Delaware Achievers

FINANCE

Michael Johnson, a financial professional with Questar Capital Corporation, has been recognized for his sales production in 2013. Johnson was named a Platinum Elite Producer in the Questar Capital Elite Producer Program. This represents one of the highest distinctions offered by Questar Capital. Johnson also has been a Sussex County planning and zoning commissioner for more than 9 years and is president of Peninsula Financial Group in Georgetown.

LAW

John W. Paradee, Esquire, has been named an equity partner in the Baird Mandalas Brockstedt LLC law firm. Paradee is a graduate of the University of Virginia and earned his law degree from the University of Richmond. He is a long-standing member of the American Bar Association, the American Association of Justice, the Delaware Trial Lawyers Association and the Terry/Carey Inn of Court. Paradee was recognized as one of Delaware's “Top Lawyers” by Delaware Today magazine, selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America and was acknowledged by Chambers USA’s Client Guide, America's Leading Lawyers for Business, as “the man in Dover for land use.” Although Paradee will be based in the firm’s Dover office, he also will spend time in the firm’s Lewes location and handle cases throughout the state.

NON-PROFIT

Ralph Petti, MBCI, CBCP, GRCP, has been named as the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce Business Ambassador of the Year for 2014. The Ambassador Committee is a specially chosen group of volunteers that assists in increasing membership and retention and acts as a liaison between the State Chamber staff and the membership at large. Petti is a certified disaster recovery planner and president of Continuity Dynamics Inc., a business continuity planning firm that is based in Wilmington and focuses on helping small businesses be prepared for disaster events beyond any data backup and insurance coverage in place. Petti, who has been featured on “FOX Business News,” also just earned his Governance Risk & Compliance Professional certification.

Sean Montgomery has joined the board of directors of Jobs for Delaware Graduates (JDG). He is the chief financial officer and co-founder of Newark-based Integrity Staffing Solutions. He has more than 20 years experience in the staffing industry and was a previous winner of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

REAL ESTATE

The 2014 Shining Star Award winners at Active Adults Realty in Lewes recent were announced. The awards acknowledge exceptional performance. Bill Bell, REALTOR® and co-owner of Active Adults Realty, received the North Star Award and was named the Top Selling Agent. Linda Chick received the Purple Heart Award. Despite some health challenges this year, she was the top Listing Agent as well as the Top Listing and Selling Agent at Heritage Shores. Debbie Shearer is the recipient of the Super Star Award. She doubled her sales in 2014 over 2013. She also was named the Top Listing and Selling Agent at the Village of Cinderberry in Georgetown. Al Willis was awarded The Closer Award . Last year, he was the Rookie of the Year for both Active Adults Realty^TM and Schell Brothers. This year, in his first full year as a REALTOR®, he tripled his sales over 2013 and once again received a STAR REALTOR award from Schell. Elliot Welan was presented with the Rising Star Award. He joined the team as a licensed Delaware REALTOR® in December 2013. Bryan Powers, the newest member of the team, was awarded The Apprentice Award. Judy Robinson, office manager and settlement coordinator, was unanimously awarded The Cheerleader Award. Carol Fezuk, marketing manager, was awarded the one and only Design Star for the second year in a row in acknowledged of her creativity and extensive background in media.

Don Clymer recently was recently elected to the board of directors of Callaway, Farnell and Moore (CFM) Real Estate. He obtained his real estate license in 2005 and joined CFM in 2009. He is licensed in both Delaware and Maryland. To qualify for nomination to the BOD, he achieved specific sales goals and demonstrated qualities considered essential to being an exemplary REALTOR.

Steven J. Cousart has joined Newmark Grubb Knight Frank in Philadelphia as top executive of its Greater Philadelphia region. As executive vice president and managing director, Cousart will lead all brokerage operations and recruiting efforts for the commercial real estate advisory firms in the Greater Philadelphia MSA, suburban Philadelphia, Delaware and Southern New Jersey. He will replace Bob Clements, a valued NGKF leader who is retiring. Cousart joins NGKF from CBRE, where he was first vice president, advising and representing office tenants, landlords, buyers and sellers throughout the greater Philadelphia region. Prior to CBRE, he spent 17 years with Grubb & Ellis and received numerous recognitions for his superior sales production.

Farnell and Moore Real Estate in Seaford recently named Bev Blades the top selling agent and Randy Hills the top listing agent for December.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach, REALTORS® has hired Kimberly Orth at its Greenville Home Marketing Center as a sales associate. She is a member of the New Castle County Board of REALTORS®.

STAFFING

Newark-based Integrity Staffing Solutions hired Nickole Steele as a recruiter for accounting and finance clients for its Newark based corporate office. Steele comes to Integrity after spending several years in the banking industry. In addition, Integrity has also promoted Daniel Stinton to operations manager at the firms Middletown location. He was previously a shift manager.