Michael S. Purzycki, Wilmington’s 57th Mayor, is currently serving his second, four-year term as the City’s

Chief Executive. The Mayor was initially elected to office in November of 2016. He was re-elected in

November of 2020 to a second term. His time as Mayor is driven by his desire to see the City run at a high

level of efficiency, to increase the level of shared prosperity among its citizens, and to confront the

problems too many cities experience throughout the country.

Mike Purzycki was born in Newark, New Jersey in 1945. He graduated Seton Hall Prep in 1963 and

earned a football scholarship to the University of Delaware, where he played for four years and set every

Blue Hen receiving record. After graduating with a degree in history, he signed a contract with the NewYork

Giants football team for the 1967-1968 season when an injury sidelined his professional football career.

The mayor worked with IBM in Data Processing sales, as a stockbroker, and then in real estate sales and

development while attending Delaware Law School at night. He was admitted to the Delaware bar and

served as attorney for the Delaware State Senate and then practiced law for over a decade. He first ran for

public office in 1982 and was elected to New Castle County Council where he served for nine years as

Chairman of the County’s Council’s Finance Committee and wrote the legislation that created the state’s

first ethics law.

In 1996, Mike Purzycki was tapped to head the Riverfront Development Corporation, and was tasked with

the challenging job of resurrecting the blighted, industrial wasteland along the Christina River. He and his

team did what many said would be impossible—they reinvented and reinvigorated the former World War ll

shipyard into an economic, cultural, and social hub of the City which included over one billion dollars of

public and private investment, including the Chase Center, The Peterson Wildlife Refuge, two miles of

Riverwalk, hundreds of apartments, restaurants, hotels, and other amenities.

Mike also served for ten years as Chairman of the Wilmington Hope Commission during which he oversaw

the 2014 opening of the Achievement Center, a ten thousand-square-foot building housing a

groundbreaking program that helps formerly incarcerated men successfully transition from prison back into

the community.

During his tenure as Mayor, the City has seen almost $1 billion of private investment injected into the local

economy. Thousands of apartments, hotels, and new nightlife and dining destinations have breathed new

life into the downtown and riverfront. Wilmington has invested $14 million in its neighborhood parks and

public spaces. Twenty-six miles of City streets have been paved and repaired. There has been no tax

increase for four years while the City’s cash position has been improved. During this same period, Moody’s

removed a negative outlook from the City’s previous bond rating to improve the City’s borrowing power.

Mike married the former Bette Richitelli in 1984. They live in the Highlands with their teenage son, Gage.

Their adult children—Adriane, her husband Andrew and granddaughter Pascal live in Hockessin, while

Mick, his wife Ally, and granddaughter Yoyo live in Maryland.

Pam Scott's more than 30 years of work as an attorney is complemented by a mix of roles relevant to utility companies, real estate developers, large and small businesses, healthcare facilities and institutional uses who need advice on how complex regulatory environments apply to their projects and deals. Primarily, Pam helps utility companies seek approvals from the Delaware Public Service Commission and commercial and institutional clients navigate land use and zoning issues for real estate projects involving the intersection of administrative law and government relations. Pam's experience includes work as assistant general counsel for the multi-state utility company Pepco Holdings, LLC; a lawyer in private practice representing clients in matters involving commercial real estate transactions, government relations and complex land use projects; a legal advisor to the City of Wilmington and New Castle County; and policy director for the Delaware Department of Transportation, the largest agency in state government. Together, this background gives Pam a holistic understanding of the challenges businesses face when they must interact with regulators, politicians and community interests to move their projects forward.

Robert’s interest in Real Estate brokerage and development grew from his family’s 50 years of history in the industry throughout the tri-state area.

After attending the University of Delaware, Robert began his career working with his father and brother, focusing on the acquisition and development of commercial properties. Since 1987 Robert has developed over a million square feet of commercial space along the east coast consisting of major retailers such as Walgreens, Food Lion, Happy Harry’s, Wawa. Lowe’s Home Improvement, McDonald’s. WSFS, Wilmington Trust, Bank of America, and other national and regional restaurant chains, fast food stores and retailers. DSM has holdings in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Vermont, North Carolina and Florida.

