New Castle County Chamber of Commerce December newsletter

A Publication of New Castle County Chamber of Commerce December 2014

This Edition

2 I Chamber Events Matter

3 I Featured SchoolFreire Charter School Comes to Wilmington: Now Enrolling

4 I Legislative Connection2014 Mid-Term Elections Some Things Change; Some Stay the Same

148th General Assembly Begins in January; Congress Could Learn a Thing or Two

5 I Economic DevelopmentJeff Flynn Addresses the Economic Development Council

Office Space Available at the Emerging Enterprise Center

6 I Calendar of EventsNetworking, Business Education,Legislative Events & More

7 I Membership MattersNew Member Listing

Save the Dates - January events

8 I Member ProfilesRamones Flowers has Arrangements for any Occasion

4 Seasons Liquors StoreA Wide Variety for Any Taste

9 I Chamber Networking ProgramThe Chamber Networking Programhas Something for Everybody

11 I Ribbon Cuttings

Over the last decade, elect-ed leaders and educators

have sought out new ways toensure that New Castle County has an effective system of schools that willprepare students for the workforce orfor college. The expansion of Charterschools has been a large part of the ongoing education reform process particularly in Wilmington. Recently, anew and highly successful charter highschool from Philadelphia, the Freire Charter School, announced its final plansto open for the 2015-16 school year.

The Freire Charter School (pro-nounced--“Free-air-ee”) was founded in1998, and is one of the oldest charterschools in the State of Pennsylvania.Since its inception, Freire Charter School(FCS) has provided a rigorous collegeprep education in a safe and non-violentlearning environment where educationcan take place inside and outside theclassroom. In 2013, over 80% of the students qualified for the free or reducedprice lunch program and 94% of thegraduates went on to college. There is a

new statistic,the CollegePersistenceRate, startedin 2010 thatdemonstratesthe effective-ness of ahigh schooleducation asit relates tosuccess incollege. TheCollege Per-s i s t e n c eRate showsthe percentage of students returning toschool after the first year. While the nationalaverage was 68%, the Freire School posteda rate of 90%.

On April 17, 2014, Freire Charter School(FCS) was granted a charter by the Delaware

Freire Charter School Comes to WilmingtonNow Enrolling

w w w . N C C C C . c o m

Department of Education to opena new campus in Wilmington,Delaware. Just last month, Freire

announced that they would set up operationsin the former Blue Cross Building locatedat 201 W. 14th St., in the Mid-Town Brandywine neighborhood which is situatedbetween the Christiana Care’s WilmingtonHospital and the Hercules Building.

Continued on page 3.

Thank you to BrandywineExecutive Center for being the 24th Annual Entrepreneurial & BusinessWomen’s Expopresenting spon-sor. Thank you to our returning

Sponsors as well foryou ALL contribute to the

success of the day!

C H A M B E R E V E N T S M A T T E R

2 I December 2014 I www.ncccc.com New Castle County Chamber of Commerce

Visit

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alendar

24th Annual Entrepreneurial & Business Women’s Expo

Coffee Connections at Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

Members enjoyed early morning networkingalong with two complimentary fresh hot doughnuts and of course a cup of delicious coffee at Krispy Kreme Doughnuts in New CastleAn impressive crowd gathered to hear Kay Keenan, President of Growth Consult-

ing present this business education event on Guerilla Marketing: High Impact on aTight Budget

Finding Your Next Customer

A special thanks to our fabulous workshoppresenters and our Women’s Expo Committeemembers for making the 24th Annual Entrepreneurial & Business Women’s Expo a great success.

The hustle and bustle of nearly 600 attendees during the afternoon showcase. Thank you to our 100 (+) vendors for your continued support, dedication and time…you are greatly appreciated!

2013 BusinessWoman of the Year,Bridget A Erhard presented this year’s award to Amy Eschenbrennerof Blue Hen Bed & Breakfast

Mark Kleinschmidtand last year’s Entrepre-neurial Woman of theYear, Connie R. Charles, present the 2014 Entrepreneurial Woman of the Yearaward to Janet Killian,President of Gemini Janitorial Services.

Melinda F. Emerson,“SmallBizLady,” deliv-ered the keynote addressto the 400 attendees of theawards luncheon.

