We hope your 2020 is off to a great start and certainly can't wait to usher in the new year with you at one of our upcoming Chamber events! We have lots to choose from, below!

We're excited to introduce you to our newest Chamber team member, Kai Johnson . He's been a part of the team for the past two weeks as our newest Membership Specialist and you can look forward to him being a familiar face in the months to come. Welcome, Kai!

Arguably the most important event of the year, here in Washington County, is just around the corner! Have you purchased tickets yet for the 21st Annual Business Awards? We're returning to the Maryland Theatre Wednesday, February 26th to take advantage of the brand new event space, promising a memorable dinner "dress-to-impress" event. In fact, we've already announced finalists for each of our six categories! Check them out and purchase tickets here!
Happy Holidays, and wishes for a prosperous New Year!
Paul, Donna, Tim, Kai, Ashley
NEW MEMBERS
Give a warm welcome to our January additions!
Edward Jones: Christina Grove
1309 Pennsylvania Ave.
Hagerstown, MD
301.733.9465


Elect IT Solutions
510 Lincoln Way West
Chambersburg, PA
717.264.7777


Kaitlyn Anderson (Licensed Professional)


Sarah Black (Individual Membership)


MMI Built Renovations
13509 Edgemont Rd.
Smithsburg, MD


TSL Karaoke Entertainment
17457 Cindy Ln.
Hagerstown, MD
301.331.3555
UPCOMING CHAMBER EVENTS
State of the County
Tuesday, February 4th, 7:00 - 9:00am
Fountain Head Country Club, 13316 Fountain Head Rd., Hagerstown, MD
Brought to you by M&T Bank! Join us for this annual event, hosted by the Washington County Chamber of Commerce. For many, in our membership, this is the first chance to hear from the panel of our current County Commissioners, following an election year.

Learning Lunch Hour: Preparing For & Managing Effective Meetings
Tuesday, February 4th, 11:30 - 1:00pm
Applause Caterers, 58 E. Washington St., Hagerstown, MD
Join us for this important presentation featuring our first-ever Mother/Daughter pair of presenters! Join Mary Ellen Waltemire of One Step Closer Coaching and Kelsi Waltemire Palmer of Kite & Anchor. While it is true that much of the time we currently spend in meetings is wasted, the solution is to make them better - NOT stop having meetings. When properly utilized, meetings can actually be time savers and productivity boosters. 


Eggs & Issues: A Kirwan Commission Update with Barry Glassman
Wednesday, February 12th, 7:30 - 9:00am
The Maryland Theatre, 21 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown, MD
Brought to you by Spherion ! You may have seen or read about the Kirwan Commission in the news, but are uncertain about its specifics and how it could impact you, your family, and our community! Join us for breakfast and conversation with Harford County Executive Barry Glassman, a member of the Kirwan Commission Funding Committee!


Leadershift Roundtable with Morgan Plummer
Friday, February 14th, 7:30 - 9:00am
Chamber of Commerce, 1 South Potomac St., Hagerstown, MD
Join us for this seminar designed to maximize your personal growth and increase the impact of those you lead. Change your authority from directing to connecting! Move from being goal-oriented to growth-oriented while dropping bad habits. So much more! Lead by certified John Maxwell coach Morgan Plummer, this event is exclusive to Chamber Members only.


One More Customer with Eddie Peters
Tuesday, January 18th, 7:45 - 9:00am
Chamber Office, 1 South Potomac St., Hagerstown, MD
Join us for this monthly presentation, featuring a re-broadcast web program from NFL Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton. This unique program also includes a presentation from a fellow Chamber member, and networking opportunities.


Maximize Your Membership
Thursday, February 20th, 9:00 - 10:00am
Chamber Office, 1 South Potomac St., Hagerstown, MD
Whether you're a new member, or an existing member who needs a refresher. This hour-long presentation features history of the Chamber, a glimpse of the makeup of our collective membership, how you can save with members-only benefits, advertising opportunities (both free and paid) available to you as a Member, an overview of our events, and more!


