On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Caesar Rodney Institute, I am delighted to announce that Dr. John E. Stapleford has been appointed as President of CRI. As many of you know, in addition to his career as an economist on the faculty at the University of Delaware and with Moody's, John was one of the founders of CRI, has served on the CRI Board, as the Director of CRI's Center for Economic Policy Analysis and, most recently, on CRI's Advisory Council. 
 
As President of CRI, John will manage the CRI staff and direct all of CRI's day to day and general operations. Of course, John also brings with him his incisive and unique knowledge of Delaware's economy and the state's budget.  
 
I would also like to announce two other appointments. First, we are proud to have Ronald Russo join CRI as a Senior Fellow for Education policy. Simply put, Ron is an expert on education issue, particularly how to manage and run schools successfully.  Ron showed his ability as the principal of St. Mark's and as the first head of the Charter School of Wilmington, taking Charter from a bold idea to one of the most outstanding public schools in the nation. We are thrilled to have Ron share his invaluable expertise on education issues as part of CRI as we seek provide real solutions to what we believe is the most important issue facing our State.  
 
We are also pleased to announce that Omar Borla has joined CRI as Director of our Center for Economic Policy & Analysis. Omar worked as an economist in investment banking in NYC for over two decades. I would like to thank Dr. Stacie Beck, who serves on the faculty of the Economics Department at the University of Delaware, who has served as Director, for all of her contributions to CRI. Stacie will remain involved with CRI, as a member of our Advisory Council.  
 
Since its inception nearly eight years ago as Delaware's only non-profit 501(c)(3) think tank, CRI has proposed both innovative and practical solutions to Delaware public policy issues. As CRI continues to grow and to attract outstanding scholars and accomplished leaders, all of us will continue to work with only one goal: to effect changes in Delaware public policy that will benefit our State and its citizens in the policy areas of economics, education, energy and healthcare.  
 
Best regards.  
 
Jim Ursomarso
Chairman & CEO