People In Profile First Quarter 2025

(click on magazine above to view flip-thru version)

Amber Sharp

Amber Sharp is a board-certified family nurse practitioner and the owner of Phases Medical Spa in Milford, Delaware. Amber is a Delaware native who began her healthcare career over 15 years ago as a medical assistant in a busy obstetrics and gynecology practice. She attended Delaware Technical and Community College to receive her associate’s degree in nursing. While working as a bedside nurse at the Delaware Hospice Center and the Bayhealth Physical Rehabilitation Center, she pursued her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and later a Master of Science in Nursing from Wilmington University. She then became a board-certified family nurse practitioner and practices family medicine at Atlantic Family Physicians. Aside from chronic disease management, her interests include mental health, women’s health, and aesthetic medicine. 

Amber is a committed lifelong learner dedicated to the advancement of aesthetics and availability of affordable healthcare. She dreamed of opening her own medical spa and decided in 2023 it was time. Her vision entailed creating a safe and comfortable environment to meet the skin care and health needs of a diverse population. By combining her medical knowledge and passion for skin, she created a service menu that has a little something for everyone. As a former hospice nurse Amber knows not every person gets the chance to grow older. Therefore, she understands it is a privilege and not a curse to reach our golden years. She believes that everyone deserves the chance to grow older gracefully, inside and out. The creation of Phases Medical Spa provides that opportunity and embraces transformations both great and small through all our phases of life.

Amber enjoys spending time with her husband and business partner, Mark Hammel. They are both workaholic nurses and science fiction nerds who love medicine, traveling, and rescuing animals. They share their home with three dogs, three cats, and a turtle. 

www.phasesmedicalspa.com      302-500-4220      1012 North Walnut Street, Milford, Delaware

Dr. Laura A. Dougherty

Dr. Dougherty chose her career path at age seven when she found herself at the orthodontist, speech therapist or general dentist too many times to count when she was growing up. She finds that the most rewarding aspects of her career are being able to help ensure patients have a comfortable dental experience and seeing her patients gain confidence when they see their newly restored, beautiful smiles, just as her dental providers gave her when she was growing up.

Born and raised in Delaware’s Sussex County, “Dr. D” earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from the University of Delaware in 2001 before going on to study dentistry at the University of Maryland’s Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, achieving her Doctorate of Dental Surgery degree in 2006. After completing her General Practice Residency with the Christiana Care Dental Residency Program, she went into private practice for 11 years prior to opening Dougherty Dental Solutions in 2018.

“Dr. D” is a proud and active member of the Delaware Academy of General Dentistry, as well as the American Dental Association, Delaware State Dental Society and American Academy of Facial Aesthetics. She resides in Delaware with her son and their dog Cooper. When she is not practicing dentistry, she enjoys hiking, going to the beach and spending time with her children and grandson. 

Dougherty Dental Solutions     www.DoughertyDentalSolutions.com     302-475-3270

2505 Silverside Road, Wilmington, Delaware

Maureen E. Krienen

Maureen  is the fourth generation to work in the Krienen-Griffith Funeral Home legacy. Her great-grandfather, Carl H. Krienen, and his brother, William J. Krienen, opened the funeral home in 1917. Her grandfather, William J. Krienen II, and his brother, Carl H. Krienen, Jr., owned and operated the business from 1963 through 1993. In 1993, Maureen’s father, William J. Krienen III, took over the helm. Maureen assumed the role of President of the family business in January 2021, and she is one of the few females in Delaware to manage a funeral operation.

Maureen is a graduate of Padua Academy and the University of Delaware. In addition to a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from the University of Delaware, Maureen received her Mortuary Science degree from American Academy McAlister Institute in 2017. She is a Licensed Funeral Director and has been a Licensed Pre-need Consultant since 2011.

Maureen was born and raised in New Castle. She lives in Olde New Castle with her dog, Ralphie. Maureen currently serves as President of the Delaware State Funeral Directors’ Association. She is also part of the National Funeral Directors’ Association’s National Emerging Leadership Program. She attends St. Peter the Apostle R.C. Church and has previously coached the girls’ 7th- and 8th-grade volleyball team at St. Peter the Apostle School. Maureen enjoys golfing and skiing and has volunteered with the Special Olympics of Delaware Alpine Team.

Krienen-Griffith Funeral Home has locations in Wilmington and New Castle and serves families throughout all of Delaware. A full range of traditional, contemporary, memorial, and veteran services is available for burial and cremation. Services can be held at either funeral home, a church, a community center, a cemetery, or other facility. Maureen is available to discuss preplanning or at-need funeral services.  

Maureen E. Krienen, President      Licensed Funeral Director      Licensed Pre-Need Consultant      Krienen-Griffith Funeral Home 

www.delawarefuneral.com      302-994-9614      [email protected] 

Salimah Hackett

Salimah Hackett is a recent addition to the Artisans’ Bank team and serves as the newest Branch manager. If you visit the Downtown Wilmington branch located at 9th and Tatnall Street, you will be greeted by her warm smile, and a team ready to assist you with your financial needs.

With extensive experience in the finance and banking sectors, Salimah’s background includes a deep understanding of financial products, customer service, and regulatory compliance. She has a proven ability to improve operational efficiency and foster client relationships and is well-prepared to enhance the Bank’s mission of providing exceptional financial solutions.

Each morning, she starts the day by telling herself that she is going to have an amazing day on purpose. She then reads one of her favorite quotes: “There is no limitation to what you can achieve if you simply believe!” 

Her morning coffee is her 4 a.m. workout, setting a positive tone for the day. After five years of working downtown, she has built relationships with many people and local business owners while managing a rewarding client workload. She is excited to work with a fantastic team at 9th Street and is supported by all the individuals throughout the Bank.

The Downtown Branch has a unique history; it was once the headquarters of Artisans’ Bank. This rich background and our strong commitment to the Wilmington community are invaluable assets that we are confident Salimah will foster and enhance. Be a part of the Artisans’ Bank community and open an account with Salimah and the Downtown Wilmington Branch today!  

www.ArtisansBank.com     302-658-6881

Artisans’ Bank     Member FDIC     Equal Housing Lender     NMLS# 774924

Thank You To Our Location

I want to give a special thank you to Krienen-Griffith Funeral Home for inviting us to have our profile photoshoot at their Elsmere location. A couple of jokes were made that it was an odd location for a shoot, but I can tell you that this was one of the loveliest locations we have done a photoshoot at in years. I read on Krienen-Griffith Funeral Home’s website that “The funeral is a declaration that a death has occurred. It is also testimony to a life that has been lived.” I hope that you will consider this organization if you have a need in the future, as they have two of the nicest locations in New Castle County. 

302-994-9614    302-328-9300      www.delawarefuneral.com      [email protected]

1400 Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington, Delaware     &     101 West Sixth Street, New Castle, 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    @fusionsalonde on instagram      @fusionsalonde on facebook

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     @ZeccolaPhoto on facebook

[email protected]      www.debrazeccolaphotography.com