BWCC Meets with Ambassador to the United States from Republic of Macedonia

Shown in the picture (l-r)

Oliver Krliu, Minister Counselor and Deputy Chief of Mission

His Excellency Dr. Zoran Jolevski, Ambassador to the United States from the Republic of Macedonia

Walt Townshend, President & CEO, Baltimore Washington Corridor Chamber

Michael Chinn, Principal + Chief Creative Officer at Chinn Hedges

Marc Rucker, MBA, Manager of Finance & Administration, Baltimore Washington Corridor Chamber

Pastor & Professor James S. Schuppe

 Having met with business leaders in many leading cities of the United States, the Ambassador from the Republic of Macedonia to the United States, His Excellency Dr. Zoran Jolevski, called and asked for a meeting with the Baltimore Washington Corridor Chamber.  We were delighted to receive him and his Minister Counselor and Deputy Chief of Mission, Oliver Krliu, to discuss matters of mutual interest, to include a possible future meeting of businesses from the Baltimore Washington region who may have an interest in doing business with Macedonia.

The BWCC presented to the Ambassador a miniature of the bronze sculpture, “The Workmen” created by Steven Weitzman that is installed in the lobby of WSSC's Richard Hocevar Building.

Howard County Unveils System for Calculating Impervious Surface Area and Fees

This week Howard County opened to the public its Geographic Information System (GIS) program, allowing property owners to see their impervious surface area and the calculation of the fee that will be added to the property tax bill, coming in the mail in early July. 

It is found here: http://data.howardcountymd.gov/GImperviousCalculation/GImperviousCalculation.asp.

AACC Hosting Fair to Recruit Part-time Faculty

If you have at least a master’s degree or a bachelor’s degree or certified technical expertise, consider sharing your skills and knowledge with students at Anne Arundel Community College.

AACC is seeking both credit and noncredit part-time faculty who want to help our students achieve their academic, professional and personal enrichment goals. You can attend one of two Adjunct Faculty Recruitment Fairs:

Wednesday, May 8 – 5 to 7 p.m. at the AACC Center for Cyber and Professional Training (CCPT), 7556 Teague Road, Hanover, across from Arundel Mills

Check-in at the CCPT Café – 5 to 5:30 p.m.

Overview of the college – 5:30 to 6 p.m.

Break-out rooms for departments – 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 11 – 8:30 to 11 a.m.  at the Center for Applied Learning and Technology (CALT) Lobby (outside of lecture hall), West Campus, 101 College Parkway, Arnold campus

Check-in – 8:30 to 9 a.m.

Overview of the college – 9 to 9:30 a.m. (CALT 107 lecture hall)

Break-out rooms for departments – 9:30 to 11 a.m. (2nd floor)

Adjunct faculty members are needed for credit courses in such fields as accounting, biology and environmental science, business administration, computer technologies, economics, engineering, English and communications, health and wellness, health professions and technology, math, nursing, physical sciences, social sciences and world languages. The college also is seeking adjunct faculty to teach lifelong learning courses, continuing and professional studies and business training through the Center for Workforce Solutions. 

Bring your resume to the fair and meet with representatives from various disciplines. Prior to attending, download and complete a faculty application at http://www.aacc.edu/employment/PTFacHome.cfm. For directions and campus maps, visit http://www.aacc.edu/locationsandmaps/default.cfm.

AACC, a fully accredited, two-year public college, recently was named as one of the best colleges in the nation to work for by the Chronicle of Higher Education for the third consecutive year. For information, contact the Adjunct Faculty Development Office by email at adjunctPDoffice@aacc.edu or by phone at 410-777-2464.

