a workplace suitable for COVID-19 safety (such as PPE, plexiglass, air purifiers, etc.)
  • Refinancing of debt incurred due to COVID-19 (including State of Delaware HELP loans)
  • Advertising efforts undertaken as a result of COVID-19
  • Fixed expenses the applicant accrued during COVID-19

“I’ve seen small businesses across Delaware do some amazing things to adapt and stay afloat under the extraordinary circumstances of the last six months, but so many are hanging by a thread as the pandemic drags on,” said Representative Bill Bush, who chairs the House Economic Development, Banking and Insurance Committee. “This grant funding represents a lifeline that will help our small business community overcome the next phase of this crisis.”

“This is about much more than making up for lost revenue,” said Senator Trey Paradee, chair of the Senate Banking, Business and Insurance Committee. “It’s about helping keep the doors open at the small businesses in Kent County and across the state that provide Delawareans with the paychecks and health care their families are relying on now more than ever. It’s about making our businesses safe.”

“Delaware small businesses and nonprofits have been remarkably resilient in dealing with this pandemic,” said Secretary of State Jeff Bullock. “They are the backbone of Delaware’s economy, and we feel it is imperative that the state continues to support them.”

“Multiple programs are necessary to address the challenges Delaware’s small businesses face,” said Damian DeStefano, Director of the Division of Small Business. “We believe this assistance, coupled with other efforts, including the Hospitality Emergency Loan Program (HELP) and the COVID-19 Customer Protection Standards, help make the difference for some of our small businesses.”

The Division of Small Business will begin accepting applications in early September and will follow with funding rounds in early October and November.

“DE Relief Grants are a welcome commitment by the state to help support our small business community and the valuable jobs they offer to so many Delawareans,” said Carrie Leishman, President & CEO of the Delaware Restaurant Association. “The effects of the pandemic have and continue to hit the food services industry particularly hard. While no single effort is a panacea, this program will certainly help restaurants as they work to stabilize revenues while protecting the health and safety of customers and employees.”

“Enhanced financial support for small businesses was a key recommendation of the business subcommittee of Governor Carney’s Pandemic Resurgence Advisory Committee, and has been advocated for by the state chamber,” said Katie Wilkinson, chair of the PRAC Business Subcommittee and Chair of the Board of Directors for the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce. “These grants can make the difference for the survival of some of our small businesses over the next few months.”

The Division of Small Business’ team of Regional Business Managers is available to help companies prepare their applications. Small businesses can connect with the manager for their part of the state at delbiz.com/contact. For more information on DE Relief Grants, visit delbiz.com/relief.

The size of the relief grant will be based on the business or nonprofit’s 2019 revenue:

  • $0-$500,000: Up to $30,000
  • $500,000-$1 million: Up to $50,000
  • $1 million-$2.5 million: Up to $72,500
  • $2.5+ million: Up to $100,000

Anyone with a question about COVID-19, whether related to medical or social service needs, should call Delaware 2-1-1. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing can text their ZIP code to 898-211. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 

Questions can also be submitted by email at DPHCall@delaware.gov. 

DPH will continue to update the public as more information becomes available. For the latest on Delaware’s response, go to de.gov/coronavirus.

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4th Annual Millennial Summit – A Success

Wilmington, DE – T​he 4th Annual Millennial Summit (#MILLSUMMIT) took on a new feature this past week by going 100% virtual and expanding to a three day conference!

The theme for this year’s conference was ​Your 20/20 Vision​. Even though the “vision” of the 2020 #MILLSUMMIT adjusted due to the pandemic, the determination of the Planning Committee to pull together its annual one-of-a-kind, interdisciplinary conference for young professionals, rising stars, innovators, and industry leaders to connect and grow was still there. Keynote and CEO of REACH Riverside, Logan Herring, Sr. said it best, “We don’t make excuses. We make things happen.”

The #MILLSUMMIT took place online over August 3 – 5, 2020, and featured more than 75 local, regional, and national experts who provided more than 30 hours of content to attendees to watch in real-time or on demand. The 700+ unique attendees at this year’s event zoomed in from 30 different states and abroad, including the United Kingdom and Greece. Thanks to the #MILLSUMMIT app, attendees could connect with each other and the many mentors, speakers, and business coaches who participated this year. Attendees maintain access to the recorded sessions until August 14, 2020.

The user experience was exceptional and created opportunities for networking digitally thanks from the speakers and the dynamically focused panel discussions. Attendee Joshua Fournier, who participated from Massachusetts, agreed: “For doing [#MILLSUMMIT] virtually, it was awesome!”
“In May, our Planning Committee announced the difficult but necessary decision to move this year’s #MILLSUMMIT to a 100% virtual experience” commented Charlie Vincent, Executive Director of Spur Impact, the nonprofit which manages and organizes the #MILLSUMMIT. “We learned a lot over the past few weeks, and in the end provided a meaningful and unique opportunity for hundreds of young and seasoned professionals from around the country to connect over a variety of unfiltered and timely discussions about entrepreneurship, leadership, nonprofits, and other critical economic development topics, including many related to COVID, Black Lives Matter, homelessness, and food insecurity. Most importantly, the attendees learned what steps they can do to take meaningful action, and make a bigger local impact in their career and community.”

Glenn Jackson, Senior VP of M&T Bank spoke about how, ‘If you’re comfortable, you’re not growing.’ in one of the sessions on Tuesday. Sarah Fulton, Development Director at Spur Impact added, “Being forced to move virtually has positioned the Millennial Summit team and Spur Impact to make even more of an impact among the local young professional community in the coming months. Our team is full of Zoom experts, and we effectively eliminated travel barriers to our conference – which we think is especially important given the upcoming I-95 renovations that we’ve been dreading for next year. With our redesigned digital infrastructure, we have an amazing opportunity to continue to connect with young professionals and industry leaders both here in Delaware and across the country.”

The featured keynotes for the 2020 #MILLSUMMIT were:

● John Henry​, an Entrepreneur, Investor,
Co-Founder, Partner Harlem Capital,
Former Host, VICE TV’s ‘Hustle’, and Forbes 30 under 30

● Kimmi Wernli​, Owner and President of Crazy Richard’s Peanut Butter

● Logan Herring​, CEO of REACH Riverside

The 2020 #MILLSUMMIT was supported in part by:
● Capital One, Title Sponsor
● M&T Bank
● Wilmington Trust
● JPMorgan Chase & Co.
● New Castle County Government
● AARP Delaware
● Barclays Bank
● Cooperative Credit Union Association
● ChristianaCare
● Delaware Prosperity Partnership

Stay tuned for expanded coverage of #MILLSUMMIT to be announced in the coming weeks at millsummit.com​ or follow @MillSummit on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

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#MILLSUMMIT is the region’s one of a kind event that gathers hundreds of professionals of all ages and backgrounds; connecting professionals, difference makers, rising stars, and other leaders who want to make an impact in their community.

#MILLSUMMIT aims to inspire everyone who attends to speak up and get involved, grow professionally, meet visionaries and innovators trying to move the needle, and to take a seat at the table and start making a difference.

#MILLSUMMIT offers opportunities to learn about leadership, professional development, nonprofit and community service, government and public service, the arts, personal development and wellness, entrepreneurship, finance, and more.