Chair Message

Summer is in full swing and you can be tempted to sink into the “lazy hazy days” of not being as productive as maybe you should. However, that is not the case presently here at the Chamber. I am excited about the changes that have occurred with our remarkable organization as we work toward providing the best possible support and advocacy for businesses here in Delaware.

First, we have a newly renovated home! It’s always nice to have a facelift, but this feels like a game-changer for the organization. The modern amenities will provide a comfortable setting for our key constituencies to generate ideas and collaborate via networking events and meetings. The new office features a modernized workspace for our staff with bright, natural light-filled open areas and a welcoming environment. I believe this will enhance everyone’s efficiency and productivity because they will enjoy where they are working. It’s a beautiful space.

Probably the best aspect of our newly designed home is that we have finally arrived in the twenty-first century, technology-wise. We can now host meetings with the equipment and hightech know-how to produce impressive programs and events which are designed to solve problems and grow business and winning connections in the First State. Our updated and enhanced surroundings were long overdue and I believe it will prove to be a rewarding investment both aesthetically and in terms of building our footprint here in the First State.

Now, on to another important development here at the State Chamber. Anyone worth their salt knows that a strong strategic plan is key to an organization’s success. It sounds trite, but it’s true. The State Chamber has always been committed to performing at the highest level. In order to do so it has adhered to revisiting its strategic plan regularly and tweaking it when deemed necessary. Implementing a strategic plan makes for a robust organization. A strong organization results in positive results.

It’s that simple, even in times of economic uncertainty. We believe in a forward-thinking agenda not mired in minutiae but focused on solutions and strategies for our stakeholders—employers and their employees—with success on their minds, but also facing the inevitable challenges and threats. Our job is to help them navigate it all.

A key part of this plan will be a largescale survey of our members later this summer to determine what it is that keeps them up at night, what threats they see on the horizon, and where they see our communities working together to ensure a better understanding of what will help us all succeed. Your participation will be crucial to developing a focused plan of action.

It’s important for our organization to continue following a larger vision and purpose, and ensure we are on the right course. A strategic planning committee is in the formation process and will work together through the fall with the goal to have an approved plan ready to implement beginning in January 2025. I can’t wait to see what’s next.