A Message From Our Board Chair, Anna Behnam
As the year wraps up and we turn our attention to family, I wanted to send a note of thanks to and FOR each of you.
As I reflect on this past year, I can list a million challenges that we had to face. COVID! Job losses; restaurant closings; business losses; children in school, not in school, in virtual school; families separated; the discrimination; the craziness of the election; the loss of loved ones…The list goes on and on. It is 2020 after all!
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A Message From our President & CEO, Allie Williams
The Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce will be heard from today.
This is my first report and I will start by expressing my gratitude and appreciation for the professional relationship I have had with Ginanne Italiano. For years, Ginanne has inspired me to learn, engage and advance my own career and I couldn’t be more pleased to have been named the new President and CEO of the Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce. Ginanne will be missed in the day-to-day operations, but has graciously accepted a new role to help us through the 2021 legislative session representing the Chamber’s advocacy initiatives. Read more on our blog.
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Kick Off 2021 With Speed Networking |
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Joint Speed Networking Event with The Rockville Chamber of Commerce
Friday, January 8, 11:30 a.m.
We can't meet in person this year, but that won't stop us from having our Annual Joint Networking Event with The Rockville Chamber of Commerce.
Join us via Zoom for some speed networking. Attendees will be broken up into several rooms, just like tables in person. Each room will meet for about 20 minutes and then be switched at random to a different room.
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Part 1: Preparing to Sell Your Business - The 5 Biggest Mistakes
Tuesday, January 12, 11:00 a.m.
During this webinar, learn what NOT to do when preparing to sell your business. A panel of professionals from Offit Kurman, MBA Growth Partners, Bridge Performance Coaching and MV Financial will help you avoid critical mistakes in the preparation and execution of selling your business by providing proactive strategies to:
- Set your goals
- Develop and retain key talent
- Create systems and processes
- Legally protect your business and self
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Part 2: Preparing to Sell Your Business - Transition Checklist
Tuesday, January 19, 11:00 a.m.
In the second installment of Preparing to Sell Your Business, learn about the transition checklist involved with selling your business.
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How to Use LinkedIn for New Business Development
Wednesday, January 20, 11:30 a.m.
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In this month's segment of our Technology Series with Advantage Industries, Mike Shelah and Russell Smith will show you the best practices to optimize your personal LinkedIn page for your audience and then how to target and connect with your clients.
Bonus segment: Properly setting up your LinkedIn company page and how to maximize the branding and marketing offered on the free platform.
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Want to Make a Difference in Annapolis This Year? |
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2021 Legislative Committee Kicking off in January
As the 2021 Session of the Maryland General Assembly is about to kick off next week, it is expected that more than 2500 bills will again be introduced, many of which will affect businesses in Montgomery County and the State of Maryland - both positively and negatively. In order to keep abreast of legislation in Annapolis, The Greater Bethesda Chamber is bringing back their “Legislative Committee.” This group of members who are interested in legislation, politics and making our collective voice be known to legislators in Annapolis, will be meeting via conference call once a week (Wednesday’s at 10:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.) starting Wednesday, January 13 at 10:30 a.m. until late February/early March.
Members of the Legislative Committee will be asked to provide their input and expertise, as well as help write letters of testimony (on issues with which they are familiar or have an expertise), on occasion call or meet with legislators, and if available, testify on behalf of the Chamber or their business/industry. In advance of the committee conference calls, members will be provided background information on the bills that will be reviewed.
If you have an interest in participating in the group and want to learn more about the Committee and the policies for this group, please contact Ginanne Italiano, the Chamber’s Legislative Consultant, at ginanne@greaterbethesdachamber.org or 240-508-7233.
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COVID-19 Briefs from the Health Care & Wellness Committee |
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In this COVID-19 Brief, Kay Loughrey of Sweet Life Wellness discusses diet related conditions that can increase the severity of COVID-19 symptoms and the importance of eating healthy during this time.
Our COVID-19 Briefs video series was created by the Health Care & Wellness Committee to help our members and the community take care of themselves, their families, their customers/clients, their staff, and their business during the next few months with the expected surge in COVID-19 cases.
Thank you to Kim Foley for filming our COVID-19 Briefs.
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Thank You to Our Annual Corporate Sponsors |
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Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
Atlantech Online – Behnam and Associates, Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. - The Bernstein Companies - Capacity Partners – Dembo Jones – Grossberg Company LLP – The Jane Fairweather Team –
Maier Warner PR – Marriott International - Selzer Gurvitch Rabin Wertheimer & Polott, P.C - WithumSmith+Brown, PC
Partner Sponsors
Bethesda Magazine - Chesapeake Public Strategies - Hyatt Regency Bethesda - Mon Ami Gabi - North Bethesda Marriott & Conference Center - sasse agency - SpeedPro
Chamber 101 Sponsor
Sandy Spring Bank
Leadership Luncheon Series Sponsor
M&T Bank
NextExec Sponsor
McKay Mortgage Company
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