People In Profile Second Quarter 2024

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

Alex DelCollo

Alex DelCollo is a financial advisor at Diamond State Financial Group, which is the largest independent wealth management firm in the state of Delaware. Since 1989, the firm has been committed to helping clients improve their long-term financial success. Alex specializes in working with nonprofit organizations and professionals, business owners, and individuals preparing for retirement. She believes in empowering people in pursuing their own goals and giving them the tools they need for success. 

Alex’s passion for helping others started in the nonprofit industry where she worked for 10 years prior to her career as an advisor. She worked to improve the food and nutritional security of local communities by building relationships with those directly impacted by the food landscape to fully understand their individual situation and needs. This led to her desire to continue to support nonprofit organizations in their pursuit of their mission. Alex’s time working as a community advocate also continues to influence how she interacts with her clients. She actively listens to client concerns and works with them to build a plan that they feel is achievable. As a firm, Diamond State Financial Group believes in the power of personal relationships and focuses on one thing – simplifying financial planning based on the needs of our clients.

Alex is the board president of the Salem County Inter Agency Council of Human Services and is an active member of the Delaware Veteran’s Post #1. In her spare time, Alex enjoys practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with her husband and spending time with her friends and family, including her 3 dogs and cat. 

Diamond State Financial Group     900 Prides Crossing, Newark, DE     302-366-0366     [email protected]

*Securities offered through Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Cetera Investment Advisers LLC,  

a registered investment adviser. Cetera is under separate ownership from any other named entity.  

Walter Sellers

With over 25 years of experience in the health and fitness industry, Walter is a seasoned professional dedicated to transforming lives through wellness. He is the founder of Classicman Fitness, which evolved into The Butterfly Effect Studio for Training during the pandemic. Walter holds certifications from ISSA, Action CPT, and Girls Gone Strong, and he takes pride in his passion for bodybuilding and powerlifting, holding the distinction of being a drug-free world record holder in powerlifting with WNPF.

Walter’s academic background includes a degree from Elon College. He also has over 15 years of experience in the retail automotive sector, where he honed his skills in sales, finance, and management. Transitioning into management consulting, he recognized the urgency of addressing America’s health crisis, which led him to redirect his expertise exclusively to the health and fitness realm.

Walter is deeply committed to personal and societal transformation, believing in the potential for profound change within each individual. Through his diverse professional journey and dedication to wellness advocacy, he strives to inspire others to achieve optimal health by emphasizing the importance of dedication and vision.

In addition to his work in the health and fitness industry, Walter is the creator of the “We Care A Ton” food drive, which aims to address food insecurity in local communities. He also founded the Metamorphosis Renewal Retreat, providing individuals with an immersive wellness experience focused on physical, mental, and emotional renewal.

As a passionate advocate for holistic well-being, Walter is driven by the belief that everyone has the power to shape their destiny through a commitment to health and fitness. He is honored to continue making a positive impact in the lives of others through his work, and he welcomes connections with like-minded professionals who share his passion for wellness and personal development.

The Butterfly Effect Studio for Training      302-278-4347      www.bestindelaware.com

Lida Alimorad, DDS

Lida Alimorad, DDS, is an AAPD board-certified pediatric dentist that completed her post-doctoral pediatric dentistry residency at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Wilmington, DE, where she served and worked with children with a wide variety of special medical and dental needs, including children with rare syndromes, and complex medical histories. In July 2023, she proudly opened Wilmington Pediatric Dentistry, a start-up pediatric dental practice in Pike Creek, DE, offering dental care to patients ranging in age from infants to young adults for routine dental care, emergencies, mild sedation and hospital dentistry. Dr Alimorad is inspired to build and grow the team at Wilmington Pediatric Dentistry and to provide outstanding pediatric dental services in the area.

Dr. Alimorad suffered from complex medical conditions in her late teen years that required hospitalization and intensive treatments, some of which resulted in dental complications. During this traumatic period of her life, she looked forward to regular visits by her kind and caring pediatric dentist. This motivated her to pursue a career in pediatric dentistry, and from her own experiences she understands and has empathy for patients with complex conditions and special needs.

Dr. Alimorad graduated in 2010 with a degree in General Dentistry from University of Maryland School of Dentistry in Baltimore, MD which is the oldest continuously operating dental school in the United States.  After graduating from dental school, Dr. Alimorad served as dental director for 8 years at CCI Health and Wellness Services, a nonprofit organization, where she and her staff treated the underserved, underinsured, and refugee populations in the Capital Region of Maryland. Dr. Alimorad completed her post-doctoral pediatric dentistry residency at Nemours Children’s Hospital in 2021 and stayed after graduating to work as an attending faculty at Nemours Dental Clinic. 