F E A T U R E D S C H O O L

www.ncccc.com I December 2014 I 3

restaurants and he founded and servedas the first director of the very highly acclaimed Philadelphia RestaurantSchool. He returned to school to completehis Ph.D. in Organizational Dynamicsand to further his interest in discoveringpromising education models for the future,which lead to the establishment of theFreire Charter School and more recentlythe I-LEAD Charter School in Reading,Pennsylvania, which opened in September 2011.

To get the initial Freire School up andrunning, Guben hired Kelly Davenportas the first Head of School in 1997. Kellyhas since become the CEO of all FreireSchools and was very instrumental inbringing Freire to Wilmington. She isno stranger to the First State as she livedin Wilmington for ten years. To furtherstrengthen their Delaware roots, Freirewill have Bill Porter, a Delaware nativeand a graduate of St. Elizabeth’s HighSchool and the University of Delaware,as the Head of School in Wilmington.The School has also established a Board

Freire Charter School Comes to WilmingtonNow Enrolling

family therapists to assist students inhandling problems that might developat home.

Since such a high value is placed upona safe and non-violent learning environ-ment, each new student must participatein a one week summer clinic where theylearn what it takes to be a successful stu-dent at Freire which includes under-standing the code of conduct, the needto seek non-violent resolution to prob-lems, that it is ok to ask questions andask for help, and most importantly, howto display the “behavior of scholarship.”

The education process at Freire alsoincludes the commitment of the studentsfamily to support the non-violent phi-losophy of the school and the need tomaintain a strong focus on getting intocollege and succeeding. In fact, the stu-dent and family must sign a pledge tostrengthen their commitment.

The People of FreireThe school is named after the innova-

tive Brazilian educator, Paulo Freire,who promoted the concept of a differentschool that focused on the value of aclassical education for economically dis-advantaged students. He believed thatthe traditional education system did notdo enough to reach the poor so he cham-pioned a holistic approach to help un-derserved students to think criticallyabout their place in the world.

It was the work of Philadelphia entre-preneur and educator, Jay Guben that

got the FreireSchool started.Guben was partof Temple Uni-versity’s Centerfor CommunityStudies where hefirst became in-volved in urbanissues, and duringthe 70’s and 80’she helped startand run over ten

The five-story building is currently beingrenovated into a state-of-the art learningfacility that will initially offer grades 8, 9and 10 and then expand to grades 11and 12. It will eventually be able to accommodate up to 550 students. Therenovations are projected to be completedby June of 2015 and the school will startout with roughly 20 teachers and add 10more as the student body grows.

Classes at the Wilmington campuswill run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., but theschool will remain open for additionalhours to accommodate services such astutoring and academic advising. One ofthe unique aspects of Freire, which alsohelps their students to excel, is the useof students as paid tutors to work withother students.

Keys to SuccessOne of the primary reasons for the

school’s success can be traced to its mis-sion statement which promotes the con-cept of everyone working together tocreate a safe community that is free fromviolence and bullying, allows people toexpress individuality, sets high expecta-tions, and provides support so that allstudents may grow and reach their fullestpotential. To further support a non-violentenvironment and promote academic suc-cess they offer peer mediation for re-solving disputes and an academic advisorfor every grade, college counselors whoare familiar with everything from iden-tifying good campus matches for studentsto completing financial aid forms, and

Believing in the power of a college education to unlock doors for me, I promise to commit myself to all that it takes to be college ready. Believing in the beauty of a non-violent world, I promise to solve

differences in a peaceful manner. In making these promises to myself and to the community at large, I demonstrate my specific interest in

the mission of Freire Charter School.

of Directors from a diverse cross sectionof the Delaware community. They include:Latisha Bracey, Project Director, Officeof U.S. Senator Christopher Coons; GeraldEscovitz, M.D., retired Vice Dean, Med-ical College of Pennsylvania; John Pierson,Vice President, YMCA of Delaware;William Porter, Ex-officio, Head of SchoolFreire Charter School Wilmington; HalReal, J.D., Founder & CEO, World CaféLive; Henry Smith III, Ph.D., DeputySecretary, Delaware Health and SocialServices; and Felicia Wenell, former RedClay School District teacher.

