Oursler Receives Award From Girls, Inc.

By Monica Scott

Local builder Marnie Oursler was recently recognized with the Girls, Inc. Strong, Smart, Bold Award at Delaware’s 24th annual awards event. Girls Inc. is a national network of nonprofit organizations with a goal of teaching girls independence and resilience through a wide range of interactive and educational programming.

The event, hosted at the Delaware Art Museum in Wilmington, honors women who are leaders in the community and inspiring role models for young women.

In 2009, Oursler built the Delaware’s first LEED-certified home. Last year, she teamed up with 84 Lumber on the national “We Build American” initiative, which seeks to increase domestic jobs by utilizing American-made building products. More information on that initiative can be found online at webuildamerican.com. It helps to match up American manufacturers of building products with builders.

Oursler said she was thrilled to be recognized with the award.

“It’s an honor,” said Oursler. “They are a great organization for girls and for the whole community.”

The other 2013 Strong, Smart, Bold honorees also included Tatiana Copeland and Cynthia Primo Martin.

According to their Web site at girsincde.org, the Girls Inc. movement started in New England during the Industrial Revolution as a response to the needs of young women who had migrated from rural communities in search of newly available job opportunities in textile mills and factories.

Oursler is a fourth-generation builder and founder of Marnie Homes, a custom-home builder in the Bethany Beach area.