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Chamber challenges legislators Delaware State Chamber President and CEO Jim Wolfe challenged legislators to take a business-oriented approach to balancing the state's budget at the End-of-Session Legislative Brunch, held June 4, at the Dover Sheraton Hotel. Fiscal responsibility is the top item on the State Chamber's 2008 Legislative Agenda. "One of the key roles of the State Chamber is to advocate sound public and fiscal policy that will keep our state strong, protect and create jobs and grow the economy," Wolfe said to approximately 200 legislators and businesspeople. "We believe this can be accomplished without tax increases." Wolfe continued, "There are tough choices to be made. The Minner administration tells us that everything is on the table. I'm here to challenge them to make sure that they are looking at the things business looks at - including sale of assets, leasebacks, buyouts, early retirement and the structure of the state's pension program. Our future economic strength depends on it." Wolfe also challenged legislators to keep Delaware schools a high priority. "Not only did continuing education for educators take a huge hit, but funding for Vision 2015 and student mentoring was effectively eliminated," Wolfe explained. "Delaware's public schools and our kids are not a low priority." Senate Majority Whip Patricia M. Blevins and House Majority Leader Dick Cathcart also discussed the state's $217.3 million budget shortfall for Fiscal Year 2009. Blevins said the state is facing one of the biggest budget challenges in a generation while still trying to meet the needs of Delaware citizens. "The important message is that we need to work together," Blevins said to the business community in attendance. State Chamber events Online registration is available at www.dscc.com. July 2 West Sussex Lead Group 8 - 9:15 a.m. Location: Delaware National Bank, 21035 N. DuPont Blvd., Georgetown Pre-registration required. For more information, call Chuck James at 302-576-6562. July 10 Dover Lead Group Meeting 8:15 - 9:15 a.m. Location: Coldwell Banker Amato Commercial Realtors, 500 West Loockerman St., 3rd Floor, Dover Pre-registration required. For more information, call Chuck James at 302-576-6562. July 10 East Sussex Lead Group Meeting Noon - 1 p.m. Location: Beach to Bay Real Estate Center, 17316 Coastal Highway, Lewes For more information, call Chuck James at 302-576-6562. July 14 Ambassador Committee Meeting Noon - 1 p.m. Location: State Chamber, 1201 N. Orange Street, Wilmington For more information, call Chuck James at 302-576-6562. July 16 West Sussex Lead Group 8 - 9:15 a.m. Location: Delaware National Bank, 21035 N. DuPont Blvd., Georgetown Pre-registration required. For more information, call Chuck James at 302-576-6562. July 24 Dover Lead Group Meeting 8:15 - 9:15 a.m. Location: Coldwell Banker Amato Commercial Realtors, 500 West Loockerman St., Dover Pre-registration required. For more information, call Chuck James at 302-576-6562. East Sussex Lead Group Meeting Noon - 1 p.m. Location: Beach to Bay Real Estate Center, 17316 Coastal Highway, Lewes For more information, call Chuck James at 302-576-6562. Duffield joins Chamber Karen Duffield joins the Greater Georgetown Chamber of Commerce as its executive director with over 25 years of management and nonprofit development experience. Following careers in real estate and medical management, Karen moved from her native Washington, D.C. to Delaware in 1995, and has since spent her professional life working with other Sussex County chambers and non profit associations. Karen was employed with the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce for nearly four years where she received on-the-job training in all areas of tourism, special event planning, financial accounting and membership development and retention. After moving to Milton in 1999, she was enlisted as the first executive director for the Milton Development Corporation (MDC,) a not-for-profit community organization dedicated to the revitalization of downtown Milton, and the renovation and restoration of the Town's historic theatre. Karen coordinated the successful effort to transform the Milton Theatre into a performing arts center, classic movie cinema house and community showcase. During her eight year tenure with the MDC, Karen also served as the executive director of the Milton Chamber of Commerce between 2000-2004, while owning and operating a popular Bed & Breakfast in Milton, as well. Karen has been a representative on the Southern Delaware Tourism Board, Milton's Economic Development Committee, and was a chairperson on the Bicentennial planning committee for the Town of Milton's 200th anniversary celebration last summer. She is involved in social action work, and serves on the board of the Gardenia House Foundation, which provides safe housing to single immigrant mothers and their children in Georgetown. Ms. Duffield received her bachelor's degree in communications and broadcast journalism from American University in Washington. She resides in Milton with her 4-year-old twin daughters. Cofrancisco joins chamber staff Kelly Cofrancisco has joined the staff of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce as program and communication specialist where she will provide support to the communications department, the Small Business Alliance and Advocates of Hope. Cofrancisco is a 2008 graduate of Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pa. She earned a bachelor's degree in business with a concentration in advertising. At graduation, she was honored as the co-recipient of the Frank Barry Leadership award, the highest student honor for leadership at Mercyhurst College. Prior to joining the State Chamber, Cofrancisco interned with The East Coast Promotion & Research