Today and Tomorrow Conference: The power of collaboration in Delaware
Delaware Technical Community College, Owens campus, hosted the 24th Sussex County Today and Tomorrow Conference, “The Power of Collaboration: Building a Stronger Community Through Partnership” on Oct. 26. The conference consisted of three presentations, a discussion panel, two break-out sessions, and ended with a keynote address by Delaware Governor John Carney Jr.
The event attracted local business owners, elected officials and administrators, alongside Delaware Tech students and staff members.
Two presentations by 1 Million Cups, a program designed to educate, engage and connect entrepreneurs with their communities, kicked off the conference.
Lifecycle business owners Ben Jones and Jenn Rowan spoke about how their business promotes the outdoors. Jimmy Wheatley of VR Wheatley discussed making virtual reality teacher-friendly and affordable.
The panel discussion consisted of both business owners and community members, all hailing from diverse backgrounds.
Panel guest speaker, and President and CEO of Beebe Healthcare Jeffrey Fried said, “Change is constant and collaboration stems from relationships. Without collaboration, we wouldn’t be here.”
Fried mentioned how collaborating with Nanticoke Health Services improved the community by sharing data and a community facility.
Delaware Tech President Dr. Mark T. Brainard and Woodbridge School District Superintendent Heath Chasanov highlighted Delaware Tech’s dual enrollment program with local high schools. Many high school students either do not wish to attend college or aren’t ready to enroll in college right after graduating.
“Not every student wants to go to college, but they still deserve opportunities,” Chasanov said. “Partnering with Delaware Tech has done tremendous things for Woodbridge High School students. It has allowed students who either aren’t ready to attend college after graduation or wish to join the workforce to be able to get better jobs.”
The dual enrollment program allows students to earn college credits that are transferable to many colleges while in high school. The program allows students to gain work experience through earning work hours interning alongside with taking classes.
Matt Holloway, owner of Baywater Farms, and Carlie Carey, owner of One Coastal Restaurant, explained how their partnership bloomed through collaboration. Carey needed an agricultural supplier to provide her with fresh produce so she could bring the farm-to-table concept to her restaurant. Baywater Farms was the perfect solution.
“We weren’t able to do everything ourselves,” she said. “Without collaboration with other agricultural vendors and partners, we would have gone down in flames.”
The conference was not just for business owners, it also served as a learning platform for Delaware Tech students.
Entrepreneurship student Daniel Wilson participated at the conference as a volunteer.
“I wanted to volunteer at this event so I could network with likeminded individuals and see what the business atmosphere was like,” he said.
Fellow volunteer and Entrepreneurship student Richard Walizer attended the event for the learning experience.
“I wanted to meet people and hear what successful business owners and entrepreneurs had to say,” he said.
A highlight of the conference was the keynote address given by Gov. Carney. Carney started off his address by saying how much he loved laid-back Sussex County and the beauty of it from the window of a helicopter.
Gov. Carney later addressed Delaware’s need for young talent in the workforce, as well as the cost of healthcare. He tied in the theme of collaboration by explaining how tourism fuels many of the small businesses in Delaware, especially in Sussex County.
“The future is going to be more about small businesses and entrepreneurial ventures,” he said.
The free continental breakfast provided allowed attendees to network before the first presentation started. Photo by H. Myles
Carlie Carey expressed how liberating it was to accept that she couldn’t do it all with her business and to seek out partnerships to aid her business endeavors. Photo by H. Myles