People on the Move: Aug. 30

August 30, 2024 10

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.

Saul Ewing, a national law firm, named Jennifer Becnel-Guzzo partner.

Jennifer Becnel-Guzzo | PHOTO COURTESY OF SAUL EWING

Becnel-Guzzo represents entities and institutions, including colleges and universities, in active litigation, including cases ranging from class actions lawsuits to individual claims of discrimination. Her former role as a university associate vice president and deputy general counsel gives her a deep understanding of the expansive issues that in-house legal teams for higher education institutions face, including matters involving students, employees, vendors, sponsors and donors.

Becnel-Guzzo also advises colleges and universities on how federal, state and local laws and regulations apply to their operations and helps them fashion compliance solutions. This includes matters involving university charters, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the First Amendment, Title VI, Title VII, Title IX and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

“We are thrilled about Jennifer’s return to Saul Ewing,” Wilmington Office Managing Partner James D. Taylor, Jr. said. “Her knowledge about the higher education landscape will be especially meaningful to clients seeking advice with an in-house counsel’s perspective. Plus, she is an all-around strong litigator who will add depth to our teams working on commercial, employment, real estate and other disputes, especially for clients in Delaware.”

Prior to her in-house role, Becnel-Guzzo was a litigator in private practice at Saul Ewing, where she focused on representing Delaware entities in commercial disputes, as well as colleges and universities. She also defended a variety of employers in discrimination claims brought before the Delaware Department of Labor and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and in wage-and-hour cases under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Becnel-Guzzo earned a J.D. from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University and her B.E. from Vanderbilt University.

Bayhealth welcomed General and Bariatric Surgeon Anirudha Goparaju, MD, FACS. Joining the Bayhealth General Surgery practice, Dr. Goparaju will perform surgery at Bayhealth Sussex Campus in Milford and is a part of the Bayhealth Bariatrics team specializing in weight loss surgery.

Anirudha Goparaju, MD | PHOTO COURTESY OF BAYHEALTH

The Bayhealth General Surgery practice is part of Bayhealth Medical Group, a partnership of highly trained physicians and advanced practice clinicians, their staff, and an administrative support team that operates medical offices throughout Delaware. Together their team of specialists provides advanced surgical care to treat common to complex conditions, using innovative and minimally invasive techniques such as robotic surgery.

“We are proud to bring to our area another highly skilled surgeon to meet a range of surgical needs as well as the demand for weight loss surgery,” Bayhealth Vice President, Physician Services and Clinical Integration Lawrence Ward, MD, MPH, FACP, said. “Dr. Goparaju is passionate about offering advanced surgical solutions to improve quality of life for his patients, and he will be an asset to our team and our community.”

Prior to joining Bayhealth, Dr. Goparaju was an associate surgeon for Roller Weight Loss & Advanced Surgery in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Before that he was at New York University’s Long Island School of Medicine where he served as a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Surgery. While he was faculty at NYU, he published numerous papers, presented at national conferences and was a recipient of the 2021-2022 “outstanding faculty of the year” award.

Dr. Goparaju earned his medical degree from the McGovern Medical School at UTHealth in Houston, Texas. He completed an internship and second year of residency in general surgery at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center in Manhattan, New York. He completed his surgical residency and chief residency at Lincoln Medical Center, affiliated with Weill Cornell Medical College campus in Bronx, New York. Following this, he completed his fellowship training in advanced GI and bariatrics at the NYU Long Island School of Medicine.

Dr. Goparaju is experienced in advanced surgical techniques to treat many types of conditions and for surgical weight loss. These include laparoscopic and robotic surgery, gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, duodenal switch, complex revisional bariatric surgery, hernia surgery, foregut surgery for hiatal hernia and GERD, colon surgery, and abdominal wall reconstruction.

World Trade Center Delaware President Carla Stone has been appointed to two advisory councils of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, or EXIM, helping support Delaware businesses on the international stage.

Carla Stone

Stone has been reappointed for a second consecutive year to the Council on Small Business, helping small business exporters find new markets and increase sales while lowering risk.

She will also serve on the Council on Advancing Women in Business, which advises EXIM on how to reach more women in business and consider equity goals set in the agency’s strategy.

“Small businesses are the core of the First State’s economy, and women own 42% of Delaware businesses,” Stone said. “Keeping those sectors strong and vital through exporting is what World Trade Center Delaware does. I am excited to again help EXIM with its strategic goals of supporting exporters and representing Delaware businesses to the federal government.”

EXIM President and Chair Reta Jo Lewis said the advisory councils are an important part of EXIM’s mission and work. “The diversity of our council appointees contributes to the quality of the recommendations and insight we receive from these groups, which go a long way to inform the way EXIM operates in the global export credit landscape,” she said.