 

BWCC Business Hall of Fame Award: Letter from Senator Mikulski

Director of National Security Agency Receives Visionary Leadership Award

Laurel, Maryland (April 29, 2013)- General Keith B. Alexander, Commander, U.S. Cyber Command/Director, NSA/Chief, CSS, was awarded the Baltimore Washington Corridor Chamber's Freeman Hrabowski Visionary Leadership Award at the BWCC's 66th Annual Meeting, held April 25, 2013. The Award was presented by Dr. Hrabowski, President of UMBC and one of Time Magazine's 2012 "100 Most Influential People." In presenting the Award, Dr. Hrabowski noted that Gen. Alexander "is blazing a path where none has gone before. He is at the forefront of the fifth theater of warfare: adding cyberspace to air, land, sea and space," and reminded the 350 people in attendance that "the General's leadership and vision are confirmed by his being chosen to 'stand up' the U. S. Cyber Command, while at the same time continuing his leadership role at NSA. The safety of our Nation and our world is dependent on his vision and leadership." Hrabowski also applauded Alexander's support of educational programs at all levels in the STEM disciplines, noting that more than 1,000 UMBC graduates are now employed at NSA. Hrabowski also lauded Gen. Alexander for "his ability, at the highest levels of government and the military community, to effectively and powerfully articulate the need for our Nation's cyber defense," as well as his "insistence that timely intelligence be provided to military personnel--even at the lowest level-- to aid their operations and provide for both their safety and success." The Baltimore Washington Corridor Chamber is Maryland's only regional chamber of commerce, serving more than 500 businesses, institutions, governmental agencies and non-profit organizations in mid-Maryland. Dr. Freeman Hrabowski, President of UMBC, presents the Baltimore Washington Corridor Chamber's Freeman Hrabowski Visionary Leadership Award to General Keith B. Alexander, Director of NSA and Commander, U. S. Cyber Command, at the BWCC's 66th Annual Meeting. Shown (l-r) are: Walt Townshend, President & CEO of the BWCC; Leonard Raley, BWCC Board Chairman and President/CEO of the University System of Maryland Foundation; Dr. Freeman Hrabowski; General Alexander; and Master of Ceremonies Leon Harris, News Anchor, ABC7News/WJLA TV.

Play the Chamber Challenge :: We Need Your Vote!

The Baltimore Washington Corridor Chamber has been nominated in the new chamber category of the 2013 Maryland Small Business Week Awards and we need your vote!

So, do you...

• Love your Chamber?
• Want to see your CHAMBER recognized for all they do?

You can vote once each day throughout March.  We will send the results periodically throughout the month.  And it is FREE!  Support you local Chamber!

Winning Chambers will be honored on APRIL 19, 2013 at Martin’s West at the annual Maryland Small Business Week Awards Luncheon. Click on "Vote Now" below to get started.

VOTE NOW.

thank you!

In Memoriam

With great sadness the Baltimore Washington Corridor Chamber advises members that former Chair of the Board (1995) Jill Mooty, CPA passed away on February 8th after a long battle with carcinoid cancer.

Mooty was the owner of Jill Mooty and Associates, P.A. and was also a board member of Revere Bank.

Contributions in Jill’s memory may be made to the Carcinoid Cancer Foundation, 333 Mamaroneck Avenue, Suite 492, White Plains, NY or to the St. Joseph’s Center Foundation, 2010 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA 18509.

Five Easy Ways to Use Pinterest to Market Your Small Business

By: Shara Darden, President and CEO of Firefly Marketing & PR, Inc.
BWCC Member since 2012

It's easy to get lost in the sea of social media options now. Everyone who's ever even thought of marketing online knows that Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are powerful tools for connecting with current and potential customers. 

But, aside from those powerhouse engagement tools and a blog, small business owners are often at a loss as to what else they can do to maintain a positive, interactive online presence. After all, most of these platforms take a large time commitment to learn, and later maintain.

That's why I like Pinterest. This online pinboard may be the one of the easiest--and fun--ways to add to your social media arsenal, without investing too much more of your precious time. 

In a nutshell, Pinterest allows users to find and share pictures they like, group those images by interest category, and comment on other users' "pinned" pictures. 

At first, the marketing opportunities here might not be obvious. That is, until you realize that people use Pinterest to find images about things that they like--and if they like your images, chances are they'll like your company too. 

Ways to use Pinterest:

• Pin images of your product or service, to let people know what you do.
• Pin photos of your office, and office neighborhood, to make it easy for customers to find you.
• Repin funny or inspiring quotes to highlight your brand values.
• Videos can be pinned too; client testimonials and virtual product tours or reviews are great advertising for your small business.
• Infographics and charts can be pinned as well, if you have any related to your goods or services that people will find interesting. 

