GEORGETOWN, Del. – The Sussex Conservation District (SCD) recognized the 2023 Conservation Stewardship Award winners on Wednesday, March 1, at Plantation Lakes Golf and Country Club in Millsboro, Del.

David Baird, district coordinator at SCD, welcomed over 80 guests consisting of award recipients, conservation partners and local dignitaries including state Rep. Ronald E. Gray (R-38), Mike Vincent, Sussex County Council (SCC) president, and John Rieley, SCC vice president and SCD board member. Award ceremony opening remarks were provided by Bill Pfaff, Sussex County Economic Development director.

“Following a successful first year, we were excited to see increased interest, we received nearly double the number of entries from last year. Our goal is to recognize organizations who exceed regulations,” said Jessica Watson, SCD sediment and stormwater program manager. Watson continued, stating that it is evident that everyone in the room cares deeply about where they live and work.

During the awards ceremony SCD unveiled videos created for each winner to showcase the winner’s enthusiasm, mindfulness, and dedication to protecting natural resources.

For 2023, 27 entries were submitted across seven categories; award recipients were selected by a panel of seven judges consisting of conservation partners from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays, Sussex County Engineering Department, SCD staff and board member.

2023 Conservation Stewardship Award categories and winners include:

• Certified Construction Reviewer – Nate Torrijos, TORREngineering
• Design Team – Davis, Bowen & Friedel
• Developer (residential) – D. R. Horton, Inc.
• Green Conservation – Envirotech Environmental Consulting, Inc.
• Home Builder (51+) – D. R. Horton, Inc.
• Project Manager (residential) – Rich Rishel, Carl M. Freeman Companies
• Site Contractor (residential) – Corrado Construction Co.

SCD held the inaugural Conservation Stewardship Award in 2022 and hopes to catalyze future voluntary conservation through appreciation of organizations and individuals. For more information, or to view the videos, visit www.sussexconservation.org. Entry forms for 2024 will be available in the fall.

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

CCR - TORREngineering (TE) accepts the 2023 Conservation Stewardship Award for certified construction reviewer on Wednesday, March 1, 2023. Pictured, from left, David Baird, SCD district coordinator, Juan Josen, TE engineer intern, Givvel Marrero, TE director of expansion, Samantha Torrijos, TE office assistant, Nate Torrijos, TE field manager, Deborah Torrijos, TE COO, Javier Torrijos, TE CEO, and Jessica Watson, SCD sediment and stormwater program manager.

DESIGN TEAM - Davis, Bowen & Friedel, Inc. (DBF) accepts the 2023 Conservation Stewardship Award for design team on Wednesday, March 1, 2023. Pictured, from left, David Baird, SCD district coordinator, Jack Tucker, Schell Brothers site construction manager, Tiana Uvarova, Schell Brothers Community Development Coordinator, Yancey Wetterich, DBF civil designer, Ring Lardner, DBF president and senior civil engineer and Jessica Watson, SCD sediment and stormwater program manager.

DEVELOPER - D. R. Horton, Inc. (DRH) accepts the 2023 Conservation Stewardship Award for residential developer on Wednesday, March 1, 2023. Pictured, front row from left, Steve Frisina, DRH land project manager, Jay Heilman, DRH land development manager, Chris Zakrociemski, DRH NPDES Compliance Administrator, back row, David Baird, SCD district coordinator, Danna Weaver, DRH land coordinator, Bruce Sparks, Bryan & Sons foreman, Cordrey Smack, DRH asst. land development manager, Joe LaRock, DRH land project manager, Devin Medd, DRH land project manager and Jessica Watson, SCD sediment and stormwater program manager.

GREEN CONSERVATION - Envirotech Environmental Consulting, Inc. (EECI) accepts the 2023 Conservation Stewardship Award for green conservation on Wednesday, March 1, 2023. Pictured from left, David Baird, SCD district coordinator, Todd Fritchman, EECI president and Jessica Watson, SCD sediment and stormwater program manager.

HOME BUILDER - D. R. Horton, Inc. (DRH) accepts the 2023 Conservation Stewardship Award for 51+ home builder on Wednesday, March 1, 2023. Pictured, front row from left, Dan Arnold, DRH project manager, Phil Terhune, DRH superintendent, Wes Whitlock, DRH  area construction manager, Andrew Fillman, DRH area construction manager, Lenny Leyanna, DRH superintendent, back row, David Baird, SCD district coordinator, Ryan Peterson, DRH superintendent, Paul Marcinizyn, DRH superintendent, Andrian Smolens, DRH  superintendent, Johnny Bogan, DRH superintendent, Alec McCoy, DRH  asst. superintendent and Jessica Watson, SCD sediment and stormwater program manager.

PROJECT MANAGER - Carl M. Freeman Companies celebrated Rich Rishel, front row center, who received the 2023 Conservation Stewardship Award for residential project manager on Wednesday, March 1, 2023. Pictured, front row from left, are Josh Mastrangelo, Nicholas Freeman, Michelle Freeman, Rishel, Wendy Rishel, Erika Cook, Darren Silvis, back row, David Baird, SCD district coordinator, Patti Grimes, Chris Veirs, James Milam, Rachel Allen, Kate Gemma, Lisa Meck, Joe Groves, Jeff Evans, Vanessa Hinds and Jessica Watson, SCD sediment and stormwater program manager.

SITE CONTRACTOR - Corrado Construction Co. (CCC) accepts the 2023 Conservation Stewardship Award for residential site contractor on Wednesday, March 1, 2023. Pictured, from left, are David Baird, SCD district coordinator, Edwin Williams, CCC vice president, Greg Casenta, vice president, Garrett Kingsley, CCC project manager, Jerry Denney, CCC senior vice president, Kevin Rowe, CCC regional operations manager, Jim Erikson, Solutions IPEM, Engineer, Samantha Sand, CCC business development associate and Jessica Watson, SCD sediment and stormwater program manager.