B.A.S.H. (Business and Social Hour) at Leiters' Fine Catering
Thursday, February 20th, 5:00 - 7:00pm
2 Brandy Dr., Williamsport, MD
Our monthly "business card exchange" style event heads to Leiters' Fine Catering's Williamsport Banquet Hall for our exciting monthly mixer. Open networking with door prizes, plus a chance for your organization to win $4,000 (our Chamber Prize Drawing)!. Also, enjoy complimentary food and drink for just $5 as a Chamber member.


21st Annual Business Awards
Wednesday, February 26th, 5pm
The Maryland Theatre, 21 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown, MD
This premier event features six high-profile categories with three finalists each. Be among the first to see who wins by attending this dinner and red carpet event complete with live music, giveaways and more!
MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
Check out what's new with some of our members!
GRANT APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE FOR MARY K. BOWMAN FUND FOR HISTORICAL AND FINE ARTS
The   Mary K. Bowman Fund for Historical and   Fine Arts, a component fund of the Community Foundation of Washington County MD , has grant applications available for the 2020 granting cycle. This fund provides financial support for current charitable and educational initiatives that preserve and maintain historical and cultural properties in Washington County. It also promotes the fine arts, history and historic preservation while encouraging the interest in and study of such matters. Since inception, the fund has given away $1.4 million to local nonprofit organizations.

The Community Foundation encourages nonprofits with programming related to historic preservation and education or the fine arts to submit a grant application. The average grant amount in recent years has equaled about $4,000. Total granting dollars for this year are $71,000. Online applications are due March 1, 2020 by midnight. Visit the Community Foundation’s website at  www.cfwcmd.org  to apply.

Community Foundation of Washington County MD, Inc. has a five-year annualized investment return that makes it one of the top performing community foundations in the country. The Foundation has over $40 million in assets and has distributed more than $22 million in grants and scholarships since 1997. Donors can support any of its 340 funds or create a charitable fund of their own. To learn how to create a fund at the Community Foundation, please visit  www.cfwcmd.org , or call (301) 745-5210.
HCC DENTAL CLINIC TO HOST SEALANT SATURDAY
Hagerstown Community College ’s Dental Hygiene Clinic will host Sealant Saturday on February 1, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., in the Career Programs Building on HCC’s main campus.
               
During the event, students from HCC’s Dental Hygiene Program will provide limited dental exams to children ages six to 16, to determine the need for dental sealants, thin plastic coatings painted in the groves of teeth to prevent tooth decay. Based on the results of the exam, students and faculty will provide the sealant placement.
 
This event is free and open to the public. A parent or legal guardian must accompany participants at the time of the event. To reserve your child’s spot, call 240-500-2569.
SCHMANKERL STUBE EXPANDS AND HELPS COMMUNITY
Owner and Executive Chef Dieter Blosel of the Schmankerl Stube , a popular Bavarian-style restaurant in downtown Hagerstown, has completed the expansion and major renovation of the establishment which has more than doubled its dining space. Mr. Blosel is celebrating by helping his community. He recently announced that he would celebrate the renovation completion by donating 5% of the January revenues to Hospice of Washington County and The Arc of Washington County , and CNB Bank is helping to sponsor the event.

“We’re thrilled to make this investment in our restaurant and in downtown Hagerstown,” said Owner and Executive Chef Dieter Blosel. “By adding a dining area on the second floor, we will have plenty of room to accommodate large groups and parties while keeping the intimate atmosphere and traditional Bavarian décor that our customers cherish.” Mr. Blosel added that he wanted to give back to the community that has helped the Schmankerl Stube to grow.

The Schmankerl Stube has been a staple in downtown Hagerstown since 1988 when Charles Sekula opened the restaurant. Dieter Blosel began his culinary career in Germany, and in 1995, Dieter discovered the Schmankerl Stube was in need of a chef trained in authentic Bavarian cuisine. Inside the restaurant, individuals experience servers wearing traditional dirndls, memorabilia from Germany, beer steins hanging from the ceiling, all in a friendly setting from which the restaurant’s name Schmankerl (meaning Bavarian culinary delicacy) and Stube (meaning a cozy room) is derived.

CNB Bank was instrumental in a making the renovation happen, and they are helping by adding a donation of $5,000 to the January fundraiser. “CNB Bank is proud to be working with Dieter and The Schmankerl Stube on this renovation project. Dieter’s commitment to give back to the community aligns closely with CNB Bank’s mission. We wanted to play a big part in what he is doing here. To us, it’s more than financing a construction project. It’s helping to grow our Washington County community,” stated Karen Richards, CNB’s Vice President of Marketing and PR.
 
