2015-2016 Year in Review

ContentsExecutive Summary from the President & CEO – Georgette “Gigi” Godwin.........................................................................1

Board of Directors.................................................................................................................................................................4

Advocacy...............................................................................................................................................................................5

Local Advocacy..............................................................................................................................................................6

State Advocacy..............................................................................................................................................................7

Federal Advocacy..........................................................................................................................................................8

Programs and Member Services.........................................................................................................................................10

Member Exchange Meetings...........................................................................................................................................10

Business EXCELerator (GovConNet and Small Business).............................................................................................10

Economic Development..............................................................................................................................................11

Infrastructure and Land Use........................................................................................................................................12

Legislative Affairs.........................................................................................................................................................13

Chamber After Hours......................................................................................................................................................14

Orientation......................................................................................................................................................................14

Government Contracting Network......................................................................................................................................15

GovConNet Council.........................................................................................................................................................15

GovConNet Institute........................................................................................................................................................15

Government Contracting Forum: Changing Landscape in Government Contracting.......................................................15

On-sites Agency Visits.....................................................................................................................................................15

On the Road Series..........................................................................................................................................................16

Signature Events..................................................................................................................................................................17

Business Awards Dinner..................................................................................................................................................17

Annapolis Legislative Reception......................................................................................................................................18

Public Safety Awards Luncheon.......................................................................................................................................18

GovConNet Procurement Conference.............................................................................................................................19

Annual Dinner.................................................................................................................................................................20

Initiatives.............................................................................................................................................................................22

Startup Maryland............................................................................................................................................................22

StopFakes.gov.................................................................................................................................................................22

Green Business Forum....................................................................................................................................................22

Montgomery County Chamber Community Foundation.....................................................................................................23

Veteran Institute for Procurement..................................................................................................................................23

Public Safety Scholarship Fund at Montgomery College.................................................................................................23

Green Business Certification Program.............................................................................................................................23

MCCCF Golf Tournament Benefiting VIP.........................................................................................................................23

Communications Outreach..................................................................................................................................................25

| P a g e

Executive Summary from the President & CEO – Georgette “Gigi” Godwin

I am proud to present the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) Year In Review for FY 16 (July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016). Thanks to the leadership of an exemplary Board of Directors, MCCC continues to lead, advocate, and connect as the voice of business.

AdvocacyMCCC has continued to push forward in advocating for member success in a strong business environment.

Metro Maryland: MCCC identified the stretch between Montgomery County and Baltimore City as the 9th largest metro region in the U.S., a critical attribute to attract the best talent and encourage business expansion into Maryland.

MCCC Business Environment Council: The majority of our recommendations to the Maryland Economic Development and Business Climate Commission (the Augustine Commission) were included in the Phase II Report which will be the foundation for our FY 17 advocacy.

Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation: The County reorganized its economic development structure into a new non-profit organization as a result of MCCC’s advocacy that began in 2010.

Signature EventsMCCC’s five signature events highlight a thriving community and enhance Business to Business and Business to Government connections.

Event Attendance: MCCC Signature Events saw the largest cumulative attendance which increased networking opportunities with high value guests.

Visual Media: Improved the way signature events are captured, promoted, and executed through the increased use of video.

Sponsor and Awardee Value: Boosted sponsor visibility and awardee prestige through the use of strategic collateral before, during, and after events.

ProgramsMCCC offers a variety of programs throughout the year to provide access to experts and information that accelerate member success.

Business EXCELerator: MCCC combined the Small Business and GovConNet Member Exchange Meetings to create the Business EXCELerator which discusses topics pertinent to small businesses in the commercial and government contracting space. An average of 30 members at each meeting.

Chamber After Hours: More Chamber After Hours were held with an average of 60 attendees at over eight events, adding new venues and new sponsors.

Member Exchange Meetings: 45 high value subject matter experts presented at 29 Member Exchange Meetings on the topics of Economic Development, GovConNet, Infrastructure and Land Use, Legislative Affairs, and Small Business.

GovConNetMCCC GovConNet supports the success of Maryland and Greater Washington Region-based Government Contractors.

GovConNet Institute: In its fourth year, the GovConNet Institute had the largest participating class ever. To date, 66 member companies have graduated from the 16-hour training program.

Government Contracting Forum: Over 150 attendees had an opportunity to hear from key subject matter experts on how the sale of Government Services Divisions with Lockheed Martin, L3, and other large prime contractors will impact the federal marketplace.

| P a g e

NIST On-site Agency Visit: Over 650 companies attended the half day program of connecting with key decision makers and information.

Procurement Conference: The MCCC GovConNet Procurement Conference hosted a record number of one-on-one matchmaking meetings. A total of 258 matchmaking meetings were coordinated with 23 Federal Agencies, 14 State & Local Procurement offices and 10 Large Prime Contractors.

Membership ServicesMCCC’s engages a diverse range of businesses in order to best support their success.

Membership Retention: Enhanced member engagement resulted in an above industry average membership retention rate of 85%.

Member Visibility: Increased MCCC member visibility through social media engagement and monthly email highlighting new members, renewing members, and referrals.

Membership Reporting: In response to the Board’s request, MCCC expanded membership reporting to include new member sources and renewed members.

Marketing and CommunicationsMCCC uses various means of communications to keep members informed and advance advocacy efforts.

Media Presence: Driven by advocacy and events, MCCC had an increased presence in print and broadcast media which included a guest commentary in the Washington Business Journal and extensive media coverage for Signature Events.

New Website: MCCC received approval from the Board of Directors to move forward with the creation of a new website that will better represent MCCC and serve the needs of members.

Communications Dashboard: Developed a communications dashboard to review and evaluate MCCC’s online presence in order to track the successes and continuously improve engagement.

o Twitter – increased followers by 30% to a total of 1,769o Facebook – increased ‘likes’ by 21% to a total of 1,332o LinkedIn – increased followers by 36% to a total of 347

Branding: Deployed graphics to streamline branding and differentiate MCCC initiatives and events.

Operational Best PracticesMCCC uses operational best practices to ensure that the organization is able to serve the needs of our members.

Audit: MCCC received a clean audit opinion and no internal weaknesses or Management letter, a multi-year trend.

Government Grants: MCCC managed complex Federal and state grants for third consecutive year meeting stringent compliance standards.

Critical Risk Categories: MCCC tightened controls on critical risk categories: insurance, tax and financial reporting, secure personnel and customer data.

