Written by Covenant Wealth Strategies Covenant Wealth Strategies is excited to announce that Bill Lloyd has earned his Certified Exit Planning Advisor® (CEPA®) designation from the Exit Planning Institute™ (EPI™ ). The CEPA® designation further equips our ability to serve business owner clients as they navigate the complexities of succession, transition, and wealth planning. The CEPA® designation is a highly regarded certification in the field of exit planning. It is designed for financial advisors, CPAs, attorneys, and other professionals who assist business owners in preparing for and executing successful transitions. To obtain this credential, Bill completed an intensive training program that integrates business strategy, personal financial planning, and value acceleration methodologies. As business owners grow their companies, their personal and financial futures become deeply intertwined with their businesses. Whether planning for a sale, passing the business to the next generation, or optimizing value for a future transition, having a strategic exit plan is crucial. The CEPA® framework helps business owners evaluate financial, personal, and business readiness, which can contribute to a more successful transition. With this designation, Bill is equipped to help clients: Assess business value to maximize its potential before a sale or transition. Coordinate with legal, tax, and business professionals for a comprehensive exit strategy. Align personal financial goals with business exit plans to support long-term financial security. Address common challenges such as business continuity, family dynamics, and tax-efficient wealth transfer. “We are incredibly proud of Bill’s dedication to his profession. Earning the CEPA® designation is truly commendable,” said G. Ward Keever, IV, CLU, ChFC, RHU, AEP, CFS, AIF, CKA®. “This achievement reinforces our commitment to guiding business owners through one of the most significant financial decisions of their lives.” Bill Lloyd has been with Covenant Wealth Strategies for over 5 years. With a passion for helping entrepreneurs build, protect, and transition their wealth, Bill is dedicated to providing expertise and strategic guidance tailored to business owners’ unique needs. We welcome you to contact our office for more information about how Bill and the team at Covenant Wealth Strategies can serve your financial well-being. Disclosures: Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment adviser. Member FINRA/ SIPC. CRPC® conferred by College for Financial Planning.

This year’s state poetry crown belongs to Olivia Stevens, a high schooler who fell in love with creative writing just before the pandemic. “As I explored writing styles for prose, a book written in verse called ‘Other Words for Home,’ by Jasmine Warga, really stood out to me,” said Stevens, a junior at  Mount Sophia Academy in Brookside, who won the 2025 Delaware Poetry Out Loud competition a week ago. RELATED: Mount Sophia’s Olivia Stevens 2025 Poetry Out Loud champ She said she loved the simplicity of the book and how word choice affected the overall emotional impact. “That book really led me to deep dive into poetry; how it captures such strong emotion and feel with so little words,” she said. Stevens’ favorite poems As an avid reader, her favorite poems and poets are always changing. “I really have enjoyed Tennyson’s ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’ and have fallen in love with all of Walt Whitman’s works including ‘O Captain! My Captain!’,” she said. “The poem that has truly captured my heart recently is ‘Architect’s Watercolor’ by Arthur Sze.” At the competition, held at the Smyrna Opera House, Stevens recited: “Sanctuary” by Jean Valentine, “Crossing the Bar” by Lord Alfred Tennyson, and “Architect’s Watercolor.” “‘Sanctuary’ really stood out to me,” she said. “At the heart of the poem, it is really that longing for human connection; asking those big questions and sharing our experiences. In today’s world of small talk, I found myself in the poem longing for that deeper connection.” She picked ‘Crossing the Bar’ as a tribute to her love of Tennyson and shared beliefs that there is a greater life after death. “The minute I read ‘Architect’s Watercolor’ I knew it was for me,” she said. “The fluidity and richness in word choice perfectly matched its topic of wanting to experience life not confined to to-do lists and tasks. This poem perfectly encapsulates how there is beauty in everything.” As an aspiring vocalist and choral conductor, Stevens aims to double major in vocal performance and creative writing for her undergraduate degree, and she’s looking into different conservatories and liberal arts colleges including the Peabody Conservatory and Johns Hopkins University. “I love how performing poetry gives me a place to be vulnerable, asking the big world questions through the purest form of our language, and connecting with the audience through shared emotions and experiences,” she said. “When we recite poetry, whether on a stage or around the kitchen table, we break down the differences between each other, recognizing that we all feel emotions and we all live.” In her free time, Stevens is a creative writer. Still in her teens, she’s already written and published my first book, titled “The Locket Mystery,” and she’s currently working on her second book told in a combination of verse and prose. She also loves engineering, and is the team captain of a tech challenge robotics team and the main builder of their 18″ by 18″ competition robot. “My poetry has won local and regional awards, and even though I mostly write in free verse, I also love experimenting with different forms of poetry,” she said. “I am a classical singer and love learning new music that challenges my vocal ability.”

