Chamber Events

Join us for a GGCC Biz Networking B49 to network with your fellow chamber members with Cross Community and Chick-Fil-A!

If you need accommodations to comfortably access this event, please email info@ggchamber.org.     

Learn about the resources MCDOT Commuter Services offers to assist employers with startup costs for commuter benefits. With the new year approaching and open enrollment underway, you may be looking to refresh your commuter benefits program and provide your employees with more robust benefits options. This webinar will also cover simple steps organizations can take to ensure compliance with county transportation law.

The webinar will also include:

• Montgomery County Commuter Services' complimentary suite of services to assist with creating or enhancing your commuter benefits program
• County transportation law requirements for employers in Germantown with 100+ employees and Glenmont and Wheaton with 25+ employees.
• How to leverage subsidies and tax credit programs to lower your bottom line
• Ways to create a more positive and productive work environment for your employees
• Opportunities to earn recognition for your commitment to sustainability through transportation
• Don’t miss the opportunity to enhance your commuter benefits program and provide better ways to work for your employees!

Register now to secure your spot!

Register here

Sofia Alrich from the Montgomery County Planning Department will join us to discuss the potential removal of M83 from the Transportation Master Plan. Any GGCC member is welcome to attend. Sofia will review the history of the transportation master plan and M83, as well as how the idea to potentially remove M83 from that plan.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89533844804?pwd=Yk5wcStaeDMxa1JvVjVKYnVibVRzdz09

Meeting ID: 895 3384 4804

Passcode: 947136

From our GGCC email Action Alert 10/21:

Hi GGCC ED&LA Committee, Board Members, and GGCC Clarksburg/Damascus businesses  – 

If you’ve been following transportation in the County, you know that M-83 has been in the master transportation plan for almost 50 years, and it was contained in the Clarksburg master redevelopment plan. The portion of M-83 between Montgomery Village Ave and Ridge Road would significantly reduce congestion on I270. Completion of the roadway would provide direct connection from Snowden Farn Parkway in Clarksburg to Shady Grove Metro and the ICC. 

While there has been no movement on M-83 for several years under the current administration, and there has not been funding yet for the road’s development, many people who live Upcounty bought homes and invested in developments that were assured of certain infrastructure, including M-83’s development. M-83 was the basis for the density that was approved and constructed in Danascus, Clarksburg, Germantown, Montgomery Village, and other areas east of I270, and it was reconfirmed in the 1994 Clarksburg Master Plan. The County is now considering REMOVING M-83 from the transportation master plan.  

And for those of us who now use the ICC, and can’t imagine it ever not having been there, we know how critical it is to be able to connect communities across our county. 

• Learn more about M-83 here: Midcounty Highway (M-83) - Montgomery Planning
• From the Planning Dept website: “A major theme of the testimony received at the 2024 update to the Master Plan of Highways and Transitways (MPOHT) public hearing on September 12, 2024, was to remove the unbuilt sections of Midcounty Highway Extended, including both the northern extension between Montgomery Village Avenue and Ridge Road, as well as the southern extension between MD 200 and Shady Grove Road, from the master plan. On October 3, 2024, the Planning Board directed Planning Staff to modify the scope of work to consider removing Midcounty Highway Extended (including the adjacent unbuilt bikeway) from the master plan and set a second public hearing to hear from residents, which is set for Thursday, November 14, 2024.”

• Upcoming Public Meetings to provide your feedback:

In order to solicit community input about whether to retain or remove the unbuilt sections of Midcounty Highway Extended from the Master Plan of Highways and Transitways, the Planning Department will also hold two community meetings to receive additional feedback:

• TODAY Monday, October 21, 2024, a virtual meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. RSVP for October 21.

• Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at Neelsville Middle School, 11700 Neelsville Church Rd, Germantown, MD from 6 to 8 p.m. RSVP for October 23.

• A second public hearing will be held on Thursday, November 14, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. to consider whether the unbuilt sections of Midcounty Highway Extended should be removed from the Master Plan of Highways and Transitways. Community members are encouraged to sign up to testify live at the public hearing either in-person or online via Microsoft Teams. More info here.

• The Chamber will be providing written feedback to oppose the removal of M-83 from the transportation master plan.

ACTION NEEDED – please consider providing your own testimony (verbal or written at these meetings, or via email to mcp-chair@mncppc-mc.org – see above).  If there are 1 or 2 chamber members who would like to take point on this effort for GGCC, please let me know. You don’t have to be a member of the GGCC’s Economic Development & Legislative Affairs committee.

Many thanks,

Paula

Through the Gaithersburg-Germantown Economic Development & Legislative Affairs (ED&LA) Committee, the Chamber will proactively work with City, County and State Leaders to support the Economic Development of Gaithersburg, Germantown and surrounding jurisdictions, and represent the GGCC and its members in a pro-active manner in the formulation of state and local legislation and policy affecting the business community. These meetings are open to all members to attend and learn more about the various economic and legislative topics impacting businesses in our area.

