Michelle W. Hammel Selected as Delaware River and Bay Authority Staff Attorney - Serves as Agency’s Chief Ethics Officer

(New Castle, DE)  Today, Delaware River and Bay Authority officials announced that Michelle W. Hammel of Medford, New Jersey was selected to be the bi-state agency’s new Staff Attorney.  Ms. Hammel began her duties on November 26, 2012.

“I’m honored that the Delaware River and Bay Authority selected me to be not only in-house counsel, but to serve as the agency’s Chief Ethics Officer,” Michelle Hammel said.  “I know that the agency shares the same passion for good government principles that I do.  It’s a great opportunity to apply my legal and policy experiences to make a positive difference at the Authority.”

As Staff Attorney, Ms. Hammel will serve as the Authority’s Chief Ethics Officer, monitoring compliance with the Authority’s code of ethics and creating education programs to familiarize employees with the agency’s applicable standards.  The Chief Ethics Officer is also responsible to review reports of unethical activity and implement a program for reporting ethic violations. In addition, Ms. Hammel is also responsible to review and provide legal advice related contracts, leases, real estate transactions, and public procurement.

“With her unique blend of experience in both the public and private sectors, Ms. Hammel has the credentials and knowledge to be an outstanding in-house counsel,” said Victor Ferzetti, Chief Financial Officer. “Her energy and expertise will enable us to further develop and administer a comprehensive, pro-active ethics program.  She’s a great addition to our team.”

Prior to joining the Authority, Ms. Hammel served for the a year as the Interim Chief Executive Officer for an energy industry corporation in Southampton, New Jersey.  From 2005 to 2010, Ms. Hammel worked as the Director of External Affairs at the New Jersey Department of Corrections.  In this capacity, she ensured departmental compliance with the NJ Conflicts of Interest Law, Open Public Records Act and Conscientious Employee Protection Act.  In 2002, Ms. Hammel was hired as a legal and legislative affairs specialist at the New Jersey Department of Agriculture.  A policy advisor who monitored legislative initiatives for the Secretary of Agriculture, Michelle also served as the department’s ethics officer and EEO officer.

Ms. Hammel began her career in 1995 as an organizing and arbitrator coordinator for Local 54, Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union in Atlantic City, before stints in private law practice and the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender.

Ms. Hammel, who is licensed to practice law in the State of New Jersey and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, earned her Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Arts degrees from Villanova University.  She will sit for the Delaware Bar in 2013.  She is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association and the New Jersey School Boards Association.  Ms. Hammel also serves on the Medford Township Board of Education. 

About the Delaware River and Bay Authority

The Delaware River and Bay Authority, a bi-state governmental agency created by Compact in 1962, is charged with providing vital transportation links between Delaware and New Jersey as well as economic development in the three counties of Delaware and the four southern counties of New Jersey.  To fulfill these missions, the Authority operates the Delaware Memorial Bridge, the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, the Three Forts Ferry Crossing, the Salem County Business Center and five regional airports—New Castle, Civil Air Terminal at Dover AFB, and Delaware Airpark, all in Delaware, and Millville and Cape May, both in New Jersey.