IT: MCCC upgraded its IT to ensure greater cyber security and information systems operations. Expense Management: MCCC achieved effective operations expense management. Green Business: MCCC maintained Green Business Certification.

Montgomery County Chamber Community FoundationThe Montgomery County Chamber Community Foundation (MCCCF) is proud to support educational initiatives to enhance our community and beyond.

500th VIP Graduate: The National Center for Veteran Institute for Procurement (VIP) celebrated a milestone achievement with its 500th VIP Graduate during of the October 2015 session. Since 2009, VIP has graduated 686 veteran-owned businesses.

| P a g e

VIP Start: Launched a new program to train veteran owned businesses that want to enter or expand their business growth into the federal marketplace through best business practices. The first session was held on April 5-7, 2016.

All of this great worked resulted in MCCC being ranked second (up from fourth) among the region’s Top 25 Chambers of Commerce in the Washington region by the Washington Business Journal.

We thank our Board of Directors and all of our members who support our events, attend our meetings, provide valuable insights and ideas, and truly make Montgomery County and Metro Maryland a great place to do business. Read the entire 2015-2016 Year In Review to get the full story of the incredible year MCCC just completed. With your thought leadership, we look forward to another great year!

Sincerely,

Georgette “Gigi” GodwinPresident & CEO, Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce

| P a g e

Board of Directors

The 2015-2016 MCCC Board of Directors included approximately 60 diverse members from a wide range of industries. The members of the Board strategize and implementation around MCCC’s mission.

2015-2016 MCCC Board Leadership Chair of the Board: Jerry Shapiro, President, Shapiro & Duncan, Inc. Chair-Elect: Jim Young, Vice President, Corporate Facilities, Services and Real Estate, Marriott

International, Inc. Immediate Past Chair: Lisa Cines, Regional Partner, Business Development & Marketing, Dixon Hughes

Goodman LLP

2015-2016 Board of Directors Meetings July 13, 2015

o MCCC 2015 Annual Board Retreat & Foundation VIP Golf Tournament at Lakewood Country Club September 30, 2015

o Guest Speaker: Bahija Jallal, Ph.D., Executive Vice Pres., AstraZeneca - Head of MedImmuneo Topic: “What is the Science in 10 years that we need to invent today?”

October 28, 2015o Guest: Jordan Goldstein, AIA, IIDA, LEED AP, Managing Director & Principal, Genslero Topic: Anticipating the Workplace of Tomorrow

January 20, 2016o Guest Speaker: Edward A. Ryan, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Marriott

International, Inc.o Topic: Global Risk/Global Opportunities

February 24, 2016o Guest Speaker: Maryland Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherfordo Topic: The Governor’s Plan for Making Maryland More Competitive

March 7, 2016o Guest Speaker: R. Michael Gill, Secretary Maryland Department of Commerceo Topic: Maryland’s Economic Competitiveness

April 27, 2016o Guest Speaker: Dr. Robert L. Caret, Chancellor, University System of Marylando Topic: The USM: Dynamic Economic Engine for growth

May 25, 2015o Board Meeting at Smokey Glen Farm and Chamber After Hours & BBQ

| P a g e

Advocacy

As the voice of business in Montgomery County and the region, MCCC engages our members and works proactively with elected and appointed officials at the federal, state and local levels to promote a business-friendly environment. MCCC monitors issues of importance to the business community and takes positions on more than 100 pieces of legislation each year focused on tax reform, business climate and strategic capital investments.

Highlights in 2015-2016 include: Recommendations to the Augustine Commission-Phase II resulting in proposed legislation on the tax

structure in Maryland Thought leadership on Metro Maryland Worked with elected and appointed officials –high rates of participation at MCCC Signature Events,

featured speakers at Member Exchange meetings, individual meetings Continuously updated website, sent advocacy updates and action alerts to MCCC members and broader

community, compiled successes to date and briefed board monthly on advocacy efforts Numerous advocacy wins at federal, state and local level listed below

MCCC Business Environment CouncilChaired by Jim Young, MCCC Chair-Elect, the Business Environment Council focused its efforts on developing thoroughly considered recommendations to improve the tax structure in Maryland. A letter transmitted to Mr. Norm Augustine, Chair of the Maryland Economic Development and Business Climate Commission, included a number of recommendations developed by the Council. These recommendations were included in the final report and many suggestions became proposed legislation. The eight bills were deliberated but did not reach consensus and did not pass by the end of the session. This will be a focus of the legislative agenda in 2017.

Montgomery County Business CoalitionMCCC is working closely in an informal coalition of business groups including local chambers (Bethesda, Silver Spring, Gaithersburg Germantown), AOBA, BIA, GCAAR and others to share information and coordinate efforts on legislative issues that impact Montgomery County businesses.

Thought Leadership: Metro MarylandMCCC commissioned a study to quantify the magnitude of the asset-rich region of Maryland that we call “Metro Maryland”. The core of Maryland – from Montgomery County to Baltimore City – makes up the 9th largest metro region in the United States. MCCC is at the forefront of redefining where business can locate, grow and succeed. MCCC leadership briefed numerous stakeholders, including government officials, on this innovative way to characterize our region.

Meetings with Elected and Appointed OfficialsMCCC Member Exchange Meetings are an integral part of MCCC Advocacy efforts. Invited speakers are experts and decision makers. They are invited to meet informally with MCCC members to provide updates on a topic and also to listen to feedback and input from MCCC members. A full list of speakers for the 2015-2016 year are listed elsewhere in the report. In addition to those member opportunities, MCCC leadership also interacts with over 70 elected officials and countless appointed government officials throughout the year.

Individual meetings with: Department of Commerce Secretary Mike Gill Department of Budget Secretary David Brinkley

| P a g e

Chief Legislative Officer, Joe Getty

Signature Event participation: MCCC saw tremendous participation by elected and appointed officials at signature events throughout

the 2015-2016 year including members of the Governor’s cabinet, members of the Montgomery County Delegation, the County Executive, County Council, Board of Education, Planning Board and officials from numerous county departments.

Candidate Interviews: In the spring of 2016, MCCC conducted interviews with candidates for the M-NCCP Montgomery County

Planning Board and provided recommendations to the Montgomery County Council.

Local Advocacy

MCCC work at the local level focuses on the annual operating and capital budgets as well as monitoring and participating in local legislation and land use policy that impacts Montgomery County based businesses and employees.

