People In Profile First Quarter 2024
(click on magazine above to view flip-thru version)
Amanda K. Dobies, Esq.
Amanda K. Dobies is an associate attorney in the Newark office of Kimmel, Carter, Roman, Peltz & O’Neill, P.A. Amanda has just under a decade of personal injury experience, focusing her practice on motor vehicle accidents and work-related accidents. Amanda is a lifelong Delawarean, obtaining her undergraduate degrees in Criminal Justice and Spanish from the University of Delaware and her law degree from Delaware Law School, where she graduated Cum Laude.
Amanda is committed to representing individuals and families whose lives have been impacted as a result of an injury. Amanda previously worked as in-house staff counsel for one of the country’s top insurance companies, representing insureds through the litigation process. This insider’s perspective gives Amanda the upper hand when representing her clients, since she has direct knowledge of what the insurance companies look for when evaluating claims.
Since switching sides from the defense to representing injured parties, Amanda has been a strong advocate for her clients and has received some of the most prestigious industry awards. Amanda has been recognized by Delaware Super Lawyers: Risings Stars in 2023, an honor bestowed to the top 2.5 % of legal talent under age 40 throughout the Country. Additionally, Amanda was selected by U.S. News: Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in 2024.
Amanda is professionally associated with American Association for Justice (AAJ), Delaware Trial Lawyers Association (DTLA), Delaware State Bar Association (DSBA), and the Randy J. Holland Delaware Workers & Compensation Inn of Court. She volunteers on a pro bono basis in family court, assisting families with custodial issues and related matters.
Amanda enjoys spending time with her husband, two children, and her pack of rambunctious dogs. In her free time, Amanda cheers for Philly sports and likes to read and be active.
Call or text 302-565-6100 Offices in Wilmington, Newark and Reboboth Beach www.kimmelcarter.com
Frank DeMarinis
Frank DeMarinis is founder and operator of Senior Advisors of Delaware, LLC. His career in healthcare started as a therapist for individuals with disabilities. Later completing his licensure as a Nursing Home Administrator, he spent the majority of his career managing Delaware nursing and assisted living communities. Within those 20 years in healthcare, he identified an overutilization of institutional-based care and unnecessary services based on factors such as inability for many seniors to navigate the system and not having family support.
Senior Advisors, LLC is a service support and case management agency licensed and insured to assist in the management of financial and healthcare matters for seniors in support of protecting their interests. Within the last eight years, the services of Senior Advisors have grown from offering “emergency proxy services” to a wide array of activities. These include financial support, representative payee, trusts, guardianship, and overall connecting consumers with available resources, coordination of healthcare needs and helping seniors in the downsizing process when additional care or living options may be necessary.
Senior Advisors created a non-profit subsidiary 501c3, with a mission statement to help seniors stay at home, serving as their healthcare agent and Power of Attorney in case of medical emergency. Frank and his team are very hands-on in their support of seniors in need or crisis, including maintaining their households, caring for pets, paying utilities and handling mail services to safely coordinating their care and get them back home as soon as possible. The grant program also assists seniors with qualifying low income or those at risk for frequent hospitalization to avoid unnecessary nursing home confinement. Grant qualification may be extended also to seniors caring for a dependent spouse, those without involved family or someone designated to respond in a medical crisis. The senior placement program also has non-profit programs to assist seniors unable to manage their home.
Additional information regarding their non-profit directives can also be accessed at www.AdvancedDirective.info or calling the main office 800-564-0173. Senior Advisors and their care managers serve New Castle and Kent County.
You can reach out directly to [email protected] or 610-564-6289 to speak to Frank directly.
Dr. Robert M. Carroll, MD
Robert M. Carroll, M.D. is proud to join Eye Physicians and Surgeons in Wilmington, Delaware as a board-certified, fellowship-trained retina specialist. Dr. Carroll focuses on the evaluation and treatment of patients with medical retinal disease such as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, retinal vascular disease, and posterior uveitis. He also performs retinal surgery to treat retinal detachment, macular holes and puckers, complications from diabetes, and secondary intraocular lenses.
