DAVID BLAEUER
Executive Director of First State Orthopaedics
The mission of the Kent Sussex Leadership Alliance (KSLA) is to tackle issues that are important to the community, improving the quality of life for everyone in our growing county. The organization was founded more than two decades ago by the leading CEOs in the region. Their goal was to make the county a better place to work and live-today that goal is shared by the more than 90 members of KSLA.
I am honored to have been selected as President of this group and hope to continue the committee's work to bring people focused on civic duty together to work toward common goals. KSLA has many community-focused committees, including the Economic Development Committee, workforce development and the community outreach and development. KSLA was responsible for the completion of the Kent County Sports Complex which has been a vision of The Economic Development Committee for years. This Committee continues to focus on economic growth in Delaware and is working closely with many in the community to help Delaware reach its full potential. This is an exciting time to live or work in Kent and Sussex County. I am confident we will continue to make great strides in providing Delaware residents with great communities to raise their families while also providing businesses with an environment to prosper.
I am honored to have been selected as President of this group and hope to continue the committee's work to bring people focused on civic duty together to work toward common goals. KSLA has many community-focused committees, including the Economic Development Committee, workforce development and the community outreach and development. KSLA was responsible for the completion of the Kent County Sports Complex which has been a vision of The Economic Development Committee for years. This Committee continues to focus on economic growth in Delaware and is working closely with many in the community to help Delaware reach its full potential. This is an exciting time to live or work in Kent and Sussex County. I am confident we will continue to make great strides in providing Delaware residents with great communities to raise their families while also providing businesses with an environment to prosper.
OUR HISTORY
In the fall of 1986, out of a love for Dover and a desire to give back to this community, Greater Kent Committee founder Muriel Schwartz joined forces with several other community leaders in search of a way to improve the quality of life in the greater Dover area. By December of 1988 the original steering committee, consisting of Muriel Schwartz, Pete Brockstedt, Karl Dorzback, Frank Fantini, Jim Flood, Jr., Terry Jackson and Jerry Records, had invited 19 additional civic minded business leaders to join their efforts and the newly formed Greater Dover Committee set out to fulfill their mission. In 2010, the mission of the Greater Dover Committee expanded to focus on all of Central Delaware. Shortly after, the organizations name Greater Dover Committee was changed to the Greater Kent Committee to reflect the broader mission of the organization. In early 2023, they expanded to include Sussex County, making them Kent Sussex Leadership Alliance (KSLA).
OUR PAST PRESIDENTS
OUR PAST PRESIDENTS
- Lisa Ratliff: July 1, 2021-June 30, 2022
- Scott Rathfon: July 1, 2020-June 30, 2021
- Craig Crouch: July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020
- Gerard L. Esposito: July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018
- Scott Brown: July 1, 2016 - June 30, 2017
- Patti Key: July 1, 2015-June 30, 2016
- Bill Andrew: July 1, 2014-June 30, 2015
- Ed Dulin: July 1, 2013-June 30, 2014
- William Strickland: July 1, 2012-June 30,2013
- Thomas J. Burns: July 1, 2011-June 30, 2012
- Alan Kovitz: July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011
- Gregg Moore: July 1, 2009 -June 30, 2010
- Robert MacLeish: July 1, 2008-June 30, 2009
- Gregg Moore: July 1, 2007-June 30, 2008
- Jennings Hastings: July 1, 2006-June 30, 2007
- Gail Fink: July 1, 2005-June 30, 2006
- Frank Fantini: July 1, 2003-June 30, 2005
- E. Bradford Bennett: July 1, 2002-June 30, 2003
- Melville F. Warren, Jr.: July 1, 2001-June 30, 2002
- Michael J. Malkiewicz, Esq. : July 1, 2000-June 30, 2001
- Robert Berglund: July 1, 1999-June 30, 2000
- William F. Holden: July 1, 1998-June 30, 1999
- Robert L. Edgell: July 1, 1997-June 30, 1998
- Charlie Paradee: July 1, 1996-June 30, 1997
- Joseph McDaniel: July 1, 1995-June 30, 1996
- Thomas J. Burns: July 1, 1994-June 30, 1995
- Homer “Sonny” Reihm: July 1, 1993-June 30, 1994
- Muriel Schwartz: July 1, 1992-June 30, 1993