Local Initiatives

Economic Development Reorganization: The Montgomery County Council, at the request of the County Executive, passed Bill 25-15 to reorganize economic development responsibilities into a new non-profit organization, a move that MCCC first suggested in 2010. MCCC sent a letter to the County Executive and testified at the public hearing in support of the new Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation which launched July 1, 2016.

MCCC participated in the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategic Advisory Group which produced a draft report for review by the County Council. The CES proposes a set of strategies to guide economic development in the County over the next five years and addresses issues such as: (1) business vitality (including target industries); (2) talent attraction and retention; (3) creative economies; and (4) placemaking (how the County positions itself for talent attraction and business expansion).

Department of Liquor Control review: MCCC supports the creation of a task force to examine ways to privatize the County controlled wholesale and distribution of alcohol. The task force will convene this summer with the goal of providing legislation to the General Assembly in 2017.

Transit Task Force: MCCC served on the task force to examine feasibility of Bus Rapid Transit funding. County Executive opted to funded limited routes through the County Capital Budget.

Local Legislation

In addition to providing testimony on both the capital and operating budgets, MCCC has engaged on a number of local initiatives including:

Earned Sick and Safe Leave: MCCC together with other business organizations worked to modify the final bill in important ways. Bill 60-14 goes into effect October 1, 2016.

Benchmarking of commercial buildings over 50,000 square feet is now required as of June 1, 2016.

MCCC and other business groups were able to delay discussion of a Minimum Work Week bill.

| P a g e

Ongoing work

MCCC raised numerous concerns of unanswered questions regarding Bill 12-16, Human Rights and Civil Liberties - County Minimum Wage - Amount - Annual Adjustment at the public hearing in June. We will be following the committee work sessions this summer.

MCCC testified at the Planning Board Public Hearing on the Subdivision Staging Policy recommending that the plan be coordinated, tailored and simple.

MCCC also submitted a letter to the PHED committee on SRA 16-01 (Subdivision Regulations) which deals with the issue of Private Roads.

State Advocacy

At the state level, MCCC works with the Governor and his administration and the Maryland General Assembly on business climate issues and legislative action that impacts business in Maryland.

State Initiatives

MD Department of Commerce: Governor Hogan announced the formation of the Maryland Department of Commerce and appointed Mike Gill the state's first Secretary of Commerce.

Maryland Economic Development and Business Climate Commission (the Augustine Commission) reconvened to examine tax policy in Maryland. The MCCC Business Environment Council focused on these issues in the summer and fall and many MCCC recommendations were included in the final report issued by the commission.

Regulatory Reform: Governor Hogan established a Regulatory Reform Commission led by Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford to review regulations in Maryland with the hope to creating a more conducive environment for business success. MCCC participated in some of these forums.

State Legislation

During the 2016 Maryland General Assembly, close to 3,000 bills were introduced. MCCC provided written and/or oral testimony on 85 bills.

Key wins during the 2016 session include:

Economic Competitiveness Electronic Filing of Excise Taxes (Senator Madaleno and Delegate Moon) Lowered Interest Rates on Tax Deficiencies (Delegate Fraser Hidalgo) Personal Property Tax Credit for New and Small Business (Delegate Luedtke) Tax Credit for Commuter Benefits Alcoholic Beverage License for Sports Stadium

Business Opportunities Streamlining Corporate Returns Filing Dates Study of Family Medical Leave Drunk Driving Reduction Act of 2016 (Noah’s Law) Streamlining HVAC contractor licensing

| P a g e

Studying Student Loan Refinancing in Montgomery County Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions Maryland Seal of Biliteracy Act

Infrastructure Investment Extraordinary Development District in Prince George’s County Restoration of Highway User Revenue funding (same levels as FY 16) Budget that funds K-12 and community college education Capital funds for The Universities at Shady Grove Continued investment in the Watkins Mill Interchange Project Funding for Maryland companies participating in the National Center for Veteran Institute for

Procurement

Bills Opposed by MCCC that did not pass included Fair Scheduling Combined Reporting Repeal of Motor Fuel Tax Roll back of Estate Tax Recoupling Pay Stub Transparency Land Use Actions – Judicial Review

The session ended without progress on tax reform (as proposed by the Augustine Commission). The MCCC Business Environment Council will continue to monitor these issues and advocate for tax relief for those impacted by high personal income tax brackets, including businesses that are Pass-Through Entities.

MCCC also supported a notable piece of legislation that strengthened the penalties for drunk driving in honor of Officer Noah Leotta who was killed in the line of duty.

Federal Advocacy

The majority of work on federal advocacy involved alerting MCCC members to open comment periods on important proposed rule and regulation changes through Advocacy Updates and Action Alerts. Pilliero Mazza, Madison Services Group, Bloomberg Government and Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) all contributed to MCCC efforts by providing expert analysis and resources for further information.

In particular, MCCC members received Action Alerts on: Fair Pay & Safe Workplaces

On May 2, 2016, the proposed final regulations were received by the Office of Management and Budget for approval. There remain serious concerns as the NLRB prepares to implement these new requirements.

OvertimeThe Department of Labor published "Defining and Delimiting the Exemptions for Executive, Administrative, Professional, Outside Sales and Computer Employees," significantly raising the threshold level for salaried employees entitled to overtime pay. The rule goes into effective Dec. 1, 2016.

The GovConNet Council supported a letter from the Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO) in support of Senate action on the needed 7(a) loan authority expansion. This allowed SBA to raise the lending cap and continue lending to qualified small businesses.

| P a g e

The Omnibus bill passed at the end of 2015 had a number of wins for Maryland. Purple Line $100 million - second installment of federal money toward the $900 million federal

commitment Full funding for WMATA with oversight and reporting requirements to USDOT NIH - additional $2 billion for a total of $32 billion FDA - additional $133 million for a total of $2.72 billion FDA - $5 million for feasibility study to update and issue a revised Master Plan (the remaining money for

the Master Plan will be requested in FY17) NIST - Planning and design money totaling $60 million for the Radiation Physics building National Cybersecurity Center for Excellence - more than doubled the Center’s budget to $32 million

Collaboration on Regional Issues and with Partner Organizations MCCC was an invited participant in a number of efforts to strengthen the regional economy including:

• Regional Roadmap• Global Cities Initiative• WMATA funding• Purple Line project approval• I-270 congestion relief

MCCC works with a range of Partner Organizations on a variety of issues• Economic Development

Comprehensive Strategic Economic Development Advisory Group Maryland Competitiveness Coalition Committee for Montgomery Visit Montgomery

• Transportation Purple Line Now Suburban Maryland Transportation Alliance (SMTA) WMATA Momentum Champions Montgomery County Transit Task Force

• Other Maryland Chamber of Commerce Local chambers (Bethesda, Silver Spring, Gaithersburg-Germantown) Maryland Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (MACCE) Maryland Builders Industry Association (MBIA) Apartment and Office Building Association (AOBA) Montgomery County Year of the Veteran MCBRE

| P a g e

Programs and Member Services

Member Exchange Meetings

MCCC Member Exchange Meetings are an exclusive benefit for MCCC members, providing them with access to information and experts that give their businesses the competitive edge in today’s knowledge economy. The 2015-2016 series welcomed 45 speakers for 29 meetings to discuss topics related to Economic Development, GovConNet, Infrastructure and Land Use, Legislative Affairs, and Small Business.