Some examples of effective marketing on Pinterest might be a How-to pin collection (they're called "boards") for a hair salon, showing do-it-yourself instructions for special hairdos. Or, a board full of beautiful nature pictures for a camping store. Food and drink are often-searched photos on the site, so any restaurant, B&B, or gourmet outlet should capitalize on that by posting their own photos as well as repinning stunning images from other sources. 

One of the most user-friendly aspects of Pinterest for busy small business owners is that you don't have to spend a lot of time composing witty status updates or trying to fit a whole thought into a 140-character tweet. If you follow the site's instructions on how to get a Pin button for your Internet browser, with only a few clicks you can add images you come across online. Additionally, you can choose to login to Pinterest using your business Twitter or Facebook ID, so you don't have to remember yet another password and username.

For further information on social media, or other ways Firefly Marketing & PR, Inc., can help your small business soar to greater heights, please don't hesitate to contact us.

IMPERVIOUS SURFACES FEE, WHEN ENACTED, WILL BE A "STUNNER" TO MOST

Some Properties May Owe More Than $100,000 Annually 

Public Hearing in Anne Arundel County 2/19/13 7:00 PM
& Howard County 2/19/13, 7:30 PM 

Not only will every household be impacted, but nearly every non-residential property, be it business, commercial, non-profit, church, private school, etc. will be assessed an impervious surfaces fee in concert with your July 1 tax bill.

At the 2012 session of the General Assembly HB 987 was enacted that mandated larger counties enact an impervious surface based fee structure to fund watershed protection and restoration programs which are required by the EPA. The bill established the framework, but left the amount of the fee and other details up to the county. It must be imposed by July 1, 2013.

Found below is an overview for the legislation being proposed in Anne Arundel County. The fee proposed in Howard County had a similar set of dynamics, but the fee for non-residential is less, at $7.80 per 500 square feet, which equates to about $681 per impervious acre versus $1323 per acre in Anne Arundel County. Other counties are working on establishing a fee, which again, will need to be instituted by 1 July, 2013.

Lest you think this "impervious surface area" doesn't add up, consider that every square foot of building footprint, sidewalk, parking lot, even a swimming pool, will be included. A rough calculation of a manufacturing firm yielded a total possible fee of $9,000. A hotel/conference center's annual fee could exceed $20,000. Other properties with large impervious surface areas could exceed $100,000 each year.

Every non-residential property owner needs to be aware of this proposal, understand what the impact will be on his/her bottom line, and let his/her voice be heard. Should you have questions or need additional information, please contact me and I will assist you in any way I can. We are aggressively working this issue on behalf of our members. Be a good business friend, and share this information with other businesses and non-residential property owners.

IMPERVIOUS SURFACES FEE: A SUMMARY FOR ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY

What?
The Maryland General Assembly passed HB987 during the 2012 legislative session, mandating that all Phase 1 MS4 jurisdictions in the state (which includes Anne Arundel County) create a dedicated, Local Watershed Protection and Restoration Fund, as well as a storm water remediation fee, in order to generate the revenue necessary to comply with each jurisdiction's permit requirements. HB 987 requires that the program be adopted and implemented by July 1, 2013.

What Happened?
A Committee appointed by Anne Arundel County Executive Leopold met monthly between July and November of 2012. The Committee made recommendations concerning the structure, credit mechanism, and amount of the fee. In these recommendations, the Committee stated it had had two distinct goals: "1) to propose a mechanism that would actually accomplish the task of funding the county's regulatory obligations with regard to stormwater pollution (estimated to be nearly $1 billion by 2025); and, 2) do so in a way that was fair and equitable to county taxpayers - both residential and non-residential."

And Now?
The recommendations were considered by the Anne Arundel County Council and a proposed Bill No. 2-13, entitled "Stormwater Management-Watershed Protection and Restoration Special Revenue Fund and Program" was introduced on January 22, with a work session scheduled for 13 February and a public hearing set for February 19, 2013.

What Would the Bill Do?
A fee structure is proposed for both residential and non-residential properties, with the fee computed and added to the real estate tax bill issued on or about 1 July 2013. Undeveloped properties would not be assessed a fee.