Looking For Students The Freire School is now in the

process of accepting applications for the2015-16 school year. Next year, the FreireSchool will serve any and all 8th-10thgrade students in the City of Wilmingtonand surrounding suburbs; Freire uses arandom lottery system to determine en-rollment. There are no entrance tests,but any student coming to Freire is undertaking a significant academic commitment and must fully support the“Behavior of Scholarship.” Here are somekey deadlines for the application process:

January 14, 2015

Application Deadline to be considered for Lottery

February 2, 2015

Admissions Lottery Held

If you would like to apply now and be apart of the first class at Freire Wilmington,visit www.freirewilmington.org and getmore information and an application.

Continued from page 1.

Student Pledge

In what is being broadly seen as a demonstration of discontent among theAmerican electorate, the Republican Partygarnered substantial gains to their alreadydecisive majority in the U.S. House of Rep-resentatives and a new majority in theUnited States Senate. Turnout was ex-ceedingly low among the Democratic baseand among the electorate generally. Turnoutnationally was a 36.3 percent of eligiblevoters, the lowest turnout since 1942. Itgot as low as 28 percent in Indiana. At the

same time, Republicans will enjoytheir largest House majority sincethe Truman Administration. Atthe state level, it appears thatthe Republican Party has beatentheir previous record for num-ber of seats held in state legis-latures around the country. Returns indicate that they will hold

4,001 out of 7,382 existing seats.

In the House, Republicans added 12seats to their already substantial 233 to 199majority (three vacancies). In the 114thCongress, which begins in January, the GOPwill hold at least (pending undecided races)245 seats. In the Senate, with Louisianastill undecided, the Republicans will hold53 seats, which is likely to become 54, basedon how the Landrieu/Cassidy runoff isshaping up.

With the economic recovery not trans-lating a measurable increase in householdincome or economic prospects for manyAmericans, discontent among many of theDemocratic Party’s key constituencies wasweak. Widespread discontent with the Affordable Care Act, protracted U.S. Militaryinvolvements abroad and a general sensethat, though corporate profits are up, thelot of the average American has not appreciably improved, caused many ofthose who did turn out to vote Republican.Presidents frequently experience similarbacklashes during mid-term elections. Thisyear’s results, however, are notable for theextent of the backlash.

Going into the election, Rasmussen Reports polling indicated that the generic

L E G I S L A T I V E C O N N E C T I O N

4 I February 2014 I www.ncccc.com New Castle County Chamber of Commerce

2014 Mid-Term Elections Some Things Change; Some Stay the Same

congressional vote favored Republicans 44to 41 percent. The poll was among likelyvoters, but it seems that the definition of“likely” this year may have needed someadjustment. Also during the week beforethe election, an NBC/Wall Street Journalpoll indicated that President Obama’s jobapproval rating was at only 42 percentwhile his disapproval rating was a full tenpoints higher at 52 percent. As to thequestion of whether the country is on the“Wrong Track” or headed in the “RightDirection,” an NBC/Wall Street Journalpoll from November 2 indicates a decideddiscontent with 63 percent of respondentsindicating that our country is on the wrongtrack. Only 27 percent indicated that theythought America was headed in the rightdirection (10 percent replied “do not know”or “no opinion”). The Real Clear PoliticsAverage (an aggregate of leading polls) in-dicated a miniscule 12.8 percent approvalrating for the Congress prior to Election Day.

Among the questions arising fromrecent events are whether there will be an-other government shutdown should theadministration and Congress not be ableto come to terms on a debt ceiling increase,how far the President will go with regardto the use of executive orders to implementchanges to immigration policy and whetherboth Houses will vote to repeal the Af-fordable Care Act in the coming Congress.

Here in Delaware, two of the threemembers of the Delaware CongressionalDelegation were on the ballot this year,Senator Chris Coons (D) and Representa-tive John Carney (D). Senator Chris Coonswas reelected with 55.8 percent of the voteversus Republican challenger Kevin Wade.Wade pulled 42.2 percent of the vote, whileGreen Party candidate Andrew Groff gar-nered the remaining two percent. Con-gressman John Carney (D) won his thirdterm as Delaware’s sole member of theHouse of Representatives with a convincing59.3 percent of the vote versus RepublicanRose Izzo, who received 38.2 percent withthe difference split among two third partycandidates.

