Congratulations to our 2019 Women's Leadership Conference Award Winners!

We are excited to announce the winners of the 2019 Women's Leadership Conference Awards! The winners will be acknowledged during the keynote and awards lunch at the Women's Leadership Conference.

Lifetime Achievement Award: Terry Kelly, Ret, Gore
Terri Kelly is the former President and CEO of W.L. Gore & Associates, a multi-billion dollar privately-held global Enterprise.  Gore specializes in advanced materials utilized in a wide array of demanding applications, including GORE-TEX® fabric, minimally-invasive medical devices, protective venting products, and cables used in space exploration, among other advanced technologies.  Gore is as well known for its unique management philosophy and culture, as for its unique products.
 
Ms. Kelly joined Gore in 1983 after graduating summa cum laude from the University of Delaware with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.  Early in her career, she worked in various commitments including process engineering, product development, product specialist and business leadership.  In 2005, she earned the title of President and CEO, also serving as a Director of the Gore Board.
 
Terri is passionate about creating a collaborative and empowered work environment to achieve successful business outcomes.  Her areas of expertise include product innovation, strategy development, brand management, organizational and leadership development, associate engagement, and compensation oversight.  
 
Kelly currently serves on two public boards; United Rentals, the largest rental equipment company in the world, and Netherlands based ASML, a global leader in the manufacturing of chip making equipment for the semiconductor industry.  She is also a long-standing member of the board for the Nemours Foundation – one of the nation’s leading children’s health care systems, and also serves on the board of trustees for the University of Delaware and Unidel Foundation.  
 
In addition to her board commitments, Ms. Kelly is a member of the Management Executive Society, International Women’s Forum, Advisory Council for Serviam Academy and the University of Delaware College of Engineering, and as a member of the Women’s Leadership Initiative for the Lerner College of University of Delaware. 
 
Ms. Kelly was awarded the 2018 Executive of the Year from the W.P. Carey School of Business Arizona State University.  She was also recognized as a member of the Alumni Wall of Fame by the University of Delaware, and a Women of Distinction by the Girl Scouts.
 
Terri resides in Delaware with her husband, John, and have four children; Bryan, Maddie and twin girls, Nicki & Lexi.
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Women's Leadership Award: Drew Fennell, Chief Communications and Experience Officer, Christiana Care
As Chief Communications and Experience Officer at Christiana Care Health System, Drew Fennell is responsible for ensuring a positive end-to-end patient experience and promoting the values of excellence and love through meaningful engagement to support the health of individuals and the community. Her work includes leading communications strategy; including multiple-award winning marketing campaigns, patient and visitor relations, and philanthropy. 
 
In her role, Drew ensures patients are provided with the necessary tools and information to have an accurate understanding of their care journey. She is also in charge of fostering a patient-centric culture that enables patients to have a positive relationship with their own health to create healthier communities.
 
Drew joined Christiana Care in 2017 after serving as chief of staff under Delaware Gov. Jack Markell.  Before becoming chief of staff she served as policy director and deputy chief of staff.
 
As a Delaware attorney, she has more than 15 years of senior management experience within government and non-profit agencies, guiding policy positions, communications strategies and fundraising initiatives. Throughout her career, Drew has tirelessly advocated for civil rights and social equality. Fennell has served as executive director of the Delaware Criminal Justice Council and was responsible for leading a team that won a federal grant to have Delaware participate in the Justice Reinvestment Initiative — a national program to safely reduce prison population through data-driven, evidence-based strategies. As executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Delaware, she championed causes such as child welfare, LGBT rights, voting rights, education access and more. 
 
Drew has been recognized for her leadership by the Delaware Human Relations Commission, the Delaware State Bar Association, Rutgers University School of Law, ACLU of Delaware, the YWCA NarrateHER History Project, and was a recipient of the Order of the First State. In 2018, she was recognized as the Woman of Distinction by the Girls Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay. In October 2019 she was inducted into the Hall of Fame of Delaware Women.
 
Fennell received her law degree from Rutgers School of Law in Camden, New Jersey, and her undergraduate degree from the University of Delaware in Newark.  She and her wife Lisa Goodman were the first couple to have a civil union in Delaware.  They live in Wilmington and have four grown children.
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Trailblazer Award: Sarah McBride, National Press Secretary, Human Rights Campaign
Sarah McBride is an author and longtime advocate. A native of Wilmington, Delaware, Sarah is the National Press Secretary at the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest LGBTQ civil rights organization. Sarah has been involved in politics and community advocacy for nearly all of her life and has worked for Governor Jack Markell, Attorney General Beau Biden, and in the Obama White House.

In 2013, led the successful effort to pass a landmark non-discrimination legislation in Delaware. For her efforts advancing equality in Delaware, former Gov. Markell awarded Sarah the Order of the First State, making her one of the youngest Delawareans granted the state’s highest civilian honor.

In 2016, Sarah made history when she became the first openly transgender person to speak at a major party convention when she spoke at the Democratic National Convention. Sarah is the author of “Tomorrow Will Be Different," which recounts her experiences fighting for equality in Delaware and nationally, as well as her relationship with her late husband, Andrew Cray, for whom McBride was a caregiver throughout a battle with cancer that ultimately claimed his life. 

McBride lives in Wilmington’s Highlands neighborhood, blocks away from where she was raised. She is a graduate of Cab Calloway School of the Arts and American University. Sarah serves on several local boards and has taught public policy at the University of Delaware.