Group based in Ocean City, Md. in 2006. In 2007, she served as the marketing intern at CertaPro Painters of Wilmington as well as working at Third Row LLC and Creative Media Group of Newark. NaVOBA reaches out to state NaVOBA, the National Veteran-Owned Business Association, held a press conference at Legislative Hall, Dover, recently in outreach to veteran business owners (VOBs). Ted Stazak, membership director of the national organization, presented the benefits of partnerships between chambers of commerce and veteran business owners to chamber executives, veterans organizations, the Delaware Small Business Administration, Small Business Development Center, and legislators as part of NaVOBA's Veteran Business Awareness Program. "One in seven small businesses is owned by a veteran and one in four working age veterans currently owns a small business," said Stazak, who was joined by David Skocik, a Delaware business owner and veteran who joined the organization nearly a year ago. Skocik owns PR Delaware, a Dover-based public relations business. Through affiliation with Delaware's chambers of commerce, NaVOBA will provide an opportunity for chambers to grow their membership and attain greater visibility while helping veteran-owned businesses succeed. NaVOBA was founded in Pittsburgh, Pa. in 2007 to provide a singe voice to advocate for issues important to business owners who are military veterans. NaVOBA works to convince corporate America and the government to consider using veteran-owned businesses as preferred vendors. It adds value by encouraging veteran business owners to join their local chamber of commerce. It fosters chamber growth while NaVOBA members benefit from chamber resources. For more information, visit www.NaVOBA.com or call 412-424-0164, ext. 114. Firebirds Grill to open Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, located just off of New Churchman's Road (Route 58), will open in July. This will be the first Firebirds location in the Northeast and the 14th nationwide. Guests can expect to experience well seasoned steaks grilled over the open flame, the signature item they built their reputation on seven years ago with their first restaurant in Charlotte, N.C. Firebirds is the creative concept of restaurateur Dennis Thompson, co-founder of Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon and Fox and Hound. The restaurant features both an indoor and outdoor stone fireplace where guests can kick back and relax fireside. Mahogany woods, bold colors and stacked stone columns make for a cozy, comfortable setting. Longtime Delaware resident, Mark Eason, president of the company for three years, will be in charge of operations. Mike Lieber, formerly with the Iron Hill Restaurant and Brewery for eight years, will serve as general manager. Head Chef is Brandon Prazma. For more information, visit www.firebirdsrestaurants.com. Oyster project honored The Delaware Bay Oyster Restoration Project was honored recently with the 2008 Government Award at the 26th Annual Recognition Dinner hosted in Philadelphia by the Water Resources Association of the Delaware River Basin. Lieutenant Colonel Gwen E. Baker of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers presented the award to Dr. Eric Powell, director of Rutgers University's Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory in Port Norris, N.J. Powell accepted the award on behalf of the 10-member Delaware Bay Oyster Restoration Task Force. Since 2004, the Delaware Bay Oyster Restoration Project has contributed approximately $40 for every $1 invested, or roughly $168M, to the state economies of both Delaware and New Jersey. According to estimates, that ratio may reach as high $50:$1 once harvests take place for the first time this year. This success comes as a result of the task force's large-scale reef enhancement program in Delaware Bay, which has increased oyster recruitment, or survival among juvenile oysters, by two-fold during that same time frame. The bi-state coalition has done this by depositing more than 1.4 million bushels of oyster and clam shells onto historic reefs, which provide oyster larvae with a clean, hard place on which they can attach, grow, and reach their full potential. "This program is vitally important not only for the health of our state economies, but also for the health of Delaware Bay and the many species that depend on it," said Powell. "Were it not for shell-planting activities, we might very well have lost a regional fishery to disease, habitat loss, and other factors that repeatedly decimated the population both in the 1950s and the 1990s." For more information, visit www.DelawareEstuary.org. Fulton declares dividend Fulton Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: FULT) will pay a quarterly cash dividend of 15 cents per share on its common stock on July 15, 2008 to shareholders of record as of June 20, 2008. Fulton Financial Corporation, a $16.1 billion Lancaster, Pa.