EEC Graduates two Start-Up Companies

Posted on by New Castle County Chamber Blog Admin

By the end of July, two more start-up companies will have graduated the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce incubator program. Both companies will stay in New Castle County, and continue to grow and prosper.

“With the departure of these companies, the EEC will now have a couple of offices available to other companies wishing to take advantage of great space and the programtic services that the Emerging Enterprise Center offers” says Michael Tentnowski, Program Manager for the incubator.

Graduating companies include Fireside Partners, LLC and Data Machines, Inc.

Fireside Partners is dedicated to brand name protection through emergency response planning and on-site support. They do initial reviews of a company’s Emergency Response Plan (ERP) and provide recommendations and observations based on real-world accident experience, and help refine, audit, and test Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) to effectively manage a crisis. See www.firesideteam.com for more information.

Data Machines was founded in January 2000, and provides clients with world-class software and consulting for optimizing business processes. Founder George Huhn created Bubble Chart Pro and Optsee, business software packages that create custom charts for powerful presentations. Data Machines other products can be found at www.datamachines.com.

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Reps from TD, M&T and PNC Banks join Economic Development Council for Lunch and Discussion

Posted on by New Castle County Chamber Blog Admin

Mike MacFarland, left, of TD Bank, Bruce Colbourn of PNC Bank, and Chris Scarpitti, right, of M&T Bank, recently joined the NCC Economic Development Council for a luncheon and discussion forum.

Chris Scarpitti of M&T Bank, Mike MacFarland of TD Bank, and Bruce Colbourn of PNCBank joined a meeting of the New Castle County Economic Development Council to share their respective banks’ outlooks on the Delaware market for the coming months. County Executive Paul Clark, and County Council President Tom Kovach, and more than 30 Council members were in attendance.

Mike MacFarland delivered a synopsis of changes in lending practices, as well as TD’s outlook moving forward. The recurring theme of the conversation was the effect increased regulation has had on all three banks and the lending climate in general. Colbourn, of PNC Bank, and Scarpitti of M&T echoed the synopsis, pointing out that in residential, as in commercial lending, federal regulations, particularly those relating to reserve requirements, have constrained impacted banks’ ability to lend effectivelylending practices.

On a related topic, our bankers fielded a few questions regarding startup funding for entrepreneurs in Delaware. Scarpitti of M&T explained that while all three banks on our panel are very committed to supporting startups and growing jobs in the Delaware market, many startup firms are simply too risky to be considered credit-worthy at the beginning, or even at any stage in their development – thus the importance of venture capital and angel investors in helping banks to create job growth in our market.

Many attendees also had questions on foreclosures in the residential market. Mike MacFarland of TD Bank pointed out that neither TD, nor M&T or PNC holds many foreclosures on their balance sheet, a testament to the strength of Delaware’s banks.

PNC Bank, TD Bank, and M&T Bank are all members of the New Castle County Economic Development Council. For information on joining the EDC, please contact Bob Chadwick at (302) 294-2058.

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45 Down, 45 to Go

Posted on by New Castle County Chamber Blog Admin

We still need your help!

The 90 days in 90 members drive is still underway. We want May to be best month ever for new members. So…

If you refer a non-member business to become a member, and they join, you will receive a $25 Gift Card! The more businesses that join, the greater the odds of you winning the GRAND PRIZE iPAD!

That’s right, a new iPad!

For more information log on to our website at www.ncccc.com.

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NCC Chamber and IAAP Gather to Celebrate the Administrative Professional

Posted on by PaulBauernschmidt

Several of the wonderful professionals who keep Chamber businesses running at the NCC Administrative Professionals Day Brunch. Thank you all for your hard work!

The second annual Administrative Professionals Day drew a sold-out crowd to Newark’s Embassy Suites hotel. Hosted by the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce and the International Association of Administrative Professionals, the morning event celebrated, educated and motivated the region’s administrative professionals and their colleagues.

Following breakfast, a series of fabulous door prizes were handed out by Brooke Grubb of Unique Impressions in Newark. Later, the Administrative Professional of the Year Award was presented to the 2012 winner, Kelly Kershaw of the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition. Ms. Kershaw spoke of her important work at DBCC and how she could work at many other places but she has always been drawn to the idea of helping others and thanked her mother for making her “a born volunteer.” Joyce Dungee-Proctor, president and CEO of The Total You, Inc. and the author of the book, “Take the Limits Off-Nine Ways to Stop Talking and Start Doing” spoke of the importance of the administrative professional. She also provided tips and suggestions for self-mastery and encouraged the attendees to think about goals, dream big, and keep a wild imagination.