We are excited to launch our exclusive Health and Wellness Mastermind Group designed for like-minded business owners committed to learning, growing, and driving success together. This is a follow up to our September Health and Wellness “Meet and Greet,” where we discussed key issues such as marketing strategies and work-life integration. This intimate group will focus on exchanging insights, solving problems collaboratively, and holding each other accountable in a confidential and supportive environment.

Bring your lunch and let’s connect to develop relationships and gain fresh perspectives! If you have any questions, please contact Steve Reinhold (steve@phwassociates.com)  or Wendy Iglehart (wiglehart@wendyiglehart.com).

Sponsored by fellow GGCC members:

Launch Workplaces and Tehrani Law, LLC

Mix, mingle, and network with Chamber members.

GGCC Members and Non-Members are invited to break the ice and expand your professional circle in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

Thank you to Launch Workplaces and Tehrani Law, LLC! 

If you need accommodations to comfortably access this event, please email llumbreras@ggchamber.org.     

Join us! The DEI&B committee will focus on advancing the DEI&B goals of our organization by advocating for economic inclusion, growth and competitiveness of our community’s diverse business population. Our goal is to ensure that the diversity of cultures, backgrounds, ethnicities, races, and experiences within our business and non-profit communities is reflected in every aspect of the Chamber’s operations.

Committee Chair: Open

This meeting will be held in person monthly. 2nd Thursday each month at GGCC. We hope to see you all there!     

Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Montgomery County - Join us for an educational webinar to learn about building true business credit through completing the necessary four legs to the bankable table!

Become more educated on the fundamentals of business credit, learn how best to grow and develop your business credit profile and score, and how business credit can be leveraged to your advantage.

Register Now! 

Join us in the ribbon-cutting celebration for our chamber member Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls as we celebrate its grand opening!

Our monthly Nonprofit Direct Connect meeting will be in person in November at GGCC member BlackRock Center for the Arts, and is shifted to the 3rd Wednesday this month due to the Veterans Day observance. 

Join us for a conversation with Maryland State delegate Marc Korman who will share important information about the state budget and a preview of the upcoming MD legislative session.

Marc was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2014, representing District 16. He is the current chair of the Environment & Transportation Committee and served as the Majority Leader in 2023.  

Our Nonprofit Direct Connect group typically meets on the 2nd Monday each month virtually or in person. This Direct Connect group is led by Denise Fredericks, Mercy Health Clinic, and Deborah Zimmer, Universities at Shady Grove. All meetings are open to all Chamber members.  For more information on the GGCC's Direct Connect program, please click here. If you need accommodations to comfortably access this event, please email llumbreras@ggchamber.org. 

The GGCC's Mastermind Direct Connect group invites all chamber members to participate in this event! 

Join us for a panel discussion centered around AI-driven productivity tools, and also some cautionary measures that folks should be aware of.

Confirmed panelists:

• Cliff Peterson: owner, Integrency (IT/cyber)
• Philippa Channer: owner, Channer Consulting (marketing)
• Matt Ruck: Founder & CEO of xop.ai (automation and AI consultancy)
• awaiting confirmation from other invited panelists 

Venue and light breakfast sponsored by:

Space is limited. Please register only if you know you will attend this event.  Please email llumbreras@ggchamber.org if you need accommodations to comfortably access this event. 

Our panelist bios:

• Matt Ruck is the Founder & CEO of xop.ai, an automation and AI consultancy specializing in cost effective and practical use cases of AI that can benefit every employee’s productivity.   He is a former CEO of designDATA, a leading Managed Services Provider.      

• Philippa Channer is a dedicated marketing strategist with close to 20 years of experience in communications and a passion for empowering small business owners. Her mission is to help entrepreneurs take control of their marketing by equipping them with the confidence, clarity, and tools needed to develop their own impactful marketing strategies.
•  
• Cliff Peterson: owner, Founder & CEO, Integrency

Program for November:  We will receive an update from the City of Gaithersburg's team about various development projects. 

Through the Gaithersburg-Germantown Economic Development & Legislative Affairs (ED&LA) Committee, the Chamber will proactively work with City, County and State Leaders to support the Economic Development of Gaithersburg, Germantown and surrounding jurisdictions, and represent the GGCC and its members in a pro-active manner in the formulation of state and local legislation and policy affecting the business community. These meetings are open to all members to attend and learn more about the various economic and legislative topics impacting businesses in our area.

The Membership Attraction and Retention (MAR) Committee is charged with: maintaining a strong growth in membership through targeted new member recruitment activities that effectively communicate the value of membership to community businesses; Promoting the ongoing value of membership to member businesses through personalized contacts with member business representatives and other initiatives that monitor member needs, member satisfaction, and their perception of Chamber Value; communicating the Return On Investment to Members and engaging them in GGCC activities.

All Chamber Members Welcome to Join and Attend our Meetings