|
In this issue: For Silver Spring Businesses Enterprise Zone Tax Benefits GSSCC Business Golf Classic For Using Surveillance Cameras Operation: Quiet Comfort Don't miss the CLASSIFIED below in this column. Linked with this issue: April, 2006 NETWORKING BREAKFAST Wednesday, April 12 7:30-9:15 a.m. Crowne Plaza Washington DC/Silver Spring 8777 Georgia Avenue Silver Spring Parking available in public garage behind hotel. BUSINESS AFTER HOURS Wednesday, April 26 5:30-7:00 p.m. SILVERDOCS-- AFI Silver Theatre & The Gazette 8633 Colesville Rd. Silver Spring May, 2006 NETWORKING BREAKFAST Wednesday, May 10 7:30-9:15 a.m. Crowne Plaza Washington DC/Silver Spring 8777 Georgia Ave. Silver Spring BUSINESS AFTER HOURS Wednesday, May 24 5:30-7:00 p.m. Silver Spring Regional Center 8110 Georgia Ave., 3rd Floor Silver Spring GSSCC's Office is Closed Memorial Day Monday, May 29 Spotlight Speaker Sponsor- ships are available for GSSCC's upcoming Networking Breakfasts. If your company is interested, please call 301-565-3777 for more information. Mid-Atlantic Federal Credit Union (January) El Aguila (February) Dr. Robert Mantoni, DDS (March) To Our Corporate Sponsors The following members deserve special recognition, for their help and support in throughout the year: Chamber Silver Partner Discovery Communications Lee Development Group Chamber Business Partner Bud Miller Associates, Inc. Sandglass Systems Chamber Partner Eggspectation Atlantech Online Colorworks Promotions Linowes & Blocher M&T Bank 2,117-square foot sublease at 1010 Wayne Avenue with 6 windowed offices, conference room, kitchen, sever room and reception area. Contact Mike Norris at 301-254-7207 or mnorris@scheerpartners.com. New Members GSSCC welcomed 22 new members to our ranks during the past quarter. We formally introduced our newest members to the Chamber at our New Member Orientation Breakfast held on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 and hosted by member business, Eggspectation. Please join us in welcoming these members to the Chamber community: Acorn Media Allstate Insurance CakeLove CenterScope Technologies Concierge Transportation Services, Inc. Counterpoint Productions First Liberty National Bank Forsythe Group at Long & Foster Hampshire Greens Golf Course JPH Consultant Services Judy Kogod Realtor Marimelj Entertainment Group/Three Keys Music The Newport School Progressive Maryland Relocation Systems/North American Van Lines SAIDMAN DesignLaw Group Tiger Personnel Service, Inc. Tropicana Casino & Resort - Atlantic City US Army Recruiting ViaMedia Wholistic Family Healthcare WorldSpace, Inc. Thank you to the following members who renewed their membership since January 1, 2006: 1st Choice Staffing & Consulting A-1 Action Nursing Care, Inc. American Bank At Home Care, Inc. Axion Information Technologies, Inc. Bermultinational, Ltd. Bethel World Outreach Church Chevy Chase Land Company Commercial & Investment Realty Associates, LLC Courts of Madison Apartments/Kay Bros. Management The Original Crisfield Seafood Restaurant Curves Dale Music, Inc. Design Central, Inc. Eastern Montgomery Regional Center Fairland Animal Hospital Fitwell Training Solutions Friends of the Silver Spring Library H Street Business Solutions Hanagan’s Auto Body Headlines Hair Designers, Inc. Howard University Continuing Education IMPACT Silver Spring Judy’s Hallmark Shop KKMPA Long & Foster Real Estate - Vincent Browne, Jr. Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Lee Goldstein Long & Foster Realtors - Michael McGreevy M.D. Oppenheim & Company, PC Robert R. Mantoni, DDS; Joseph W. McCartin Insurance, Inc. Minuteman Press Montgomery Housing Partnership Mr. Wash Car Wash My Carpet Cleaning Service O’Neill & Associates Architects Old Takoma Business Association Plaza Artist Materials of Maryland, Inc. Portee Insurance Agency, Inc. Primary Care Coalition Ramada Limited Silver Spring Rebecca N. Strandberg & Associates, PA Ryan & Wetmore, PC Scheer Partners, Inc. Shepherd’s Table, Inc. Silver Spring Regional Center Skillful Parenting Slade & Associates Marketing Sport Chevrolet, Jeep, Honda Stern Shoe Repair Summit Hills Apartments & Corporate Suites Thomas & Herbert Consulting, LLC Thrifty Car Rental Twin Towers YMCA Silver Spring CHAIR Carmen Camacho Bud Miller Associates, Inc. CHAIR-ELECT Brad Stewart Montgomery College Silver Spring/Takoma Park IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR Tom Collins Atlantech Online, Inc. VICE CHAIR Economic Development Fred Samuels Cahn & Samuels LLC VICE CHAIR Fundraising Dewey Thomas Encore Management Corporation VICE CHAIR Government Affairs Scott Wallace Linowes and Blocher LLP VICE CHAIR Membership Development Valerie D. Day St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church TREASURER Jawed Khan Consolidated Theatres, The Majestic GENERAL COUNSEL Paul DiPiazza Lerch, Early & Brewer Chtd. DIRECTORS Ray Barry AFI Silver Theatre Larry "The Banker" Bolton, EagleBank Alyssa Friedrich United Therapeutics M. Genevieve Hardesty Trizec Properties, Inc. Barbara Henry Discovery Communications, Inc. Mary Frances leMat Social & Scientific Systems, Inc. Aurelia Martin, City Place Mall Jerry Miller Minuteman Press Roscoe M. Moore, Jr. PH RockWood Corporation Jere Stocks Washington Adventist Hospital Stacey Wahlert, Chevy Chase Land Company John Walsh Data Quality Solutions, Inc. Stephanie Warlick Colorworks Promotions PRESIDENT Jane Redicker MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT and SERVICES MANAGER Alcora Walden ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT L'Tanya Chew Design: Sandglass Systems Copyright by the Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce 8601 Georgia Ave., Ste. 203 Silver Spring, MD 20910 301/565-3777 Fax: 301/565-3377 www.silverspringchamber.com info@gsscc.org | Looking Back and Looking Forward by Carmen Camacho, GSSCC Chair
