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Conservation stewardship award winners recognized

March 21, 2024
Corrado Construction Co. representatives accept the 2024 conservation stewardship award for commercial site contractor for The Lodge at Historic Lewes. Shown are (l-r) Jerry Denney, senior vice president; Brian Felicia, president; and Michele Cetola, office manager. SUBMITTED PHOTOS
Sussex County Engineering accepts the 2024 conservation stewardship award for design team for the Inland Bays Regional Wastewater Facility. Shown are in back (l-r) Jessica Watson, SCD sediment and stormwater program manager; Gina Jennings, Sussex County finance director; John Rieley, county council vice president and SCD board member, Hans Medlarz, retired county engineer; Mike Harmer, county engineer; Todd Lawson, county administrator; and David Baird, SCD district coordinator. In front are Helen Naylor and Valerie Thompson, project engineers.
Carl M. Freeman Companies accepts the 2024 conservation stewardship award for developer for the Tower Hill community. Shown are in back (l-r) Rick Shelton, A-Del Construction site superintendent; Kate Gemma, strategic planning and development manager; Josh Mastrangelo, senior vice president; Chris Veirs, information technology director; and Jensen Haas, sales and marketing coordinator. In front are Erika Cook, director of marketing; Rachel Allen, development manager; Smith Purdum, senior land development manager; and Lisa Meck, community development director.
Kinsley Construction Inc. representatives accept the 2024 conservation stewardship award for green conservation and residential site contractor for their work on the Inland Bays Regional Wastewater Facility and Atlantic East community. Shown are in back (l-r) Jason Stouffer, chief operating officer; M. Dean Peiffer, environmental compliance manager; and Chase Flickinger, environmental compliance officer. In front are Patrick Kintz, general superintendent; and Kevin Thompson, foreman.
Sawgrass Homeowners Association representatives accept the 2024 conservation stewardship HOA award for their community enhancement efforts to add trees and native plants to the common areas to meet their goal of reducing stormwater runoff, and improving infiltration, air and water quality. Shown are (l-r) Donna Voigt, board of directors secretary and liaison to the grounds and beautification committee; and Kathy Dougherty and John Zuna, grounds and beautification committee co-chairs.

The Sussex Conservation District recognized the 2024 conservation stewardship award winners at a March 7 luncheon in Millsboro.

David Baird, district coordinator at SCD, welcomed more than 80 guests, including award recipients, conservation partners and local dignitaries.

“This is more than doing what you have to and moving on; it’s putting projects on the ground that have a positive impact on the community,” said Baird. “Fortunately, everyone in this room is prepared to handle the challenges, which is something that does not go unrecognized.”

Jessica Watson, SCD sediment and stormwater program manager, introduced staff in attendance.“Today means so much to me. We all know that not everything goes as planned out in the field, but the key thing is having these partnerships, relationships, collaboration in the field, where we can discuss and figure out how to solve problems; that is our strength,” Watson said.

“We know people are doing good work, and we want to encourage additional conservation and water quality practices, above and beyond the stormwater regulations. I’m always inspired by seeing what people are doing, and it’s inspiring for others too, and that’s what we want to highlight. We’re in the third year, and I’m proud of how this award continues to evolve,” she said.

During the awards ceremony, SCD unveiled videos created for each winner to showcase their enthusiasm, mindfulness and dedication to protecting natural resources. To view the presentations, go to tinyurl.com/SCDCSA2024.

For 2024, 22 entries were submitted in seven categories. Award recipients were selected by a panel of eight judges comprising SCD staff and a board member, along with representatives from the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, the Delaware Department of Agriculture, the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays and the Sussex Preservation Coalition.

The 2024 CSA winners are: Design Team, Sussex County Engineering for the Inland Bays Regional Wastewater Facility; Developer, Carl M. Freeman Companies for the Tower Hill community; Green Conservation, Kinsley Construction Inc. for the Inland Bays Regional Wastewater Facility; HOA, Sawgrass; Home Builder, Beazer Homes; Project Manager, Michael McClintock of Ryan Homes; Site Contractor, Commercial, Corrado Construction Co. for The Lodge at Historic Lewes; and Site Contractor, Residential, Kinsley Construction Inc. for the Atlantic East community.

SCD held the inaugural conservation stewardship award in 2022 and is catalyzing voluntary conservation through appreciation of organizations and individuals.

For more information, go to sussexconservation.org. Entry forms for 2025 will be available in the fall.

 

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