Business EXCELerator (GovConNet and Small Business)

The MCCC Business EXCELerator series is a how-to on best business practices for growth and success. The program curriculum provides small businesses in the commercial and government contracting space information, resources, and relationships that will accelerate their success in the market place.

The two hour sessions combine the Small Business and the GovConNet series for one hour of general information on the subject that applies to any business and a second hour on the same subject tailored to a federal government contracting small business. 2015-2016 Small Business Vice-Chair and Co-Chair

Vice-Chair: Clark Kendall, President & Founder, Kendall Capital Management Co-Chair: Neil Simons Area President, South Atlantic Region, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co

2015-2016 GovConNet Vice-Chair and Co-Chair Vice-Chair: Kwesi Rogers, President and CEO, Federal National Commercial Credit Co-Chair: Lexy B. Kessler, CPA, CGMA Partner, Aronson LLC

2015-2016 Speakers and Topics October 2, 2015

o Topic: Marketing Your Businesso Speakers:

Ira Koretsky, The Chief Storyteller Tabisa Kalisa, Program Manager, Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP), NASA

November 4, 2015o Topic: Health Care Coverage and Employee Insurance Benefitso Speakers:

Betty Vassilaros, Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Manager for Maryland Health Benefit Exchange

Joseph (“Jody”) Buyalos, ACBC, Executive Vice President & Employee Benefits, The Insurance Exchange, Inc.

December 4, 2015o Topic: Attracting and Retaining Top Talent and Updates to Labor Laws and Employee Relationso Speakers:

Panel on Best Practices in Employee Recruitment Meredith Leader, Director of Recruitment/HR, 5AM Solutions and Secretary of

SHRM, Montgomery County Chapter Erin Allen, President, ConTemporaries, Inc. Stephen Spencer, President, Insurance Associates

| P a g e

Corey Argust, Associate, Labor and Employment, Litigation, and Government Contracts practice group, PilieroMazza PLLC

February 17, 2016o Topic: C-level Strategic Planningo Speakers:

Seth Goldman, TeaEO Emeritus, Honest Tea Staci L. Redmon, President & CEO, Strategy and Management Services, Inc. (SAMS)

March 16, 2016o Topic: Conference Preparedness: Onsite Marketing and Brandingo Speakers:

Karen Killian, President, LMD Gloria Larkin, President, TargetGov

April 20, 2016o Topic: Cybersecurityo Speakers:

Bill Webb, President, SilverRhino LLC Mitch Mello, Director of Sales, ISMS Solutions:

Economic Development

The Economic Development series aims to highlight programs that support County and State economic development initiatives. The goal is to work with county and state officials to foster a business climate to enable the attraction and retention of high quality employers and jobs.

2015-2016 Economic Development Vice-Chair and Co-Chair Vice-Chair: Stewart Edelstein, Ph.D., Executive Director, The Universities at Shady Grove Co-Chair: Bruce H. Lee, President, Lee Development Group

2015-2016 Speakers and Topics September 10, 2015

o Topic: Reorganization of the Maryland Department of Business & Economic Developmento Speaker: Deputy Secretary Ben Wu, Department of Business and Economic Development

October 8, 2015o Topic: Leveraging Community Assets for Effective Economic Developmento Speaker: Tim Nitti, Founder, GeoAnalytics Consulting

November 12, 2015 (Joint meeting with Legislative Affairs)o Topic: Priorities for the Upcoming 2016 General Assembly Legislative Sessiono Speaker: Senator Nancy King and Delegate Shane Robinson, Montgomery County Delegation

December 10, 2015o Topic: Update on work of The Maryland Economic Development and Business Climate

Commissiono Speakers:

Delegate Bill Frick, District 16, Montgomery County Delegation to the Maryland General Assembly

Delegate Ariana B. Kelly, District 16, Montgomery County Delegation to the Maryland General Assembly

January 15, 2015 (Joint meeting with Legislative Affairs)o Topic: The Year Ahead for the County Councilo Speaker: Nancy Floreen, Council President, At-Large, Montgomery County Council

February 11, 2016

| P a g e

o Topic: Comprehensive Economic Strategy Updateo Speaker: Lily Qi, Special Assistant, Office of the County Executive

March 9, 2016 (Joint meeting with Infrastructure and Land Use)o Topic: WMATA's New Leadership: Updates and Vision for the Futureo Speaker: Paul Wiedefeld, General Manager, WMATA

April 15, 2016 (Joint meeting with Legislative Affairs)o Topic: Tax Reform in Marylando Speakers:

Senator Brian Feldman (D15) Delegate Kathleen Dumais (D15)

May 17, 2016 (Joint meeting with Legislative Affairs)o Topic: Maryland Fiscal Outlooko Speaker: John Rohrer, Coordinator, Fiscal and Policy Analysis, Department of Legislative

Services, Maryland General Assembly

Infrastructure and Land Use

The Infrastructure and Land Use series closely follow matters relating to the county’s Planning Board, Board of Appeals, and Master Plan process. Topics include funding, capacity, and innovative thinking in land use planning and design.

2015-2016 Infrastructure and Land Use Vice-Chair and Co-Chair Vice-Chair: Gus Bauman, Esq., Counsel, Beveridge & Diamond, P.C. Co-Chair: Dusty Rood, AICP, President, Rodgers Consulting, Inc.

