Perhaps you saw me earlier this month at a Delaware Innovation Week event. I was the guy from Evanston, Ill., that walked up to you, asking questions about where the tech scene in Delaware is going, sharing a little about myself and asking where and how a person with my skills in communications, digital and social media could help.
Here’s my story. Last spring, a friend made a big impression on me, talking about the opportunity in Delaware and how I could do well there. Once I understood he wasn’t just being polite, I started reading about the local tech scene, local news and politics. I targeted Delaware Innovation Week. I arrived on a four-day kamikaze mission to learn about Delaware by having as many quality conversations as I could (OK, maybe not quite kamikaze, but it did feel intense).  An inch of cards and many stories later, I’m confident to say: “Mission Accomplished.”
So, from my experience at Innovation Week, here are the reasons why I think Delaware is a good place to be.

There is a narcotic buzz of activity in the air, something I thrive on.

Everyone I talked to was either working on something or looking for something to work on. A data guy was working on a new product to better measure customer opinion on healthcare products. A biz dev guy who works for a new media company said in passing, “Time to get through 20 ‘nos’ so I can get to the one ‘yes.’”  That’s the kind of dedication I have about my work, and it’s good to be around others who share it.
I’ve seen change like this before, and want to be a part of it — again. Delaware reminds me of a similar scene in Chicago a few years back, when civic development was taking off and incubator 1871 was catching its stride.
“I think this will be a completely different place in five years,” said Nick Matarese, a thirty-something founder of creative and branding agency The Barn. A social media expert I spoke with, Gaby Indellini, thought new energy and ideas from people new to Delaware are helping accomplish things that may have been discounted years ago.
What I experienced blew away what I’d read. Seeing it up close and personal exceeded my expectations. Each day I happened to talk with at least one person or company I had read about. What struck me was their commitment to what was happening here. And I must say, I was on the business end of some very effective pitches to relocate.

Government is on board and driving change themselves.

I met the person who started the effort to draft and sign Delaware’s Open Data Executive Order, the state’s CIO James Collins. I saw the excitement about the entire Delaware tech scene in his face as well. I spoke with Dana Rohrbaugh, a dynamic woman with a passion for telling the stories of Delaware government, and how she is using the web to make it easier for residents to interact with the state. I had done similar things while working for Cook County government and have the skills and experience to pitch in to help.

Delaware has a tech community that is talented and willing to help.

I met a couple of guys active with Open Data Delaware, Chris Williams and David Ginzberg. Using data at the state’s portal, one of them had built a powerful campaign finance disclosure tool. Tracking the money is the only way to throw light on relationships between elected officials, their donors and vendors. His tool demonstrates the brilliance of open data: government provides free source material technologists need to build digital products that create opportunity.
It was one helluva week. Now that I’m back in Chicagoland, I’m working to make sure “Plan A” goes as scheduled and I end up a resident of the First State in 2017. I’m looking for an opportunity with a Delaware-based organization to help build something. Whether it’s a market, a social media following, a brand or a constituency, I’ve got the chops to do it. How can I help?