Kent County Economic Summit Conference - Speakers and Panelists

Dr. Mark Brainard - President of Delaware Tech

Dr. Mark T. Brainard, a proud graduate of Delaware Tech, was appointed the College’s fifth president on August 4, 2014. Previously, Dr. Brainard spent over three decades in a series of executive-level leadership roles in the higher education, business, government, and legislative arenas in Delaware. One of his priorities as president is to employ his knowledge, experience, and leadership skills to ensure that today’s students continue to receive the same foundation and opportunities he received as a student of the College over three decades ago.

Throughout his career he has served as chief of staff for the House Minority Caucus in the Delaware State Legislature, director of external affairs at DelDOT, assistant vice president for human resources and legal affairs at Delaware Tech, executive vice president of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, and chief of staff for Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner.

At the end of the governor’s term, he returned to Delaware Tech and served in a number of leadership positions until he was appointed president of the College in 2014. In a short time, he has implemented a number of initiatives, including creating a collegewide culture that embraces innovation; developing a statewide program for high school students to address the manufacturing skills gap in Delaware; and establishing a variety of support programs for veterans, earning the College its “Military Friendly School” designation for five years in a row.

Dr. Brainard holds an associate degree in criminal justice from Delaware Tech, a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science from Wilmington University, and a juris doctor degree from Widener University Delaware Law School.

Scott Becker

Scott is a Delaware native who grew up near the lively University of Delaware campus. Scott graduated from Salesianum School in Wilmington, DE. He earned his BS from York College of Pennsylvania in Sports Management with three business minors and cum laude honors. Scott was a 4-year collegiate soccer player and the captain of the team during his senior season. Scott began his professional experience as a general manager of a full service car wash overseeing a staff of 10-20 employees daily. At 22 years old and managing employees 10-20 years older than he, challenges were presented every day. He was able to increase the business sales approximately 25% within the first year of employment. He moved back to Pennsylvania to work in food sales for a couple of years before deciding to take a leap of faith with his wife when they purchased a car wash at the ages of 24 and 23. After a year of due diligence and writing presentation plans to the bank, the bank approved their documents. After the first few years of success at Coastal Car Wash, Scott is ready to leverage the power of small business to help make Delaware a great state. Scott currently is a member of the Greater Kent Committee and serves as Chair of the Quality of Life Committee. He also serves on the board at the Hope Medical and Dental Clinic in Dover, DE. Scott currently resides in Magnolia, DE with his beautiful wife Katie and his 1 1/2 year old daughter Vivian.

David S. Hugg III

David Hugg is an experienced planner and government administrator with an extensive background in public policy development and consensus building for the resolution of critical land development, infrastructure management, and general growth issues at regional, state and local levels.

Hugg is currently the Director of Planning, Inspections and Community Development for the City of Dover, Delaware, and is responsible for ensuring a business-friendly permitting process, streamlining regulatory processes, updating City codes and ordinances, and overseeing planning, code enforcement, permitting and life safety functions.

He also serves as the City’s Economic Development Director, leading efforts by the City to recruit and retain businesses, promote the City, and coordinate the City’s involvement in the Downtown Dover Partnership, Restoring Central Dover, the Downtown Development District, and various initiatives of Kent County and the State.

He served almost 15 years as Town Manager of Smyrna, Delaware, leading that community through periods of rapid growth, major utility investment, and a strong economic development resurgence.

He retired after 32 years of service with the State of Delaware, after serving on the staff of Governor Thomas R. Carper as Director of the Office of State Planning Coordination.

Hugg holds a Master of Urban Planning degree from New York University and a Bachelor of Business Administration (Marketing) from the University of Delaware. He held an Adjunct Associate Professor position for almost fifteen years at the University of Delaware in the Graduate School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy and was a Senior Policy Advisor in the Institute of Public Administration.

Cornelia Johnson - Vice President and Campus Director of Delaware Tech

Cornelia Johnson’s diverse background in higher education spans over more than three decades and consists of serving diverse populations of students, in both the community college and four-year university settings.

She has done extensive committee work at Delaware Tech related to Middle States reaccreditation, diversity and inclusion, assessment, and student success. Presently, she serves as the co-chair of the Collegewide Diversity and Inclusion Committee and is a member of the Core Team of Achieving the Dream, an initiative that develops a framework of strategies that yield equitable outcomes for all students.

Cornelia Johnson was appointed Vice President and Campus Director for the Terry Campus in July 2018, after 16 years of service at the Stanton and Wilmington Campuses of Delaware Tech. There, she served as Dean of Student Affairs, Director of Communication and Planning, and Registrar. Prior to her career at Delaware Tech, Vice President Johnson held administrative positions at Delaware State University and University of Delaware.

