september 2017 · 2017. 8. 31. · 2 greater catonsville chamber newsletter • editor, design...

The Chamber

Photos by Balance Photography

Above average rain this summer did put a damper on our FrederickRoad Fridays concerts. Despite three cancellations and two concertscut short due to weather, the season saw record crowds and new bands,such as the Klassix (pictured here) enhance the concert schedule. Weare already looking forward to 2018. See pages 6 & 7 for more photos.

A Newsletter from the

VIEWI N S I D E

This Issue

September2017

President’s Message

New Members 2Guidewell Welcomes New Leadership Team 4Dennis Sullivan’s Business Tip of the Month 5Frederick Road FridaysPhotos for 2017 6Bacon ‘N BusinessOctober Seminar 102017 Calendar 11

CHAMBERWELCOMES NEW & UNIQUEARTISANS TO ANNUAL FESTIVAL

CC atonsville is gearing up for the 44thAnnual Arts & Crafts Festival on Sunday, September 10 from 10 a.m. to

5 p.m. More than 250 vendor spaces along Frederick Road will be filled by unique craft artisans offering handmade, one-of-a-kind creations along with local businesses and civicgroups showcasing their best. In addition to afabulous shopping opportunity, the festivalfeatures a full array of food, live entertainment

and children’s activities, making it one of thehighlights of the year with something for every-one. And admission is free.Typically drawing between 20-25,000 visitors

each year, the Catonsville Arts & Crafts Festivalemphasizes unique skills and local talent. Artists and craft vendors design and create their ownmerchandise, musicians are drawn from the

44th Annual

Arts & Crafts

Festival

Sept. 10, 2017 continued on page 9

2 Greater Catonsville Chamber Newsletter • www.catonsville.org

Editor,Design & Layout

Teal CaryGCCC Executive Director

410-719-9609

PURPOSEThe purpose of the Chamber of

Commerce is to have a strong voicewith the county government, business and local community;

to affect positive change in our area;to foster growth and expansion ofour members’ business; and toachieve the betterment of the Catonsville community.

Chamber Web Site:www.catonsville.org

ADVERTISING & PROMOTIONOPPORTUNITIES

One-Page Insert $75Get special attention for an

event, sale, etc. An 8 1/2 “ x 11”insert (pdf file) in The Viewprovided by your business.

Event SponsorshipYour company can be

highlighted at one of our monthly events.(Costs vary)

Business After Business HostInvite the Chamber to your

location for onsite promotion.(Costs vary)

WebsiteBanner AdvertisingSidebar Advertising

Check the Homepage of theChamber’s website for additionalopportunities to promote your

business

Call the Chamber Office410.719.9609for more information.

VIEWThe Chamber

visiting and spending their money in ourcommunity. But perhaps the smaller moremember focused networking events that wedo can do something that these larger eventscan’t. That’s provide a relaxing and friendlyvenue where members can really get to knoweach other, form friendships and build strongbusiness relationships. On September 11, the Network the ‘Ville

events begin again and I encourage all ourmembers to attend. Jim Bower owner of theMcDonald's at 501 Frederick Road will openhis restaurant lobby exclusively for our event.Guests will enjoy sampling the restaurant’snew signature menu items, and new chickentenders. And McDonald's new McCafé line ofbeverages will be served along with adult bev-erages.Join us for this fun networking experience.

Network the ‘Ville Mixers are designed to helpour business host showcase their companywhile members connect with each other tofind synergy and grow their businesses. I lookforward to seeing you there.