Originally from New Jersey, Dr. Carroll completed his undergraduate degree in biochemistry with honors at the University of Notre Dame and earned his medical degree at Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. He completed his internship at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, residency in ophthalmology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, and fellowship in vitreoretinal surgery at the Scheie Eye Institute of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was awarded the Fellow Excellence in Teaching Award. He previously worked in private practice in Philadelphia and currently cares for our nation’s veterans at the Wilmington, Delaware VA Medical Center.
An Eagle Scout, Dr. Carroll prides himself on humbly serving his patients by putting their needs first in the preservation and restoration of their vision. He is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Retina Specialists and has maintained an active academic interest, publishing in and serving as a reviewer for several ophthalmology journals as well as teaching optometry and ophthalmology students, residents, and fellows. Dr. Carroll will be seeing patients at Eye Physicians and Surgeons, 1207 North Scott Street, Wilmington, Delaware. He is trained in the most up to date methods of diagnosing and treating retinal disease, including intravitreal injections, retinal lasers, sutureless retinal surgery, and advanced retinal imaging.
Eye Physicians & Surgeons 302-652- 3353 www.eyephysicians.com
Dr. Bernadette Thomas
Bernadette Thomas, DNP, APRN, FNP-C is a doctorate prepared board-certified family nurse practitioner who specializes in autoimmune thyroid disease, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and wellness in Wilmington, Delaware. Dr. Thomas received her Family Nurse Practitioner degree and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree with honors from Wilmington University in Delaware. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and Omicron Gamma Chapter. Dr. Thomas, DNP is a GUMC Adjunct Assistant Professor at Georgetown University in the School of Nursing and Health Studies in Washington, D.C. She has taught undergraduate and graduate nursing courses for over 12 years. Dr. Thomas is a U.S. Air Force Veteran who served 6 years active duty in the USAF medical squadron.
In 2012, Dr. Thomas, DNP became passionate about autoimmune thyroid disease after suffering from Grave’s disease. She experienced firsthand what it was like to be hospitalized with thyrotoxicosis, receive radioactive iodine treatment, and then struggle with thyroid hormone replacement therapy. As a result, Dr. Thomas, DNP personally understands the symptoms of both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism and can fully empathize with each patient she encounters. Dr. Thomas, DNP treats both pediatric and adult patients at Monarch Wellness Center with individualized compassionate care.
Dr. Thomas, DNP opened Monarch Wellness Center in late 2019. She wanted a space that was not only warm and welcoming but provided all patients (especially thyroid patients) the opportunity to be heard in a way they hadn’t before. Although Monarch Wellness Center primarily focuses on autoimmune thyroid diseases, it offers additional wellness services like hormone replacement, IV infusion therapy, men’s health, nutritional support, as well as adjunct care for other autoimmune diseases.
In addition, Monarch Wellness Center provides various aesthetic services ranging from ZO® Skin Health’s revitalizing facials and their medical grade skincare products to Evolus’ “Unapologetically Beautiful on Your Terms” Jeuveau®, and InMode’s body makeover “Optimas” with Morpheus8, DiolazeXL, Lumecca, and Vasculaze all helping our thyroid patients look and feel their best.