She earned the bachelor’s degree in Economics from University of Delaware and MBA from Delaware State University. In 2016, she was awarded the Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by Wilberforce University in Wilberforce, Ohio for her outstanding work in higher education.

Vice President Johnson is a member of the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce; the Great Kent Committee, where she serves on their Education Committee; and the Delaware’s ACE Women’s Network. She is active in her community, serving on the Interdenominational Ministers Alliance.

Linda Arrey Nkwenti

Mrs. Linda Arrey-Mbi Nkwenti (best known as Linda Arrey) is a Nonprofit Consultant, Published Author and International Speaker. After dedicating several years as a Certified Life Coach, helping women all over the world find clarity, overcoming personal and professional roadblocks and equipping them with strategies to live a fulfilling lifestyle, she wrote her first book, "Memoirs of a Working Mother", a self-help tool for women to thrive at home and work.

The book reveals the challenges and triumphs of returning to work after childbirth, battling uterine fibroid, while finding balance with career and family, and loving the reflection in the mirror through an offering of stories, strategies, and anecdotes.

After serving in the nonprofit sector in various capacities for several years, she created her signature program, The Nonprofit Institute, a premier program for potential Nonprofit Entrepreneurs to transform their vision into compliant, sustainable and impactful 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organizations, in just eight weeks, even if they have zero experience. 

She has shared her experiences and expertise on numerous diverse platforms, to include the military, women and business conferences, schools, retreats and the TEDx stage. As an unforgettable speaker, she gets invited to educate and motivate through keynote addresses, panel discussions, workshop facilitation and more.

She is the Chief Executive Officer of Women in Leadership Development and Empowerment, Inc., a professional women's charity serving women and children in the U.S. and underserved communities through physical, mental, spiritual and financial wellness initiatives.

She holds a Master of Science in Healthcare Administration and Business. Among other community and professional organizations, she is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, and the NGO Committee on the Status of Women Globally. As a Captain in the United States Air Force Medical Service Corps, she serves as a Chief Information Officer. She is a member of Academy Women, a world class professional development organization for military women and veterans. She is also the President of the Cameroonian-American Military Professionals organization, a 501(c)(3) charity providing mentoring, leadership and support services to Cameroonian-Americans serving in the United States Military and their families.

She enjoys the beach, traveling and spending quality time with her husband and children.

Eric Norenberg

Eric Norenberg has served as Milford City Manager since January 2016. Prior to joining the City of Milford, Eric was the City Manager of Oberlin, Ohio for eight years. He previously served in a variety of positions with the City of Mesa, Arizona for 20 years. Eric serves on the Board of Directors of the Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation and the Legislative Advocacy Committee for the Delaware League of Local Governments. In 2016 and 2017, Eric was named to the prestigious Chris Traeger List as one of Top 100 Local Government Influencers in the country. Eric holds a Master of Public Policy degree from the University Of Michigan. He is an active member of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), a Credentialed City Manager and a member of the Milford Rotary Club.

Michael J. Petit de Mange

Michael J. Petit de Mange, AICP, became the County Administrator for Kent County, Delaware on April 8, 2007 after serving as the County's Planning Director for nearly 5 years. Prior to joining Kent County, he served as Director of Planning & Inspections for the City of Dover, Delaware and as an Associate/Branch Manager for Landmark Engineering, Incorporated. While with the City of Dover, Mr. Petit de Mange also served a four (4) year term on the Kent County Regional Planning Commission. He has over 30 years of experience in municipal management and regional planning. Mr. Petit de Mange, a native Delawarean, is a graduate of the University of Delaware, and is a Certified Planner awarded by the American Institute of Certified Planners and the American Planning Association. He has held various offices in the Delaware Chapter of the American Planning Association including Chapter President from 1998 through 2001, and is currently serving as Vice Chair of the Dover/Kent County Metropolitan Planning Organization Council, as a Member of the Kent Economic Partnership Board of Directors. Mr. Petit de Mange also serves as Chair Elect of the Kent County Conservancy and as a member of the Delaware Native Species Commission. Mr. Petit de Mange is a Member and Past President of the Dover Colonial Rotary Club and is an active member of Wesley United Methodist Church. An avid outdoor sports enthusiast, he resides in Dover with his wife Beth and two children.