Interestingly, it appears that despite thesubstantial gains made in the recent electionsby the Republican Party, Democrats inCongress are staying with the leadershipthat they came into the election with. HarryReid (D-Nevada) will be the Senate minorityleader, Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) will bethe minority whip. In another indicationthat Democratic leadership is not chastenedby recent events, a new leadership position(special advisor) has been created for leftof center Massachusetts Senator ElizabethWarren. As for the Senate majority, MitchMcConnell (R-Kentucky) will be the ma-jority leader and Jon Cornyn (R-Texas)will be the whip. In the House, NancyPelosi (D-California) will be the minorityleader and Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland) willcontinue to be the minority whip. JohnBoehner (R-Ohio) will continue as speaker;Kevin McCarthy (R-California) will serveas majority leader; and Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) will continue as majority whip.

There is still considerable work to bedone. With the reelection to the leadershipof both parties the same individuals whobrought our nation years of gridlock, con-tinuing resolutions instead of federal budgets,two instances in which the federal govern-ment flirted with default, a governmentshutdown and a 12.8 percent approvalrating, one can be forgiven for taking askeptical view of the prospects for progressin the 114th Congress. Nonetheless, hopesprings eternal. Some of the best work ofthe Clinton Administration occurred withCongress controlled by the opposition.Time will tell.

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Governm

ent Affairs

In comparison to the Congress ofthe United States, the DelawareGeneral Assembly is a model of bipartisan cooperation, transparencyand rationality. The oft-maligned“Delaware Way” has worked for morethan two centuries and continues towork today. No legislative body isperfect, but the Delaware GeneralAssembly works in a way that Congresshas not for some years now.

A number of challenges face the

62 members of the legislature as they return in January, declining revenues in key categories, the needfor infrastructure improvements, on-going challenges where Medicaid andother nondiscretionary spending areconcerned are just a few examples.In an indication of confidence amongthe members of the four caucuses,leadership in the House and Senatewere reelected during the past coupleof weeks. In the House of Represen-tatives, Pete Schwartzkopf (D-Rehoboth Beach) will serve as speaker;Valerie Longhurst (D-Bear) as ma-jority leader; and John Viola (D-Bear)as majority whip. Danny Short (R-Seaford) will continue as minorityleader and Deborah Hudson (R-Fairthorne) as minority whip.

148th General Assembly Begins in January;

Congress Could Learna Thing or Two

Continued on page 10


E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T C O U N C I L

The Economic De-velopment Council

met Tuesday November18th to hear remarksfrom Jeff Flynn, recent-ly appointed by MayorWilliams as the city ofWilmington’s Econom-ic Development Direc-tor. Mr. Flynn briefedthe Council on econom-ic development in thecity and the just released Economic Development StrategicAction Plan.

The plan is a result of nine monthsof research from the consulting firm,Wadley-Donovan. Wadley- Donovanhas also done similar plans for NewCastle County and the Greater NewarkEconomic Development Partnership.The plan has ten initiative groups thatthe city wants to take action. Thegroups are marketing, workforce development, essential tools, crime reduction, development process improvement, public schools, improving

economic development efficiency and effectiveness, real estate and infrastruc-ture, young professionals and entrepre-neurs, downtown business developmentand city growth.

While change takes time Mr. Flynnsays that the city is hopeful about thefuture and he looks forward to imple-menting the Economic DevelopmentPlan and moving the city forward. Theplan can be found at www.Wilming-tonDE.gov/ government/econdevplan.

Jeff Flynn Addresses the Economic Development Council

Graduationsthis fall at

the Emerging En-terprise Centerhave opened upsome additionaloffice space fornew start-ups andearly stage busi-nesses looking for a jump start on theirway to a successful business! The Emerging Enterprise Center, located atthe New Castle County Chamber ofCommerce, is a business incubator thatprovides Support, Access to resourcesand Advice to help develop and nurtureentrepreneurs.