2015-2016 Speakers and Topics July 14, 2015

o Topic: Infrastructure and Land Use: Montgomery County Department of Transportation QandAo Speaker: Al Roshdieh, Acting Director, Montgomery County Department of Transportation

September 8, 2015o Topic: Maryland Department of the Environment and Support of Business in Marylando Speaker: Ben Grumbles, Secretary, Maryland Department of the Environment

October 13, 2015o Topic: The Future of I-270o Speaker: Greg Slater, Director, Office of Planning & Preliminary Engineering, State Highway

Administration, Maryland Department of Transportation November 10, 2015

o Topic: The New Development Ombudsman in Montgomery Countyo Speaker: Mike Smith, Development Ombudsman, Office of the County Executive, Montgomery

County December 8, 2015

o Topic: The Office Market Assessment Report and Implications for Upcoming Master Planso Speaker: Gwen Wright, Director of Montgomery County Planning Department, Maryland-

National Capital Park and Planning Commission January 12, 2016

o Topic: Corridor Cities Transitway (CCT) Updateso Speaker: Rick Kiegel, Project Manager, Corridor Cities Transitway, Maryland Transit

Administration, Office of Planning March 9, 2016 (Joint meeting with Economic Development)

o Topic: WMATA's New Leadership: Updates and Vision for the Future

| P a g e

o Speaker: Paul Wiedefeld, General Manager, WMATA

April 12, 2016o Topic: Subdivision Staging Policy – Process and Inputo Speaker: Casey Anderson, Chair, Montgomery County Planning Board

May 10, 2016o Topic: WSSC: What's Next? Insights from New Leadershipo Speaker: Carla Reid, General Manager, Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC)

Legislative Affairs

The Legislative Affairs series addresses topics that pertain to advocacy at the federal, state and local level, supporting legislation, and policies that will keep Montgomery County and Maryland competitive in today’s global economy.

2015-2016 Legislative Affairs Vice-Chair and Co-Chair Vice-Chair: Leslie Ford Weber, Director, Campus, Govt. & Community Affairs, Montgomery County,

Federal Affairs Officer, John Hopkins University Montgomery County Campus Co-Chair: Joshua Bokee, Director of Government Affairs, Comcast

2015-2016 Speakers and Topics September 18, 2015

o Topic: County Council and Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy & Environment (T&E) Committee Updates

o Speaker: Tom Hucker, Councilmember, District 5, Montgomery County Council October 16, 2015

o Topic: Looking Ahead to the 2016 Maryland General Assembly Legislative Sessiono Speakers: Panelists from the Maryland General Assembly House of Delegates

David Fraser-Hidalgo, District 15 Marc Korman, District 16 David Moon, District 20 Maricé Morales, District 19 Andrew Platt, District 17 Will Smith, District 20

November 12, 2015 (Joint meeting with Economic Development)o Topic: Priorities for the Upcoming 2016 General Assembly Legislative Sessiono Speaker: Senator Nancy King and Delegate Shane Robinson, Montgomery County Delegation

December 18, 2015o Topic: Montgomery County Priorities in the 2016 General Assembly Legislative Sessiono Speaker: Melanie Wenger, Director, Montgomery County Office of Intergovernmental Relations

January 15, 2016 (Joint meeting with Economic Development)o Topic: The Year Ahead for the County Councilo Speaker: Nancy Floreen, Council President, At-Large, Montgomery County Council

March 14, 2016o Topic: Maryland General Assembly 2016 Legislative Session Midway Reporto Speakers:

John Stierhoff, Partner, Venable, LLC

| P a g e

Brian Quinn, Counsel, Venable, LLC

April 15, 2016 (Joint meeting with Economic Development)o Topic: Tax Reform in Marylando Speakers:

Senator Brian Feldman (D15) Delegate Kathleen Dumais (D15)

May 17, 2016 (Joint meeting with Economic Development)o Topic: Maryland Fiscal Outlooko Speaker: John Rohrer, Coordinator, Fiscal and Policy Analysis, Department of Legislative

Services, Maryland General Assembly

Chamber After Hours

MCCC hosted eight Chamber After Hours in 2015-2016. Each event connected MCCC members and non-members representing a wide range of industries through professional networking in a casual and friendly atmosphere.

July 22, 2015 o American Tap Room Rockvilleo 52 attendees

August 19, 2015o Buffalo Wild Wings Rockville o 46 attendees

September 16, 2015 o Denizens Brewing Co. o 54 attendees

October 14, 2015 o Gordon Biersch Rockville o 60 attendees

January 14, 2016 o Clyde’s Tower Oaks Lodge o 48 attendees

February 17, 2016 o American Tap Room Rockville o 63 attendees

April 14, 2016 o CAMBRiA hotel & suites Rockville o 54 attendees

May 25, 2016 o Smokey Glen Farm o 103 attendees

Orientation

Each month, MCCC welcomes new and prospective members to connect and learn how to make the most of their membership. A new feature of the program was the use of videos, in addition to the visual presentation, to

| P a g e

engage the participants and better showcase the MCCC experience. In 2015-2016, MCCC hosted eleven orientation sessions with a combined total of 191 attendees.

| P a g e

Government Contracting Network

MCCC’s Government Contracting Network (GovConNet) programs are designed to support Maryland and Greater Washington Region-based government contractors. In addition to the programs listed below, GovConNet programs also include the MCCC GovConNet Procurement Conference (see the Signature Events section for more information) and the Business EXCELerator Member Exchange Meetings (see the Member Exchange Meetings section for more information).

GovConNet Council

The GovConNet Council is comprised of Government Contracting industry experts who develop GovConNet programs and provide industry specific advocacy. The Council advises the MCCC Board of Directors on its government contracting initiatives. The Council’s mission statement is “To promote the economic impact of the federal government presence and to advocate on behalf of the contracting community for business opportunities.”

GovConNet Institute

On April 22, 2016, the GovConNet Institute graduated its fourth class, comprised of 19 government contractors. Since its launch in 2012, a total of 66 companies have completed the series of six training sessions and graduated from the Institute. Instructed by MCCC GovConNet expert professional service-providers and CEOs that share Lessons Learned, the program provides advanced training to Federal government contractors in the transitional stage with the real world tools and knowledge needed to succeed at the next level and increase owner value. The 2016 GovConNet Institute consisted of 6 sessions held between February 2016 and April 2016.

Government Contracting Forum: Changing Landscape in Government Contracting

On February 25, 2016, MCCC GovConNet hosted a Government Contracting Forum to discuss the changing landscape in the government contracting. The 185 attendees heard from a keynote speaker and a panel of experts on a variety of relevant topics including contract vehicle consolidation, keys to growth in this evolving market and strategies to help contractors overcome challenges. The speakers were the following:

Keynote: Timothy R. Garnett, Managing Director & Founder at Avascent

Panel: PJ Bulger, Senior Vice President, General Manager, Powertek Corporation Larry A. Davis, Partner, Aronson Capital Partners Jesse Holler, Quantitative Analyst at Bloomberg Government Richard P. Sawchak, Chief Financial Officer, Novetta Solutions

Moderator: Gene R. Schleppenbach, Principal, Miles & Stockbridge P.C.

