[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Page 10232]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         RECOGNIZING ALAN LEVIN

 Mr. CARPER. Mr. President, it is with great pleasure that I 
rise on behalf of the Delaware Delegation to honor the exemplary 
service of Alan Levin, director of the Delaware Economic Development 
Office, upon his retirement. Alan became director in January 2009 and 
continued to serve with distinction in that capacity for 6 years. He 
assumed that position at a time when tens of thousands of Delawareans 
were losing their jobs, and the State's top priority was putting them 
back to work. Throughout this tumultuous time, he has been a tremendous 
leader and true advocate for the State.
  Alan has a lifetime of experience when it comes to knowing what it 
takes to make a business successful. In 1987, he took over Delaware's 
homegrown pharmacy chain Happy Harry's, the business his father 
started, and grew it to become an iconic brand with 76 stores 
throughout the state. Prior to taking over the family business, he 
worked for United States Senator Bill Roth as his executive assistant 
and counsel. He is a graduate of Tulane University and Widener 
University Law School.
  When Delaware Governor Jack Markell tapped him to head the Delaware 
Economic Development Office, unemployment in Delaware was soaring. The 
State's automotive plants were shuttering, and the State's major oil 
refinery announced plans to idle operations. Alan got straight to work, 
and over the next 6 years, the Delaware Economic Development Office 
awarded more than $213 million in job creation grants and loans to 
corporations through its strategic fund, and courted big firms such as 
Amazon, Barclays, Capitol One, JP Morgan Chase, Kraft Foods, Purdue and 
Sallie Mae to expand its current operations or relocate to Delaware. 
Alan was also instrumental in reopening the shuttered Delaware City Oil 
Refinery, putting hundreds of people back to work at one of the State's 
most significant industrial sites.
  Alan has been lauded as a bold risk-taker whose experience and 
innovative planning has helped Delaware have the fastest job growth in 
the Mid-Atlantic over the last 2 years. He can also be credited with 
helping to level the playing field for minority, women, and veteran 
business owners, as well as those with disabilities. On behalf of 
Senator Chris Coons and Congressman John Carney, I wholeheartedly thank 
Alan Levin for his service to the State of Delaware. His model 
leadership and dedication has improved the quality of life for 
countless residents and businesses in our great State. We offer our 
sincere congratulations on a job well done, and wish him and his wife 
Ellen, their children Andrew, Daniel and Jason, and their granddaughter 
Hannah, many happy, healthy and successful years to come.

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