-based financial holding company, has 3,900 employees and operates more than 265 branches in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and Virginia through 10 affiliate banks. For more information, visit www.fult.com. Fulton Financial reports earnings Fulton Financial Corporation earned $41.5 million for the first quarter ended March 31, a 0.9 percent increase from the same period in 2007. Diluted net income per share for the quarter increased to 24 cents, unchanged from 2007. Diluted net income per share for the quarter increased 9.1 percent from the 22 cents reported in the fourth quarter of 2007. Total assets at March 31, 2008 were approximately $16.1 billion. "Strong loan growth and new revenue producing initiatives in combination with tight expense control enabled us to produce improved results despite continued economic uncertainty," said R. Scott Smith Jr., chairman, chief executive officer and president. Fulton Financial Corporation is a Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based financial holding company. Best Western Smyrna Inn opens Best Western International announces the opening of the Best Western Smyrna Inn located at 190 Stadium Street in Smyrna. Owned by Smyrna Hospitality, LLC, this brand-new, non-smoking hotel offers 73 guest rooms including three suites. Each room features a refrigerator, microwave, in-room safe, LCD television and wireless high-speed Internet access. The hotel also offers a meeting facility to accommodate up to 75 people and a full-service business center complete with a computer and printing services at no charge. Rates start at $79.99 per night. For more information, visit www.bestwestern.com. Trinity increases protection In response to industry and economic changes, Trinity Transport, Inc. of Seaford, a third-party logistics company, has chosen to upgrade the protection offered to its shippers by increasing the value of its property/surety bond from $10,000 to $100,000. A surety bond ensures the financial responsibility of brokers by providing for payments to shippers or motor carriers if the broker fails to carry out its contracts, agreements, or arrangements for the supplying of transportation by authorized motor carriers. Trinity Transport, Inc. is licensed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) as a broker arranging the movement of materials by motor carrier. In this capacity, Trinity is currently required to meet certain qualifications to conduct business, which includes the compliance of a $10,000 surety bond. "In support of the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) and other transportation lobbyists, "said Robert Farrell, vice president of corporate risk, "Trinity has chosen to proactively get in front of the bill before Congress and do so in a voluntary way through the TIA. Eventually, all brokers will be required to increase their respective surety bonds." Trinity constantly looks for areas to provide greater value for its customers. Trinity receives Torch Award Trinity Transport, Inc. of Seaford, a third-party logistics company was awarded the Better Business Bureau of Delaware's Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics at the Better Business Bureaus' 43rd annual membership dinner. The Torch Award is given annually to a select group of companies that truly embrace and illuminate the importance of corporate conscience and responsibility to uphold a fair and honest marketplace. Brandy McMullen, director of marketing for Trinity Transport said, "Trinity is honored to accept this award to representￊour long standing history in upholding integrity in the marketplace. Each member of Team Trinity works very hard each day to ensure that our customers, carriers, and fellow coworkers feel as if they were treated fairly and with the highest regard for ethics. We're here to serve others and are humbled by the receipt of the 2008 Torch Award." Trinity's call to community service and civic leadership has spanned generations. As a result of this dedication, the employees of Trinity created the Trinity Foundation in 2005. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization formed to give structure to the efforts of Trinity's team members who were already active in the community. Trinity has a long history of volunteer service, and more than 80 volunteers perform community service each year on behalf of the organization. For more information, visit www.trinitytransport.com. Rainbow Earth offers new line Rainbow Earth Foods is now carrying a wide variety of healthy foods prepared by Edible Art Foods of Rehoboth. Daily selections include organic and natural salads, wraps, burritos, entree salads, soups and snacks. Rainbow Earth receives fresh deliveries from Edible Art Foods several times a week. "Our offerings are always fresh, we have some staple items in each delivery and some new and exciting items are always added," stated Michael Gonzalez, owner of Rainbow Earth Foods. Edible Art Foods is owned and operated by Chef Deberah Sutter and Lois Pellegrino. For more information, call Rainbow Earth Foods at 302-227-3177. Wilmington Trust shares results Wilmington Trust Corporation (NYSE: WL) reports that earnings for the 2008 first quarter were $0.62 per share (on a diluted basis), the same as for the year-ago first quarter. Net income for the 2008 first quarter was $41.4 million, compared to $43.0 million for the year-ago first quarter. In consideration of the company's capital strength, the board of directors approved a $0.01 increase in the quarterly cash dividend, raising it 3% from $0.335 per share to $0.345 per share. On an annualized basis, this increased the dividend from $1.34 per share to $1.38 per share. Bakery featured on Rachael Ray Bella's Cookies was featured on an episode of the nationally syndicated The Rachael Ray Show recently. The organic and vegan bakery was selected as provider of the show's daily "Snack of the Day" segment, sending bagged cookies to New York City for taping. Citing their support of family businesses, the concept of the company, a commitment to healthy eating and the taste of their cookies, the show found the ideal snack provider in Bella's Cookies, and is the first company from Delaware to be featured on the show. "Snack of the day" is a daily segment where host Rachael Ray highlights and discusses a certain snack distributed to her audience members and show guests. Bella's Cookies shipped 200 bags of it's Baby Bella's Champion Chunk (mini Chocolate Chunk) cookies. The Rachael Ray Show is an Emmy award-winning, daily one-hour syndicated talk show and is among the top-ranked daytime programs on television.
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