On-sites Agency Visits

On February 10, 2016, the MCCC GovConNet took its efforts onsite to the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) where over 650 attendees heard from NIST’s leadership about the agency’s important mission, a multi-million dollar laboratory expansion, cybersecurity implementation, and vendor opportunities in construction and IT. The event’s breakout sessions focused on IT and Construction. Participants also had the opportunity to meet representatives from many of the NIST Operating Units, contracting officials, and

| P a g e

GovConNet Council member companies at exhibitor tables; speak one-on-one with the panelists; and network with fellow government contractors.

On the Road Series

On December 2, 2015, MCCC GovConNet partnered with the Maryland Chamber of Commerce to bring members the Business Development Council (BDC) On The Road series. Attendees had an opportunity to meet and hear from Pat McHugh, Corporate Small Business Liason Officers (SBLO) at Lockheed Martin, regarding Lockheed Martin's procurement process, teaming needs and upcoming opportunities.

| P a g e

Signature Events

Business Awards Dinner

On Thursday, November 19, 2015, the MCCC 2015 Business Awards Dinner connected the most influential business and government leaders in the region for a celebration of innovation, achievement, and commitment to the community. See the below for the full list of award winners.

2015 MCCC Business Award Winners

Corporate Achievemento Winner: Sodexo, Inc.o Sponsor: Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Corporate Social Responsibilityo Winner: SunTrust Banko Sponsor: Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc.

Emeritus Business Leader of the Yearo Winner: John McMahon, Chairman, Miller & Long Co., Inc.o Co-Sponsors:

Insurance Associates CohnReznick LLP

Green Business Innovator of the Yearo Winner: EVEN Hotel Rockvilleo Co-Sponsors:

Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection Montgomery County Department of General Services

Prime Partner of the Yearo Winner: National Government Serviceso Co-Sponsors:

Customer Value Partners CWR Technologies Kinney Group Moser Consulting, Inc.

Public Sector Partner of the Yearo Winner: Donald F. Camden, Chief of the Information Systems Contracting Division at the

Defense Intelligence Agencyo Sponsor: Bloomberg Government

Small Business Leader of the Yearo Winner: Cidalia Luis-Akbar and Natalia Luis, M. Luis Construction Co., Inc.o Sponsor: CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield

Spirit of Free Enterprise

| P a g e

o Winner: Denizens Brewing Co.o Sponsor: EagleBank

Verl Zanders Emerging Business of the Yearo Winner: Cellphire, Inc.o Finalists:

AnthroTronix, Inc. VariQ Corporation

o Sponsor: Montgomery County Department of Economic Development

Annapolis Legislative Reception

On Monday, February 8, 2016, nearly 200 MCCC members and members of the Montgomery County Delegation to the Maryland General Assembly attended the 2016 MCCC Annapolis Legislative Reception at the Governor Calvert House in Annapolis.

It was an intimate event to meet, network, and influence the way we do business in Maryland. The event featured MCCC’s 2016 Legislative Agenda which focuses on Business Opportunities, Infrastructure Investment, and Economic Competitiveness.

Speakers at the event included the following: Senator Nancy King (D39), Chair of the Senate Delegation Delegate Shane Robinson (D39), Chair of the House Delegation Jerry Shapiro, MCCC’s Chair of the Board and President of Shapiro & Duncan Joshua Bokee, Co-Chair of MCCC’s Legislative Affairs Committee and Director of Government Affairs for

Comcast

Public Safety Awards Luncheon

The 42nd Annual Public Safety Awards Luncheon was held on March 11, 2016 at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and County Conference Center. Nearly 1,300 attendees gathered to hear incredible stories of valor and honor the men and women who keep us safe every day. See the below for the full list of award winners. 12 Valor Awards:

Car Fire on the Beltway responders Police Officer 3 Brian Nesbitt (Gold) and Police Officer 1 Cody Fields (Gold)

Murder/Suicide at Germantown Gas Station responder Police Officer 2 Andrew Bock (Silver) Car Crushed by Tree In Takoma Park responder Lieutenant Shibu Philipose (Silver) Safeway Suicide Response responder Police Officer 3 Nathan Kane (Bronze) Ocean City Water Rescue responder Master Fire Fighter/Rescuer Timothy Beatty (Bronze) Collision on I-495 Split at I-270 responders Fire Fighter Rescuer III Meghan Quinn (Honorable Mention)

and Fire Fighter Rescuer II Wyatt Smith (Honorable Mention) Suicide Response in Damascus responders Police Officer 1 John D. Durham (Honorable Mention) and

Sheriff Deputy 3 Robert Balser (Honorable Mention) Murder in Germantown responders Sergeant Ray Moran (Honorable Mention) and Police Officer 3 Dawn

Wenner (Honorable Mention)

2 Unit Citations: Montgomery County First Responders to the Baltimore Riots

| P a g e

Responders to a Sexual Assault in Rockville: Deputy Sheriff 3 Keith Brubacher, Deputy Sheriff 3 Douglas Orr, Deputy Sheriff 3 Alan Summers, Deputy Sheriff 2 Christopher Moxley, Deputy Sheriff 2 Nelson Rosales, and Deputy Sheriff 1 Donghae Thompson

2 MCCC Public Safety Community Service Awards: Fire and Rescue Chief John W. Hartley Police Officer 1 Amber Richard

Public Safety Corporate Vital Link: Lee Development Group

Public Safety Government Partner of the Year: National Institute of Standards and Technology

Line of Duty Death Tribute: Police Officer Noah Leotta

The 2016 Chairman of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce Public Safety Awards was Steven A. Robins, Esq., Partner at Lerch, Early & Brewer.

Government officials who participated in the program included Congressman Chris Van Hollen, Congressman John Delaney, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett, and Montgomery County Council President Nancy Floreen.

The Public Safety Chiefs who participated in the program included Montgomery County Department of Police; Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service; Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office; Montgomery County Department of Correction & Rehabilitation; and Maryland-National Capital Park Police, Montgomery County Division

The event was emceed by NBC News Correspondent Tom Costello and NBC News4 Traffic Reporter Melissa Mollet.