Stone has more than 30 years of experience in international trade and business, primarily as a small-business owner. Before joining WTC Delaware, she was an organizer of a NATO Science for Peace and Security Program on telemedicine and improving health security. She is a member of the Mid-Atlantic District Export Council and the Delaware Advisory Committee to the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. The author or editor of more than 40 books and technical papers, she holds a master’s degree in mining engineering and mineral economics and a bachelor’s degree in applied geophysics.

Delaware Farm Bureau (DEFB) announced the addition of Sydnie Grossnickle and Alexis Langenfelder.

Grossnickle, a recent graduate of Tarleton State with a master’s degree in Agricultural and Consumer Resources with a focus on leadership, has joined as the program and policy coordinator. While earning her degree, she held an internship with the Animal Ag Alliance, researched the Texas right to farm act, and worked on a Specialty Crop Block Grant project.

Hailing from Union Bridge, Maryland, Grossnickle has deep agricultural roots, growing up on her family’s dairy farm, Johnsville Farms Inc. Her great-grandparents were active Farm Bureau members and often took her to the meetings with them. While holding a state office in Maryland FFA, she discovered her love for policy. She had the opportunity to testify on a bill that would negatively impact school’s agriculture programs. “I realized that I love Farm Bureau and I love policy; that’s when I decided that I wanted to work for Farm Bureau,” Grossnickle said.

In her new role, Grossnickle will support Delaware Farm Bureau’s mission by advocating for policies that benefit the state’s diverse agricultural community, encompassing both plant and animal sectors. She also looks forward to working with the Young Farmers and Ranchers program, saying, “There are so many opportunities I’m excited to explore with them!”

Langenfelder joined the DEFB office staff as the literacy and program coordinator. She grew up in Worton, Maryland, on her family’s 750-sow farrow-to-finish farm, Grand View Farm, and recently graduated from Delaware Valley University with a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness. During her studies, she was also involved in FFA, softball, and Farm Bureau.

She has deep roots in Farm Bureau, with her family being very active at both the county and state levels. Langenfelder’s aunt, Jen Debnam, is a Maryland Farm Bureau district coordinator, and her grandmother, Langenfelder, was the first female Maryland Farm Bureau president. Following in their footsteps, Langenfelder served as Miss Kent County Farm Bureau and competed in the Pennsylvania Young Farmers and Rancher’s Discussion Meet competition.

Langenfelder aims to increase agricultural literacy across the state and engage more youth in agriculture. “I want to help youth understand where their food comes from and how they can get more involved in agriculture, with or without an agricultural background,” she says. She believes her extensive background in agriculture, from her family’s farm, education, and experience showing swine at her county fair, will help her achieve these goals.

Anna Drocella | PHOTO COURTESY OF BEEBE

Beebe Healthcare announced Anna Drocella, RN, has earned a prestigious DAISY Award.

Drocella was honored after caring for a patient on the Labor and Delivery floor.

“Anna is the most amazing person at her job,” the nominator wrote. “She was genuine, patient, supportive and so much more. She did things that she was not required to do to make my experience better. For example, she braided my hair after my first shower after labor and arranged the flowers that my mom brought me in a vase with water. She pushed me and supported me, and I could not have done it without her. I will remember this experience with Anna for the rest of my life. I feel like I owe her way more than just this nomination.”

During a surprise celebration, Drocella received a DAISY certificate and a hand-carved Healer’s Touch sculpture, inscribed with the words “In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are, and the incredibly meaningful difference you make in the lives of so many people.”

The DAISY Award is presented at hospitals across the United States in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, who died in 1999 from complications of an autoimmune disease. The care Patrick received inspired a new way of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients.

Easterseals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore recently welcomed Bernice Whaley to its Board of Directors.

Bernice Whaley | PHOTO COURTESY OF EASTERSEALS

“I am honored to join the Easterseals board. When I took my first tour of the New Castle facility, I recognized the meaningful impact this organization makes in the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families, helping to ensure they receive essential services and support,” Whaley said. “As a board member, I am looking forward to leveraging my skills and network to advance the organization’s mission and help drive their innovative programs that promote inclusion and accessibility. Additionally, I look forward to collaborating with other passionate and dedicated professionals on the board which I imagine will provide valuable insights and foster a deeper connection to the community we serve.”

Whaley currently leads the Professional Practice at Placers. Previously, she led the fundraising, development operations, events, alumni engagement and parent relations for St. Andrew’s School. Whaley served as the Director of the Delaware Economic Development Office, where she served as a Secretary in Governor Markell’s cabinet. She is a member of Junior Achievement of Delaware’s Chair Emeritus Council and served on the Advisory Board of Placers. She has served as a board member of the Delaware Workforce Development Board, Diamond State Port Corporation, Delaware Stadium Corporation, Delaware Technology Park and First State Innovation. Whaley holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/Marketing Management from the University of Delaware, Master of Science in Organizational Leadership and Doctor of Business Administration from Wilmington University.