In terms of significant accomplishments, the Chamber’s influence on legislative developments in Rockville and Annapolis certainly is at the top my list. You’ll read in this issue about our success in keeping Park and Planning here in Silver Spring. We were also successful in convincing the county to fully fund the Civic Center and Veteran’s Plaza as originally promised. We’re also very close to successfully extending the property tax benefits of our enterprise zone designation. With the continued growth of Silver Spring also grew our desire to expand the Chamber’s involvement in East County. We have reconvened a group to focus on developments in that area. Back here in downtown Silver Spring, the Chamber launched the very popular “Discover the Taste of Silver Spring” event, one of a number of gatherings which are attracting more people, more compliments, and much-needed revenues for GSSCC. But for all of our successes, the Chamber and our incoming Chair has plenty left to do: While I will be stepping down as GSSCC chair in a few months, I will remain active on the Board, and look forward to working with all of you to complete my “to-do” list, and help get started on Brad’s. GSSCC Honors Members’ Contributions While it takes a complete community of businesses to create success in any community, some businesses consistently go the extra mile to make Silver Spring a better place in which to live, shop, work and play. At its annual Business & Community Awards dinner at the Silver Spring Crowne Plaza on March 16, the GSSCC honored ten individuals and organizations for their contributions to our community, our pride, and our way of life. The 2006 Business & Community Award winners, presented by 2005-2006 GSSCC Chair Carmen Camacho and incoming 2006-2007 Chair Brad Stewart, included: Business Beautification Award -- GranDesign Studio, Inc. Accepted by Tad Grodzki and Ali Sorab Business Service Award -- City Place Mall Accepted by Aurelia Martin Small Business of the Year Award -- Kefa Café Accepted by Abeba and Lene Tsegye Arts Enterprise Award -- AFI Silver Theatre & Cultural Center Accepted by Ray Barry Silver Spring Public Safety Award -- Silver Spring Regional Services Center Clean & Safe Staff’s “Red Shirts” and Montgomery County Department of Public Works & Transportation’s “Yellow Shirts” Accepted by Jerry Sanford for “Red Shirts” and Jeffrey Riese for “Yellow Shirts”) Business/Education Partnership Award -- Round House Theatre/Chelsea School Accepted by Rachel Grossman of Round House Theatre and Anthony Messina of Chelsea School Business Volunteer of the Year -- Jim Polk, Technology Service Corporation Excellent Place to Work -- Discovery Communications, Inc. Accepted by Barbara Henry To read more about this years’ winners and why they were selected, click on this link. To see a gallery of photos from the Awards Dinner, click here. Special thanks to Eric Bond of Silver Spring Voice for taking the photos. For Silver Spring Businesses GSSCC fielded its own version of “March Madness” last month, notching a significant victory for members. As a result of the Chamber’s efforts, a motion to consider moving the headquarters for Park and Planning out of Silver Spring did not succeed. Montgomery County Councilmember Michael Knapp was persuaded to withdraw his motion after the Chamber stepped forward and mobilized members and the community in support of keeping this important anchor in Silver Spring. Councilmember Perez and Council President Leventhal thanked the Chamber for our efforts to get the word out to our members, encourage their calls and emails, and attend the County Council meeting where the issue was raised. Thanks to all GSSCC members who wrote emails and made calls to our Councilmembers. Because of your efforts, Park and Planning headquarters will remain in Silver Spring and the Silver Place development will move forward. Enterprise Zone Tax Benefits A special task force of the Chamber has been working diligently behind the scenes to extend the property tax benefits afforded by Silver Spring’s enterprise zone designation. The ten year designation is set to expire in December of this year. Recognizing that the revitalization of Silver Spring is not yet complete, the Chamber gave high priority this year to extending the benefits of the enterprise zone for businesses in our community. As this edition