Chamber Events

GGCC ED&LA Committee Members – we are moving March’s meeting to March 31, 2025, from 8-10 am. It will be a virtual session with MCPS Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor. Dr. Taylor will give a presentation on the challenges in MCPS’s budget and operations, and take questions. In this County budget season, it is important for our committee to have all of the information possible regarding the needs facing MCPS, the largest piece of the County’s budget. Please join us online. 

The Economic Development & Legislative Affairs Committee will explore various topics. The monthly meeting (typically 3rd Wednesday, 8:30am) will be virtual with a speaker unless we note an in-person opportunity to be in the community.  

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.

This is an annual GGCC community engagement series -developed to build community and bridge gaps between our community and those that protect us. 

This is a chance to grab a cup of coffee and join in the conversation with officers from the City of Gaithersburg, Montgomery County, and nearby jurisdictions. So make sure to bring your ideas, comments, and questions! All are welcome! Coffee is on us!

A special thank you to GGCC member ServPro of Gaithersburg/Germantown for sponsoring this important community series, along with Topgolf for hosting us! 

(Coffee is included of course for everyone! Golf will be available for purchase beginning at 9am should anyone want to play.) 

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

Join us for a joint networking lunch with several great business networking organizations: Connect Networking GGCC, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Montgomery County, the High Energy Lunch Bunch, Networking Partners, PNA, and others and help support the local philanthropic efforts of our business community!

Expand your network of business friends and referrals. Bring your business cards! Your $20 donation includes lunch and beverages! 

All proceeds from this event will equally benefit BlackRock Center for the Arts and the GGCC Community Foundation.

Please register at this link.

This event is going to be popular! Sponsorships for this event are available if you would like additional exposure for your business! For $250, you can have your logo here and address the crowd about your business at the event! 

Thank you to these organizers/sponsors:

About the GGCC Community Foundation:   The GGCC Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization organized in Maryland. Founded in April 2023 as an independent entity by the Board of Directors of the Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce, the GGCC Community Foundation seeks to “Support community engagement work relevant to the Montgomery County Upcounty small business community, with an emphasis in professional development, workforce development, and community involvement.” As part of the Chamber's Annual Public Safety Awards Breakfast, the GGCC Community Foundation has engaged in a fundraising effort for the Shop with a Cop programs led by the Gaithersburg Police Foundation and the MC Police Foundation. All Shop with a Cop donations are tax-deductible and will be passed to those entities.

Do you leave important documents laying around? Perhaps you have a closet or basement full of boxes of old financial statements, tax documents, bills, and tax or medical records, If so, gather your boxes and shred them securely at our upcoming Community Shred Day.

Bring up to 3 boxes of documents to shred for free. Help animals in need! Nymeo will be collecting donations for the Montgomery County Humane Society. Please visit mchumane.org/wish-list for suggested donations. Monetary donations, (cash, or check made out to MCHS), will also be accepted at the event.

SOHO meetings are for GGCC members only and are held the 2nd Wednesday monthly in-person or virtually. Please contact Kathryne Carter and Yesyca Morales for virtual meeting credentials and more information.  

• April 9 Virtual: Real Estate Market Update, Sandy LeBlanc  
•  May 14 Virtual: Copywriting vs Trademark, Jay Horowitz   
•  June 11 In Person: Video For All Occasions, James Bonato  
•  July 9 Virtual: Mick Collins  
•  August 13 Virtual: (Open presentation slot for a speaker)
•  September 10 In Person: Steve Barber
•  October 8 Virtual: Carlos Fuentes

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: Wendie Veloz

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

Rescheduled from February - to be focused on heart health and stress reduction! Guest speaker Dona Deutsch will offer tips to manage stress and add wellness activities - for you and for small organizations like yours!  Since founding Dona Deutsch and Associates, LLC in 2008, Dona has worked to integrate worksite wellness and health promotion into corporate employee benefits programs. As an American Council on Exercise (ACE)  Certified Personal Trainer with numerous worksite wellness certifications, Dona is a sought-after presenter on a range of topics including nutrition, healthy aging, and office ergonomics.

Submit questions in advance to:  Denise Fredericks at denise.fredericks@mercyhealthclinic.org OR  Deborah Zimmer at dzimmer@umd.edu 

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. 

UPCOUNTY BUSINESS BRIEFING - State Assembly recap

Invited guests:

• State Senator Nancy King, Majority Leader, D39 (Germantown/Clarksburg/unincorporated Gaithersburg) - CONFIRMED
• State Senator Brian Feldman, Chair of the Education, Energy & Environment Cmte, D15 (Germantown/Clarksburg) - CONFIRMED
• State Senator Cheryl Kagan, Vice Chair of the Education, Energy & Environment Cmte, D17 (Gaithersburg)
• State Senator Craig Zucker, D14 (Damascus)
• State Senator Katie Fry Hester, Deputy Majority Whip, D9 (Damascus) 

.Our elected leaders will share their recap of session activities and legislation, including specifics to our Upcounty business community, and take questions from our membership. A light breakfast and coffee will be served, compliments of Hughes.

Through the Gaithersburg-Germantown Economic Development & Legislative Affairs 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.