The Chamber Working for YouPresident’s Message

Cathy Schneider2017 President

SS ummer is alwaysa busy time forour chamber as

we focus our attentionon the two large com-munity events we hosteach year, the FrederickRoad Fridays concerts

and the Catonsville Arts & Crafts Festival. Al-though the concerts had challenges with theweather this year, we are still projected tocontribute over $10,000 to our nonprofitspartners and the Arts & Crafts Festival had allits booth spaces sold-out by mid-Augustguaranteeing a successful day on September10. Both events provide marketing opportuni-ties for our member businesses to show-casetheir products and services and to give backto the community that sustains them.These large community events are vital to

bringing a new audience to Catonsville,

Member Level

Bnet LLCRay Bennett738 Frederick RoadCatonsville, MD 21228(410) [email protected] www.bnetsafety.com

Bnet LLC is a value-added reseller (VAR) ofcomputer products and services. Bnet alsoprovide safety and self-protection products,as well as hiking, camping and “off the grid”products and equipment.

Prem1er Combat AcademyPeter Atanasson3701 Commerce Drive, Suite 109Baltimore, MD 21227(443) [email protected] www.prem1ercombat.com

Prem1er Combat Academy is a martial arts

The Chamber New Membersacademy aiming to serve the local community by teaching and propagating the martial arts for self-defense and fitness.They teach Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai and aim to enrich their students’ lives by guiding them through their journey inthose disciplines. Prem1er Combat Academyteaches students of all ages and backgroundsand offers classes for men, women and children.

Reinstated Member

Country Fresh FoodsJoseph Trentacosta3514 Route 9 South, Suite 201Howell, NJ 07731(732) [email protected]

Greater Catonsville Chamber Newsletter • www.catonsville.org 3

September 11, 2017

Network @ McDonald’s Restaurant-Catonsville

501 Frederick Road5:30 to 7:30 pm

Hors d’oeuvres and beverages included

October 9, 2017

Network @ Mercedes Benz of CatonsvilleIncludes Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

6631 Baltimore National Pike5:30 to 7:30 pm

Hors d’oeuvres and beverages included

November 13, 2017

Chamber Annual Meeting & Network @ Masonic Lodge No. 189 Catonsville

837 Frederick Road • 5:30 to 7:30 pmThis event will also include important Chamber business:

The Election of the Board and Officers for 2018 and adoption of the 2018 Budget. Hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be served

Cost: $10 members pre-registered, $15 at door and for non-membersRegister online at catonsville.org or call 410-719-9609

Presented by The Greater CatonsvilleChamber of Commerce

Networking is about making connections and building enduring,mutually beneficial relationships.

Our Catonsville Chamber will continue the monthly networking mixers with new fall events hosted by Catonsville businesses creating the

PERFECT OPPORTUNITY to: • Generate Referrals/Increase Business • Increase New Business Opportunities • Make Connections • Get/Give Advice

• Help Others • Form New Friendships


The Chamber Member News

Nonprofit Guidewell FinancialSolutions (a.k.a. Consumer CreditCounseling Service of Maryland

and Delaware, Inc.) recently has namedthree new members to its leadershipteam. James B. Craig has been appointedExecutive Vice President and Chief Oper-ating Officer. Melissa Dornan is now theagency’s Vice President of Strategic Part-nerships, and Nick Beser has been se-lected to serve as its Director of Housingand Community Development.Craig joins the agency having worked

more than 23 years’ in the financial coun-seling industry. Most recently, he servedas Chief Operating Officer at ClearpointCredit Counseling Solutions, where he in-stituted quality assurance measures andincentives that resulted in a customer sat-isfaction rating of nearly 95 percent. Heworked with national and referral sourcesto generate a significant flow of previouslyunrealized referrals and drove vertical in-tegration of the agency’s operating sys-tems. Over a five-year period, he also ledthe agency’s effort to increase employeeproductivity and manage cultural changethrough seven mergers and acquisitions. Having worked 15 years in the financial

sector, Dornan brings a wealth of businessmanagement experience. She began hercareer as a Licensed Relationship Bankerwith Wells Fargo Bank. Through proven

success, she was promoted to a RegionalSales Leader position, where she was re-sponsible for leading a 100+ associateteam in the Greater Washington, DC area.She later expanded her network and skillset as a Private Advisor with BB&T Wealth,as a Private Banker with FNB, and as a Di-rector with Capital One Bank. While atCapital One, she led her team to achievethe highest level of associate engagementin the region while improving operational,sales, and service performance.Beser is also a seasoned professional

