Celebrate the season of giving with us tonight at the 2018 Jingle Mingle by bringing a pair of mittens and/or a hat for children in need. We've partnered with the Community Action Council of Howard County (CAC) where 322 - 3, 4 and 5 year-olds are currently enrolled in their preschool program and need these essential winter items. We'll be collecting mittens and hats at the Jingle Mingle holiday party tonight and then delivering them to the CAC.

Congratulations to two of our incredible members who have now become one! This week UHY Advisors, Inc. announced that it has expanded its office in the Mid-Atlantic region through its merger of the professional services firm bgr CPAs in Columbia.

Congratulations to Lincoln Culinary Institute on a successful ribbon cutting ceremony this afternoon. Chamber President Leonardo McClarty and Director of Membership Ronny Nadiv were on hand to present the Lincoln Culinary Institute with their ribbon cutting certificate and emcee the event. Thank you to everyone who attended including two of our new county council members, Opel Jones and Christiana Rigby.

Congratulations to Geary Milliken, President/CEO of Carroll Lutheran Village and The Lutheran Village at MILLER'S GRANT, who will retire in June of 2019. He began his tenure as President in 1994.

• Allen & Shariff Corporation - 16 Years
• HC DrugFree - 13 Years
• Advantage Industries, Inc. - 11 Years
• BWI - Thurgood Marshall Airport - 11 Years
• The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation - 7 Years
• FAI Wealth Management - 5 Years
• Carrabba's Italian Grill - 3 Years
• WOWroi.com - 2 Years
• ArcSource Group, Inc. - 1 Year
• PepsiCo - 1 Year

Howard County's 10th County Executive, Dr. Calvin Ball, will be hosting a series of Listening Sessions to hear about residents' experiences, hopes and dreams for Howard County. The Listening Sessions will be held throughout December and January.

Howard County Public School System Superintendent Dr. Michael Martirano will present the proposed FY 2020 Operating Budget on December 18th at the Board of Education Meeting being held at 7 p.m.

Continuing its annual tradition, the Community Action Council of Howard County is again offering an "Adopt a Family" program in December to allow community members the opportunity to help make a family's wishes come true this holiday season. The Chamber team is participating this year and we encourage all our members who are able, to do the same!
 

In case you missed the big announcement, the Chamber is headed to Portugal in 2019, and we've got a new travel partner!

Join a representative from Chamber Discoveries for a free in person meeting with all of the details about this once-in-a-lifetime trip to Portugal.

MEETING at Turf Valley - January 14, 2019 - 6PM

REGISTER at https://bit.ly/2KH7sNp.

For more information about our 2019 Chamber Trip to Portugal, head to www.howardchamber.com/chamber-travel.