Delaware Deep Dive

Delaware isn’t alone in navigating a period of rapid transformation. Political, geopolitical, technological, environmental, and demographic changes are reshaping how consumers spend, businesses operate, and leaders plan for the future. In this episode, Kelly is joined by Rodger Levenson of WSFS Bank and Chip Rossi, recently retired from Bank of America, to discuss how these shifts are impacting Delaware’s economy. Drawing from insights in the State Chamber’s recent white paper, The Trends Shaping Delaware’s Future, they explore how the state can turn disruption into opportunity for the years ahead.

Delaware has a new governor—and with new leadership comes new ideas. Since taking office in January 2025, Governor Matt Meyer has made small business and entrepreneur support a key pillar of his economic development strategy. In this special episode of Delaware Deep Dive, Governor Meyer joins Kelly to discuss his administration’s approach to strengthening Delaware’s small business landscape. He shares why innovation and small business growth are central to the state’s long-term competitiveness, and how recent initiatives aim to build the talent pipeline, support entrepreneurs, and remove barriers to growth.

Delaware is punching above its weight when it comes to innovation. Ranking 8th overall—and 1st for innovation environment—on WalletHub’s 2025 Most Innovative States list, the First State continues to attract forward-thinking entrepreneurs. In this episode, Kelly is joined by Bill Provine of The Innovation Space and Noah Olson from the Delaware Prosperity Partnership to explore why Delaware’s collaborative ecosystem, strong support networks, and startup-friendly culture make it a hub for problem solvers and change-makers.

This episode is sponsored by Cover & Rossiter.

Running a business—regardless of its size—demands strategic acumen, dedication, and adaptability. While both share the foundation of serving a mission and objectives like profitability and growth, the challenges and nuances between managing a large enterprise and a small business diverge significantly. In this episode, Kelly sat down with two Delaware business leaders, Tom Horne of JPMorgan Chase and Katie Kutler of Kaffé KARMA, to explore the vast differences and fundamental similarities between running their respective organizations. 

Delaware is home to hundreds of manufacturers who employ more than 28,000 Delawareans and make innovative products with local and global impacts. As we witness the reshoring movement, there is an opportunity not just for the U.S. but for Delaware to solidify its position as a leader in the manufacturing economy. In this episode, Brian Brooks from Hologic and Dave McGonigle from Avkin are at the table—two manufacturers who participated in our inaugural Coolest Thing Made in Delaware contest—who will explore the importance of the sector and the many career opportunities that exist within it.

NASA research shows that reducing global emissions would prevent about 1.4 million hospitalizations and emergency room visits, 300 million lost workdays, and 440 million tons of crop losses in the U.S. alone. Addressing this global crisis is a priority to customers, investors, and employees alike. Andy Wirth of AstraZeneca and Drew Getty from Perdue Farms sat at the table to discuss why being an environmentally conscious company is not only about doing good, it’s also good business.

This episode is sponsored by Delmarva Power. After more than three decades at the company, Phil Vavala brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role of region president at Delmarva Power. A born and raised Delawarean, Phil shares his career journey - from intern to president - top priorities for the company, and Delmarva Power’s approach to workforce transitions and cleaner energy.

This episode is sponsored by the Christiana Mall.

It’s no secret that businesses are struggling for talent. Once you find those all-star employees, it becomes paramount to retain them. And understanding the concept of career progression and its importance to boosting employee engagement, productivity, and retention can help. In this episode, Keisha Morris of Bayhealth and Michelle Ray of Blackwell HR Solutions will explore the intricacies of developing your employees’ careers, offering insights, strategies, and real-world examples on how professional development initiatives will not only lift your employees but also your organization.

This episode is sponsored by the Delaware Department of Labor. Chris Counihan, director of the Division of Paid Leave at the Delaware Department of Labor, joins Kelly to delve into the details of the new Delaware Paid Leave program, which takes effect in 2026. 

For more information on Delaware Paid Leave, visit DE.gov/paidleave. Questions can be emailed to [email protected] or directed to the 24/7 call center at 302-761-8375.

It’s not news that the news is in trouble. Your morning paper is thinner than it used to be. Important elections sneak up on you. You hear rumors of something that happened down the street or around the corner, and the lack of news coverage leaves you wondering what to believe. In this season 4 premiere, Ivan Thomas of DETV and Allison Levine of the Local Journalism Initiative will dive into the importance of strong, independent local journalism and how it connects to a better quality of life for all.