Qualified participants receive afford-able office space and business services,access to all of the training and net-working resources of the New CastleCounty Chamber of Commerce,plus on-site professional advice,mentoring and a network of pro-fessional advisors. The EmergingEnterprise Center (EEC) has avariety of office sizes in both in-

dividual offices ranging from 80 squarefeet to 342 square feet, and two to five-room office suites that range from 224square feet to 807 square feet. As partof the incubator program, leases are forsix-month increments for flexibility, andinclude secure access 24/7, receptionist,and the EEC Services Room which in-cludes a copier, fax, postage meter, indi-vidual secure mailboxes, coffee service,

microwave, and refrigerator. Theprogram also in-cludes free accessto conferencerooms, businesseducation and net-working eventsalong with men-

toring from experienced business people.

Founded in 2008, the EEC provides acomprehensive program that is designedto nurture entrepreneurs as the focus ongrowing their business, developing businessskills and refining their business modelso they can graduate with a businessmodel that is scalable and sustainable!

In 2013, small businesses were thelargest job generator in the U.S., as theyhave been historically. They will becomeeven more important as large business

continues with automation and efficiency improvement efforts. Smallbusiness provides financial opportunity and a chance to developwealth. Creative, motivated individ-uals can use their talents and

expertise to the fullest by providing satis-fying careers and job opportunities, andcontribute to the market economy.

What Types of Businesses are Candidatesfor the Emerging Enterprise Center?

There are several qualifications thatthe Emerging Enterprise Center Admis-sion Committee looks at in determiningwho to admit to the program.

Office Space Available at theEmerging Enterprise Center

AAA Mid-Atlantic • ab+c Creative Intelligence • AstraZeneca Bancroft Construction • Bernardon Haber HollowayChristiana Care City of Newark • City of Wilmington

Commercial Industrial Realty Council • Committee of 100 • DE Taxes/DE StaffingDelaware BioScience Association • Delaware City Refining Company

Delaware Economic Development Office • Delaware River & Bay AuthorityDelDot • Delle Donne & Associates • Delmarva Power

DiSabatino Construction • Emory Hill Real Estate Services • Facility Services GroupGraybar • Greater Wilmington Convention & Visitors Bureau

Harvey, Hanna & Associates • Info Solutions LLCMaritime Exchange for the Delaware River and BayM&T Bank • New Castle County Government

New Castle County Board of Realtors • PNC Bank • Setting Properties, Inc.TD Bank • The Byrd Group • The Commonwealth Group

University of Delaware • Whiting Turner • Wohlsen ConstructionWILMAPCO • World Trade Center Delaware

For information on joining the EDC, contact Bob Chadwick at [email protected]

Economic Development Council Member List

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5:00 AM - 8:00 PMWinterfest Tabletop &Networking Expo

Sheraton WilmingtonSouth

8:30 - 11:30 AMCarpe Audientiam:Executive Level

Presence

7:30 - 9:00 AMPolicy Makers Movers &Shakers Breakfast withMayor Dennis Williams at

World Café Live at The Queen

Chamber Closed Christmas Eve

9:00 - 11:00 AMNew Castle CountyOpen for Business:

a FREE event; walk-inswelcome

Sun M o n T u e W e d Thu Fr i S a t

D E C E M B E R E V E N T S C A L E N D A R


Save th

eDate fo

rCham

berpalooza on February 20th

UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTEDAll events are held at the New Castle County Chamber,12 Penns Way. Call (302) 737-4343 for details.

To register for events, please visit www.NCCCC.com and click ‘Calendar & Registration’

Chamber ClosedChristmas Day

Chamber Closed


Atlantic BarterBusiness & Professional Services(302) 654-5650www.atlanticbarter.com

Be Barre FitHealth & Wellness(302) 234-4300www.bebarrefit.com

Brandywine BodyworkHealth & Wellness(302) 798-1639www.brandywinebodywork.com

BrigAccentsEducation & Training/ Jewelry/Real Estate(302) 383-2550www.brigaccents.com

Carol Cole Salon & SpaBeauty/Haircare/Cosmetic Services(302) 313-6691www.facebook.com/carolcolesalonandspa

Champion Performance DevelopmentBusiness & Professional Services(732) 421-5170champperformance.com