The fee proposed is a base rate of $85 per "equivalent run-off unit" or "ERU," per 2800 sf. of impervious area. An imperious area includes the building area or "footprint", sheds, out-buildings, driveways, sidewalks, etc. Residential areas are classified into three different "tiers" according to zoning district, with Tier One being the base rate times two or $170 (low-density rural and agricultural properties); Tier Two is the base rate of $85 (single family homes); and, Tier Three is 40% of the base rate, or $34 (for townhomes and condominiums).

And, what about the "non-residential" properties?
This includes commercially zoned properties, along with churches, synagogues, temples, private schools, non-profits, etc. The amount of impervious surface would be calculated and a fee of $85 per 2800 square feet would be charged, less any credits (see below) which cannot exceed 50% of the fee.

There are 43,560 s.f. feet in an acre, which divided by 2800 s.f. (the amount of an "ERU") equals 15.56. Thus, for every acre of impervious surface, the total possible fee would be $1323, but the least it would be is $662.00 per acre.

Are There Credits for Existing Stormwater Management Systems?
Yes, a property owner may receive up to a 50% credit of the remediation fee "to account for on-site systems, facilities, services or activities that reduce the quantity or improve the quality of stormwater discharged from a property."

Are There Other Exemptions?
Yes, state and local government properties are exempt, and one may make application for an exemption due to "substantial financial hardship" with criteria set forth for eligibility. The exemption must be re-applied for every tax year.

How Do They Compute the Impervious Surfaces for Each Property?
The Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works will use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to calculate the amount of impervious surface for each subject property. Fee calculations will then be made and provided to the Maryland State Department of Assessments & Taxation (SDAT) for inclusion in the real estate tax bill.

Have Any "Sample" Properties Been Calculated for Public Review?
None that have been made available.

What If A Property is Leased to Someone or Some Entity?
The fee is computed and sent to the property owner; it would be up to the property owner to pay the fee or pass it on to a lessee.

We hope you find this information useful. If you have additional questions, please contact our office at (301) 725-4000 or (410) 792-9714.

Save the Date: Meet Dr. Lillian Lowery, New State Superintendent of Schools

Leadership Maryland is planning five regional events featuring the new State Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Lillian Lowery between April and June this year.

The event will begin with breakfast at 7:30 am and feature an address by both Dr. Lowery and President, Maryland State Education Association, Dr. Betty Weller ’09.  It will end at 9:00 am.  The dates and regions are:

• April 16 – Capital Region (Howard, Prince George’s, Montgomery)
• April 30 – Southern Region (Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s)
• May 15 – Central Region (Harford, Baltimore City and County)
• June 18 – Western Region (Garrett, Allegany, Washington, Frederick, Carroll)
• June 21 – Eastern Region (Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Worcester, Wicomico, Dorchester and Talbot)

 Locations to be announced.

For questions, please contact Ellen Clarke.

Leadership Maryland

134 Holiday Court – Suite 318
Annapolis, MD 21401
Tele 410-841-2101
Fax 410-841-2104
www.leadershipmd.org

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Enterprising States 2012

An in-depth look at specific priorities, policies and programs of the 50 states and Puerto Rico

The National Chamber Foundation advances cutting-edge issues facing the U.S. business community through its nationally-recognized leadership team. Together, they serve as the principal leadership of the public policy think tank of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

One product of the Foundation’s research, Enterprising States 2012, takes an in-depth look at the specific priorities, policies and programs of the 50 states and Puerto Rico. Generally, the states fostering economic growth and creating jobs today – and those most likely to grow in the next decade – are defined by the following broad policy approaches:

• Parlaying their natural resources and historically competitive industry sectors into 21st century job-creating opportunities
• Paying attention to and addressing their competitive weaknesses
• Supporting their companies’ business development efforts to reach an expanding global marketplace
• Creating a fertile environment and workforce for a technology-based and innovation-driven economy
• Investing in infrastructure ­– digitally and physically engineered – that meets the operating requirements of business and connects businesses to markets and customers
• Getting government, academia, and the private sector to collaborate effectively to make sure that more new ideas developed by companies and in research labs scale up into industries
• Taking steps to make existing firms more productive and innovative, creating an environment in which new firms can emerge and thrive
• Maintaining an affordable cost of living for middle-skilled and middle-class employees
• Promoting education, workforce development and entrepreneurial mentoring to continually fill the talent pipeline
• Fostering an enterprise-friendly business environment by cleaning up the DURT (delays, uncertainty, regulations, and taxes), modernizing government, and fixing deficiencies in the market that inhibit private-sector investment and entrepreneurial activity.

