Message from the President

Over 90% of the employers in Delaware are, by definition, small businesses. Half of the workforce in the state is employed by a small business. A large majority of State Chamber members are small businesses because they value the opportunity to meet other large and small business leaders and expect us to carry their concerns to policymakers on proposed laws and regulations.

Running a small business is both rewarding and maddening. A typical day finds a small business leader filling in for an absent employee, talking to key customers or suppliers, bidding on new work, resolving human resources issues, or deciphering a new law or regulation. It’s a dizzying array of responsibilities and most of these tasks are learned over the course of time. For most small businesses, and especially those with under 10 or 15 employees, there is no legal counsel, environmental compliance specialist, or human resource professional “just down the hall” to consult with when issues arise. All of this makes starting a business, growing it, and managing it to higher levels, exciting, worrisome, and challenging.

That is why each year we recognize and celebrate many of the very best small businesses and nonprofits in Delaware by acknowledging them for their many accomplishments. Our Superstars in Business awards program and the Marvin S. Gillman Bowl recognize some of the very best among us. This is the 25th anniversary of the event and we could not be more excited! My hope is that you will consider applying in future years (if you are eligible), recruit other small businesses to do similarly, and nominate small business leaders deserving of recognition.