NEWS
Delmarva Veteran Builders to Open Outdoor Marketplace for Local Businesses
Believe Marketplace will provide Hope to our Community
SALISBURY, Md. – May 15, 2020 – In an effort to provide local businesses with an opportunity to continue offering their services to the community, Delmarva Veteran Builders has announced the opening of Believe Marketplace. The outdoor marketplace will provide the much-needed support for businesses to reach customers, while adhering to public health & safety guidelines. The next frontline in the fight against COVID-19 is supporting small businesses and building consumer confidence in a safe alternative to the traditional indoor brick & mortar locations.
The marketplace can be reserved free of charge and will be in the parking lot next to the DVB offices, in a 1600 square foot tented pavilion. Believe Marketplace will be offered for a period of thirty (30) days as a start and depending on community interest. We will provide hand sanitizing stations as well as mark seven (7) foot social distancing marks on the pavement.
We believe we need a statement downtown to help rebuild consumer confidence within the community and we are proud to be leading the charge for small businesses. Be the Buffalo!
To reserve your spot, email Chris
DELMARVA VETERAN BUILDERS READY TO BREAK GROUND AT GALENA ELEMENTARY
Project set to break Ground June 1st, 2020
Galena, MD. – May 14, 2020 – Delmarva Veteran Builders (DVB), the region’s only commercial construction firm dedicated to bringing employment to U.S. Armed Forces Veterans, announced it has been hired to construct a 1,100 square foot addition along with renovations to the existing structure.
The Kent County Board of education announced via Zoom teleconference on April 9th that DVB had been awarded the nearly $5 million contract consisting of the new 1,100 square foot addition including a kitchen and cafeteria, along with the replacement of the membrane roofing system in its entirety, as well as, renovations to sections of the existing school.
“Galena Elementary’s vision of developing, engaging and inspiring our next generation of leaders perfectly aligns with our purpose. As DVB expands into Kent County, we look forward to facilitating their mission while having a positive impact on the learning environment for both faculty and students.”
“The Kent County Public Schools is very excited to begin this project as it will significantly improve the learning environment for the staff and students at Galena Elementary. The cafeteria expansion will not only improve the space but will allow more students to be served comfortably and efficiently. We thank the Kent County Commissioners for supporting this very important project.”
Construction is set to begin June 1st 2020 with a completion date of January 2021.
About Delmarva Veteran Builders: Delmarva Veteran Builders is the region’s only commercial construction firm dedicated to bringing employment to U.S. Armed Forces Veterans. Launched in 2013 by Navy Veteran Chris Eccleston, it has become one of the fastest growing companies in the nation while maintaining a 60% veteran and reservist workforce. Located in Salisbury Maryland, Delmarva Veteran Builders is up for the challenge to provide an extraordinary customer service experience, while committing to innovation in quality and new construction techniques.
DELMARVA VETERAN BUILDERS SELECTED TO BUILD UNITED STATES POST OFFICE COMPLEX IN DOVER
The project is set to break ground May 1st 2020 with a completion date of Summer 2021.
Dover, DE. – April 14, 2020 – Delmarva Veteran Builders, the region’s only commercial construction firm dedicated to bringing employment to U.S. Armed Forces Veterans, announced it has been hired to construct a new 20,000 square foot building for the United States Postal Service in downtown Dover, Delaware.
The existing Dover post office has been located on Lookerman Street since the early 1960s and has outgrown the current space. The city of Dover chose the former Chesapeake Utilities complex at 350 South Queen Street for its new location.
The project consists of demolishing nine existing structures, along with their utilities, full site demolition and the construction of the new building encompassing the entire city block.
“It is a great honor to be a part of the redevelopment of this project and the City of Dover. The country, more than ever, relies on the supply chain and the ability for companies and individuals to deliver critical supplies to the end user. We are grateful we can partner with the USPS and all of its employees to help build something that continues to be relevant to our daily lives.”
“The City of Dover is excited that this long-awaited project is going to happen. The new postal facility on the Western edge of the Downtown Development District will have ample parking and create new business opportunities. We are very happy that the USPS has decided to keep the facility in the heart of the City.”
The project is set to break ground May 1st 2020 with a completion date of Summer 2021.
Light For Hope!
In this time of uncertainty we are finding hope and ask that you join us by lighting a candle in your window as a symbol of strength, unity and resilience across Delmarva.
Share your house or business lit up! Use the hashtag #LightforHope or tag Delmarva Veteran Builders in your Facebook or Instagram post, videos or photos welcome!
A few days ago I sat down in front of the computer to prepare an update to our team at Delmarva Veteran Builders. Over the past few weeks I’ve kept a close ear to the news to track COVID-19, the virus that had quickly become a pandemic affecting the world and hitting close to home by creating uncertainty, hardships and anxiety amongst us locally on Delmarva.
I took a step back to think about the current situation. These are times of significance as a leader and a time for guidance, support and direction. What words could I offer my team? What answers did I have to their questions? What if I couldn’t answer those questions?
As I sat and thought about every individual at DVB and how I could support them with my words, I was reminded that I am not the only leader here. In fact, I am the leader of a team comprised of leaders.
Leaders of projects.
Leaders of quality.
Leaders of safety.
Leaders of community organizations.
Leaders of faith groups.
Leaders of families.
Leaders of Delmarva.
Everyone reading this is a leader and in this moment of uncertainty, we need to band together because it’s no longer about what we can do for ourselves but what WE can do TOGETHER. This is a time for unity and a time for us to serve our commUNITY together because we are all leaders in our own right.
Here’s a piece of what was shared with our team:
3/17/20
This is a time to remain calm, do not make rash financial decisions, do not hoard, and do not be selfish. This is an opportunity to show each other how much we care, to show our community how much we care, to show our loved ones how much we care. They need you and US, to show them how men and woman who love and care act for others and not themselves. ARE YOU UP FOR THE CHALLENGE?
I challenge you all to be Buffalos. Buffalos when faced with an impending storm, will change direction put their heads down and go directly into the storm. They instinctively know it is shortest path through the storm. Charge the Storm!!!
Reading this back now two days later, I find personal strength in this even more. As leaders of our own projects, organizations and families, we are part of something greater than the current state we are in. We are part of a commUNITY here on Delmarva and we ask that you band together with us to find hope in this fear because we know that hope is ALWAYS stronger than fear.
As Delmarva Veteran Builders continues to find normalcy during these hard times by serving our customers, we wanted to create a gesture that would inspire HOPE in our community.
Light for Hope
I was inspired by Creedence Clearwater Revival’s song “Long As I Can See The Light”
As long as we can see the light in ourselves, each other and our community, Delmarva Veteran Builders will have a candle in our window as a symbol of strength, unity and resilience. So tonight we ask you to “LIGHT FOR HOPE” and put a candle in your window and know we are thinking of you.
Like the many generations before us, history has shown that we can persevere if we do it together.
Chris Eccleston
Founder
Update
We asked people to light up thier windows at night as a way to show strength, unity and resilience. Here are some examples! *Turn the sound on if you can!
So tonight, we continue to ask you to “LIGHT FOR HOPE” and put a candle, holiday plug-in candle or holiday lights in your window to know we are thinking of each other- even though we are socially isolated! As long as we can see the light in ourselves, each other and our community, we know we can get through this storm.
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.”