GovConNet Procurement Conference

On Thursday, May 12, 2016, hundreds of participants attended the 2016 MCCC GovConNet Procurement Conference to take advantage of the unique opportunity to gain valuable insights and meet directly with key purchasing agents from a variety of federal government agencies, prime contractors, and state and local agencies.

U.S. Congressman Chris Van Hollen served as the Honorary Chairman for the thirteenth year, noting the great opportunities that Maryland businesses have in the area of procurement goods and services.

Anne Rung, Administrator for the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) at the White House Office of Management and Budget, provided keynote remarks. She shared her expertise on the procurement process from the perspective of the client – the Federal Government.

| P a g e

The opening ceremony also featured a keynote panel on small business regulation updates. The panel was moderated by Tony Franco, Senior Partner at PilieroMazza PLLC, and the panelists were John Shoraka, Associate Administrator of Government Contracting and Business Development at the U.S. Small Business Administration, and Emily Murphy, Professional Staff Member and Counsel at the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Armed Services.

The 2016 MCCC GovConNet Procurement Conference featured 259 One-on-One matchmaking sessions, 85 Exhibitors, 57 Speakers, 18 Breakout Sessions, 23 Federal agencies/departments, 14 State & Local Government Departments, and 10 Prime Contractors

Annual Dinner

The MCCC 57th Annual Dinner welcomed over 800 guests on Thursday, June 9, 2016, inaugurated the Board of Directors and honored the leaders who strengthen our business environment.

MCCC’s newly elected Board of Directors took the oath of office, pledging to continue to advance this mission and the passing of the torch celebration welcomed the new leadership:

Chair of the Board: Jim Young, Vice President, Corporate Facilities, Services and Real Estate, Marriott International, Inc.

Immediate Past Chair: Jerry Shapiro, President, Shapiro & Duncan, Inc., Chair-Elect: Dusty Rood, President, Rodgers Consulting, Inc.

As part of the awards program, MCCC also recognized five leaders who make significant contributions to building a strong business environment in Montgomery County and beyond: Visionary of the Year

Winner: Bell Nursery USA LLC., accepted by Gary Mangum, CEO & President Sponsors: The Universities at Shady Grove and Lindsay Goldberg LLC Presented by Dr. Stewart Edelstein, Executive Director of the Universities at Shady Grove and Associate

Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University System of Maryland

Public Sector Partner of the Year Winner: National Institutes of Health (NIH), accepted by Dr. Lawrence Tabak, Principal Deputy Director Sponsor: NextWin Services LLC Presented by Ann Sullivan, President, NextWin Services LLC

Legislator of the Year Winner: Montgomery County Council President Nancy Floreen Sponsors: The Donohoe Companies, Inc., Federal Realty Investment Trust, Linowes and Blocher LLP, and

Percontee, Inc. Presented by Chris Bruch, President & COO, The Donohoe Companies, Inc.; Jonathan Genn, Executive

Vice President and General Counsel, Percontee, Inc.; Mickey Papillon, Vice President and General Manager, Pike & Rose; and Barbara Sears, Partner, Linowes and Blocher LLP.

| P a g e

Business Advocate of the Year Winner: Lawrence Duncan, III, Vice President, Federal & State Government Relations & PAC Affairs,

Lockheed Martin Corporation Sponsor: Alexander & Cleaver, P.A. Presented by Robert J. Garagiola, President of the Government Affairs Division and Managing Attorney

of the Rockville Office at Alexander & Cleaver, P.A.

Chairman’s Award Winner: Leslie Ford Weber, Director, Campus and Government & Community Affairs, Montgomery

County, Johns Hopkins Sponsor: Shapiro & Duncan, Inc. Presented by Jerry Shapiro, President, Shapiro & Duncan, Inc.

Government leaders who provided remarks included the following: Congressman Chris Van Hollen Congressman John Delaney Maryland Secretary of Commerce Mike Gill Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett.

| P a g e

Initiatives

Startup MarylandOn September 30, 2015, MCCC and the Montgomery County Department of Economic Development sponsored Startup Maryland, part of the nationwide Startup America initiative. The Startup Maryland Bus made two stops in Montgomery County, the first at the BioScience Education Center at Montgomery College and the second at the Thingstitute at the Red Brick Courthouse. A total of 20 companies were selected to videotape their 3-minute pitches to be seen online by VC, angel investors and voted on by fans around Maryland. Members of the business community joined each celebration to meet, support and network with the entrepreneurs.

StopFakes.govOn September 21, 2015, MCCC welcomed the U.S. Commercial Service’s STOPFakes for a seminar and individual consultations. Organized by the U.S. Commercial Service and the International Trade Administration’s Office of Intellectual Property (IP) Rights, the event provided a forum for U.S. Government officials to interact directly with businesses about their IP protection internationally. The seminar covered IP topics in regards to common entrepreneur mistakes, assets assessment, trade, and the FBI’s perspective and concerns. The speakers included the following:

Carey Paul Esslinger, Senior International Trade Specialist, Baltimore U.S. Export Assistance Center, U.S. Commercial Service

Susan Anthony, Attorney, Office of Policy and International Affairs, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Dhriti Pandhi, International Trade Specialist, Office of Intellectual Property Rights, International Trade

Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce Dhriti Pandhi, International Trade Specialist, Office of Intellectual Property Rights, International Trade

Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce Lynne Beresford, Consultant, Former Commissioner for Trademarks, United States Patent and

Trademark Office John L. Robertson, Supervisory Special Agent, Intellectual Property and Cyber Enabled Crime Unit,

Criminal Investigative Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation

Green Business ForumNow in its eight year, the Green Business Forum was created through a partnership between MCCC, the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, and Montgomery College. The Green Business Forum features experts who offer unique perspectives on the advantages of being a green business. 2015-2016 Green Business Forums:

September 16, 2015o Topic: Montgomery County Green Bank Information Sessiono Speakers:

Jim Barrett, Chief Economist, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy Jeffrey Schub, Executive Director, Coalition for Green Capital Michelle Vigen, Montgomery County DEP

February 2, 2016o Topic: Leveraging Sustainability to Build your Brand and Cultureo Panelists

Amy Hartzler, Partner, Do Good Better and formerly of Free Range Studios Catherine Sheehy, PMP, Program Manager, UL Environment Jenny Burns, Director of Mission, Honest Tea Liz Huntley, Director, Corporate Citizenship & Community Relations, MedImmune, Inc.

o Moderator:

| P a g e

Mary Fehlig, Founder and President, The Fehlig Group

| P a g e

Montgomery County Chamber Community Foundation

In 2008, on the 50th Anniversary of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, the Montgomery County Chamber Community Foundation (MCCCF) was launched as an independent 501(c)(3) organization. The Foundation is proud to support educational initiatives to enhance our community and beyond.