Cinemark - Christiana and XDTheatre(800) 246-3627www.cinemark.com

Daash KleaningCleaning Services & Supplies(302) 983-5246

DCG Paradigm ConsultingConsultants/Consulting(302) 529-1830www.winwithdcg.com

Delaware PromotionalsAdvertising & Marketing(302) 328-5072www.delawarepromotionals.com

Elliott GreenleafLegal Services(302) 384-9400http://elliottgreenleaf.com

HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of MiddletownHealth Care(302) 574-0047www.healthsouthmiddletown.com

Interior PlantscapesFlorists & Fruit(302) 530-6774www.lynnesflowers.net

Modern Essentials Med SpaHealth & Wellness(302) 442-6367www.modernessentialsmedspa.com

OverTime Bar and GrillRestaurant(302) 543-7776www.overtimede.com

Rekindled SpiritsHealth & Wellness(302) 354-9054www.rekindledspirits.net

RGB DesignAdvertising & Marketing(732) 821-7180rgbdesigngroup.com

Safe Pest Solutions - The Mosquito AuthorityEnvironmental Services(302) 242-8140www.mosquito-authority.com

Sports DefendersSports & Recreation(302) 653-0770www.sportsdefenders.com

Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research, Inc.Non-Profit Organizations(302) 737-9543www.tristatebird.org

Vape EscapeCigars Cigarettes & Tobacco(302) 737-8273www.vapeescapedelaware.com

N E W M E M B E R S

Join the Chamber to have your business listed here!

Visit www.ncccc.com or call (302) 737-4343.

List complete as of November 21, 2014

From document crea on to destruc on…

302.453.1500 800.464.0021 exceldigital.com

Copiers Scanners Network Installa on & Support Printers Shredders Paperless O ce Solu ons

Save the Date - January EventsJan 1, 2015

CHAMBER CLOSED; New Year’s Day

Jan 2, 2015 CHAMBER CLOSED

Jan 13, 2015 8:30 – 10:00 AM

Chamber Orientation, a FREE event (registration requested)

Jan 15, 2015 5:30 – 7:30 PM

Network at Night/Annual Member Meetingat Hilton Wilmington/Christiana

Jan 22, 20159:00 – 11:00 AM

New Castle County Open for Business:a FREE event; walk-ins welcome

M E M B E R S H I P M A T T E R S

Ramones Flowers isa family owned

and operated business located in Wilmingtonsince 1981. They haveoptions to fit every occasion or event forwhich you may need flowers.

Whether it is an anniversary, wedding, or other specialevent, Ramones has you covered.

You can visit their website andbrowse through their exten-sive collection, or drop byand visit their store locatedat 1904 Newport Gap Pikeand consult with their designer/staff. Their expert staff offerspersonalized service to create a

one of a kind arrangement tomake your event the talk of the town, oryour gift the most cherished.

Ramones is committed toensur-ing thatyou getexactlyt h e

flowers that youare looking forand arrange-ments that aresuited for yourevent. Ramonesis also commit-ted to makingsure your flow-ers are delivered

on time; they offer same day local deliveryfor most orders.

If you are looking for a gift or a wayto tell someone you’re thinking of them,this holiday season consider getting anarrangement from Ramones Flowers.www.ramonesflowers.com

Ramones Flowers has Arrangements for any Occasion


M E M B E R P R O F I L E S

Visit

www.NCCCC.co

m

& click ‘M

ember N

ews’

4 Seasons Liquors StoreA Wide Variety for Any Taste

Nis the time ofyear to plan

your holiday party.Not only do youneed to get yourguest lists andmenus together, itis also time tostock up yourliquor cabinet toprovide the perfectlibation. Whetheryou need beer,wine or liquor, 4 Seasons Liquors hasyou covered.

4 Seasons Liquors has a wide varietyfor any taste. You can browse their expansive wine collection or pick fromone of their wide ranges of beers. Theirstaff can assist you in gauging the quan-

tities needed for the size of your soiree,and they will honor all Delaware competitor coupons.

4 Seasons Liquors is located inNewark at 680 Plaza Drive. For moreinformation or to ask about their selection, call them at (302) 368-2137. www.NCCCC.com

of attendees who take advantage of the opportunity to exchange business cards and expand their business network. The “happy hour” atmosphere has become very popular and attracts between 100 to 150 attendees.