with more than 16 years’ experience in thefinancial industry. Prior to joiningGuidewell Financial, he worked as an As-sistant Vice President for Wells FargoBank, where he managed relationshipswith key stakeholders in seven Northeast-ern States. He also represented Wells FargoGovernment and Community Relations,focusing on home preservation efforts,homeownership education, reputationmanagement, and community outreach.In this position, he worked with both in-ternal and external leaders to promoteneighborhood stabilization and served asa liaison with housing counselors, electedofficials, and other community leaders.Guidewell Financial Solutions President

and CEO Helene Raynaud says, “We areexcited to have these three very skilledand dynamic professionals on our man-agement team. Their knowledge and ex-pertise will help us grow our agency andposition it as a leading provider of finan-cial counseling and education within thecommunity and throughout the entire region.”

Guidewell Financial Solutions Welcomes New Leadership Team

James B. Craig,Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Melissa Dornan,Vice President of Strategic Partnerships

Nick Beser,Director of Housing and Community Development

To learn more about Guidewell Finan-cial’s services and programs, visit theagency’s website or call 1-800-642-2227 toset up an appointment.

Guidewell Financial Solutions (alsoknown as Consumer Credit CounselingService of Maryland and Delaware) is anaccredited 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency thathelps stabilize communities by creatinghope and promoting economic self-sufficiency to individuals and familiesthrough financial education and counsel-ing. Maryland License #14-01 / DelawareLicense #07-01

Join our Chamber’s MEMBERS-ONLY Facebook Group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Catonsville Chamber/


Dennis Sullivan, Executive DirectorCenter for Business Innovation, CCBCContributing View Columnist

II t’s difficult to make a purchase without beingasked: “Are you a rewards member?”Just about every business is offering some

sort of loyalty or rewards program to track cus-tomers’ purchases for target marketing (moreabout that in a moment). Their goal is to try andincentive customers to come back again and

again. And nowhere is this practice more prevalent than in the airline indus-try. But do the airline frequent-flyer loyalty programs work?Every airline has one and 90% of travelers are enrolled in at least one pro-

gram. They offer discounts on future purchases, credit card offers, loungeservices between flights, and other benefits to reward customers who dobusiness with them all while trying to gain an edge over the competition.Many retailers, hotel chains, rental car companies, restaurants, etc. have fol-lowed suit. However, the cost of managing such programs and the loss of rev-enue can also be a liability to businesses – especially if there is no evidencethat the programs actually result in increased customer loyalty.Here’s the rub: frequent flyer programs are aimed to attract business trav-

elers, who do the most flying, but they are also the least price sensitive of anymarket segment. They are more concerned with getting from A to B in theshortest time and with the least hassle. The bottom line is that there is no conclusive evidence that the frequent-

flyer programs result in increased loyalty, according to Mark Wever, Ph.D,based on a meta-analysis of studies previously done on the topic since 2003.In his article, Advantages and disadvantages of deploying frequent flyer pro-grams as impact factors affecting airline customer behavior and retention,published in Advances in Business-Related Scientific Research, Wever saysthe airline industry is so competitive that they must continue to offer fre-quent flyer programs or risk putting themselves at a disadvantage, eventhough there is no evidence that they work. It’s safe to say the myth of the fre-quent flyer program is busted.However, there may still be an opportunity for the airlines – and for any

other business that offers a rewards program. Thanks to such rewards pro-grams, marketers have valuable data rich with customer purchase history,purchase behavior and purchase patterns that can be used to promote tar-geted promotions that may indeed create a competitive advantage. For ex-ample, Wever suggests that the airlines could target moderate- andless-frequent travelers – instead of price-insensitive business travelers – thatmay result in increased sales.This is huge! I can’t tell you the number of businesses I work with that have

rewards programs and have no idea (1) whether the program results in moreloyal customers, and (2) what the data is telling them about the purchase be-havior of their target market segments. Business owners simply assume that if the airlines offer a rewards program

then they must be working. That’s wrong! They do not appear to be increas-ing loyalty based on the scientific research. But the airlines are stuck offeringthem because every competitor is also offering them.