of the GSSCC Business E-news is finalized, we are one step closer to success. This past Wednesday, the House Ways & Means Committee accepted the Senate version of a bill “allowing a business entity operating in an enterprise zone when the enterprise zone's designation expires to claim property tax credits for qualified real property within 5 years after the expiration of the designation.” The next step is for the bill to go to the floor of the House. Keep your fingers crossed and watch for GSSCC email updates on this important effort. GSSCC Business Golf Classic Mark your calendars for the 2006 GSSCC Business Golf Classic, scheduled for June 6, at Hampshire Greens, 616 Firestone Drive, Silver Spring. The GSSCC Fundraising Committee is already working to plan the event and solicit corporate sponsorships. To see a list of sponsorship opportunities available, click here. In keeping with tradition, a 1 p.m. “shotgun” start has been scheduled, following a light lunch for participating golfers. This year’s event will, for the first time, also feature a networking opportunity for non-golfing GSSCC members. GSSCC members-only are invited to join the golfers at the end of the day for the awards reception and closing activities. Reservation and payment information for both golfers and those wishing to attend the networking awards reception will be provided. For more information or to register, click here for the event flyer. For SILVERDOCS 2006 Film Festival GSSCC has joined with the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center as a Community Sponsor for SILVERDOCS 2006. This AFI-Discovery Channel Documentary Festival is widely recognized as the preeminent U.S. documentary film fest. It brings more than 15,000 film and television professionals (including recognized actors, directors and producers) from 90 countries to downtown Silver Spring. GSSCC’s involvement brings members a number of unique opportunities to reach this exciting market and to participate in the festival. Among special offers for GSSCC members are a $100 discount on the VIP Platinum Pass, which offers admission to all the major festival events and provides recognition in event publications. Other offers include special local sponsorship opportunities designed to help Silver Spring businesses in the downtown area attract SILVERDOCS participants during the festival, and ten percent discounts on advertising in the SILVERDOCS 2006 commemorative catalog, used by participants during and long after the festival. To provide GSSCC members an opportunity to learn more about the program for this year’s festival, and about available marketing opportunities, GSSCC joins AFI and The Gazette, a major sponsor, in hosting the Chamber’s Business After Hours on Wednesday, April 26. See the Business After Hours schedule in the left column of this newsletter for more information. To find out more about the opportunities offered to GSSCC members please contact sponsorship@SILVERDOCS.com, or visit the SILVERDOCS Web site at www.SILVERDOCS.com. GSSCC, this spring, launched a major fundraising campaign as part of an effort to assure that the Chamber has sufficient resources to continue its important economic development and government affairs efforts. Membership dues alone do not provide sufficient revenue to support all the programs and activities undertaken by the Chamber and expected by our members. Only through generous corporate is GSSCC able to provide the services members have come to expect. Sponsorships are available at the following levels: Chamber Silver Partner ($8,000) Provides Bronze Patron ($2,500) level sponsorship at two of three major Chamber events; recognition on plaque in Chamber office; opportunity to present at co-sponsored “Chamber Resource Event”; recognition as Silver Partner in Directory, Business E-News, and all event programs; recognition as Silver Partner on Chamber Website. Chamber Business Partner ($5,000) Provides Business Patron ($1,000) level sponsorship at two of three major Chamber events; opportunity to present at co-sponsored “Chamber Resource Event”; recognition as Business Partner in Directory, Business E-News, and all event programs; recognition as Business Partner on Chamber Website. Chamber Partner ($2,500) Provides Business Patron ($1,000) level sponsorship at one of three major Chamber events; opportunity to present at co-sponsored “Chamber Resource Event”; recognition as Chamber Partner in Directory, Business E-News, and all event programs; recognition as Chamber Partner on Chamber Website. Chamber Friend ($1,000) Provides recognition as Chamber Friend in Directory, Business E-News, and all event programs; recognition as a Chamber Friend on Website. GSSCC Members interested in learning more about becoming a corporate sponsor should call Jane Redicker at the office 301-565-3777. For Using Surveillance Cameras Twenty-two GSSCC members representing small-and medium-sized businesses recently took advantage of a unique opportunity to learn more about how to get the most from their investment in security cameras. Third District Police Commander Mitch Cunningham