302-482-2289 www.monarchwellnesscenterdelaware.com [email protected]
Monarch Wellness Center 2601 Annand Drive, Suite 17, Wilmington
Kristin Garramone
Kristin’s passion has always been hospitality. She is now the Director of Operations for Roma Italian Restaurant and Sul Tempo Cocktail Lounge. Kristin began her career in the hospitality industry at the age of 15. She was mentored by Chef Tom Hannum at the renowned Hotel DuPont. Starting in the commissary, she moved her way up through the DuPont kitchens and 3 years later entered the Culinary Program at Johnson and Wales in Rhode Island. After her time in Rhode Island, she returned to Dupont and continued building her career. She decided that to fully understand and appreciate all aspects of the industry she had to touch all of the pulses. Kristin spent the next four years bartending, waitressing and managing local eateries. Though she loved what she was doing, she missed the kitchen hustle, so back to the kitchens she went. Kristin has run some of our state’s staple upscale restaurants, including; Back Burner in Hockessin, 1717, Dome (Platinum Dining Group), River Rock Kitchen and holding her last culinary title as chef at the Dupont Country Club. After leaving the kitchens, Kristin has held titles of; Food and Beverage Manager, Director of Hospitality and also has traveled as a Regional Director of Food and Beverage. When husband Joe began discussing adding an upscale cocktail lounge to Roma, Kristin knew this was a winning combination. “We had a lot of work to do to get Sul Tempo opened while elevating the service in Roma. It has been by far the best, and most challenging experience of my life. Joe handles the food, and I handle the service and operation. We get each other and know the challenges of the other’s day to day. Our goals and expectations are the same, and we push each other to make that happen. We are each other’s biggest cheerleader, and to me, that is magic.” Both Kristin and Joe are extremely active when it comes to giving back. Kristin has been on the Sip and Savor Committee to support Meals on Wheels Delaware. The 2016 Heart Ball supporting the Heart Association was also another outlet that Kristin found she could help raise money and make a difference within the local community. “We have a venue that is perfect for helping to give back. We have to take advantage of every opportunity to help.” While loving the community and the business, Kristin and Joe always find time to reconnect on their boat, or running around playing with their two dogs Cooper and Valia.
Roma Restaurant Sul Tempo Cocktail Lounge 302-678-1041 www.romadover.com 3 President Drive
Joe Garramone Junior
Chef/Owner Joe Garramone began his career at the young age of 12, working for his father in the kitchen of Roma. Over the years he has worked his way up and ultimately taken over Roma when his father, Giuseppe retired in 1999. Chef Joe prides himself on consistent, well-executed dishes. “Guests have been coming here for over 45 years and have an expectation. My goal is to exceed their expectations every time they visit.” Joe has elevated the Dover dining experience while still keeping the tradition his father created in 1973. Through the years, he has added his own signatures while still keeping the staples in place that started the business. In December of 2015, Joe along with his wife Kristin developed a fresh twist to Roma, Sul Tempo. Sul Tempo Cocktail Lounge has already proven to be a risk worth taking. “Sul Tempo allows us to build our brand while maximizing space. Kristin and I worked night and day on this vision. Watching Sul Tempo develop, while elevating the dining experience at Roma has truly been my greatest accomplishment in this industry. When you find someone just as passionate in the experience, as well as the end result, the sky is the limit.” Joe uses the space to support local fundraisers, nonprofit organizations and other local outreach programs. Recently, Joe has worked with Meals on Wheels Delaware, Heart Association, and Habitat for Humanity, just to name a few. “I have the opportunity to give back to the community that has supported our family business for years.” Dover has found a winning combination.
Roma Restaurant Sul Tempo Cocktail Lounge 302-678-1041 www.romadover.com 3 President Drive
Thank You To Our Location
I would like to thank The Vero at Newark for hosting our photoshoot at their beautiful location. What a lovely location, and wonderful people to work with.
The Vero at Newark www.leisurecare.com 302-455-7979
924 Barksdale Road, Newark, Delaware
To Our Stylist
I would also like to thank Lori Zaiss, Owner of Fusion Salon, and her wonderful team of stylist and makeup artists for providing hair and makeup for our shoot. As always it was a pleasure working with Fusion.
Fusion Salon 302-479-9444 www.FusionSalonDE.com 3444 Naamans Road, Wilmington, Delaware
Thank You To Our Photographer
I would like to thank Debra Zeccola of Debra Zeccola Photography of Newark, DE for being our photographer for our profiles and covers photoshoot. Debra has over 28 years of experience as a licensed professional photographer. Debra provides her clients with outstanding photography services for weddings and events, family and individual portraits, baby photos ,and so much more. Debra is a joy to work with, and I couldn’t ask for a more professional photographer than Debra.
Debra Zeccola Photography 302-540-5800
[email protected] www.debrazeccolaphotography.com
