A Week In Business – November 4, 2016

Members Attend Meeting

SALISBURY – The Coastal Association of REALTORS® (CAR) recently participated in an informational meeting hosted by the Newtown Association regarding the benefits of buying and living in this historic Salisbury neighborhood.

Members of the Coastal Association of REALTORS® participated in an informational meeting with Mayor Jacob Day, representatives from the Salisbury Police Department and representatives from the Newtown Association. Submitted Photo

Members of the Coastal Association of REALTORS® participated in an informational meeting with Mayor Jacob Day, representatives from the Salisbury Police Department and representatives from the Newtown Association. Submitted Photo

Held in the home of Barry and Judith Dressel, who are on the Board of Directors for the Newtown Association, the meeting focused on how REALTORS® can sell Newtown’s historic homes, which can be perceived as costly due to their age and size. The group discussed financing options for renovations, neighborhood amenities and events, as well as the area’s close proximity to the Downtown, Salisbury University, and Peninsula Regional Media Center.

Representatives from the Salisbury Police Department, Lt. Jason Yankalunas and Ofc. John DiMare, spoke to the group about the neighborhood’s crime statistics, noting that a misperception regarding high calls-for-service numbers is attributed to proactive measures conducted by police to ensure the safety of residents in the core of the city.

Mayor Jake Day also attended and applauded the Newtown Association for its dedication to the revitalization of their neighborhood.

The Newtown Association distributed information to the REALTORS® that may be useful to their clients, including an extensive fact sheet that addresses commonly asked questions regarding affordability, energy efficiency, and maintenance, among others. The association also shared information regarding their upcoming Holiday House Tour, which is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 4 and will feature nine of the neighborhood’s historic homes.

The Newtown Association recently launched a new website – www.newtownhistoricdistrict.org – which contains a wealth of information about the neighborhood, including current listings.

“After hearing that some residents believe REALTORS® discourage their clients from buying in Newtown, we wanted to have an open dialogue with the Newtown Association and the city to get more information and clear up any misperceptions,” said CAR President Don Bailey. “Newtown is a wonderful neighborhood, with many positive attributes. We encourage all to visit the Newtown Association’s new website. We also encourage other community groups to contact our association if they are interested in meeting with our members. Community outreach and education are important to CAR’s mission and we welcome all opportunities to make our members and our communities more successful.”

Campaign Chairs Announced

BERLIN – The Atlantic General Hospital Foundation has announced that John “Jack” H. Burbage, Jr. and Michelle Fager will be co-chairs of the $10 million Campaign for the Future.

Jack Burbage

Jack Burbage

Jack Burbage is a resident of Berlin and CEO of Blue Water Development Company. The Stephen Decatur High School graduate has deep roots in the community and is a member of the Lions Club, the Economic Development Corporation and Maryland Coastal Bays. He also sits on the Board of Directors of Taylor Bank and is a member of the Maryland Builders and the Maryland Bankers Association. He has two sons and two grandsons.

Michelle Fager

Michelle Fager

Fager is a resident of Bishopville and vice president/in house legal counsel for Fager’s Island, Ltd. in Ocean City. Her extensive business and entrepreneurial background includes employment law, strategic planning, budgeting and finance and residential and commercial real estate transactions. Fager, an Atlantic General Hospital Foundation Board and Executive Committee member, also lends time to other community organizations including the Governor’s Commission on Small Business, Maryland State and Worcester County Bar Association’s, and the Governor’s Family Violence Council. Prior to joining Fager’s Island, Ltd., she dedicated her time to raise a family.

The funds raised during the Atlantic General Campaign for the Future ($10 million philanthropic community support) will allow Atlantic General Hospital to complete $35 million in capital projects planned under the organization’s 2020 Vision five-year strategic plan. Among them is construction of a new 18,000-square-foot full service cancer care center, completion of a women’s health center in West Ocean City, renovation of existing surgical facilities and expansion of emergency services within Atlantic General Hospital as well as improvements to inpatient care areas.

Communications Head Named

SALISBURY — As part of its new comprehensive communications program, Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc. (DPI), the 1,800-member, non-profit trade association for the Delmarva Peninsula’s chicken industry, has created a position of Communications Manager to coordinate and manage the organization’s outreach efforts. Hired to lead the effort is veteran newspaper reporter and editor James Fisher of Milton, Del.

James Fisher

James Fisher

Fisher has made his home on Delmarva since 2003. He has worked as a newspaper reporter and editor for 13 years, covering all kinds of stories — including many stories on agriculture and the poultry industry — for The Daily Times of Salisbury and most recently for The News Journal in Delaware. Examples of his science reporting were recognized with an award in 2015 by the Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Press Association. In that line of work, he has seen up close how communication among agriculture, the public, government, and other industries has evolved.

“I’m thrilled to be joining Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc., working in all kinds of ways — news, member communications, social media, video, and more — to tell the stories of the people who make up the region’s most significant agricultural sector,” Fisher said. “In my career, I’ve come to understand that poultry is far more intertwined in the region’s economy and culture than many people think at first glance. I’m eager to help DPI spread that understanding even further.”

DPI Executive Director Bill Satterfield noted that, “there are many positive stories showcasing how our farm families and other members continuously are improving how chickens are raised, how the birds’ welfare and care are being enhanced, how industry by-products are being handled in more environmentally sensitive ways, and how they share the values of others on Delmarva and are working to be better neighbors. With our new communications manager, we’ll step up those outreach efforts.”

Renovation On Schedule

SALISBURY – Gillis Gilkerson, a construction management and general contracting firms on Delmarva, announced the renovation of Peninsula Imaging located at 1655 Woodbrooke Drive in Salisbury is on schedule. The office expansion will add another x-ray room, CT scanner and MRI scanner.

“The demolition is complete and we are coordinating with the camera manufacturers on the final interior layout,” said Dwight Miller, president of Gillis Gilkerson. “This renovation will allow Peninsula Imaging to better serve patients in Wicomico County and surrounding areas. And we are doing everything in our power to keep them in operation while the work is taking place so there is no interruption in care to patients.”

“Gillis Gilkerson is awesome,” said Rocky Green, director of operations, Peninsula Imaging. “They built the building so they knew it better than anyone else. We know they have a great reputation in the area and that’s why we decided to go with them for the renovation.”

Green added the company is waiting for a state-of-the-art scanner equipped with the latest technology that would not be available until later in the year. The Gillis team is working with the manufacturers to ensure the renovation and expansion will meet the specifications required for the new equipment.

“This is not your typical construction project,” added Green. “The technology we are bringing in means we must pay close attention to HVAC and electrical provisions as well as radiation requirements. All of this while not losing continuity of care for our patients.”

The project is scheduled for completion in January 2017.

Agency Adds Manager

Emily Bucci

Emily Bucci

WILLARDS — Atlantic/Smith, Cropper & Deeley (ASC&D) has welcomed Emily Bucci as commercial lines manager. She will lead the team of Commercial Lines Customer Relations Agent, Marketing and Support staff as they continue to provide customer service to clients.

Bucci comes with 16 years of personal and commercial lines insurance experience. She began her insurance career as a personal lines account manager and then moved into commercial lines as a select account manager. Her most recent position was that of commercial lines account manager/unit leader.

Bucci holds several designations, including Accredited Advisor in Insurance, Accredited Customer Service Representative (ACSR) and Associate in General Insurance. She was named Maryland ACSR of the Year.