Del. Small Business Director Schulties takes on new role

Jordan Schulties,

WILMINGTON — Three weeks after Jordan Schulties, the director of the state’s Division of Small Business, announced she was leaving the post, the state Department Technology and Information revealed she will serve as its next chief of administration.

Schulties started her duties at DTI as of late April. Moving forward, she will be responsible for administrative functions of the department, including personnel, budget, procurement, and vendor management to support high-tech solutions in Delaware’s government. In addition, she will lead the constant process of developing and rolling out a strategic plan that charts the department’s direction.

“I really thrive in deeply technical areas, as a behind-the-scenes logistics of running a division,” Schulties told the Delaware Business Times. “Overall, I think the key piece for me in general is looking at how broadband expansion ties into the overall strategy at DTI and the governor’s goals.”

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, broadband access has taken shape as a key issue of Gov. John Carney’s policy. The governor announced he would spend $110 million of the state’s $1.25 billion share of the American Rescue Plan Act funding on the issue late last year.

As the “big picture” of the broadband project takes shape, Schulties anticipates handling more of the logistics to see that project cross the finish line.

“I think my role will be more of aligning our resources, getting what our technical teams need to get it done. That means making sure that we have available personnel, all of our financial operations and our procurement is in place to handle whatever contracts we have to handle that service,” she said.

First working as an accountant, Schulties started working for the state government in 2016 as an analyst. She served as the business finance director and deputy director of the Delaware Division of Small Business, and later was promoted to director of the Delaware Economic Development Authority in 2021.

When her predecessor at the Division of Small Business, Damian DeStefano, stepped down last year to take a position in Berkshire Hathaway companies, Schulties was promoted to the post.

“After six years, it was time for something fresh, and I was excited to see this opportunity at DTI and be part of a team delivering critical services,” she said.

Amid the pandemic, the Division of Small Business administered several financial aid programs, including DE Relief and the Hospitality Emergency Loan Program, which both allocated millions to thousands of businesses.

“That was probably the biggest project I undertook while I was there, and it’s something I will carry with me the rest of my career,” Schulties said. “The size and scope of DE Relief far outweighed anything we had done at that point, since we had to pull it together, while navigating new rules in a short window.”

“[COVID] was an intense period of time, because you definitely felt that what we were doing was the difference between survival and closing the doors for a lot of people,” she added.

Regina Mitchell, deputy director of the Division of Small Business, will serve as its acting director until a permanent successor is named.