State policies and programs that most effectively promote job creation are rooted in market reality. This means building on the existing core industries and technological advantages of a state while pursuing opportunities in growing and emerging sectors. Building on and sustaining existing economic momentum remains a key means of guaranteeing success in the future.

Below are the rankings for Maryland.  To see the entire report, go to: http://forum.uschamber.com/sites/default/files/Enterprising-States-2012-web_59.pdf

Maryland

• #1 Academic R&D Intensity
• #2 High School Advanced Placement Intensity
• #3 High-tech Share of All Businesses
• #3 STEM Job Concentration
• #5 Median Family Income
• #8 Tax Environment for Mature Firms
• #10 Broadband Provider Availability
• #10 Educational Attainment
• #10 Productivity Growth
• #11 College Affordability
• #12 Economic Output per Job
• #12 STEM Job Growth
• #14 Short-term Job Growth
• #15 Broadband Speed Availability
• #16 Per Capita Income Growth
• #18 Gross State Product Growth
• #19 Business Birth Rate

Triskaidekaphobia and the Fiscal Cliff

Written by H. Walter Townshend, III

I recently wrote for The Business Monthly’s 2013 Forecast (due in early December) that Boston psychiatrist Isador Coriat in 1910 coined the term Triskaidekaphobia, or the fear of the number “13.” I suggested that while many do not have an irrational fear of that number, there were many who felt that 2013 would be a tumultuous one, with predictions of Congress and the President not being able to avoid going over the precipice. 

While a crisis was averted and many of the feared outcomes did not take place (immediately), including a projected hit to Maryland of a loss of $635 million in general fund revenues in fiscal 2014, along with as many as 60,000 jobs, it has truly been a roller-coaster ride. Unfortunately, most in the business community see the cloud of uncertainty continuing in the future, as Congress deals with the budget, the debt-ceiling, federal spending levels, entitlement programs and more. To see a graphic the evolution of the discussions between Congress and the President, along with their fiscal impacts, go here.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue said, "The last minute fiscal cliff deal prevents some of the massive tax increases on the middle class that would have occurred. However, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has warned that the tax hikes that will take place will mean slower growth, fewer jobs, and less prosperity for all Americans. And, when it comes to cutting spending and controlling the national debt, this deal does not even begin to address the serious fiscal challenges we face.”

The non-partisan Tax Policy Center estimates that taxes will rise for nearly eight in 10 households, with an average increase of $1,635. For a graphic that provides an estimate by income level, go here.

At some point, the can-kicking has to stop. For businesses, uncertainty does not breed confidence. For those who want to delve deeper into the elements of our economic dilemma, go here.

Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Content of Character Awards 2013 - Nominations Open

SAVE the DATE: 8th Annual Content of Character Awards Ceremony - January 18, 2013

LOCATION: Mount Calvary A.M.E. Church, 300 Eudowood Lane, Towson, MD 21286.

Please see the links below for information regarding the upcoming 8th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Content of Character Awards 2013.

Please consider nominating that outstanding person or persons who is always trying, always doing and making that extra effort in the community to make the difference.

Open only to Baltimore County residents.
DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES: - Friday, December 21, 2012

Nomination Form General
MLK 2013 Nomination Form
MLK Flyer 2013

Hurricane Sandy and the Energy Industry: What can you expect?

Besides knocking down power lines and causing countless blackouts up and down the east coast, Hurricane Sandy may also have a bigger impact on the energy industry, hitting you were it hurts most: your wallet.

Hurricane Sandy and the Oil Industry

According to IHS Global Insight, supply chain managers in the Northeast are expected to see a shortage of refined oil products after Sandy forced 70% of the East Coast’s oil refineries to shut down. And while many refineries have returned to full capacity, several refineries throughout New Jersey and New York, including the product trading hub in New York Harbor, remain out of operation.

