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Chamber celebrates successful year

2017 Sea Witch attendance ranks No. 1 in Delaware
Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board Jay Becker gives his state of the chamber address. STEVEN BILLUPS PHOTOS
Ryan Mavity
February 19, 2018
Following Becker’s address, Rehoboth-Dewey chamber introduced its new board of directors for 2018. On the new board are (l-r) Chris Weeks, Scott Swingle, Mitch Resnick, Steve Montgomery, Mike Meoli, Kay Wheatley, Chip Hearn, Marvin Carney, Vince DiFonzo, Jerry Esposito, Barbara Brewer and Jay Becker. Also on the board but not shown are Bill Klemkowski, Carrie Lingo, Dale Lomas, Rob Marshall, Keith Martin, Rachel Webster and Susan Wood.
Former Rehoboth Beach Mayor Sam Cooper, center, was honored for his nearly 30 years of service as mayor. Cooper was given a plaque on one of the old boards from the Boardwalk and a blanket with famous Rehoboth landmarks. Presenting the award are Rehoboth-Dewey chamber Chairman of the board Jay Becker, and President and CEO Carol Everhart.
Accepting the Delaware Coast Press Educational Scholarship is Travis Gilmore, presented by Lt. Jaime Riddle of the Rehoboth police department, left, and Joseph Connell of the Delaware Coast Press.
Dru Simmons, left, received the $500 True Blue Jazz scholarship from Eddie Sherman.
Tori Rice, left, received the $500 Matt Haley scholarship from presenter Jerry Esposito.
Kurt Yngve, left, is presented with the Dewey Beach Lifeguard of the Year Award by Dewey Mayor TJ Redefer.
Kelly Ranieri accepts the Dewey Beach Volunteer of the Year Award from Dewey Mayor TJ Redefer. Ranieri was honored for her service as the head of the Dewey Business Partnership.
Gary Ceman, left, was presented with the chamber’s volunteer of the year award for his service to the annual Sea Witch Festival. Presenting the award is Scott Swingle of WSFS Bank.

More than 180,000 people attended the 2017 Sea Witch Festival, a highlight of the year for the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce.

“2017 was another good year for the chamber,” said Board Chairman Jay Becker in his address Feb. 8. Becker said the number of people attending the three-day festival made it the largest event in the state, according to Delaware Department of Transportation.

Among the highlights of the year, Becker said, were 814,000 visits to the chamber website and 11,000 realtor bags distributed. The chamber’s administrative offices also moved to a new building at 306 Rehoboth Ave.

“The health of the chamber is very good,” Becker said. “Happily, the components that make it up are very strong.”

He praised the staff, volunteers, board and CEO Carol Everhart as the driving forces of the chamber’s good health.

Becker said this year the chamber added 100 new members and allocated $600,000 toward local tourism investment through advertising. He said the nonprofit organization operated within budget and even had a surplus to show. Becker said the chamber put the extra money toward new projects, like member postcards and expanding the Beach Goes Blue event.

This year, Becker said the chamber is planning national speaker presentations on the future of retail and the future of tourism after the spring. He said the chamber is also planning initiatives to help people find parking during the summer.

“We have some interesting opportunities ahead,” Becker said. “2017 was a fantastic year and I’m sure 2018 is going to be better.”

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