BWCC

Regional Showcase & Tasting Set for June 9

The Baltimore Washington Corridor Chamber (BWCC), in alliance with Mid-Atlantic Networking, will host the sixth Regional Showcase & Tasting on Tuesday, June 9, from 5–8 p.m., at Laurel Park.

Join hundreds of business leaders for network-building as you enjoy business exhibits, food from area restaurants and caterers, door prizes and more. Sponsors (to date) are Academy Ford, Anne Arundel Community College, Blind Industries & Services of Maryland, Capital Technology University, Commercial Insurance Advisors, M&T Bank, PNC Bank and Sam’s Club.

This Year’s Board

At its recent 68th Annual Meeting, the BWCC elected business leaders from across the region to serve on its board of directors, with terms beginning July 1.

Elected to serve their initial three-year terms are Brian Barrett, Payroll Network; Allyson Black, BGE; Lawrie Gardner, CPA/Anne Arundel Community College; Connie Russell Gorum, C. L. Russell Group; Guy Johnson, BB&T; Sarah Sheppard, Funk & Bolton; and Sean Underwood, Poist Gas Co.

Ray Plummer, Bormel, Grice & Huyett, was re-elected for a second three-year term and will also serve as the incoming chairman of the board. Re-elected for a third three-year term was John Lupo, Kaiser Permanente.

Scholars Cited

The BWCC’s affiliate, the BWCC Foundation, saw its board members and friends of the foundation busy during May and in early June, presenting scholarships for college to high school students in the four-county area served by the BWCC.

Scholarships were awarded to Megan Murray, Hammond High School, H. Joseph Edwards Scholarship; Whitney Okoe, High Point High School, Berman Enterprises Scholarship; Monica Duro, Meade High School, BWCC Foundation Scholarship; and Baleska Lopez, Paint Branch High School, BWCC Foundation Scholarship.

Also receiving scholarships were Kimberly Brackett, Frank Casula Memorial Scholarship; Rebecca Benny, BWCC Foundation Scholarship, Emily Altman, Helen R. Leahy Memorial Scholarship and Thomas Runner, J. Donald Henyon Scholarship, all from St. Vincent Pallotti High School; Sierra Casimir, Frank Casula Memorial Scholarship and Georgina Gabbidon, Lockheed Martin Scholarship, both of Laurel High School; Steven Petrillo and Monica Lamm, Bormel, Grice & Huyett Scholarship, both of Reservoir High School; and Sophia Sommerkamp, Southern Management Corp. Scholarship.

Three more BWCC Foundation Scholarships will be awarded to students through First Generation College Bound at its 25th anniversary celebration on June 17, at the Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center in College Park. Emma Hughes will receive the Esther H. Levan Memorial Scholarship, along with Xavier Sykes and Mariah Perkins, who will receive the remaining BWCC Foundation Scholarship awards.

Total scholarship funds distributed in 2015 by the BWCC Foundation was $17,500.

WCC

Odenton Town Center Master Plan Revised

The West County Chamber (WCC) is leading the local development community’s efforts to provide feedback and changes to the Odenton Town Center Master Plan for its required five-year review. The draft is expected to be released in June, with 60 days allotted for comments. If you are interested in participating in the review process, or have comments you would like to share, contact Claire Louder at [email protected].

If you have business interests in Odenton, make sure you understand the proposed changes — many businesses and property owners were caught off-guard the last time the Master Plan was revised, despite the WCC having shared the information with members multiple times.

Mixer at The Hideaway

The WCC’s June Mixer will be held at The Hideaway, somewhere in Odenton (no really, we know where — it’s at 1439 Odenton Road. We’re just havin’ fun with the name) on Tuesday, June 9, from 5 to 7 p.m. Enjoy the newly renovated Hideaway, sample some of its delicious barbecue and craft beer, and reconnect with fellow chamber members.

There’s no cost to attend for chamber members and their guests, $25 for non-members. Please R.S.V.P. at www.westcountychamber.org or call 410-672-3422, so we don’t run out of barbecue.

Is Your Company Cyber Secure?

A cyber strike on your company can cost tens of thousands, even millions, of dollars, yet most business owners don’t even realize how vulnerable they are. Learn about the risks, potential costs and how to protect your business (and your customers) from cyberattacks at the WCC’s Box Talk on Wednesday, June 17, at noon in the new conference room.

Our presenter will be Chris Barber of Cheaper Than A Geek. There’s no cost to attend; just bring your lunch. Space is limited, so R.S.V.P.

Women Mean Business

The WCC’s new Women Mean Business group will hold its Kick Off and Get Acquainted Lunch on Tuesday, June 23, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at a location to be determined (check www.westcountychamber.org). Future meetings will include networking, informational speakers on topics of interest to women in business, and special programming (suggestions have included self-defense, wine tasting, bowling and even a group yoga session).