offered a GSSCC members-only session on “Commercial Video Surveillance Best Practices.” Given the technology available and used by law enforcement today, oftentimes a good video image distributed quickly can be the most effective tool for solving a crime. Frustrated by the lack of useful video surveillance images for their investigations and noting a number of common mistakes, Commander Cunningham and his colleagues developed a list of useful guidelines which they shared with GSSCC members. Commander Cunningham left the group with some final thoughts: Video surveillance equipment is worth the investment in reducing crime and losses. You may even get a break on your insurance premium. Obvious video surveillance can prevent crime by driving offenders away. If you would like to make sure your video surveillance system is doing the best job it can for your business, Commander Cunningham has an expert available to do on-site evaluation. Interested members may call Ofc. Joy Patil in Montgomery County Third District Community Services at 301-565-5762. New Membership Manager The Chamber welcomes our new Membership Development and Services Manager, Alcora Walden. Alcora came to the Chamber from the Department of Commerce, and has an undergraduate degree in public relations from the University of Maryland. While she will become a regular presence at Chamber events and among your messages, we invite you introduce yourselves to her at the office or at any of our events. Dream Dinners invites GSSCC members to their grand opening event on Tuesday, April 11, 2006, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Guests will sample several of the signature dishes and learn how Dream Dinners can simplify mealtime and make it easy to get a family dinner on the table, even on the busiest evenings. Dream Dinners is located at 720 Cloverly Street, Silver Spring, Md., 20905. Please RSVP to SilverSpringMD@dreamdinners.com. Montgomery College’s Germantown campus is hosting an Entrepreneur Expo on April 22, 2006, aimed at college and high school students who are interested in business management and entrepreneurship. The Entrepreneur Expo is looking for successful local entrepreneurs willing to share their experiences of creating a successful business, as well as volunteer judges for its business plan competition. For more information, please contact Nancy Nuell at nancynuell@montgomerycollege.edu. Montgomery College is also looking for small businesses that can provide internships to Montgomery College students. These interns would be paid by the college until June or July 2006. For more information, please contact Nancy Nuell at nancynuell@montgomerycollege.edu, If you are interested in hosting an intern, please prepare a job description, including duration of internship and skills required for the position. Montgomery County Commuter Services invites members to participate in its “Bike to Work Day 2006” to be held on Friday, May 19. The Silver Spring pit stop will be located at Discovery Communications, One Discovery Place (corner of Georgia and Wayne Avenues) from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Food and prizes will be on hand, as well as information about bicycling as a viable alternative commuting option. Online registration is available at www.waba.org. Those who register by May 12 can pick up a free T-shirt at the Silver Spring pitstop. The company or agency with the most participants wins a free lunch for all its “Bike to Work Day” participants. Montgomery Works is co-hosting “Let’s Get It Started,” a job fair for job seekers ages 16-21 who are looking for summer or permanent positions. Montgomery Works is looking for business in Montgomery County who are interesting in hiring young people for either jobs, training programs, internships, apprenticeships, etc. Businesses who are interested in participating are asked to contact Andrea Cetera Jines at aceterajines@montgomeryworks.com. The Newport School has completed its move to the new location at 12101 Tech Road, Silver Spring. The ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, March 22 marked the latest steppingstone in the school’s history, which dates to the early 1900s. Operation: Quiet Comfort Those of you who signed denim squares at one of the GSSCC Networking Breakfasts over a year ago will be happy to know that the quilt has been completed. Created as part of an effort known as “Operation: Quiet Comfort”, your quilt, along with many others created by groups and individuals across the country, is on its way to a wounded soldier. If you would like to see a photo of the finished quilt, click on this link. Congressman Albert Wynn invites Chamber members to his 14th Annual Job Fair on Monday, May 1, 2006, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex (off of Sheriff Road in front of FedEx Field) in Landover, Maryland. Last year more than 10,000 people from the Washington metro area participated in this free event, which is touted to be “one of the most success job fairs on the East Coast.” For more information, please contact Jamelle Royster at (301) 987-2054. |
 |
 |