The IAAP is in its 60th year. It is a not for profit professional organization with over 28,000 members in nearly 600 chapters around the world. The Delaware Chapter was chartered in 1949 and currently serves over 60 members.

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The Emerging Enterprise Center Celebrates its Fourth Year in Business

Posted on by MichaelTentnowski

Mark Kleinschmidt, Chamber President, at the podium at a 2011 EEC Open House, attended by County Executive Paul Clark (pictured) and several EEC entrepreneurs.

The EEC will be celebrating its 4th anniversary at the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce. This event will be held on Tuesday May 1, 2012 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm.

Established in 2008, the EEC delivers business incubation and acceleration services to start-up companies. This program is the flagship project of the Chamber’s economic development efforts and represents a significant undertaking to create jobs, and to build and nurture a strong and vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem in New Castle County and throughout the state of Delaware.

With assistance of Senator Tom Carper, the EEC received Congressional support for our efforts in 2009. Prominent local organizations such as DuPont, Astra Zeneca, TD Bank, M&T Bank, Delmarva Power, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Delaware, AAA Mid-Atlantic and Comcast have helped make this program possible.

Milestone from the companies associated with the EEC:

• 50 new jobs have been created
• $6.2M in annual revenue was generated in 2011
• Over 400 internship hours were provided to students from area colleges

The Anniversary celebration will feature a major award presentation from AT&T Services, Inc., which will benefit EEC companies by allowing additional programs to be offered. You will also have an opportunity to tour the facility, meet the entrepreneurs in EEC program, and discover how important business incubation and acceleration is to job creation in Delaware.

Additionally, the EEC will be heading out into the community to participate in entrepreneurial and small-business events over the next few days.

EEC will display at the 2012 President’s Forum on Innovation & Entrepreneurship held at the University of Delaware on April 19th. Come see us at the Trabant Center Multipurpose Rooms while enjoying a fun-filled start up business event. Registration starts at 1:30 and the awards and reception will end at 7:30 p.m.

EEC will also be displaying at the Delaware Get Your Business Online with Google event held at the Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts on April 20th. Visit www.DelawareGetOnline.com for details. Doors open at 7:30 a.m. and close at 5:30 p.m.

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Supporting Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Posted on by BobChadwick

The NCCCC Emerging Enterprise Center, an initiative of the New Castle County Economic Development Council, is proud to support the
2012 University of Delaware President’s Forum on Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Thursday, April 19, 1:30-7:30pm
Trabant Center Multipurpose Rooms

The New Castle County Chamber of Commerce Emerging Enterprise Center will be a featured partner and exhibitor at the 2012 University of Delaware President’s Forum on Innovation and Entrepreneurship. This event will include presentations by entrepreneurs & community leaders, investor funding pitches, and exhibitions by business support organizations and startups. The forum’s goal is to bring together the university, startup, and business communities to create connections and promote economic well-being. Registration is free, but required because seating is limited.

For program details and registration, please visit: www.presforum-NCCCC.eventbrite.com.

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Calling All Women!

Posted on by New Castle County Chamber Blog Admin

Our own lovely and talented Events team, Heather Fisher and Pam Mayse, share a hug at the most recent W.I.N. event!

Ladies, come join us at our quarterly Women into Networking (WIN) event at Ed Oliver’s Country Club on Thursday the 12th at 5:30. Brooke Grubb from Unique Impressions will be speaking on Networking your way to Success and there will be table top displays, networking, door prizes and a free glass of wine! Gentlemen join us also at Ed Olivers on the same night at 5:30 but out on the deck for Cigar Connections where you guessed it, there will be cigar smoking of course, hors d’oeuvres, networking and drinking. The last hour the ladies event and the men’s event come together from 7:30 to 8:30 for a combined social hour, so come one come all…something for everyone!

Register and see more details at www.ncccc.com.

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The Strength of the Chamber is in its Membership!

Posted on by New Castle County Chamber Blog Admin

Chamber members connect at our 2011 Blue Rocks Night

And membership is behind the 90 members in 90 days drive. This special promotion will add even more value to the Chamber’s membership experience. This drive will add more retail, more restaurants, more entertainment, more lodging and more B2B and B2C opportunities!