If you are the typewho loves the greatoutdoors, heading

to one of our country’s59 National Parks canbe a wonderful week-end getaway. Eachpark has differentrules, so know what toexpect beforehand.

Obeying No Fire Rules

If the park you are planning to visit has a burn banin place, do not light a fire. Some parks may allow cer-tain types of fires, but not others. Call in advance, orcheck with the visitor’s center upon arrival. By lightinga fire in a no-fire area, you can face serious fines andcharges depending on the current fire warning. Keep in mind that restrictions on lighting campfires

are always for public safety, and if you start a wildfireyou can face up to 6 months in jail and/or a fine of upto $ 5,000. A man who set a fire that burned nearly100,000 acres of California was ordered to pay $60million in restitution and face 20 years in prison. Asalways, follow Smokey Bear’s advice, because only youcan prevent wildfires.

Following Park Ranger Instructions

Park rangers are in place to ensure the safety ofvisitors, to protect the environment, and to enforcethe law. Do not disobey their instructions, or youmay find yourself facing a hefty ticket, or worse,criminal charges. Remember that Park Rangers havethe power to arrest those who violate the Park rules,and National Park Rangers are part of federal law en-forcement.

Your Campground is Not Your Private Property

Campgrounds have rules, too. Plan ahead, andknow what to expect. Park rangers circulate aroundcampgrounds, and will issue fines if you are not fol-lowing the rules. Keep the noise down, fires con-tained, pets leashed, and drive slowly. Also, makesure to properly store and dispose of food, or riskhaving a visit from a hungry bear. Lastly, pack outwhat you packed in. Please leave our parks cleanerthan you found them.

Fishing and Hunting Licenses

Always pick up your fishing or hunting license beforecatching or killing dinner. States have different li-censing requirements and regulations, so make sureyou’re in the know before you go. You don’t want tofind yourself at the wrong end of a pricey ticket.

HOW TO CAMP OUT ANDFOLLOW PARK RULES

Legal Tip of the MonthMYTH-BUSTER: DO REWARDSPROGRAMS RESULT IN MORE

LOYAL CUSTOMERS?

continued on page 12


The Chamber In Pictures

2017 FRF Concerts


Photos by Balance Photography


David ClarkPatient First, Community Relations Coordinator

YY our children enjoy every second of summer vacation butthey will soon go back to school. Your to-do list does notstop with pencils, backpacks and new clothes. You also

need to prepare a back to school health checklist. Children need tobe healthy and alert in order to do well in school. That means youneed to prepare for everything from physicals to lessons on germwarfare.

Here are five tips to get you started:

1. Call your child’s school and ask about required immunizations.Different schools have different requirements. Many school web-sites have a page of health-related requirements.

2. Your child’s doctor should perform a school physical. Thisphysical can help identify health problems, including hearing andvision issues.

3. Talk with your children about germs and how they spread.Teach the kids when and how to wash their hands properly. Also,make sure your children know what to do when they need to coughor sneeze. They should carry tissues or, if necessary, sneeze into theinside of their elbow instead of their hands.

4. Children fall out of their school day sleep routine during vacation. Don’t wait until the night before school begins to get backinto that routine. Ease your children back into their sleep scheduleby gradually imposing an earlier bedtime a few weeks before schoolbegins.

5. Have a plan for sick days. Pediatricians stress that you shouldnot send your child to school with a fever. A fever means the im-mune system is trying to fight off something. Your child may becontagious to other children and adults. Have a plan in place forlast minute sick child care. You will probably need it before theschool year ends.

