A Week In Business

Banking School Graduate

OCEAN CITY — Bank of Ocean City President and CEO Wayne Benson, along with the Board of Directors, has announced Assistant Vice President Jason Parker has recently graduated from Maryland Banking School with Honors.

Jason Parker

Jason Parker

Maryland Banking School is a vigorous, three-year program with an emphasis on developing leadership, managerial and technical skills.

Parker joined the Bank in 2003 and was born and raised in Berlin. He is a graduate from Wilmington University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance. He serves as branch manager of the 59th Street location in Ocean City. His other duties include commercial/consumer/residential lending and business development. The Berlin resident is involved in several community organizations including the Berlin Lion’s Club. He also serves on Bank of Ocean City’s Charitable Contributions Committee and Disaster Recovery Team.

Bank of Ocean City is a locally-owned, independent community bank. Established in 1916 and headquartered in West Ocean City, the bank has six offices — four in Ocean City, one in Ocean Pines and one in Berlin.

Daisy Award Presented

BERLIN – Atlantic General Hospital awarded the Daisy Award for excellence in nursing to Tracey Wooden at a July presentation.

Tracey Wooden

Tracey Wooden

Wooden currently works in the Supportive Services Department and has worked at Atlantic General Hospital for 10 years. She began her nursing career at AGH working on the Med-Surg unit, but felt strongly that chronically ill patients and their families deserve access to resources that will allow them to live without pain and suffering. In her current role, Wooden is able to assist with symptom management, emotional support and allowing the patient’s to attain their goals.

Wooden received two nominations, one from a patient and one from a family. One family wrote, “While the situation had a tragic end for our family, you were a bright spot in the situation with the care, concern and help you provided.”

Of her nomination, Wooden said, “It is truly a collaborative effort to support our patients and families and I work as a part of that team. I am so honored that a family would take the time to write this nomination, especially during such a difficult period.”

The DAISY Award, created by The DAISY Foundation in Memory of J. Patrick Barnes, honors the extraordinary work nurses do for patients and families each day. Hospital leadership brought the awards program to Atlantic General to recognize the compassion and high level of care its nurses provide to residents and visitors of the community.

Patients and visitors can nominate an Atlantic General Hospital and Health System nurse for the DAISY Award at any time. Nomination forms are available in every hospital department and health system physician office. Awards are bestowed quarterly.

Bank Promotion

Kelsey Dickerson Tilghman

Kelsey Dickerson Tilghman

SALISBURY — The Bank of Delmarva President and CEO Edward M. Thomas recently announced that Kelsey Dickerson Tilghman was promoted within the corporation.

Tilghman joined the bank in 2012. She was recently promoted to the role of branch manager and loan officer for the Laurel location.

Tilghman graduated from Wilmington University with a Bachelor of Science degree in General Studies in 2013. In 2015, she graduated with her Master’s in Business Administration with a concentration in Organizational Leadership through Wilmington University.

New Executive Named

BERLIN – The Coastal Association of REALTORS® (CAR) announced that Page Browning has joined its staff as the new executive vice president to lead the association’s staff and serve its over 1,000 local REALTOR® and affiliate members.

Page Browning

Page Browning

Browning brings 17 years of experience in strategic planning, membership growth, education programs, events and other association management practices to her new role at CAR. She has a proven record of success expanding the reach of programs for the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and Home Builders Institute (HBI) in Washington, D.C.

A 1991 graduate of the University of Virginia, Browning began her association career in 1998 as HBI’s Manager of Academic Services. She later grew into several roles at NAHB/HBI, notably executive director of NAHB Student Chapters and Vice President of Academic Services where she oversaw a student membership program of over 3,000 and worked with partners to expand residential construction education programs.

“I am excited and ready for this new challenge and opportunity to work with the CAR members and staff,” Browning said. “I look forward to rolling up my sleeves to advance the association’s goals while my husband and I settle permanently into our Eastern Shore home.”

Vicki Harmon, president of the CAR Board of Directors, said Browning’s experience in association work, finance and education will be invaluable resources for CAR’s membership.

“We know that Page will be an excellent team leader and work hard to provide our members with the tools they need to be the most trusted real estate professionals on the Lower Eastern Shore,” Harmon said. “We welcome Page and look forward to working with her.”

Radio Station Purchased

SALISBURY — WBOC, which began serving the Delmarva Peninsula 75 years ago as WBOC-AM radio, is returning to its roots with the acquisition of WOLC 102.5 FM from Maranatha, Inc. The purchase was announced by WBOC-TV Vice President & General Manager Craig Jahelka.

“We are humbled by the trust people on Delmarva put in us every day” said Jahelka. “We’re dedicated to providing the best news, weather, information and entertainment available. With the addition of 102.5 FM we will be able to serve our audience and advertisers anytime and anywhere on Delmarva, even when they’re in their vehicles, on a boat or operating a combine.”

WBOC-AM, originally owned by Peninsula Broadcasting, signed on the air 75 years ago on Sept. 13, 1940 and expanded to television in July 1954. In 1980, current owner Thomas H. Draper, CEO and President of Draper Holdings, purchased the stations. It is also a return to radio for him.

“My start in broadcasting began in 1967 at WTHD in Milford,” said Draper. “I’ve come full circle with the addition of WOLC. The 50,000-watt signal can be heard across much of Delmarva and is a perfect fit for our family and our company.”

Jahelka added, “We’ve retained the services of a firm which specializes in radio programming. So while we haven’t yet decided on a format for 102.5, I can promise the station will reflect the WBOC brand, serving our family, friends and neighbors here on the peninsula.”

Maranatha, Inc. President Gordon Marsh said, “After a long season of prayer and discussion a decision has been made to sell the 102.5 frequency. We are very pleased to be able to work with WBOC, an organization which is both trusted and respected here. Maranatha, Inc. will continue to operate as the Christian Leadership and Community Foundation, established to provide and build leadership and support within the Christian community.”

Company Growth Recognized

BERLIN — Inc. magazine recently ranked Chesapeake Plumbing and Heating Inc. No. 1,479 on its 34th annual Inc. 5000, an exclusive ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents the most comprehensive look at the most important segment of the economy — America’s independent entrepreneurs.

“We are proud to be a part of such a dynamic list of growing companies. I want to thank everyone in my company for their hard work and commitment,” said Travis Martin, owner of Chesapeake Plumbing and Heating Inc. “We set lofty goals and push hard every day. Look to see us again, because we are not stopping here.”

The 2015 Inc. 5000, unveiled online at Inc.com and with the top 500 companies featured in the September issue of Inc., is the most competitive crop in the list’s history. The average company on the list achieved a mind-boggling three-year growth of 490%. The Inc. 5000’s aggregate revenue is $205 billion, generating 647,000 jobs over the past three years. Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000.

“The story of this year’s Inc. 5000 is the story of great leadership. In an incredibly competitive business landscape, it takes something extraordinary to take your company to the top,” said Inc. President and Editor-In-Chief Eric Schurenberg. “You have to remember that the average company on the Inc. 5000 grew nearly six-fold since 2012. Business owners don’t achieve that kind of success by accident.”