Your Weekly News & Updates - March 23, 2017
  Legislative
Procurement - Nondiscrimination Clauses and State Policy
Prohibiting Discrimination

Another bill causing anguish is SB 971 Procurement - Nondiscrimination Clauses and State Policy Prohibiting Discrimination. Even if it never passes, this bills sends
a terrible message about the Maryland business climate.

This legislation expands the State's commercial nondiscrimination policy by precluding the State from contracting with a business entity that has discriminated in the formation or composition of a board of directors on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry or national origin, sex, age, marital status, or sexual orientation, or on the basis of disability or any otherwise unlawful use of characteristics.

  Membership News
welcome new members button
(As of the last 45 days)
Maryland's Top 100 Women 
 
Maryland's Top 100 Women recognizes high-achieving Maryland women who are making an impact through their leadership, community service and mentoring. Winners are selected by past Top 100 Women and business leaders. Hats off to Chamber members who made this year's Maryland's Top 100 Women:

Angie Barnett Better Business Bureau Serving Greater MD  
Karen S. Cherry The Howard Hughes Corporation  
Kirsten M. Eriksson Miles & Stockbridge P.C.  
Elizabeth A. Green, Esq. Pessin Katz Law  
Beth Hehir M&T Bank  
Bonnie Krosin Morgan Stanley  
Sharon Kroupa Venable LLP  
Candace Breland Osunsade National Aquarium  
Ronnie Lapinsky Sax Morgan Stanley  
Stephanie L. Shack Corporate Office Properties Trust
Michelle Wright CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield

Circle of Excellence   
Top 100 Women who have been honored three times are celebrated by being inducted into the Circle of Excellence

Joan Webb Scornaienchi HC DrugFree  
Michele Bresnick Walsh Gordon Feinblatt LLC

  Information
Development Regulations Assessment Community Engagement Meetings

Howard County is in the very early stages of reviewing and modernizing our development regulations. The first phase includes public input sessions and technical analysis to evaluate the zoning code, as well as regulations, policies and manuals, related to land development.

County Executive Allan H. Kittleman will introduce the project and make announcements at the first meeting at Howard Community College.

Central County - March 28, at 7 p.m.
Howard County Community College, Columbia
Health Sciences Building, first floor

East County - March 29, at 7 p.m.  
North Laurel Community Center, Laurel

West County - March 30, at 7 p.m.
Gary J. Arthur Community Center, Cooksville

For more information email [email protected] or call 410-313-2350
Get Active Howard County!

Join the Chamber and our community partners in promoting wellness for your employees and their families.

Get Active Howard County is a FREE community-wide wellness initiative to help your employees to live a healthier lifestyle!
Click here for the   Employer Tool Kit;
Watch the informative short clip on 
How to set up your team. 
Information Technology Recruitment
Sponsored by the Columbia Workforce Center Business Services Team 
 
The Columbia Workforce Center is pleased to present our Information Technology Recruitment on Wednesday, March 29.
Join us from 10:00am-1:00pm. This event will provide an excellent opportunity for your company to meet new talent, interview potential employees, and receive numerous applications and résumés. 

Looking for Howard  County Government Procurement 
Opportunities? 
  Chamber News 
LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER
You are invited to join the 2017 Howard County Chamber of Commerce trip to Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast and Rome in October!

Join us for a trip informational meeting on Thursday, March 30, 2017 from 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at Turf Valley Resort Click here to register.

 Visit the Chamber website for trip details.     
2017 Chamber Challenge

Do you love your chamber? Show your appreciation for all the support they give all the businesses in their area by "Voting" for your favorite Chamber of Commerce. The Chambers of Commerce who receive the most votes will receive a recognition award at our event on June 8, 2017.   

Click here to Vote!
2017 Interactive Membership Directory
View the 2017 Howard County Chamber of Commerce interactive membership directory found on the homepage of our website under "About the Chamber". Discovers Howard County, connect with the Chamber, our members and much more!   

Click here

 
Electronic Certificates of Origin
 
The global B2C e-commerce market for shipments crossing borders is expected to grow from $400 billion today to a total global volume of $1 trillion in 2020, according to Accenture and AliResearch. Additionally,
it is expected that one billion people will shop online and across borders by 2020, with the US being the most popular origin for 25% of consumers worldwide. Very few other sectors of commerce provide such a promising outlook. Bottom line: E-commerce affects nearly every industry sector. The Chamber is now offering a time-saving process for receiving your Certificates of Origin for exporting your products. Create, submit, and print electronically certified documents right at your desk.   

Click here to find out more 
Join a Committee at the Howard County Chamber of Commerce

Interested in getting more involved with the Chamber? 

Sign up today for any of the following committees:
  • Ambassadors
  • GovConnects
  • Holiday Party
  • Legislative
  • Membership
  • Signature Events
  • YPN

Contact [email protected] to join a Howard County Chamber of Commerce Committee today!   
Upcoming Events 
            
 

Circle of Champion Sponsors

       Columbia Bank 3 
      

Strategic Alliance Partnership

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