Related Content• Seven Tips to Encourage Your Kids to Wash Their Hands:https://www.patientfirst.com/blog/seven-tips-to-encourage-your-kids-to-wash-their-hands.aspx?PostId=101&tabid=819

• Tips for Safe Backpacks:https://www.patientfirst.com/blog/tips-for-safe-backpacks.aspx?PostId=90&tabid=819

• Is Your Child Getting Enough Sleep?:https://www.patientfirst.com/blog/is-your-child-getting-enough-sleep2016.aspx?PostId=89&tabid=819About Patient First

All Patient First Medical Centers are open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day of theyear, including holidays. Patient First provides non-appointment urgent carefor routine injuries and illnesses, as well as primary care for patients who donot have a regular physician. Each Patient First center has on-site digital x-ray, on-site laboratory, and on-site prescription drugs. Patient First currentlyoperates medical centers in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

BACK TO SCHOOL 101Prepare a healthy student checklist

Jamin Parezo, PT, DPT, OCS Esterson and Associates Physical TherapyContributing View Columnist

WW hen someone thinks aboutphysical therapy, the use ofneedles is generally not the

first thing that comes to mind; how-ever, more and more physical thera-

pists are using a treatment technique called dry needlingwith their patients. What is dry needling you might ask? It is a therapeutic

technique in which a trained physical therapist inserts avery thin, solid needle into a myofascial trigger point withina muscle. The needles that are used are sterile and dispos-able. It is called "dry" needling because there is no medica-tion being delivered. What exactly is a trigger point you might ask? Simply put,

trigger points are contracted areas or "knots" within a muscle. They can develop following an injury or from wearand tear over the years. They can impair a person's ability tolengthen, contract, or strengthen an affected muscle, whichcan in turn affect nearby nerves and joints. Trigger pointscan often be a source of pain in many of the common musculoskeletal conditions treated by physical therapists.How does dry needling work? When the needle is insertedinto a trigger point, is helps to deactivate the trigger pointthereby "resetting" the muscle, which in turn releases tension within the muscle and relieves pain. Generally,someone receiving a treatment of dry needling rarely feels aprick. They most often describe the pain felt during the pro-cedure as an achy feeling. It is a safe procedure with themost common side-effects being occasional bruising andsoreness of the muscle that can last anywhere from a fewhours to up to two days. One of the most common ques-tions I am asked about dry needling is: "is it similar toacupuncture?" The only similarity is that acupuncture anddry needling both use thin solid needles. Otherwise, the twotreatments are very different. Acupuncture is performed bylicensed acupuncturists and is used to treat Traditional Chinese Medical diagnoses of visceral and systemic dysfunction. Dry needling is based solely in Western scientific research and is used only for the treatment ofmusculoskeletal conditions. Dry needling has been used by physical therapists in

Maryland since the 1980's. It is being used more and more,so if you are seeing a physical therapist currently or in thenear future, ask them whether dry needling might help withyour condition.

Dr. Parezo is an associate of Esterson and Associates Physical Therapy, an independent, privately-owned physical therapy practice,proudly serving Catonsville for more than 30 years.

DRYNEEDLING:THERAPY FORKNOTTEDMUSCLES


Matthew DuniganEdward Jones Financial AdvisorContributing View Columnist

SS eptember is Life Insurance Awareness Month.And “awareness” is an appropriate designation,because many people remain unaware of the

many ways in which life insurance can help familiesmeet their key financial goals. Here are three of thebiggest of these objectives, as seen through the eyes of

a hypothetical couple, Jim and Joan:

• Pay off mortgage – Jim and Joan have a 30-year mortgage. If one ofthem dies well before that mortgage is paid off, could the other one affordto keep making payments to remain in the house with the children? Itmight be quite difficult – many families absolutely need two incomes topay a mortgage, along with all the other costs of living. At the very least,the death of either Jim or Joan would likely put an enormous financialstrain on the surviving spouse. But with the proceeds of a life insurancepolicy, the survivor could continue making the house payments – or pos-sibly even pay the mortgage off completely, depending on the size of thepolicy and other financial considerations.

