DBA Digest for September 15, 2023

Last Call for 2023 FDIC Directors' College -

September 22nd - Dewey, DE

There's still time to register for the 2023 FDIC Directors' College, September 22, 8:30 to 1:30, at the Hyatt Place, Dewey, DE. The FDIC Directors’ College is an interactive program that provides ongoing education on current topics of bank supervision to bank directors, senior officers, corporate secretaries, and board advisors. The course is designed to help directors and trustees, both new and experienced, stay abreast of the ever-changing regulatory environment. Modules this year include: Consumer Protection; Risk Management; Conversation with the Regulators; and Economics and Banking Update. Please click on the link below to view the detailed agenda and to register.

Climb Aboard the Kalmar Nyckel for a Special Monday Evening Reception October 16th!

There's still room and still time to register for the 2023 Delaware Trust Conference kick-off reception on Delaware's tall ship, the Kalmar Nyckel. Be there, Monday, October 16, 4 to 6 p.m. Tickets to this exclusive reception event are just $150. Platinum and Diamond Sponsors receive two free registrations to the reception with their sponsorships. Space is limited! Contact Corinne Stayton to reserve your spot today!

2023 Delaware Trust Conference - All-Star Speakers! In-Person! Live-Stream! On-Demand!

Don't miss the all-star line-up of wealth management experts at the 2023 Delaware Trust The 2023 Delaware Trust Conference will be live at The Chase Center on the Riverfront, AND live-streaming, on October 17 & 18, AND on-demand through November! See the agenda via the link below and register today!

Women Connect - November 2nd - 9:00 to 4:30

University & Whist Club, Wilmington

Join us for the next Women Connect event, Thursday, November 2, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the University & Whist Club in Wilmington. Topics include: “The Return to Work” Post-Pandemic Challenges and Silver Linings;  The 6 Pillars of Self Care, Building Self Care into Your Life; and Emotional Intelligence. There will also be plenty of networking opportunities. Only $149 for the full-day pass ($99 for a half-day pass). Register today for this exciting day of Engagement, Empowerment, and Networking!

Business Writing Workshop

November 1, 2023, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Time equals money in the work world, so creating clear documents quickly that can be understood easily is crucial. Join Linda Comerford, Comerford Consulting for this rewarding on-line course via Zoom, Just $199 per person for DBA members! ($249 for non-members)

Workshop Objectives: After attending this course, participants will benefit from an increased ability to:

• Identify varied audiences and purposes for writing;
• Polish rough edges of their writing style in paragraphs, sentences, words, and format;
• Write more effective documents while following a more efficient writing process; and,
• Apply course concepts to their actual writing samples.

Taking the Grr out of Grammar

November 8, 2023, 9:00 am - 12:30 pm

Surveys show that 80% of those in the business world tend to say, “Grr!” a lot when editing a document. Join Linda Comerford, Comerford Consulting for this valuable on-line course. Just $99 per person for DBA members! ($149 for non-members)

Workshop Objectives:  This half-day course helps participants do the following when writing and editing:  

• Analyze why correct documents are so important;
• Identify the errors that tarnish a writer’s image;
• Learn practical, current grammar and punctuation rules;
• Practice correcting grammar glitches and punctuation pitfalls; and,
• Demonstrate understanding of the rules through a pre- and post-quiz.

Bank of America Private Bank Market Minute

So far aligning with its historic seasonality, September began with a weekly decline for Equities. Major U.S. indexes fell between 1% to 2%, as the S&P 500 shed 1.3% for the week and the Nasdaq Composite declined 1.9%. Of the S&P 500’s 11 main sectors, Energy and Utilities shares were the only two sectors to rise for the week. The price of U.S. crude oil rose to the highest level since last November, eclipsing $87 per barrel. In economic news, the Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) August services sector report showed activity jumped unexpectedly to the highest level since February, coming in at 54.5 versus 52.7 the prior month. All four components behind the index (business activity, new orders, employment, and supplier deliveries) rose, suggesting continued strength in the services sector. The U.S. Census Bureau reported that, after four consecutive increases, factory orders fell 2.1% in July from the prior month, slightly better-than-expected. Federal Reserve (Fed) data showed U.S. household net worth rose to $154.3 trillion during Q2 of 2023. For the month of July, Consumer credit grew by $10.4 billion, below June’s downwardly revised $14.02 billion. Notable was a 9.2% jump in revolving credit. This week, anticipated inflation and consumer reads are due—August’s consumer price index will be released on Wednesday, followed by August’s producer price index and Retail Sales on Thursday

