The seventy-nine players in GSSCC’s COVID Classic Annual Business Golf event enjoyed a glorious day of bright blue skies and mild temperatures last week as they took to the course at Argyle Country Club. The Apex Home Loans team lead by Stewart Zemil took first place honors with a score of 58. The Sandy Spring Bank foursome led by Eileen Porras came in second with a score of 59, narrowly edging out the third place team of Adventist HealthCare’s White Oak Medical Center foursome led by Reggie Forbes which also had a score of 59, the tie being broken by the score on the back nine. Sandy Spring Bank’s Julie Macdonald and Connor Haskins won the Longest Drive Contests and Montgomery College’s Greg Enloe holed the single putt to win the Putting Contest. 

Because the pandemic prohibited the group from gathering together to recognize the winners over dinner, this year's Award Ceremony was held virtually. Check it out here. GSSCC thanked the many sponsors, volunteers, and door prize donors who made this event such a success and revealed the lucky winners of the fabulous door prizes donated by our amazing members.

The Chamber thanks these member companies that contributed to our Golf Classic success as key sponsors: Gold Sponsors - Apex Home Loans, Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center, Downtown Silver Spring, Joseph W. McCartin Insurance, Lee Development Group, and Montgomery College; Silver Sponsors - M&T Bank and Washington Property Company.

Thanks also to: Scorecard Sponsor - TW Perry; Beverage Cart Sponsor- RCN; Snack Shack Sponsor - Kay Management; Beverage Station Sponsor - Capital Bank; Longest Drive Contest Sponsor - Apex Home Loans; Putting Contest Sponsor - Lerch, Early & Brewer; Hole in One to Win a Car Sponsor: Sport Chevrolet & Honda; Driving Range Sponsor - HSBC Bank.

And finally, thanks to Hole Sponsors - Arrow Bookkeeping, Atlantech Online, Bankers Business Management Services, EagleBank, Fairland Animal Hospital, First Merchant Services (Stuart Simms), Hanagan's Auto Body, and Lee Medical Case Review.

Montgomery County government officials are still processing applications received for the “Reopen Montgomery Small Business Grant Program.” Applications already received will be included in upcoming lotteries, but officials say that additional monies are also available for new applicants for awards up to $5,000 per business.

Latest word is that in addition to items needed to comply with State and local reopening requirements, purchases like weatherizing equipment (heaters, tents) for outdoor seating at restaurants, will be eligible for the program. Details and an application can be found at this link - www.montgomerycountymd.gov/biz-resources/reopen/. If you have any questions, please contact jredicker@gsscc.org.

The GSSCC cordially invites Chamber members to join us for GSSCC 101: Virtual Member Orientation. This virtual event is for new members or new representatives of member companies with a maximum of two per business.

This is the perfect event to learn how to make the most of your membership investment, connect with your fellow Chamber members, and meet the GSSCC staff, board members, and ambassadors.

Masks are the order of the day during the pandemic, but a different kind of mask comes out this time of year and this is the year to celebrate both.

In the spirit of Halloween, join the Chamber for a Mask-erade After Hours complete with costumes, masks, spooky virtual backgrounds, and more! Costumed children and pets welcome!

Don’t miss this networking opportunity. Have a killer costume? You might be able to win a prize! Check this space for more details!

Heads up, employers. During the last legislative session, the Maryland General Assembly passed amendments to the state’s Equal Pay for Equal Work law – HB123. The new law goes into effect this Thursday, October 1. The new regulations include:

Interested in international business opportunities? The Maryland Office of Commerce's Office of International Investment and Trade has planned a series of virtual opportunities to help connect Maryland companies to international markets. 

BioJapan (October 14-16) is Asia’s premier partnering event for the global biotechnology industry. Featuring 1,300 organizations from 34 countries, participants are expected to hold 12,000 business meetings over the course of three days scheduled through the online partnering system. For more information regarding joining Maryland’s virtual delegation, please contact Felicia Pullam at felicia.pullam@maryland.gov.

Mission to Colombia (November 17-18) is a virtual trade mission in Colombia, focusing on a number of Maryland’s key sectors to provide maximum flexibility for interested exporters. For more information regarding joining the Maryland delegation in 2020, please contact Michael Howley at michael.howley@maryland.gov.

Mission to Africa (November) is a virtual trade mission in Sub-Saharan Africa focusing on a number of Maryland’s key sectors to provide maximum flexibility for interested exporters. For more information regarding joining the Maryland delegation in 2020, please contact Brian Castleberry at brian.castleberry@maryland.gov.

For more information about these and other international opportunities click here.

* Sam Brownell of Stratus Wealth Advisors and Andrea Dunathan of Dunathan Consulting will be presenting at the National Cooperative Business Association’s IMPACT Conference on Wednesday, October 7, at 10 a.m. focusing on business continuity. Read here for more information.

* Habitat for Humanity’s 12th Annual Affordable Housing Benefit Breakfast is pivoting to a Virtual Morning Mixer on Thursday, October 15, at 8 a.m.. The focus will be on affordable housing in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties. For more information, read here.

* Join KID Museum and Pepco for the Go Green Design Challenge, a free, family design challenge to make homes more sustainable beginning Saturday, October 24, at 10 a.m. Read here for more information.

See your company's news here! Send us your news releases and news items by noon on Friday for publication in the following Monday's edition. Click here for guidelines on submitting Member News.

As businesses re-open and employers are tasked with providing PPE for their returning employees, GSSCC has launched a “Back to Business Products” page on our website for members looking to purchase PPE products, signage, and more. If your business is selling PPEs and you would like to be on this page, please complete this form and send it to Julie at jpawlikowski@gsscc.org.

The deadline to vote is October 13, 2020. 

Did you know? You can register to vote and update your voter registration 24/7!

Visit here for voter and resident information, election maps, polling places, important dates, public information, and election results.

Corporate Partners - Downtown Silver Spring; Lee Development Group; Montgomery College; Joseph W. McCartin Insurance;

 Business Partners - Andalman & Flynn, AFI Silver Theatre; Apex Home

 Partners - Adam Lowe Creative; Bell Flowers; EBA Ernest Bland Associates; Image360.