NEWS
Delmarva Veteran Builders go to Junior Achievement Inspire in Ocean City, Maryland
Team DVB put in some blood sweat and tears for the Junior Achievement event.
Vetsgiving with Delmarva Veteran Builders
It’s the most wonderful time of year- giving back to people who have given so much.
For our second annual Vetsgiving, we doubled the number of families we were able to serve. This was made possible by the number of friends and family who volunteered to help get the boxes ready for delivery.
We thank all of our veterans for their service and hope that these packages bring them a little bit of happiness this holiday season. Turn the volume up and enjoy the Christmas tunes!
Artists involve CommUnity to finish Mural on the side of DVB's downtown headquarters
New Mural gets some community love
The artists Brandon and Des spoke to ABC 47 about their idea to have the community help complete the mural. Read more about it by clicking on the news clip below.
DVB Employee Veteran Karey Garrison featured in "I'm Not Invisible" photography campaign
First Military Woman Warriors chose her as part of a national campaign featured on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Facebook page.
DVB’s own Karey Garrison
On September 12th, 2019 Karey Garrison of Delmarva Veteran Builders attended the Delaware – I Am Not Invisible – Photo Shoot at the Wilmington VA Medical Center in Wilmington, Delaware. This event was hosted by the First Military Woman Warriors. The organization was originally formed in 1983 as the Delaware chapter of WAVES National for women who served in the Navy, Marines and Coast Guard. The purpose of the group is not only to meet with those who share the common bond of military service, but to share information on services for veterans plus military discounts and other opportunities for veterans.
The I AM NOT INVISIBLE (IANI) Delaware campaign was originally produced by the Oregon Department of Veteran Affairs. There are roughly two million living women Veterans. IANI aims to increase awareness and dialogue about women Veterans, as well as, open viewers’ eyes to the myriad levels of expertise of Veterans serving Veterans as VA Central Office employees.
Delaware was the 38th state to participate in this national campaign funded and supported by The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. View the facebook campaign here.
Kathryn Ellis promoted to Senior Project Manager
She continues to make DVB better.
Kathryn Ellis, a project manager since September of 2017, has been promoted to Senior Project Manager.
If you’ve ever come into contact with Kathryn, you would know immediately that she is someone who knows her industry. After Kathryn joined the team, she has jumped in head first to streamline DVB’s projects while creating an even more organized and structured project flow schedule.
In addition to starting a new career, she also embarked on a new journey, motherhood. Kathryn and her husband Jonathan Flatley welcomed their first child, a daughter named Harper, on October 10th, 2018.
In a field normally dominated by men, Kathryn continues to break down barriers. She has shown an industry slow to change that women can find the balance between motherhood and the commercial building environment. Not only has she maintained, she has found ways to thrive.
Kathryn with her husband Jonathan Flatley
Kathryn with her daughter Harper at Delmarva Veteran Builders.
Harper thinks she is running the show, she may be right!
“I have enjoyed adding a different perspective to this field. I have found that it challenges me daily to bring my best to the table because I have worked really hard to be here. It helps being a part of a company like DVB that champions women and promotes family first. I hope I can encourage other women that they can be successful with starting a family and continue making a difference in their career of choice.”
A certified interior designer, Kathryn earned the National Council for Interior Design Qualification Certification. She graduated in 2008 from George Washington University with a Bachelor in Fine Arts in Interior Design. Her work experience started the summer after graduation with BBGM Architects and Interiors in Washington DC. When she moved to the Eastern Shore she worked for Temco Builders for four years and Fisher Architecture for six years before making the big move to Delmarva Veteran Builders.
“Kathryn is an amazing example of what DVB is all about. She has relentless drive and is always willing to help out any team member. We are absolutely lucky to have her on Team DVB.”
Daniel Mills named Vice Chair for Junior Achievement of the Eastern Shore
After serving for 16 months on the board, DVB’s VP takes on a more central role.
Junior Achievement of the Eastern Shore has announced that Daniel Mills has been named the new Vice Chair for the Executive Committee. Daniel also serves as Vice Chair of the Wicomico County Board, the JA Inspire Committee and the Experiential Facility Committee.
Daniel Mills speaking with middle schoolers at this year’s JA Inspire Event at the Wicomico Civic Center
“Daniel has always been passionate about our mission. He is drawn to preparing youth for high-demand jobs, including those in the trades. He has been a great asset to our board, with a positive attitude and strong desire to take our organization on to bigger things. ”
At Delmarva Veteran Builders, we are proud to have people like Daniel Mills leading the charge here on a daily basis but also reaching out and getting involved in our community. We look forward to the continued impact he will make with area youth.
"I feel the need...The need for speed!" DVB and Blue Angels team up.
Chris Eccleston, founder of Delmarva Veteran Builders, was selected to fly with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels as part of their Key Influencer Program.
Heroic water rescue captured on film by Delmarva Veteran Builders security cameras.
Help nominate local hero Andrew for recognition on The Ellen Show!
On Tuesday June 18th, first responders were called to the Salisbury River Walk off of East Market Street to assist a man who had plunged his vehicle into the water. A local bystander named Andrew Lunn happened to witness the accident and immediately jumped into action. He dove into the water, while others helped toss an emergency life preserver that was stationed near the scene. Lunn was able to retrieve the man from the sinking car and swim him to safety. It’s reported that the man will make a full recovery.
Later, DVB was able to look back through security camera footage to capture the scene as it unfolded. From the two video angles below, you can clearly see the quick action taken by Lunn within seconds of the incident taking place. He is a true hero!
Within Hours on facebook, Wicomico First Alert has requested citizens nominate Andrew Lunn to be recognized on the Ellen Show for his heroism. He deserves so much credit for his quick action and selfless behavior. We need more people who are cool under pressure like him!
Help us nominate Andrew for the Ellen Show, click here
View ABC 47’s footage of the event and their interview with Andrew.
DELMARVA VETERAN BUILDERS FOUNDER CHRIS ECCLESTON SPEAKS AT PENTAGON
Leaders from around the globe gathered in Washington to discuss veteran employment.
SALISBURY, MD – Chris Eccleston, founder and president of the Delmarva Veteran Builders (DVB), was invited to the Pentagon to speak at the 2019 International Conference on Employer Support for the Reserves on April 30.
ICESR is a biennial conference for allied and partner nations to meet and discuss their reserve employer support programs, and to exchange lessons learned and best practices.
Eccleston, along with Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis; Joe Crandall, a partner with Greencastle Consulting in Malvern, Pennsylvania; and Carrol Eggert, Comcast Corp.'s senior vice president for military and veterans affairs, participated in a panel discussion during the conference. The four panelists represented companies that have received the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. The panel members discussed how military service and experience makes guardsmen and reservists excellent employees.
“I have been a big advocate of transitional employment since day one. I understand what it’s like to come back from deployment. So, as an employer, I want to encourage my fellow veterans to follow their dreams. If it’s in the construction business, great, but if it means they can have a place like DVB to come work for a time being while discovering their true passions in life, even better. Sharing some of our company success stories with colleagues from around the globe looking to utilize this same model, was a proud moment for me.”
Kim Joiner, acting principal deputy assistant to the Secretary of Defense for public affairs, said that the Defense Department is hoping to use panels like this to educate the American public about who their military people are, what they do, why they serve and ways companies can help reservists when they deploy. Today, only about one-half of 1% of Americans are in the military, and therefore, there are fewer veterans around than in earlier generations to tell the military story and what it means to serve.
If you would like to know more about your military and ways our government is poised to help veterans transition into civilian life, please visit Know Your Military for more information.