Fans of opera – you are not going to want to miss this one. The OperaDelaware Company Artists are presenting their artist-curated recital OPERA’S GREATEST MOMENTS Saturday, March 1 at 4 p.m. “The OperaDelaware Company Artists are four remarkably talented opera singers with national and international careers who now call Delaware home,” said Kerriann Otaño, vice president of engagement for OperaDelaware. “Their recital ‘Opera’s Greatest Moments’ was collaboratively curated by these artists who left their artistic mark on every aspect of this performance, from the repertoire and the staging to the lighting and atmosphere during the performance.” This is a revolutionary approach to artistic planning, she said, and OperaDelaware puts the spotlight on its artists and provides them with the tools to produce art they believe in. READ: State employees show creativity at 14th annual Delaware Art Exhibition The performance features breathtaking pieces like “Casta Diva” from Bellini’s “Norma,” powerhouse duets from Verdi’s “Don Carlo,” and Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut,” and a fiery trio from Gounod’s “Faust,” all in an intimate and exceptional afternoon performance. The performance will be held at the OperaDelaware Studios, at 4 South Poplar Street in Wilmington. Tickets are $40, and can be bought here or call the OperaDelaware box office at 302-442-7807.

The First State’s employees are getting their time to shine their artistic juices. The Delaware Division of the Arts is celebrating the creative talents of state employees and their families with the 14th Annual Delaware State Employee Art Exhibition, now open to the public at the Arts Center/Gallery at Delaware State University. The free exhibition, running through March 21, 2025, highlights the diverse artwork of over 200 participants, with pieces created by state employees and their immediate family members. The exhibition features a wide range of artistic categories, including Adult (Amateur, Intermediate, and Professional), Teen, and Youth. A variety of cash prizes, ranging from $50 to $400, will be awarded to the best works in each category, along with a Best of Show and a People’s Choice Award. READ: Sussex reassessments almost done, appeal process to begin Governor Matt Meyer praised the event, emphasizing the importance of creativity in the workplace. “Creativity is at the heart of innovation, and Delaware state employees embody that every day—whether through problem-solving, collaboration, or finding new ways to serve the people of Delaware,” Meyer said. “This exhibition reminds us that the arts are woven into the fabric of who we are, and the ingenuity that drives artistic expression also fuels our innovative work across state government.” The event is not only a celebration of artistic achievement but also underscores the value of creative expression in professional settings. Research has shown that engaging in the arts enhances problem-solving skills, boosts morale, and promotes innovation—qualities that are vital in the workplace. “Art is an integral part of our daily lives,” said Delaware Division of the Arts Director Jessica Ball said. “It inspires, connects, and enriches our communities, often in ways we may not even realize.” The exhibition will be on display at the Arts Center/Gallery, with varying hours throughout the week. A special awards ceremony and celebration event will take place on Sunday, March 9, from 12 to 4 p.m., where visitors can view the artwork, meet the winners, and enjoy refreshments, activities, and giveaways. The exhibition is sponsored by the National Arts Program, in cooperation with the State of Delaware and the Delaware Division of the Arts. It offers a unique opportunity for artists of all skill levels to showcase their work and compete for prizes. All submitted pieces must be original works created by current state employees or their immediate family members, with all artworks completed within the past three years. Art exhibition hours Monday: Closed to the public Tuesday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Thursday-Friday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturdays, March 1 and March 8: 12 – 4 p.m. Sunday, March 9: 12 – 4 p.m. Click here to view the virtual gallery.