Message from the President

The overwhelming number of businesses in Delaware and, for that matter, across the country are small businesses with fewer than 50 employees. So here is a pro tip that “the big guys” use regularly. Get yourselves a summer intern or two, preferably a college student going into their senior year of school. This can be someone studying human resources, finance, bookkeeping, accounting, marketing, or things more technical like engineering, chemistry, or technology. Begin by reaching out to us or area colleges for help finding potential candidates. Do this now as many students will be looking for paid summer work to cover their summer needs or save money for the upcoming fall semester.

As a State Chamber member, you can enroll them in our Intern Delaware program that helps your interns learn more about Delaware, connect with other interns employed with other businesses, and feel more at home with you and our community. The goal of the Intern Delaware program is to help you—our members—keep talented people in our state and employed with businesses like yours.

Similarly, apprenticeship programs abound within our state for employers looking to hire people into the construction trades, healthcare, utility industry, warehousing, fabrication, and more. You can easily find programs for young adults starting out in the work world, or mid-career individuals looking for a change or better financial opportunity. Some of the very best education and training programs are recognized each year through our Superstars in Education and Training program, which shines a spotlight on programs that work. Our awards program allows for others to understand the importance, the impact, and how they too can assist in the effort of building up Delaware’s most important resource—our people. Our hope is that these programs can be replicated in other industries so that we, as a state, continue building talent pipelines.

Success in the future will go to the states that ready their workforce, keep up with changes, and remain fresh in the face of an evolving, dynamic, and sometimes disruptive world of business. It’s an exciting time and the opportunity to latch on to some very good people and make them your employee is available to you right here and right now.