More importantly, the closing of the hub in New York Harbor has severely affected the oil supply line. The entire Northeast relies not only on oil products from the region, but also products imported from the Gulf Coast and elsewhere. Demand in the Northeast is approximately 2.2 million barrels per day:  42% from local refineries, 31% from other regions (mainly the Gulf Coast), and 27% from net imports.

For this reason, 24% of all New York gas stations are still without gas.

Crude Oil Prices Rise

Crude oil prices rose today for the second straight day in the market after gasoline supplies fell 1.5 million barrels to 198 million. Crude oil advanced as much as 1.4% to $2.6571 a gallon.

“The devastation and fuel shortages brought on by Hurricane Sandy are still being felt across the product complex in the U.S.,” said Andrey Kryuchenkov, a London-based analyst at VTB Capital.

Hurricane Sandy and the Electric Industry

Following Hurricane Sandy, outages remain a major problem, especially in New Jersey, where 14% of people (569, 822) are still without power. Meanwhile, 355,055 are without power in New York; 9,797 in Pennsylvania; and 2,113 in Maryland. And while these numbers may seem high, consider that when the hurricane first hit, 8,511,251 were left without power. Since then, power has been restored for 7,357,492 individuals. 

Click Here for the up-to-date Hurricane Sandy Situation Report from the United States Department of Energy.

To learn more, please contact CQI Associates by calling 410-740-0667 or visit CQIAssociates.com today!

CQI Associates is a leader in energy and environmental consulting.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LikedIn, and Google+.

Sources:

Hurricane Sandy’s Impact on Energy Industry Yet to Be Measured

City of Laurel Receives Substantial Savings through Electricity Purchasing Cooperative

The City of Laurel was a founding member of the Baltimore Washington Corridor Chamber of Commerce’s (BWCC) first Electricity Purchasing Cooperative in 2004, which was developed for the BWCC by CQI Associates of Columbia, MD.

The City of Laurel purchases commercial electricity for 33 accounts in accordance with the State of Maryland’s de-regulation legislation which permits customer choice.

The total reduction in the City of Laurel’s electricity supply service costs for the past five years has been $197,335 when compared to the utility standard offer service rate. The savings is the equivalent to one year’s annual cost for the City’s electricity.

Mayor Craig A. Moe said, “This is a perfect example of a public/ private partnership that has served the citizens and businesses of Laurel by reducing costs and improving the bottom line. We are very happy with the savings we have achieved.”

The Chamber program combines the purchasing power of the members to achieve competitive pricing which has constantly provided savings and budget stability since 2004. The BWCC, through CQI Associates, now offers both commercial and residential purchasing programs for both electricity and natural gas through programs for BWCC members and their employees.

Walt Townshend, CEO of the BWCC said, “Our core focus is to help our members grow their business and solve business problems. Utility costs are a major component of the costs of business—and government. We are honored to have the City of Laurel as a member and participant, and very pleased to work with CQI Associates, which has a national reputation for energy management and purchasing.”

Hurricane Sandy Causes BWCC's 21st Annual Procurement Fair to Be Rescheduled

21st Baltimore-Washington Region Government Procurement Fair

NEW DATE: Wednesday, November 28, 2012

The historic impact of Hurricane Sandy requires that the Baltimore Washington Corridor Chamber's 21st Annual Procurement Fair be rescheduled to Wednesday, November 28, 2012. It will be held at the same location, Martin's Crosswinds, Greenbelt, MD and the same time, 8:00 AM to 12 Noon. We are grateful to our host facility for making these alternate arrangements.

Key facts to consider:

1. This is a change over which none of us had control. We regret the disruption and ask for your forbearance and assistance in making the transition to a new date.
2. Every attempt will be made to have all exhibitors, panelists and one-on-one counselors in place at the alternate date. Again, we appreciate your understanding if alternates "stand in" or modifications are made.
3. Even if the storm has largely passed by Wednesday, our government procurement officials will likely not have been to their offices to secure exhibits and collateral materials. Every effort is being made to have this be as productive and beneficial a program as possible for ALL parties involved.

Every attempt is being made to notify registrants, exhibitors and volunteers. Please help us notify others that you believe may be involved in any way with the 21st Annual Procurement Fair.