Santora CPA Group Announces Two Promotions

Santora CPA Group, a Newark-based Certified Public Accounting and Consulting firm, is pleased to announce that Brandon Heggan, CPA and Kathryn Shiflet, CPA have been promoted to Supervisor. Both joined SCG in August 2018 after interning during the summer of 2017. 

Brandon is a 2018 suma cum laude graduate of the University of Delaware with Bachelor of Science Degrees in Accounting and Finance. He was awarded the 2019 Elijah Watt Sells Award from the AICPA for exceptional performance while taking the Uniform CPA Examination. Brandon is a member of SCG’s Client Advisory Department and plays a vital role with recruiting new talent. He is a member of Delaware Contractors Association’s Young Executives Committee, and the AICPA and DSCPA as well.

Katie is a 2018 graduate of the University of Delaware with Bachelor of Science Degrees in Accounting and Finance. She is a member of SCG’s Tax Department and is one of its internal tax CPE trainers. She is a member of the AICPA and DSCPA.

Whisman Giordano & Associates Nationally Recognized as Best Accounting Firms to Work For

Whisman Giordano and Associates, LLC (WGA) announces that it has been ranked as one of the top 100 accounting firms in the United States. The firm is recognized as a “Best Accounting Firms to Work For by Accounting Today Magazine. This is the second time in two years WGA has earned this recognition. The firm moved up nine spots on the list between 2022 and 2023.

Lisa K. DeRose, Chief Operating Officer, says, "We're honored to win this award again because it’s a true reflection of the positive and caring environment we’ve created as a team. Our clients experience this firsthand for they can see and feel how we value them and their trust. It’s the importance that we place on our relationships with clients and each other that makes all the difference.”

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY Improving Health Equity by Addressing Vital Conditions

Healthy Communities Delaware will facilitate awards of federal funds to non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organizations for “ready-to-implement” proposals with a minimum budget of $25,000 or more that:

• Improve health equity
• Address the vital conditions for well-being/social determinants of health 
• Benefit populations that are underserved and were disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 (racial/ethnic minorities, persons of low-income, geographic communities at 0.75 or above on the Social Vulnerability Index.

Preference will be given for approaches that focus on policy, systems or environmental strategies, and are multi-solving, scientifically supported, and community-informed. This funding will support work taking place between October 18, 2023 through May 31, 2024. No extensions are available.

Download the full Request for Applications and list of application questions via the link below.

Podcast: CFPB's Rulemaking Under the FCRA

Join us for the second episode in a special three-part series covering the CFPB's intention to propose new rules under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). In this episode, Troutman Pepper Partners Chris Willis, Dave Gettings, Kim Phan, and Ron Raether discuss the regulation of credit header data and the potential impact on the FCRA and consumer reporting agencies, as well as users and data brokers.

Four Delaware Paid Leave and EARNS

Public Forums This Fall

The Delaware Department of Labor’s Division of Paid Leave is excited to present our fall series of public forums focused on bringing as many Delawareans as possible up to speed on two significant programs benefiting employers and employees: 

1. The new Delaware Paid Leave (Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program) — a landmark initiative that will bring new strength to the Delaware workforce, positively impacting 10,000 of our businesses and approximately 70% of Delaware workers and their families. 
2. Delaware’s Expanding Access for Retirement and Necessary Savings (EARNS) Program — an upcoming retirement security initiative that will provide workers and employers with access to low-cost retirement savings plans. 

• Thursday, Sept. 21, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Delaware Technical College, Dover 
• Thursday, Sept. 28, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Delaware Technical College, Georgetown 
• Wednesday, Oct. 4, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Lewes Public Library 
• Tuesday, Oct. 10, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Hilton Wilmington/Christiana, Newark