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Women in Business

Take a memo: Delaware’s businesswomen have the vision, ability and tenacity to build thriving companies. Meet executives who’ve succeeded despite unthinkable loss, financial obstacles or resistance from employees in male-dominated fields.

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Society sings the praises of the rich and sometimes infamous. A mission of The Jefferson Awards for Public Service is to praise the unsung and not-so-rich—the real heroes who make our communities better. As the foundation’s national director, Patricia L. Dill builds relationships with corporate partners and develops and runs active employee volunteer recognition programs. One of her main goals is to help young people understand the importance of volunteerism, and to hone skills in leadership and ethical decision-making.

A writer at heart Dill is responsible for seeking out and writing nominations for National Jefferson Awards recipients.

That’s showbiz Dill is the former general manager of the DuPont Theatre. She was a member of the League of American Theatres and Producers, now known as The Broadway League, and was the sole Tony Awards voter in Delaware.

Chris Favilla intended to be a U.S. ambassador, but grew frustrated while interning in college for the European Parliament in Brussels and Strasbourg, France. “I was able to work on bills and European union activities with countries across Europe,” she says, “but it took so long to achieve common goals.” She went into banking instead, because it offered similar opportunities to engage with different cultures. Now in her fifth year as president of Discover Bank in New Castle, the ex-Wall Street exec leads an institution that has grown from $3 billion in direct-to-consumer deposits in 2007 to more than $17 billion in 2010. “Throughout my career, I haven’t developed new patented technology,” she says, “but I’ve specialized in taking something you already have and building opportunities around it to make it grow more profitably.”

Noteworthy accomplishments Favilla is president of the Delaware Financial Literacy Institute, which provides free classes on money management to 3,500 Delawareans.

Her mentors They include leaders such as PNC’s Connie Bond Stuart and Richelle Vible of Catholic Charities. Her aunt, Paula Dolan-Pare, entertained for the USO, performed for the Queen of England, had her own TV show, and went back to school at age 50 to earn a master’s degree in gerontology.
 

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