WILMINGTON – Yvonne Deadwyler has formally been named president of the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce, removing the interim from her title.
Deadwyler served as the chamber’s vice president for nine months before Bob Chadwick stepped down at the end of 2023, acting as the interim president ever since. Her formal appointment was formalized on March 22.
“Here at the chamber, our mission is to help accelerate business growth and open opportunities. We want to be able to provide resources not only to our members, but to the broader community as well,” she told the Delaware Business Times. “Everyone wants to improve the business communities and it’s about finding the way to hear the voices with those who have the ideas and make it happen.”
Deadwyler first joined the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce in 2019 in member relations before working her way to the leadership position. In her time in member relations, she worked to oversee events, membership, member retention, marketing and communications.
Before coming to the northern Delaware chamber of commerce, she worked at MBNA for more than a decade. Deadwyler also worked in administration at the Tattnall School and Wilmington Christian School. She decided to take a pause in her career to be with her three children, and when she was ready to re-enter the workforce, Chadwick asked if she was interested in joining the team.
While Deadwyler held the interim president position for three months while the board weighed options, she considered whether she wanted to follow tradition and step into the role permanently.
“It took time for me to really consider it, because I wanted to make sure it fit my lifestyle and my family,” she said. “Bob [Chadwick] was very supportive of the working mom lifestyle and our Board Chair Pam Scott was also incredibly supportive. I also love our state and I really want to make an impact and help our community the best I can.”
The New Castle County Chamber of Commerce is the third largest chamber in Delaware. Roughly 75% of its members are small businesses, or those with 50 employees or less.
It also includes large businesses like DuPont, Chemours, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware, Bloom Energy, Chesapeake Utilities and more. The chamber’s membership spans as far south as the Middletown area.
“With New Castle County being the largest county, we do have a unique mix of big corporations and small businesses in Wilmington and Newark as well,” Deadwyler said. “As one of the largest chambers, we also have one of the biggest economic impacts in the state, as well as bringing unparalleled networking opportunities and providing access to government and elected officials that can help business owners understand the landscape.”
Looking to the immediate future, Deadwyler wants to finish 2024 in a strong position through elevating the chamber’s programs and business education.
“With free events, we want to make sure we have education opportunities for all our members and non-members to best serve our community as a whole,” she said.
Deadwyler would also like to focus on boosting the chamber’s economic development initiatives. She’s planning on assessing the chamber’s programs and finding ways to speak to a diverse membership base.
“That’s something I really want to dive into. How can we be more visible in the economic development space beyond our signature events and networking that already connect businesses with our leaders,” she said.
While it’s early, Deadwyler said the plan is to continue marquee events such as the annual economic forecast and the women’s leadership conference. The chamber has also started EDx Talks, where people who make an impact on business matters, be it tourism or land use, are invited to speak on a panel.
“I think the key thing to remember is we need to evolve to keep on top of what’s happening in Delaware and New Castle County,” she said. “These programs are the way to showcase how business is serving our community but also providing a platform for things you may have never heard of before.”