Robert is a board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of DE, and is also very involved with the Leukemia Research Foundation of Delaware. He is a past board member of the Tobin Foundation and continues to support a number of charitable organizations throughout Delaware and New Jersey.

Robert is a resident of Middletown, Delaware, and his children’s endeavors keep he and his wife very busy.

Chris Buccini is Co-President of The Buccini/Pollin Group, Inc. (“BPG”), and founder and President of BPG Real Estate Services, LLC, the entity responsible for BPG’s office, residential, retail, and parking management and leasing efforts. Mr. Buccini is responsible for the ultimate performance of the company’s commercial, retail, parking and entertainment activities, leading its acquisitions, financing, leasing, operations, and disposition efforts. Since joining BPG in 1999, Mr. Buccini has grown the company to over $4 billion in assets, including ownership of six million square feet of office and retail space, 6,500 hotel rooms, 2,000 apartments and four live entertainment venues. In addition, Mr. Buccini co-founded and is co-owner of Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union.

Mr. Buccini is the founder and current member of the Board of The Light Up The Queen Foundation; a member of the Board of Trustees of Wilmington Friends School; on the Board of Directors of the Brandywine Conservancy, United Way of Delaware, and Wilmington Renaissance Corporation; and a member of the Delaware Business Roundtable, City of Chester Institute for Economic Development, and Hagley Museum and Library Council of Advisors.

Prior to The Buccini/Pollin Group, Mr. Buccini was the Director of Acquisitions and Senior Vice President of Barrow Street Capital, LLC, a New York City-based real estate private equity fund which is an affiliate of Greenhill and Company. Prior to joining Barrow Street, Mr. Buccini was a Vice President at Eastdil Realty, where he was involved in the disposition, financing and development of investment quality office, retail, industrial, lodging and multi-family projects.

Mr. Buccini received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Princeton University.

A. Hughlett Kirby joined Cinnaire Corporation as the Vice President for Development in 2015.

Cinnaire is a not-for- profit Community Development Finance Institution, which has been

fostering economic development and helping to create safe and affordable housing for over 20

years. The name Cinnaire was new in 2015, a result of the 2013 merger between the Delaware

Community Investment Corporation (DCIC) and Great Lakes Capital (GLCF).

To fulfill its mission, Cinnaire raises equity and debt funds for its bank investors and participants

to fund limited partnership investments in and permanent mortgages for low-income housing tax

credit-financed multi-family projects. Working from Cinnaire’s Wilmington, DE offices,

Hughlett’s responsibilities include raising capital and originating equity and debt opportunities in

Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, helping to expand DCIC’s legacy Delaware

footprint to the Mid-Atlantic region.

A resident of Chadds Ford, PA, Hughlett brings 24 years of commercial banking experience with

M&T Bank, where she served as a Relationship Manager and senior commercial real estate

lender. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Maryland and a Master in

Business Administration degree from Boston University. Always active in her community,

Hughlett is a member of the Wilmington Rotary Club, the Committee of 100, the Commercial

and Industrial Realtors Council, serves on the Advisory Committee for the Fort DuPont

Redevelopment Authority, and is a member of the Wilmington Housing Partnership Board of

Directors.

In her leisure time, Hughlett loves to travel (most recently to yoga camp in Isla Mujeras,

Mexico), is an avid reader, and enjoys kayaking on the Delaware Bay near Bethany Beach, DE

with family and friends.

Benjamin J. “Buddy” Berger is a co-founder of Berger Harris LLP. Buddy represents real estate

developers, builders, investors, family owned businesses, non-profit corporations and closely held business

entities in a variety of complex real estate and other transactional matters, including acquisitions, financings,

sales, leases and debt restructuring matters. Buddy also has extensive experience in the title insurance industry

serving as a title agent for several national title insurance companies.

Buddy has experience regarding mixed use projects, including

student housing projects, and in handling securitized and mezzanine

financing transactions on behalf of borrowers.

In addition, Buddy acts as Outside “In-House” Counsel to

Delaware-based businesses on matters involving Formation,

Governance and Business Litigation, Commercial Contracts and

Transactions.

Buddy has been recognized for being Best Lawyers, Real

Estate Law, Greater Philadelphia and Best Lawyers in America, Real

Estate law.

Buddy is also active in the community, and currently serves as

a board member of the Commercial & Industrial Realty Council.