Dr. Alimorad loves traveling and being exposed to diverse cultures from all over the world, hiking, and gardening in her spare time.  

Schedule your appointment with Dr. Lida Alimorad at Wilmington Pediatric Dentistry by calling 302-933-9900 or visiting www.wpdde.com

Stephanie McClellan DNP, MBA, MSN, RN, CMSRN, NE-BC

Dr. Stephanie McClellan started her journey towards becoming a licensed Registered Nurse in 2008. Her passion and desire to make a difference in her community and in the lives of others pushed her to see this goal to fruition in 2010 as a graduate of Delaware Technical and Community College (DTCC). Achieving this goal was the beginning of finding ways to create change, facilitate growth, advance the profession of nursing, all while ensuring community members are able to receive care they need and deserve. Shortly into her tenure as a Registered Nurse, Stephanie went back to school to pursue a master’s degree in nursing with a concentration in Management and Leadership. Stephanie saw an opportunity to grow her own knowledge in the hopes of becoming able to lead and inspire new nurses and instill passion for the profession. During these same years, she filled adjunct positions as a clinical instructor at DTCC. Seeing nursing students thrive and become hungry to be the best possible nurse, fueled Stephanie’s heart for leadership. 

Her passion and enthusiasm have grown over the years. She believes in nursing practice and the power the profession has to change and amplify healthcare in a way where every person is provided the same opportunities for care and equal access. Through various nursing positions, she has remained devoted to advocacy, innovation, leadership, and empowerment across nursing. 

Stephanie holds a dual master’s degree in business administration and nursing leadership and management, both from Walden University. Stephanie received a Doctorate in Nursing Practice with a focus on visionary nursing leadership from Colorado Christian University and holds dual certifications: Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN) and Nurse Executive-Board Certified (NE-BC). Stephanie was nominated for AONL Young Professional Voices in 2022 and nominated in Delaware for Advancing and Leading the Profession in 2022. She is the current President of the Delaware Nurses Association. In addition to this role, she is the Cancer Institute Manager at Bayhealth Cancer Center and an Adjunct Professor for Biological Sciences at Delaware State University.  

[email protected]         302-744-6676

Jennifer Acord, APR

Jennifer Acord is the Director of Advancement at the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science. She joined the museum in 2015, and until March was Director of Communications.

The Delaware Museum of Nature and Science completed a major renovation and re-envisioning in 2022. Its new mission is to ignite a life-long passion for exploring, discovering, and valuing nature and science. In the new galleries, guests discover how nature connects us all through exploring dynamic and diverse ecosystems. Encouraging guests to explore and discover is a major part of the museum’s activities, whether it’s through exhibits, events, programs, or connecting with partnering organizations and scientists. Above the galleries are millions of scientific specimens serving as a record of biodiversity on Earth and as a resource for scientists all over the world. The museum’s scientists curate and maintain the collections and conduct research.

Jennifer’s role throughout the renovations and the museum’s reopening was to direct communications and marketing, publicize activities and programs, support the capital campaign, and work with the team on creating the new exhibits. As Director of Advancement, she leads the museum’s development, communications, and membership staff. A lifelong Delawarean, Jennifer has more than 25 years of experience in the communications field, including work at non-profit organizations, government agencies, and a Fortune 500 corporation. She has earned accreditation in public relations (APR) through the Public Relations Society of America.  

Beyond her official duties, Jennifer wears another hat – as the publicist for Dude, the museum’s beloved mascot, who recently celebrated his 16th birthday and 15th anniversary with the museum. Dude’s antics have not only charmed the local community but also captured the attention of the broader audience, going viral on platforms like TikTok and The Dodo, receiving a variety of media coverage, and bringing in visitors from all over the region. 

Learn more about the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science at delmns.org  

Thank You To Our Location

We would like to thank the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science, located at 4840 Kennett Pike, Wilmington, DE for hosting our second quarter 2024 photoshoot. What a lovely place for a shoot, and a wonderful place to take your family for a day of nature, science, and adventure. Even the littlest ones will love it.

Their hours are 10:00 a.m.-4 p.m. Closed on Wednesdays. Open hours may vary for special events and holidays. Find out more information go online to www.delmns.org.

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