Chair's Message

BY MARIE HOLLIDAY

IN THE 2023 ANNUAL REPORT issue of this magazine, Nick Lambrow’s chair message indicated that business owners and leaders believed that better communication was paramount to achieving our objectives. In pursuit of this improved level of communication, State Chamber members met with the State House and Senate leadership last spring to convey the policy initiatives that were important to the business community. The discussions focused on the business community’s challenges, such as talent recruitment, as well as successes, like upskilling our workforce.

These meetings between legislators and Chamber leadership were a great start and will continue in the future. But this was only the first phase of improving the communication process. Looking forward to 2024, if we expect to make a long-term difference and advocate for the business community, we need to forge lasting relationships with elected officials. An occasional meeting with policymakers will not be enough. The effort needs to be consistent and encompass more members of the business community.

Therefore, phase two of this communication process for 2024 is to encourage business leaders to set up a meeting with legislators in their respective districts—member-to-member meetings as the State Chamber calls them. Invite your state legislator to meet with you at your business location. Give them a tour of your facility and introduce them to your team members. Discuss your company’s successes and challenges and, if necessary, discuss your industry as a whole. Convey to your guest the policies that are important to you and how they impact your specific business. Recently, I hosted Senator Mantzavinos at Cover & Rossiter’s office. I discussed the current staffing challenges in public accounting as well as some of the Chamber initiatives. The experience was extremely positive, and I now have an advocate in my “corner”.

The business community fuels economic growth and prosperity for Delawareans. A working partnership between the business community and policymakers is important to maintain and move our state forward.

The State Chamber’s 2024 policy priorities are the following:

• Workforce Development, Training and Education

• Economic Development

• Fiscal Policy

• Health Care

• Environment, Energy and Sustainability

At the time of writing this message, the key issues identified in each initiative above were still being finalized. I’m especially interested in workforce development, training and education and what I can share with you is that approximately 3% of the workforce comes out of a high school, college, or university each year. We need to include in our focus the other 97% and support skills and training programs that help upskill adults so they can advance in their careers and help fill employers’ needs.

The business community fuels economic growth and prosperity for Delawareans. A working partnership between the business community and policymakers is important to maintain and move our state forward. In the past, I have not actively participated in these types of policy discussions and have relied on other individuals to be that “voice.” Many of you may have taken that same type of passive approach. However, if we expect progress toward our business and the priorities the State Chamber sets forth, we need to make a concerted effort to communicate our needs so that both business and the state as a whole prospers.

In 2024, I am committed to encourage businesses to build open and relevant communication channels with elected leaders, as well as to be an active “voice” in engaging our legislators in policy discussions important to the business community.

Marie Holliday, CPA is managing director of Cover & Rossiter.