Message from the President

By Michael J. Quaranta

Delaware has approximately 57,000 licensed businesses that operate in our state. There are millions of other businesses incorporated here and operating elsewhere, but within the boundaries, let’s just go with the 57k number. About 850 of the 57,000 have 50 or more employees, thus, leaving about 56,000 small businesses in the state.

The people that start businesses are many things: creative, entrepreneurial, motivated, and more. They oftentimes risk their own money, time, and energy taking a vison and turning it into a reality. This is an incredible undertaking under normal circumstances. Consider this: you’re a great cook and make outstanding food, but to open a successful restaurant you now have to lease space, buy equipment, hire and train employees, obtain appropriate licenses, keep a ready stock of fresh products, manage employees, market your establishment, the list goes on and on. Now consider this: very few of us have any experience with pandemics. This is just not something you cover in “B-School” or learn about while attending the “School of Hard Knocks” for that matter. As a small business, you may be the only person that can figure out what to do, how to comply, how to pivot, and how to keep your staff and yourself during incredibly dynamic circumstances.

In good times and troubled times, some businesses just stand out. They succeed and continue to pivot, prosper, and manage to be flexible! These people really do deserve our respect and admiration, and that’s why we celebrate their incredible achievements with our Superstars in Business program. This year, even we must show flexibility and pivot to make this marquee event a success. Therefore, we’ll gather virtually on November 4 to celebrate the accomplishments of our 2020 award winners. History may record this year as perhaps one of the most (non-war) challenging years on record. Please join us in recognizing an incredible group of small businesses, our Superstars in Business.