Network at Noon Held at various venues

throughout the County,the noon time period hasattracted between 75 to100 people at each mixer.By holding this “businesscard” exchange duringthe lunch hour, it allowsour members to maxi-mize the use of their time.

Mid-Day Networking Mixer The Mid-Day Mixer has been added to provide our

host venue the opportunity to participate in the Chamber’sNetworking Program without interfering with a busy lunchor dinner time. Over the last two years, the Mid-Day mixershave allowed our hosts to showcase their venue, and provided another great opportunity for our members toconnect with their next customers. Attendance at the Mid-Day Mixers ranges between 75 to 100 attendees.

Mega Marketplace………..…………….October

A unique format for a business to meet 80 to 100 otherbusinesses in half a day; this high speed networking formathas proven to be very popular and sells out quickly. Thisprogram is a great opportunity for our sponsors to get infront of a highly motivated group of local businesses. TheChamber will provide the sponsor with a table top display,the opportunity for the distribution of promotional material,and the opportunity to make comments at the event.

Speed Networking ………………Feb/April/July

It’s like speed dating for the business world! Get readyto make 24 new contacts in just 90 minutes! Participantswill have the opportunity to share a two-minute conversa-tion with the person seated opposite with each rotation: one side of the table remains seated and the other side rotates to the right. At the close of the event, participantsare encouraged to stay and further build on their new found relationships.

Women into Networking (W.I.N.) As a supporting program for the Chamber’s Business

Women’s Expo, the Women into Networking Program(WIN) provides business women with an exclusive oppor-tunity to expand their personal and business network at amixer that includes networking and a brief educationalpresentation. Attendance at the W.I.N. events has averagedabout 75 women.


C H A M B E R N E T W O R K I N G P R O G R A M

Networking is one of the most productive and cost effective ways you can spread the word about your business. The Chamber’s award winning networking program is thebest in the Greater New Castle County area. The Chamberhosts hundreds of events each year, with networking andbusiness card exchanges being a key part of most events. We schedule evening Networking Mixers, Mid-day Mixersand Network at Noon Mixers to be able to accommodate a variety of our members schedules. Take advantage of the numerous opportunities to meet potential clients and gain exposure for your business that the Chamber offers. Here is a brief overview of some of the networking events we have planned for 2015. We look forward to seeing you therewhile you make the most of your Chamber membership. Be sure to check out the January edition of Business Matters to learn about the Chamber’s Special Events.

SpringFest …………………………………April 16

This is a mini trade show that features over 30 vendorsand attracts over 300 people. The SpringFest kicks off theChamber’s official spring season and provides a great opportunity for those warm weather businesses such ashome improvement and landscaping companies to get ajump on their spring sales while providing our members access to a wide range of products and services.

Rockwood Ice Cream Festival…. June 27/28

Experience family fun for children of all ages at the Old Fashioned Ice Cream Festival at Rockwood. Featuringvendors, live music, local restaurants, eco-crafters and localcreameries serving the region's best ice creams, you won'twant to miss this! The Chamber will be offering opportuni-ties for our members to purchase discounted vendor boothsat the event.

Crab Cakes & Craft Beer Fest……...Sept 10

Join the Chamber for our first Annual Crab Cakes &Craft Beer Fest featuring local and regional craft beers towash down your favorite summer picnic foods. Enjoy music,entertainment and best crab cake contest!

WinterFest……..……………..……......December 9

Join New Castle County Chamber of Commerce staff,ambassadors, family and friends for a table top holiday mixerat its finest! There will be complimentary hors d’oeuvres,cash bar and a FANTASTIC silent auction to benefit a non-profit member. There is plenty of room for exhibits and vending of holiday gifts. What a perfect way to start celebrating the holidays and the end of the year!

Network at NightHeld at various locations throughout the County from

5:30 PM to 7:30 PM, the Network at Night format offers ahappy hour atmosphere with light hors d’ oeuvres and a cashbar. Network at Night has developed a very solid following

1. Have your networking tools with you at alltimes – Business Cards, nametag, pen, referral slips,foldover invite cards, etc.