Cost to attend is $20 for WCC members in advance, $25 for non-members and at the door, and reservations can be made online or by calling 410-672-3422. Can’t make this session but want to make sure you hear about the next one? E-mail [email protected] and ask to be added to the mailing list.

Not Your Usual Annual Meeting

We had so much fun last year (tornados notwithstanding) that we’re doing it again this year: Join the board of directors of the WCC for the Not-Your-Usual Annual Meeting, poolside, at Severna Park’s Chartwell Country Club on Wednesday, July 15, from 4 to 7 p.m. Bahamas shirts encouraged, shorts optional, no ties allowed — just a fun afternoon enjoying the company of fellow chamber members in an informal environment.

The Military Affairs Committee will be holding a silent auction during the event, all proceeds to benefit its activities in support of Fort Meade personnel and their families, so come prepared. Cost to attend is $45 for WCC members and their guests, and includes casual fare and cold, summer-appropriate beverages.

Speeches will be limited to no more than five minutes, so you’ll have lots of time to network in the sunshine. To R.S.V.P., visit www.westcountychamber.org or call 410-672-3422.

Conference Room Available for Rent

The WCC, thanks to a generous sponsorship from The Bank of Glen Burnie, recently opened a new 20-seat conference room in space separated from its primary office on the lower level of the building. The room, which is equipped with an extended conference table, rolling conference chairs, a whiteboard, projector, and coffee and water service, is available for rental by reservation by the hour or the half-day. For more information, contact Marnea at the WCC office at 410-672-3422 or e-mail [email protected].

HCCC

Photo Contest Winners

Appreciation is in order to those who contributed photos of Howard County in a competition to be featured on the cover of the Howard County Chamber of Commerce’s (HCCC) annual Business Directory & Buyers’ Guide, which will be published in July.

The winners are Cassidy Sterling and Geoff Baker; other photos will be used throughout the directory. Thank you to King’s Contrivance Restaurant and Iron Bridge Wine Co. for their donations of gift certificates for the winners. Thank you also to Becky Mangus, Coleen West and Ron Meliker for their assistance in selecting the winning photos, and for Mangus’s tireless efforts in designing a beautiful cover.

Annual Meeting at Turf Valley

The HCCC held its annual meeting on May 21. This year, the invitees included the fall and spring Pinnacle Entrepreneurial Prize winners of the Howard Community College Center for Entrepreneurial & Business Excellence. The four winners gave their 3-minute business pitch to our members, and we voted for our favorite.

The mission of the Center for Entrepreneurial and Business Excellence (CEBE) is to bring holistic entrepreneurial education and business growth to Howard County. The winner, Max Fashola, of V.I.N.T.A.G.E. Clothing Co., received a package of consulting services from several members of the chamber’s board of directors and past chairs to assist him on his road to success.

The general membership also ratified the slate of candidates proposed by the board of the HCCC to serve on the board next year and into the future. New members of the board were approved. They are Milton Matthews, Columbia Association; Ryan Rom, Comcast Spotlight; Ashley Venable, The Mall in Columbia; and David Yungmann, The Yungmann Group of Re/MAX Advantage Realty. Retiring from the board in 2015 are Alex Adler, HGA Financial; Carla Northrop, The Creig Northrop Team of Long & Foster Real Estate; and Brad Myers, Sandy Spring Bank.

Awards were presented to members in appreciation of their service to the HCCC. They included 2015 GovConnects Advocate of the Year, Dismas Locaria, Venable LLP; 2015 Young Professional of the Year, Dave Sciamarelli, MacKenzie Commercial Real Estate; 2015 Business Advocate of the Year, Cole Schnorf, Manekin LLC; 2015 Chairman’s Award for Volunteer Service, Brandt Rider, The Columbia Bank;  and 2015 Ambassador of the Year, Jordan Hucht, Vision Financial Group.

Save the Date

June 10: Business After Business Mixer

This will be the first mixer at the Haven on the Lake. Sponsored by Stillpoint Spa and Seasons 52, take this opportunity to discover a peace-filled oasis located in the heart of Columbia Town Center. Register at www.howardchamber.com.

June 26: YPN Night at the O’s

Join us as the Orioles take on the Cleveland Indians. It’s a great, no-pressure way to meet some of the members of the Young Professionals Network (YPN) of the chamber. Registration is available at howardchamber.com.

July 15: Aberdeen Proving Ground Business Breakfast

Registration is now open for this popular event. Sign up now to learn about upcoming business opportunities at the Aberdeen Proving Ground. Sponsorships are also available, from $500–$2,500. Contact Maureen Thomas at [email protected] for further information. More information on the event is at www.govconnects.com.

July 16: Elected Officials Meet & Greet

Come and get to know your elected officials and the local business community in the relaxed and congenial atmosphere of Alexandra’s at Turf Valley. We’ve been promised beautiful weather. Register at howardchamber.com.