Richard Rexrode - Emcee and Conference Moderator

As the Instructional Director and Business Department Chair at the Terry Campus, it is my goal to create an environment that promotes high impact business courses that meet the goals of Delaware Tech students. I have been with Delaware Tech as an instructor/chair for seven years and thoroughly enjoy the teaching process and seeing students succeed.

Our mission is to provide outstanding market-driven business education to meet the diverse needs of student career and lifelong learning goals. This is accomplished by providing technical, relevant courses using practical applications that meet current industry standards, processes, applications, and techniques in a supportive environment to foster confidence and success.

I am a proud graduate of Delaware Tech with 2 degrees in engineering I also received a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Management and an MBA from Wilmington University. In addition, I recently completed a second Master's Degree in Economic and Entrepreneurship Education from the University of Delaware and have applied to the PhD program in Economic Policy at Liberty University. I am also a proud graduate of the 10th class of the Delaware Tech Leadership Development Program.

I have held a variety of positions in State Government over the last 20+ years including several years as an Engineering Technician for Public Works, 10 years as a manager in the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Transportation, and served two years as the Executive Assistant to the State Treasurer. I have owned and operated an international race car manufacturing company and I am currently venturing into a start-up in race car promotions.

I am the lucky father of 2 talented and wonderful children (Olivia and Julian) and the fortunate husband of the best person that I have ever known (Gina). They are the reason behind everything I do.

Jeremy J. Rothwell

A native of Kent County, Maryland, he earned his B.A. in political science and history from Washington College. He holds a M.A. in Urban Affairs and Regional Planning and a Graduate Certificate in Historic Preservation, both from the University of Delaware. He was recently hired in August 2019 as the Senior Planner for the Town of Smyrna overseeing planning and economic development efforts for the Town. He has previously worked as a planner for the City of Harrington, Talbot County (Maryland), and for the Planning Services Group at the Institute for Public Administration. Outside of planning, he has also worked for the Upper Shore Regional Council (Chestertown, MD), and as a legislative assistant in the Maryland House of Delegates.

Charlie Vincent, Esq. - Conference Moderator

Charles Vincent is Executive Director of Spur Impact, a Delaware nonprofit whose mission is to connect and inspire young professionals to make an impact in their career and community. In his capacity as Executive Director, Charlie manages a large team of volunteers and together with the Spur Impact Board of Directors, leads the efforts to make the Spur Impact initiatives and events (such as the #MILLSUMMIT leadership conference and Delaware Charity Challenge fundraising competition) successful.

An attorney by trade, Charlie brings a professional understanding and perspective to Spur Impact's supporters, donors, volunteers, and other constituents. His legal experiences, combined with his marketing and business background, enable him to work collaboratively and effectively with hundreds of young and seasoned professionals across the spectrum of large and small public, private, government, and nonprofit organizations.

Charlie received a J.D., magna cum laude, from Widener University School of Law. He earned a B.A., cum laude, in Business Administration from Franklin & Marshall College. He is an active member of the Delaware State Bar Association (DSBA), the Terry Carey Inn of Court, the Association of Fundraising Professionals (National and Brandywine Chapter), and the Wilmington Jaycees. Charlie served as Chair of the Young Lawyers Section (YLS) of the DSBA (2010-2012) also was Treasurer (2012-2013). He is also a member of the Board on the Unauthorized Practice of Law and has served as Vice Chair since 2012. He was named a Delaware Rising Star by Super Lawyers (2012, 2013) and a Delaware Business Times 40 under 40 (2015). He has previously served as a board member of the Next Generation of the Delaware Community Foundation (2014-2017). Currently, he serves as a member of the board for the Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement (DANA) and sits on the development and public policy committees and also is a Commissioner with the Delaware Commission on Community and Volunteer Service.

Verity Watson

Verity Watson is a lobbyist with Ruggerio Willson & Associates where she works in policy areas stretching from energy to education to health on behalf of her clients. Prior to lobbying, Verity worked for the Delaware General Assembly as the sole analyst for the Joint Legislative Oversight and Sunset Committee. In this capacity, she guided legislators through comprehensive reviews of state entities and recommended policy changes to increase efficiency.

While obtaining her MPA degree at the University of Delaware, Verity worked for the Institute for Public Administration where she collaborated with the National Governors Association, the U.S. Senate HELP Committee, and national and local nonprofit organizations. She also worked to increase the accountability of nonprofits receiving Grants-in-Aid funding from the state.

Verity grew up in Rehoboth Beach and graduated from Cape Henlopen High School. She currently resides in Lewes and spends much of her free time at the Cape Henlopen and Seashore State Park beaches and listening to live music at the local hangouts. Verity is currently President of The Next Generation - Southern Delaware.