The 90 members in 90 days membership drive is another promotion celebrating the chamber’s 90 year anniversary. Here’s how it works: help a friend, neighbor, client, business, or associate become a member of the between now and June 8, 2012 and win a $25 Visa gift card. Plus you will also be entered into the grand prize drawing for a new iPad. The more new members that you help sigh up, the more chances you have to win the grand prize.

The iPad will be given away at the June 13th Chamber of Commerce Night at the Blue Rocks. That evening will also be Throwback Cap Night and the first 1,000 fans will receive a replica cap worn by the 1947 Blue Rocks, courtesy of the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce. Details of the 90 in 90 promotion can be found online at www.ncccc.com.

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Considering a Chamber Trip? See This First

Posted on by New Castle County Chamber Blog Admin

By Frank J. Kenny

Note: This entry on the NCC Chamber blog is excerpted from Frank J. Kenny’s blog article by the same title.

Click here to read original post.

Even though a chamber trip is extremely affordable that doesn’t mean they are “no frills.”

These types of trips, whether going to China or say, Tuscany, when they are arranged through a chamber of commerce the pricing is very competitive because of the group buying power. I won’t mention the price of  a chamber trip here because they do vary but let me say there is no way in the world I could have enjoyed the tours, high end hotels, meals in excellent restaurants, the professional guides, and all the rest at twice the price if I had arranged it myself.

For example, on this chamber trip to China, we ate 3 meals each day, many of them in amazing restaurants, or in people’s homes. All of the hotels were at least 5 star with English speaking staff and fine restaurants representing cuisine from around the world. We visited many tourist attractions such as the Great Wall and several major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai. We also visited smaller cities of only 8 million people, or so. The balance of business and tourism was great.The tour guides were world class and spoke excellent English. They took great care of us and explained everything we were experiencing and seeing. They really cared that we stayed safe and had a great time. I wish I had some negative information to share with you but the trip really was fabulous.

A few tips: Bring walking shoes, extra snacks, such as granola bars, drink only bottled water (even for brushing your teeth), take bathroom breaks when you have the chance as their facilities aren’t always handy, bring a camera, and of course, be open minded.

I plan on visiting many more destinations around the globe through chamber trips. I recommend you do so too.

 

Upcoming NCC Chamber Trips

There are some exciting opportunites to travel with the Chamber in October of 2012: the Chamber Trip to Ireland and the Chamber Trip to China!

Chamber Trip to Ireland: October 14 – 22, 2012

HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Dublin City Tour – breakfast at the 1595 Man O’War Restaurant & Pub
  • Travel through midland region of Ireland – Rock of Cashel (medieval ruins)
  • Blarney Castle – acquire the “gift of eloquence” by kissing the famous stone!
  • See the rugged country side of County Kerry – Killarney
  • Tour Dingle Peninsula for spectacular views of Atlantic Coast
  • Visit Louis Mulcahy Pottery & Dingle Brewery
  • Ferry ride across the River Shannon
  • See Galway’s coastline and Cliffs of Moher
  • Connermara’s sweeping view of boglands and misty mountains
  • Cruise Killary Harbour aboard the catamaran “Connemara Lady”
  • See unique Irish crystal and marble in town of Moycullen
  • Clonmacnoise – 5th century monastery
  • Enjoy an ale at the Guinness Storehouse
  • Golf options available

 

Click HERE to learn more.

Chamber Trip to China: October 14 – 22, 2012

THE TOUR INCLUDES:

  • Round-trip airfare departing from JFK International Airport including transportation to and from JFK Accommodations at 4 and 5 star hotels
  • Three full meals each day
  • Daily sight-seeing tours English speaking tour guides
  • Deluxe bus transportation
  • Admission Tickets to tourist attractions
  • Business partners’ dinner/ conference and the opportunity to meet Chinese business owners.

 

Click HERE to learn more.

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Emerging Enterprise Center Lands International Company

Posted on by MichaelTentnowski

Idea Italia Employees in their new lobby at 12 Penns Way

The Emerging Enterprise Center (EEC) located at the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce (NCCCC) welcomes the first International Soft Landings company into the program. Idea Italia is a multi-media company from Italy that specializes in mobile applications (apps) for people on the go. They chose the acceleration program at the EEC due to the location in New Castle County, and because of the relationships they built at the Chamber and with EEC management.

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