Baker, Fords recognized by Positive Growth Alliance
Retiring Sussex County Administrator David Baker and Sally and Tom Ford, owners of LandDesign Inc., are recipients of the 2011 Positive Growth Alliance Quality of Life Awards.
The awards were conferred at a June 17 banquet at Baywood Greens in Long Neck.
“This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Positive Growth Alliance. The organization was started out of frustration and fear over abuse of landowners and their property rights,” said Rich Collins, executive director.
Baker received the Lifetime Achievement Award, which is given to an individual who has achieved notable improvements in the quality of life for themselves, their families and the community.
The award also recognized Baker’s optimism, creativity, entrepreneurship and superior work ethic to overcome challenges.
Baker holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and Bachelor of Arts in sociology from the University of Delaware, and a Master of Business Administration from Wilmington College. He lives near Milton with wife, Sandy. The couple has four adult sons.
Baker has been a county employee since 1978, when he served as director of the accounting division under the finance department.
In 1992, he became county finance director, where his Baker’s responsibilities included preparation of the county’s annual budget, bond financing, bill approval and payment, pension fund oversight, sewer and water rate preparation, investments, and guiding preparation of the county’s comprehensive annual financial report.
Baker became county administrator Nov. 1, 2006, overseeing day-to-day operation of county government serving more than 174,000 residents and millions of annual tourists and visitors.
Joe Conaway, Sussex County administrator from 1973 to 1979, bestowed Baker’s award. Conaway said he hired Baker.
“Dave was head and shoulders better qualified than any applicant we had,” Conaway said.
He said Baker was among a core group of dependable people. “They were young, aggressive, skilled, made a lot of mistakes, but they made the county council and myself look very good,” Conaway said.
He said Baker worked on the county budget with him at his house. “We couldn’t get any time to do it in the county courthouse. David had complete understanding of the finances,” Conaway said.
Baker thanked the Progressive Growth Alliance for the honor.
“I’m glad to have taken this opportunity to serve as county administrator. The county council, both past and present, has been outstanding to work with. I’ve always enjoyed working with our councilmen,” Baker said.
He also thanked his family and his wife, who he said shoveled snow, did most of his chores, picked out his clothes because he’s colorblind and fed the dog.
The Fords received the Individual Freedoms Award, which is presented to those who understand the primary function of government is protection of individual freedoms.
The couple was selected because they are champions of economic growth, private enterprise and entrepreneurship.
Tom Ford is president and founder of LandDesign, a land planning, site design, and construction administration company based in Ocean View. The business opened in 1982.
Tom and Sally hold bachelor’s degrees in environmental design from Syracuse University and State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
Tom is a registered landscape architect in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. Sally is a registered professional land surveyor in Delaware and Virginia.
LandDesign projects include Marsh Island Community, Independence, Wolfe Pointe, Cape Henlopen State Park comprehensive master plan, and Ocean City Convention Center.
The company also received the Design Excellence Award from the Delaware Department of Transportation for its outstanding enhancement on the Pedestrian/Bike path Greenway Project.
The couple has five children and lives in Bayard.
The Positive Growth Alliance is a Delaware, nonpartisan, nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation that promotes free enterprise and protection of property rights.
