Governor John Carney’s entrepreneurial advisory group should have been called, John Carney’s advisory group for funneling money to the usual economic development suspects.
Here is the list of the 15 members of the Economic Development Working Group who are tasked with “explore(ing) how state government can work with the private sector to improve economic development efforts in Delaware,” By looking for new ways to attract new companies, support innovation and “build a stronger entrepreneurial community.”
Please tell me who in this group is seated to represent entrepreneurs.
Mark Brainard – President, Delaware Technical Community College (Co-Chair)
Doneene Damon – Executive Vice President, Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A.
Mark Kleinschmidt – President, New Castle County Chamber of Commerce
Nick Lambrow – President, M&T Bank, Delaware Region
Jim Maravelias – President, Delaware AFL-CIO
Terry Murphy – President, Bayhealth Medical Cntr & Chair of the Del Business Roundtable
Mona Parikh – Community Engagement Liaison, UD Horn Program in Entrepreneurship
Sen. Brian Pettyjohn – Senate Republican Caucus
Albert Shields – Policy Director, Office of Governor Carney
Rep. Bryon Short – House Democratic Caucus*
Richelle Vible – Executive Director, Catholic Charities
Sen. Jack Walsh – Senate Democratic Caucus
Rod Ward – President, Corporation Service Company (Co-Chair)
Bernice Whaley – Director, Delaware Economic Development Office
Rep. Lyndon Yearick – House Republican Caucus
I see a lot of mammoth, deeply entrenched organizations and not entrepreneurs. I guess if you stretch your definition of entrepreneur beyond credibility you can kinda sorta count Bryon Short, but he appears to be there to represent the Dem caucus. Mona Parikh’s title mentions entrepreneurship, but she is a lawyer whose paycheck is cut by the state’s wealthiest organization.
The working group has already met, and they are going to deliver their findings Carney on April 7. Given the composition of the group, If they come back with anything that is even a little helpful for Delaware startups I’ll be shocked.
