Delaware economic development director resigns

The leader of the Delaware Economic Development Office is leaving to take a job at a prestigious boarding school in Middletown. 

Gov. John Carney on Tuesday announced Bernice Whaley was joining St. Andrew’s School as its director of development.

Whaley has served as DEDO director since June 2015. Former Gov. Jack Markell nominated her to lead the office days after Alan Levin announced he was stepping down in May. She had served as deputy director since 2009.

“Bernice has been a source of steady leadership at the Delaware Economic Development Office,” said Carney, D-Delaware. “In recent months, she has led DEDO while serving on the Economic Development Working Group, helping us craft a new economic development strategy to invest in Delaware’s entrepreneurs, attract good-paying jobs, and grow our economy. I am thankful for Bernice’s service, and wish her the best of luck going forward.”

Current Deputy Director Cerron Cade will serve as acting director until a permanent director is selected.

“I am grateful to have been a part of this amazing team and honored to have the opportunity to lead it for the past two years,” Whaley said. “We’ve helped enhance the economic vitality of the state by creating and retaining thousands of jobs, attracting businesses and visitors from across the globe, implementing new initiatives to support workforce development and bolster our community of small businesses and entrepreneurs.”

Whaley will join Ann Visalli at the elite private school. The former budget director under the Markell administration left her post last year to become the chief operating officer at the school.