Veteran Institute for Procurement

The National Center for Veteran Institute for Procurement (VIP) is the country’s first-ever training center to train veteran service-disabled and veteran owned small businesses to succeed in the federal contracting market. In 2015-2016, VIP Grow held three sessions (October, March, and June). During the October session, VIP celebrated a milestone achievement of graduating its 500th veteran-owned business. Since the program launched in 2009, VIP Grow has graduated 638 veteran-owned businesses from 38 states, Washington D.C., and a U.S. Territory.

In April 2016, VIP Start was launched to train service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSB) and veteran-owned small businesses (VOSB) who want to enter or need help to expand their business growth into the federal marketplace. VIP Start has graduated 48 veteran-owned businesses from 15 states and Washington, D.C.

VIP is offered at no cost to participants. The Montgomery County Chamber Community Foundation (MCCCF) funds this program through a public-private partnership made up of a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), support from the State of Maryland and Montgomery County, and private sponsorships.

Public Safety Scholarship Fund at Montgomery College

The MCCCF sponsors the Public Safety Scholarship Fund at Montgomery College, established to support students who are children of a Montgomery County fallen, law enforcement officer, firefighter or other public safety professional or volunteer in one of the county public safety agencies identified by MCCC.

Green Business Certification Program

The Montgomery County Green Business Certification Program - a unique partnership between the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, Montgomery College, and the Montgomery County Chamber Community Foundation - certifies businesses that have voluntarily implemented sustainable purchasing and operational practices in their businesses in order to protect, preserve, and improve the environment.

MCCCF Golf Tournament Benefiting VIP

On July 13, 2015, the Montgomery County Chamber Community Foundation (MCCCF) hosted the 2015 VIP Foundation Golf Tournament at Lakewood Country Club in Rockville, Maryland. The fundraising golf tournament supports VIP.

The 95 golfers enjoyed a day of golf and networking in support of VIP. After a full day on the Rees Jones designed golf course, golfers enjoyed cocktails, dinner, networking, and congratulated the raffle, contest and tournament winners.

| P a g e

2015 VIP Foundation Golf Tournament Winners:First Place Foursome Winner: Clark Construction Group LLC

Second Place Foursome Winner: Federal National Commercial Credit Longest Drive for Women sponsored by SunTrust Bank: Nancy Shimmizzi, Unanet Longest Drive for Men sponsored by SunTrust Bank: Jason Goldman, Schindler Elevator Corporation Closest to the Pin Hole #17 sponsored by Mahorsky Group, Inc.: Scott Stewart, Longview International

Technologies Solutions, Inc. Closest to the Pin Hole #2 sponsored by Sandy Spring Bank: Neil Simons, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Putting Green Contest sponsored by TD Bank: Richard Dobbs, Mahorsky Group, Inc.

Event Raffle Winners: 4 Washington Nationals Club Seat Tickets for Colorado Rockies game on August 8 donated by Steve

Spencer: Mitch Murphy, player on Valorous, Inc. foursome 4 Washington Redskins Club Seat Tickets plus parking for Tampa Bay Buccaneers game on October

donated by Steve Spencer: Richard Dobbs, Mahorsky Group, Inc. Slingbox donated by Hughes Network Systems, LLC, an EchoStar Company: Ernest Woodward, Miami

Business Services Dinner for 6 Certificate to Clyde’s Tower Oaks Lodge donated by Clyde’s Tower Oaks Lodge: Robert

Burrows, player on FirstView foursome Dinner for 4 Certificate to Clyde’s Tower Oaks Lodge donated by Clyde’s Tower Oaks Lodge: Jim Muir,

Hughes, an EchoStar Company foursome Dinner for 2 Certificate to Clyde’s Tower Oaks Lodge donated by Clyde’s Tower Oaks Lodge: Efren

Sangalang, Digging & Rigging, Inc. 2 Odyssey Putters with Head Covers Donated by GolfTEC:

o Don Baker, player on Power Solutions LLC foursomeMatthew Warke, American Commercial Group, Inc.

Special Raffle Winner: Redskins Box for Tampa Bay Buccaneers game on October 25 donated by The Kane Company: Shane

Shrader, Discovery Communications

VIP is a 3-day, 27-hour comprehensive certification program designed to equip veteran businesses to increase their ability to win government contracts. Funded entirely by the Montgomery County Chamber Community Foundation, Partners and VIP Sponsors, the Institute is offered at no cost to participants. Donations are required to sustain and expand VIP to meet the needs of veteran-owned businesses, VIP alumni and the growing community of veterans seeking jobs.

| P a g e

Communications Outreach

MCCC uses various means of communications to remain abreast of the views of the business community, keep members informed, and influence decision makers on business issues relevant to them.

Social Media

MCCC continues to use social media to engage and inform members, potential members, members of the press, and government officials. Through increased posting, engaging in conversations, and tagging organizations, MCCC has increased its reach.

o Twitter: In 2015-2016, MCCC increased its twitter followers by 30% to a total of 1,769 followers. o Facebook: In 2015-2016, MCCC increased its Facebook likes by 21% to a total of 1,332 likes. o LinkedIn: In 2015-2016, MCCC increased its LinkedIn followers by 36% to a total of 347

followers.

In the News

MCCC was ranked second (up from fourth) among the region’s Top 25 Chambers of Commerce in the Washington region by the Washington Business Journal.

MCCC President and CEO Gigi Godwin’s guest commentary on Maryland’s economic competitiveness was featured in the Washington Business Journal.

In 2015-2016, MCCC was highlighted in over 50 news articles. Including coverage in online, print, and broadcast media for signature events, advocacy, and other programs.

Website

MCCC received approval from the Board of Directors create a new website that will better represent MCCC and serve the needs of members. Throughout the year, MCCC assessed the current website and content management system along with how users interact with the systems to determine the requirements for the new site. After vetting numerous service providers, MCCC is moving forward with developing a new website in FY 17.

Email Marketing

MCCC communicates with members, prospects, and interested parties using Constant Contact email marketing to distribute the monthly “What’s Next” newsletter, advocacy highlights and updates, new and renewing member information, and updates on programs and events.

| P a g e