Press Releases

CRI Welcomes New Board Members

4/13/2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
 
NEWARK, D.E. – The Caesar Rodney Institute (CRI) announced the addition of four new board members: Greg Lavelle, Dr. Michelle Parsons, M.D., Chad Kifer and Brandon Brice, MS.
 
“I’m very excited to have all four board members join us. Each person brings top-tier leadership qualities, which will add tremendous value in the growth and sustainability of CRI,” says Executive Director John Toedtman. “We are so honored to have them.”
 
Greg Lavelle has been with Puglisi & Associates in Newark, Delaware, since 1987, where he currently serves as a Managing Director. In 2000, he was elected to the 11th District of the Delaware House of Representatives and served as the House Minority Leader for the Republican caucus from 2010-2012. Additionally, in 2012 he was elected to the Delaware State Senate and was Senate Minority Whip for the Republican Caucus from 2012-2018. Mr. Lavelle serves on the Board of Directors and as Treasurer of the Delaware Council on Economic Education. He has been actively involved over the years with a number of community organizations, including serving on the Advisory Board of Fresh Start Scholarship Foundation, Inc., the Board of Directors of Girls Incorporated of Delaware for seven years, including terms as Secretary, Vice President and President and was a board member for Westside Health Service. He has been a member of the Sharpley Civic Association since 1993 and previously served as President. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (Master of Governmental Administration, Fels Center of Government) and the University of Delaware (Finance and Economics). You can read his full bio here.
 
Dr. Michelle F. Parsons, M.D. is a physician and has her private practice in Rehoboth Beach, DE, where she makes house calls and practices primary, integrative, and aesthetic medicine since 2004. Previously, she has worked as a board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician for the University of Maryland at several Eastern Shore hospitals. She is a former USAF flight surgeon working with the Air Force Night Vision Test Center. She also served as the Chief of Aerospace Medicine for the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. Dr. Parsons was awarded both the NATO Medal and the Armed Forced Service Medal, awarded the Delaware Small Business Association Minority Owned Business of the Year (2018) and was featured as a Delaware Today Top Doctor (2012). Dr. Parsons is passionate about promoting truth, justice and conservative ideals in Delaware and is an “Institute on The Constitution” certified instructor of the Delaware Constitution. She is a graduate of Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, PA. She completed her surgical internship at the State University of New York and her residency at Christiana Care. Her undergraduate degree is in Biochemistry and Environmental Science from Rutgers University. You can read her full bio here.
 
Brandon Brice, MS is the Director of Philanthropy and Equity for the United Way of Delaware. Previously, he was an Associate with the National Urban League’s Economic Opportunity Institute, the Director of Education and African American Affairs for the Office of the New Jersey Governor, Hon. Chris J. Christie and worked at Capitol Hill for the Office of former United States Speaker J. Dennis Hastert. He has given lectures at Princeton University, the Baltimore Harbor League, the National Black Law Students Association, the American Enterprise Institute and the Hamilton Society in Washington, D.C. Additionally, he serves as the President of the Board of Directors for Advantage Health and Insight Charter Network of Central Michigan University. Mr. Brice earned a B.S. in Business Administration from Howard University and an M.S. from Rutgers University. You can read his complete bio here.
 
Chad Kifer is the Director of Philanthropy & Strategic Partnerships at Ashbrook. Previously, he served as the Vice President of Philanthropy at the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI), Executive Director of Advancement at Padua Academy and Executive Director of Constituent and Alumni Affairs at ISI. He also served as an advancement and marketing consultant for various nonprofits, independent and private schools, and community and civic organizations. Mr. Kifer serves, or has served, on the Board of Trustees of, The George Washington Society, Opera Delaware, the Future Symphony Institute, and the Society of St. Sophia. Mr. Kifer was a student of political science and philosophy at Clarion University and Miami University. You can read his full bio here.
 
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ABOUT CAESAR RODNEY INSTITUTE

The Caesar Rodney Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan Delaware-based public policy think tank committed to protecting individual liberties. We create fact-based analyses to help Delawareans make more informed decisions. We envision a Delaware where all Delawareans are empowered to make informed decisions that best enable them to pursue their aspirations and achieve their goals. www.CaeserRodney.org.

 
Contact: Vil Vongphrachanh
Email: Vil@CaesarRodney.org