State chamber awards Gilman Bowl to E. Thomas Harvey III
In a surprise announcement at the 21st Annual Marvin S. Gilman Superstars in Business Awards Luncheon, the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce awarded the esteemed Gilman Bowl to E. Thomas “Thom” Harvey III. He accepted the award with his family, colleagues and fellow small business leaders in attendance.
The Gilman Bowl was established as a tribute to small business leadership. It is named in memory of Marvin S. Gilman, who served as an exemplary leader and a paragon of small business in Delaware. The identity of the recipient of the Gilman Bowl was held confidential until its presentation at the awards luncheon.
“Since the beginning, I’ve gone into work every day with the mind-set that we, as a company, are not perfect and can always look for ways to be better,” said Harvey upon accepting the award. “I wouldn’t be standing up here today if it wasn’t for the team behind me.”
Harvey, a lifelong Wilmington resident, serves as chairman and CEO of Harvey, Hanna & Associates, a commercial redevelopment firm that owns and manages more than 6 million square feet of industrial, commercial, retail and hospitality property throughout the mid-Atlantic region. Under Harvey’s vision and leadership, HHA pioneered the redevelopment of the Twin Spans Business Park, Delaware River Industrial Park and Boxwood Industrial Park. As president of Dewey Beach Enterprises, Harvey also led the redevelopment of the Lighthouse Cove Resort project in Dewey Beach.
He also lends his entrepreneurial expertise to HHA affiliate companies. In 2015, Harvey helped co-found and launch TKo Hospitality Management. In 2016, he joined the board of managers at Trash Tech Inc., and in 2017, he joined his son, John Harvey, in launching Big Box Buildings.
Harvey currently serves on the board of trustees of Goldey-Beacom College and the advisory board for Alfred Lerner College of Business & Economics at the University of Delaware. He served as president of the board of directors for the Centerville School, and on the boards of Sanford School and Delaware National Guard. Harvey is current president of the Rehoboth Beach Yacht and Country Club East Side Homeowners Association. As part of his community outreach efforts, he also sponsors two youth basketball teams from the City of Wilmington.
In 2008, HHA expanded its community impact by creating its own in-house charitable organization, The Delaware KIDS (Kids in Distressed Situations) Fund, a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to providing goods and services to Delaware’s children who are at risk or are currently facing distressed circumstances. Since its inception, The Delaware KIDS Fund has partnered with and provided direct financial assistance to The Bridge of Hope Food Bank in Wilmington, the Food Bank of Delaware statewide, Our Lady of Grace Orphanage in Newark, and the Cape Henlopen Food Basket in the Lewes/Rehoboth Beach area.
The awards luncheon also honored eight outstanding companies as Superstars in Business and Award of Excellence winners. Winner videos and event information can be found at www.dscc.com/superstarsinbusiness. The program included keynote remarks from Charlie Horn.