• Educate children – Higher education is important to Jim and Joan,and they’d like to see both of their young children eventually go to col-lege. Of course, college is expensive: For the 2016-17 school year, the aver-age cost (tuition, fees, room and board) was about $20,000 for in-statestudents at public universities and more than $45,000 for private schools,according to the College Board. And these costs are likely to continueclimbing. Jim and Joan have started putting money away in a tax-advan-taged 529 savings plan, but if something were to happen to one of them,the surviving spouse might be hard pressed to continue these savings atthe same level – or at any level. But the proceeds of a life insurance deathbenefit could be enough to fund some, or perhaps all, of the college costsfor Jim and Joan’s children.

• Provide for family’s future – Jim and Joan's future income is theirmost valuable asset as they continue working. However, an unexpecteddeath could leave this dual-income family with a single income that maynot cover all financial obligations and retirement contributions – or evenpreserve the family's current lifestyle. Life insurance could help coverthese needs. Plus, the death benefit to the family may be tax-free.

Clearly, a life insurance policy could allow Jim or Joan to continue onwith life, despite, of course, the devastating emotional loss of a partner.But how much insurance should they own? You might read that mostpeople need a death benefit of seven to 10 times their annual income.This might be a good starting point, but everyone’s situation is different.You should consider all factors – including liabilities, income replace-ment, final expenses and education – to get an accurate picture of howmuch insurance is appropriate. A financial professional can help youwith this calculation.During Life Insurance Awareness Month, take some to time review

your insurance situation. You may already have some life insurance, butit’s a good idea to review your coverage to make certain the amount andtype of insurance is still appropriate for your needs. As we’ve seen, theright coverage can make a huge difference in the lives of your loved ones.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

PROTECT THREE KEY GOALSWITH LIFE INSURANCE

the mid-Atlantic region to perform on two stages allthroughout the day, specialty vendors and local restaurantswill offer everything from crab cakes and barbecue to appledumplings and ice cream, and children’s activities and sup-port services are provided by local Scout troops andchurches along with the Y in Catonsville. The Greater Catonsville Chamber of Commerce is

pleased to be able to host this landmark event in its 44thyear thanks to the generous sponsorship of Bakery Express,The Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics, Coldwell Banker,McDonalds, Mercedes Benz of Catonsville, Mix 106.5, Patient First, PNC Bank, Today’s 101.9 FM, We LoveCatonsville and Westgate Hills Rehabilitation & HealthcareCenter.The sounds of live music will fill street from one end to

the other, with everything from classic rock, blues, folk andcountry to Zydeco, Motown, Alternative rock and acousticsoul. Performers include Nutalusa, Mach 3, Bodkin Creek,League of Trees, The QueenEarth Band, The 8-Balls, Automatic Slim, Sundown, Blues State, and the Bob Margolis Band.Variety is also the theme for food choices with barbeque

from Wieland’s BBQ, crab cakes and shrimp by CatonsvilleGourmet, gyros, crab pretzels, Asian specialties and lots oftraditional favorites such as hamburgers, hot dogs andcheesesteaks. When it’s time for dessert, options includefresh baked goods from the Village Junction Bakery as wellas frozen treats from You Scream Ice Cream and funnelcakes from Ships Café and frozen yogurt from Sweet Frog. In addition, the newly expanded Catonsville Farmers

Market will be open in The Shops on Mellor parking lot, directly adjacent to the Arts & Crafts Festival, offering anassortment of fresh produce, gourmet food and wine andother specialty products.All children are invited to the all-new KidZone for a

variety of all new games, crafts and other activities hostedby the Y in Catonsville. It’s a day of arts, food, and fun for all!

CHAMBER HOSTSANNUAL ARTS FESTIVALON SEPTEMBER 10continued from page 1


Bacon‘NBusiness

Innovative Solutions to Jump Start Your Day & YOUR BUSINESS!

October 5, 2017The Fine Art of Delegating Better & Getting More Done

Get practical guidance and solutions you need to:• Ensure your business can run without you.

• Trust your employees to make the best decisions for your customers – and your business.

• Teach your managers to think like a business owner.

• Get your entire staff to take ownership of their roles and responsibilities.