Celebrating its 40 th  Anniversary, Hospice of Washington County, Inc. was established in 1980 for the sole purpose of lending support to those facing a terminal illness and their families. A core of caring citizens of Washington County, Maryland gathered to see how they could offer their time and talents to help share the burden of a serious illness for their neighbors. Over the past forty years, HWC developed into a full service hospice with doctors, registered nurses, certified nursing assistants, professional social workers and spiritual care providers in addition to our many dedicated volunteers. HWC is committed to serving our community by empowering patients and families and providing quality end-of-life care and grief support for those coping with a life-changing loss. “We are so grateful that Dieter and CNB Bank choose to help others in the community while celebrating this beautiful expansion project,” stated Karen Giffin , HWC’s Senior Director of Development and Public Relations. “We wish The Schmankerl Stube much success and know that the patrons of the restaurant will have a wonderful dining experience and simultaneously be helping others in the community.”

Since 1952, The Arc of Washington County has fostered an inclusive community that celebrates independence and honor for children and adults with a wide range of intellectual and developmental disabilities. With each individual, The Arc strives to help them achieve success on their terms while encouraging new interests and maximizing opportunities along the way. The Arc works closely with everyone who receives our services to create highly personalized programs that complement individual needs and preferences. “The Arc of Washington County could not be happier for Dieter and the entire Stube team. We wish them great success with their expansion! We are extremely grateful to Dieter and CNB Bank for their continued support of The Arc and the people we support,” stated  Troy Van Scoyoc, The Arc of Washington County’s Executive Director.

To make reservations, please call the Schmakerl Stube at 301-797-3354 or visit  http://schmankerlstube.com/
SHAFFER NAMED ADVANTAGE TECHNOLOGY REGIONAL VP
For many years, customers have trusted the expertise of Tom Reilly, Advantage Technology’s Regional Vice-President, who founded and operated Accurate Systems in Shepherdstown. In 2017 Advantage Technology acquired Accurate Systems and relied on Mr. Reilly’s steady hand to navigate the merger.

With this task complete, Mr. Reilly has now opted to move on to new and exciting ventures and has stepped down as Regional Vice President of Advantage Technology effective December 31 st , 2019.

Tom has left the northeast region of Advantage Technology in the very capable hands of Jack L. Shaffer, Jr.
Mr. Shaffer is a seasoned executive and technology leader with more than 25 years of business advisory and technology consulting experience. He has been a Chief Information Officer, Chief Operations Officer, an IT Director for both Fortune 500 and start-up companies, and most recently, has been Advantage Technology’s Business Transformation Director.

He has a proven track record of excellence and proficiency in multiple domains, including energy, healthcare, state operations and federal operations.

“Advantage Technology is a story I am very proud to be a part of. We are a few books into what I would call an epic series and today we embark on the next book in that series. I look forward to the continued evolution of Advantage Technology as we work to grow and better serve our clients and communities,” says Shaffer.

Tom will transition to a consultative role with Advantage Technology and will continue to support Jack and the Advantage Technology team with sales engineering and business process consulting initiatives.
SEK ADMITS NEW MEMBER OF THE FIRM
The Members of SEK, CPAs & Advisors are pleased to announce the following Manager was promoted to Member of the Firm effective January 1, 2020. 

Kelli A. Cobb , CPA, MBA provides accounting, consulting, and tax services to the firm’s small business and individual clients. She specializes in small businesses involved with residential and commercial real estate activity.

Cobb joined the Hagerstown office in 2004. She graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Salisbury University and also received a Master of Business Administration from Salisbury University.
Do you have something to share with fellow Chamber members? Simply email Director of Member Services Tim Luipersbeck at tim@hagerstown.org to get started on this free opportunity.
WASHINGTON COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | hagerstown.org
Washington County Chamber of Commerce members include more than 650 organizations, representing over 40,000 local jobs in a wide variety of industries: Retail, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Skilled Trades, Service and Hospitality, Technology, Government, Nonprofit, and Education.