2. Set a goal for the number of people you’llmeet. Make it a reasonable number, 3 or 4, not 20.

3. Act like a host, not a guest. Greet people asthey arrive. Select people that belong in your con-tact sphere with whom to spend more time.

4. Listen and ask the 5 Ws – Who, What, Where,Why, When. You have 2 ears and 1 mouth, usethem proportionally.

5. Give a referral whenever possible. Listen for opportunities to solve people’s problems by connecting them with other Chamber members.

6. Describe your product or service in 60 secondsor less.

7. Exchange business cards with people youmeet. Ask – can I contact you next week?

8. Spend 10 minutes or less with each person youmeet and don’t linger with friends and associates.You didn’t come here to socialize with people youalready know.

9. Write comments on the back of the businesscards you collect so you can remember the personlater. Write their needs on the card – building ahouse, moving, back trouble, looking to build a new business.And the most important step…

10. Follow up with the people you meet. Mostpeople collect business cards and never do any-thing with them. Contact each of the 3 or 4 peoplethat you connected with and invite them to yourreferral group meeting “I’d like to introduce you to the 20 people who help me build my business.”

The Chamber Networking Program has Something for Everybody

10 Commandments of Networking

By Dr Ivan Misner

Recognizing the role small busi-nesses play in the economy, thehighest consideration is given tobusinesses with the potential toproduce jobs and significant rev-enues in four to six years, and havethe intent to remain in New CastleCounty upon graduation! The otherprimary qualifications include:

• Be a new or an early stagebusiness (less than three

years), with a business license

• Have a written business plan

• Be privately held

• Have adequate working capital to enter into a six-month lease

• Be a current member, or become amember of the New Castle CountyChamber of Commerce.

For more information on the EmergingEnterprise Center you can visit theirwebsite, www.eecincubator.com.

Continued from page 3

SUP PORT C HAMBER M EMBERS


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In the Senate, Patti Blevins (D-Elsmere) was reelected president pro-tempore; David McBride (D-HawksNest) majority leader and MargaretRose Henry as majority whip. In thenewly-empowered Senate minority (a12-9 Senate means that Republicanswill enjoy a substantially increasedability to affect tax increases and otheritems requiring a 3/5 vote), Gary Simp-son (R-Millsboro) will be the minorityleader and Greg Lavelle (R-Sharpley)the minority whip.

As in Washington, there are debatesabout the appropriate size and reachof government, the role of organizedlabor, appropriate levels of taxation

and spending and various social issues.However, a key difference is that thesedebates occur largely without one sidedemonizing the other and without absurdhyperbole being issued by either side ofthe partisan divide.

As we approach the beginning of thecoming session, the Chamber is preparingto do what we always do: maintain adaily presence in the State Capitol duringsession, carry the message of small busi-ness and stand up for our membership.Legislative advocacy is a core part ofour mission. However, as we preparefor the battles ahead, it is good to reflecton the fact that what we have in ourstate works. Let's hope it stays that way.

148th General Assembly Begins in January; Congress Could Learn a Thing or Two

Continued from page 3

Visit

www.NCCCC.com

&

click Mem

ber New

s

Office Space Available at the Emerging Enterprise Center


R I B B O N CUT T I NGS

Join the Chamber today to build business connections and help your business GROW!

[email protected] (302) 737-4343

OverTime Bar and Grill is more than just your neighborhood watering hole.With a variety of homemade menu items, they specialize in juicy 1/2 lb burgers,jumbo chicken wings, and creamy crab dip. With eight beers on tap and over 25craft and import beers, they definitely have a brew to quench your thirst. Ifbeer is not your style, they have full selection of liquor and wine!Visit www.overtimede.com

Jake’s Wayback Burgers serves big, juicy hand-made burgers and realmilkshakes, crafted to order by a friendly staff. Delivering the freshest,most delicious food possible is Jake’s only philosophy. Wayback features a brand new "Burger of the Month" and "Shake of the Month." Burgersare only the beginning: house-made potato chips, all beef hot dogs, mari-nated chicken sandwiches, turkey burgers, specialty sandwiches and evenfresh salads round out the list. Visit www.waybackburgers.com

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Documents

New Castle County Chamber of Commerce December newsletter