Celebrating 50 Years of Service and Success

Posted by Carol Braverman
October 4, 2022

In celebration of our 50th anniversary, Incserv founding partner and current chairwoman of the board, Carol Braverman, shares an oral history of the company. 

 

I first met Josh [Twilley, Sr.], George [Jones] and Pete [Feliceangeli] in 1972. George and Pete had just passed the Delaware bar. Soon the three of them formed Twilley, Jones, & Feliceangeli, LLP. I joined on as a law clerk in 1975. By 1979 I had graduated from Delaware Law, passed the bar myself and became a full-time member of the firm. 

As a quick side note, I was one of the first 75 women admitted to the bar in Delaware. For context, the first man was admitted to practice in Delaware in 1676. Over a period of 300 years, only 75 women were admitted. I became one of only three women in private practice in Kent County. Later, I became the first female named partner in a Dover law firm. 

Anyway. We were working mainly in Kent County. It was an exciting time. Our practice focused primarily on representing businesses including banks, a hospital, and apartment complexes; individuals; and real estate. George did mostly real estate law and some corporate issues,  including incorporating services, which his secretary, Cheryl Morris, handled. But as the years went on and Delaware emerged as one of the most business-friendly states in the country, the incorporating services side of the business grew exponentially. We brought on more staff. It was a great time.

Incserv50Timeline 1430x697 Today

Our location had a lot to do with our growth too. We had to physically take corporate filings to the state offices—and we were only three blocks away. So we had runners! In fact, Josh’s daughters, Stephanie and Linda, were two of our runners for a time. I think that speaks a lot to the family nature of the business. It really was—and still is—a family company.

We became known not only for our knowledge on complex corporate issues but for our approach. We never believed in being pushy. We believed in doing right by our clients and building relationships with them. A lot of those qualities sound old fashioned, but even to this day, it’s what our clients value. And I think it’s a big differentiator for us. 

By 1988, leadership recognized that the incorporating services portion of the firm could—and needed to—stand on its own. 

That’s when Incorporating Services, Ltd. was born as a totally separate entity. We spun Incorporating Services, Ltd. out from the law firm in a separate but still very nearby building. George took the initial lead. I was managing partner of the law firm from 1985 until 1988 when we separated the firm and Incserv. It wasn’t long before Incorporating Services, Ltd. had more employees than the law firm. 

In 1994, we opened the nationwide division which would ultimately lead to our expansion into all 50 states.

At this point, Josh, Sr., and I merged with Geri Street to form Twilley, Street & Braverman. Josh and I remained on the Incserv board. It is important to recognize the continuity and stability of the business. The current owners were all part of the original ownership or direct descendents of the original owners. In the company’s 50 years, only three people have served as board chair: Josh, Sr., his wife Rosemary Twilley and me. So we all had initial ownership interests, as well.  

In 2004, Josh’s son—who is also named Josh—became more involved with the company and eventually became president in 2009 and then CEO. 

What strikes me most about Josh’s leadership is how he values growing the business while never losing sight of what it was built on in the first place. The people, the relationships and an unwavering commitment to doing the right thing. 

That’s what it’s really all about.  And it has been such an exciting and wonderful ride over the last 50 years.

Here’s to 50 more years of service and success.