Our Featured Speaker
John Carney
58th Mayor of Wilmington, Delaware & Former Governor
March 11th, 2025
Born in Wilmington and raised in Claymont, Mayor John Carney has been working for the Delaware people for nearly 40 years.
John Carney became Wilmington’s 58th mayor when he was elected on November 5, 2024. Prior to serving as mayor of Delaware’s largest city, he took office as Delaware’s 74th Governor in January 2017, focused on making Delaware’s economy more competitive, preparing Delaware’s children to succeed, and building a long-term sustainable financial plan for the State of Delaware. Working with Delawareans across the state, and with members of the General Assembly, he has made progress on each of those priorities. John has directed new resources to high-needs schools, partnered with the private sector to drive job creation, and taken steps to lower healthcare costs for Delaware families, businesses, and taxpayers.
The second of nine children, John was raised by his parents, Jack and Ann Carney, who were both educators. He attended St. Mark’s High School and led the school’s football team to its first state championship in 1973. After graduating high school, John attended Dartmouth College where he continued his football career and earned All-Ivy League and Most Valuable Player honors. When John returned to Delaware, he coached Freshmen Football on the staff of UD Head Coach Tubby Raymond while earning a Master’s Degree in Public Administration at the University of Delaware.
John lives in Wilmington with his wife, Tracey. They have two sons, Sam and Jimmy.
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Chrissi Rawak
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Andrew Cottone
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Chris Buccini
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Michelle Freeman
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Logan Herring
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Dr. Janice Nevin
December 2022
DR. KRIS VADDI
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ROD WARD III
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DONEENE DAMON
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THÈRE DU PONT
January 2021
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See the latest GRIT Talks Speaker Series!
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About Grit Talks
Grit Talks are a quarterly speaker and networking event featuring interesting local leaders answering seven questions over fifteen minutes. Woven together their answers will illustrate a common story. Failure….Overcoming it…. and the resulting success. Speakers will be business owners and leaders from our community who we know or should know with stories of inspiration to share. The talks will be held at The Mill’s Theatre N and the speakers will be captured on video and archived on the Grit Talk website for ongoing sharing and viewing. Guests will be asked to arrive at Theatre N at 8:00 a.m. for thirty minutes of coffee and networking. The talks will begin promptly at 8:30am followed by fifteen minutes of Q&A and additional networking until 9:30am.
7 QUESTIONS
What have you not done yet that you would like to be part of your story or included in your eulogy?
How has failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? Do you have a favorite failure?
In the last five years, what new belief, behavior or habit has most improved your life?
What activities make you lose track of time?
What book do you most often give or recommend and how has that book influenced you?
What have you purchased, or been given, in the last year valued under $200 that has most positively impacted your life?
If you could broadcast a message to everyone in the world knowing it would be received and remembered what would it be?
Become A Speaker
Interested in becoming a speaker? Contact us to learn more about this wonderful opportunity!
CONTACT US
Address:
Bill Dugdale
AB Bernstein
1105 N. Market Street, Suite 1800
Wilmington, Delaware 19801
Phone
302-485-4500
Don’t hesitate to contact us