Message from the President

          Congratulations to Chris Burkhard of CBI Group for being named
the Chamber’s Entrepreneur of the Year.  Chris has built his business on innovative thinking and hard work.  He also got a good bit of encouragement from his father Alan, who was the Chamber’s Small Business of the Year Award winner in 1987.  I guess it runs n the family.  Congratulations also go out to Paul Kalicky, the winner of the Entrepreneurial Advocate of the Year, and Amy Eshenbrenner, the Ambassador of the Year.

     Did you know that New Castle County has hundreds of nonprofit organizations  that provide a wide range of services, maintain many cultural and educational facilities and many promote public awareness about important social and health issues?  I bet you did not know that the Chamber has over 75 nonprofit organizations as members.

      We are very pleased to feature some of our nonprofit members in this edition of the Business Bridge.  Over the last year, the Chamber has strengthened our relationship with the nonprofit community, as we have expanded our Nonprofit Forum program, restructured the dues schedule for nonprofits to make it more affordable to be a member of the Chamber, and extended our health insurance program to the Delaware Association of Nonprofit Agencies.  In partnership with DANA and our sponsors, WSFS Bank and Farmer+Smith Public Relations LLC, the Chamber hosted its first Networking Luau on June 16th.  The goal of the Luau was to help nonprofit organizations strengthen their relationships with local businesses.  By all accounts, the Luau was a great success with over 100 people in attendance. There is already talk of the second annual Luau in 2011.

     Our legislative committees have been working overtime as they grapple with a number of issues that directly impact our members.  The Chamber will continue its efforts to monitor health care reform, Wilmington wage tax issues and the county’s sign code.  Our Annual Day on Capitol Hill proved to be very productive as we met with our congressional delegation and were treated to a bonus train ride to Philadelphia, courtesy of our friends at AMTRAK!

     Programs and activities at the Chamber do not slow down in the summer.  We are hard at work creating business development opportunities for you.  I hope to see you at one of our great summer events.  Make plans to join us August 27th for the Networking at Noon Mixer at the Chesapeake Inn.  Enjoy the summer and remember, Membership Matters!
 

Mark Kleinschmidt
President