As always, we thank you for your assistance and understanding.

For questions or additional information please contact Ms. Shirley Redd 301-725-4000 x107 or email her at Shirley.Redd@bwcc.org.

Visit BWCC's website for more information on the Government Procurement Fair.

The BWCC GovCon Council

Women-Owned Businesses Report

The American Express Open Forum in March, 2012 released a 73-page study on women-owned businesses across the country and ranked the best states for women to own businesses. The states were measured by the growth of women-owned business and in overall economic clout. The data was measured from 1997 to 2012.

In all of the United States, the number of women-owned business has increased by 54% - a rate of 1 ½ times the national average.  How does Maryland rank according to the survey?  Find out here:  http://smb.blob.core.windows.net/smbproduction/Content/State_of_Women-Owned_Businesses-Report_FINAL.pdf.

BWCC Procurement Fair: 40+ Agencies and Sponsors Already Confirmed!

Make sure you are front and center for one of the largest procurement events in the Baltimore-Washington Region. 

Government Procurement Fair: Matchmaking Sessions

Representatives from the following agencies will be serving as Counselors for the Matchmaking Sessions:

• Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)
• Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)
• Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
• Governor's Office on Minority Affairs (GOMA)
• Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHUAPL)
• Montgomery County Maryland
• U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
• U.S. Small Business Administration
• University of Maryland - College Park 

Want more information? Be sure to check out the Pre-Fair Seminar on October 17 featuring speaker Mark Amtower.

Download this flyer for the latest listing of more than 40 agencies and sponsors attending!

BWCC Business Vision Board

Written by : Allison Moran of AHM Solutions

The BVB was formed to give members the opportunity to connect with other members on a deeper level than traditional networking.  Every month we choose a topic to focus on for the following month.  Previously, we have covered a 1 Month plan for Business Growth, Marketing Funnel and Sales Funnel, LinkedIn, Social Media, Developing a Sales Process, Networking and more.  We also open the conversation to individuals for the challenges they are facing in their businesses.  Often, business owners have the same challenges but may not discuss them with each other because it can be uncomfortable.  The BVB provides a safe and confidential environment for such conversations to take place and soliciting feedback and ideas from other business owners, sales people or business individuals.

In September, a 1 Page Business/Marketing Plan Template was provided and we talked a bit about developing a unique selling proposition.  We started a conversation about what people are doing with their list of contacts/prospective clients to engage with them or keep engaging with them and how you manage all of your contacts.  We started to focus on hot or very warm leads and will dive deeper into exactly how people move these people through from the Hot Lead stage to the Excited Customer/Client Stage.  If this is something you would like to develop in your business, join us.  If not, but you have another topic you are interested in hearing from other business people about, we are happy to have you start coming in October.  If you have any questions, contact Allison Moran at allison@ahmsolutions.com or (301) 346-2859.

Date: Thursday, October 25^th from 9:30-11:00am

Topic: TBD (usually decided at previous month’s meeting)

Location: BWCC conference room, 312 Marshall Ave, Laurel MD 20707

MBRT 2012 Speakers Bureau Recruitment

The Baltimore Washington Corridor Chamber is pleased to partner with the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education (MBRT) on its Maryland Scholars Speakers Bureau program, which demonstrates to middle and high school students the importance of completing rigorous coursework and the vital connection between achievement in school and success in college, the workplace and in life.

We need your help. In order to reach 50,000 students across the state, 3,000 volunteer speakers are needed. Please encourage your employees – both professional and support staff – to participate in this worthwhile effort. Their voices and perspectives are important ones for students to hear.

Each volunteer speaker is asked to attend a 3-hour training session and to make 4 classroom presentations, a total commitment of about 10 hours – a small investment for college/career-ready graduates and a better prepared workforce.

More than 30 training sessions are scheduled in September/October/November throughout the state, and classroom presentations take place throughout the school year. Volunteers should register online at www.mbrt.org/speak. For questions, please contact LaTara Harris at 410-788-0333, or via email at LaTara@mbrt.org .

Please share the attached flyers with your employees and encourage their participation:

• MBRT 2012 Speakers Bureau Flyer #1
• MBRT 2012 Speakers Bureau Flyer #2

Thanks for your help.