2005 Rising Star Award

Joan Verbonitz
Goldey-Beacom College 1993 (B.S.), 2004 (MBA) 

As an undergraduate in Goldey-Beacom College, Joan Verbonitz received the Jane E. DeGrange Award for outstanding performance and dedication to the College, and the Charles E. Smith full tuition Merit Scholarship for undergraduate education. She graduated in June 1993, and when she came back to earn her MBA in Human Resource Management in December 2004, she did so with high honors and a superb GPA.

Between her academic pursuits at Goldey-Beacom College, Joan has began an impressive career. She started as a Personnel Assistant at Rollins Leasing Corporation, and in 1994, she joined MBNA as a Senior Credit Analyst. She soon moved on to the post of Educational Specialist, and then to Education Manager in 1998, where she managed the educational needs of over 1200 people within the Consumer Finance Division. She became Department Manager in August 2000, and in April 2005, she was named First Vice President at MBNA, with even wider areas of responsibility to challenge her considerable abilities.

Joan’s unusual contributions at MBNA have been recognized with many awards and commendations. She earned the 2001 KFB Sector Precept Award and 2001 PRM Distinguished Achievement Award for exemplifying MBNA’s precepts through superior performance while effectively balancing professional, community and personal commitments.

Joan is active in Delaware Field Hockey Association, where she has served as Treasurer, and in the American Cancer Society, where she rode in the Lance Armstrong Ride for the Roses Cycling Event. She is active in the Blood Bank of Delaware, and has participated in the Multiple Sclerosis Walkathon and Bike to the Bay. With her drive for excellence and her community conscience, there is no doubt that Joan’s future is very promising.