• Build a team of leaders that can take your business from good to great.

• And much more…

Speaker: Dennis Sullivan, MBA, Breakthrough ProsDennis is author of The Breakthrough One Page Marketing Plan (www.OnePageBreakthrough.com) and is an Associate Professor at CCBC. He is the recent recipient of the International Teaching Excellence Award from among 3,000 business colleges in the world. He is also Executive Director of thecollege’s Center for Business Innovation, a Lecturer at Johns Hopkins University and owner of Breakthrough Pros, a consulting company, specializing in growing and turning around businesses.

Brightview Rolling Hills, 848 S. Rolling Road, 7:30 am

Cost: $25 members pre-registered, $35 at door and for non-membersRegister online at catonsville.org or call 410-719-9609

Presented by The Greater Catonsville Chamber of Commerce

Sponsored by: Breakthrough Pros


SEPTEMBEREvent: 44th Annual Catonsville

Arts & Crafts FestivalSponsors: Bakery Express Ms. Desserts,Coldwell Banker, McDonald’s Restau-rant, Mercedes-Benz of Catonsville, Mix 106.5, Patient First, PNC Bank, TheCenters for Advanced Orthopaedics,Today’s 101.9, We Love Catonsville,Westgate hills Rehabilitation & Health-care CenterDate: Sunday, September 10, 2017Time: 10:00 am - 5:00 pmPlace: Frederick RoadCost: FREE

Event: Network the ‘VilleDate: Monday, September 11, 2017Time: 5:30 pm - 7:30 pmPlace: McDonald’s Catonsville

501 Frederick RoadCost: $10 pre-registered & pre-paid

$15 non-members

OCTOBEREvent: Bacon ‘N Business Seminar-

The Fine Art of Delegating Better & Getting More Done

Sponsor: Breakthrough ProsDate: Thursday, October 5, 2017Time: 7:30 amPlace: Brightview Rolling HillsCost: $25 pre-registered & pre-paid

$35 at door, $35 non-members

Event: Network the ‘VilleDate: Monday, October 9, 2017Time: 5:30 pm - 7:30 pmPlace: Mercedes Benz of Catonsville

6631 Baltimore National PikeCost: $10 pre-registered & pre-paid

$15 non-members

Event: Chamber Open House/Networking Event

Date: Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017Time: 5:00 - 7:00 pmPlace: 924 Frederick RoadCost: FREE

NOVEMBEREvent: Chamber’s Annual Meeting &

Network the ‘VilleDate: Monday, November 13, 2017Time: 5:30 pm - 7:30 pmPlace: Masonic Lodge No. 189

837 Frederick RoadCost: $10 pre-registered & pre-paid

$15 non-members

DECEMBEREvent: Holiday PartyDate: Thursday, December 7, 2017Time: 5:00 pm - 8:00 pmPlace: Overhills MansionCost: $30

2017 Chamber Events Calendar

NOTE: Times, locations, and costs are subject tochange. Check website for the most updated information.

MYTH-BUSTER: DO REWARDS PROGRAMS RESULT INMORE LOYAL CUSTOMERS?continued from page 5

So what’s the take-away from this discussion?

1Consider the research. Don’t offer arewards program assuming that theylead to more loyal customers.

2Analyze the data. You have a goldmine of data about your existing customers in which you

can determine who makes your most frequent and profitable buyers. This is one of the first things we do when workingwith clients – and I’m always amazed athow eye-opening the data can be for business owners.

3Validate the data. If you are offering arewards program already, make surethat you are indeed creating more

loyal and more profitable customers as aresult.

4Leverage the data. Most competitorswould kill for the information youhave in your database. Use it to your

advantage. Segment the data into tiers todetermine which customers are indeedyour best customers and create a relation-ship marketing program to keep themcoming back again and again.

Stay tuned. There is obviously a lotmore to say about this topic. While wemay have busted the myth about frequentflyer programs creating more loyal cus-

tomers, that doesn’t necessarily mean allrewards programs don’t work. The key isto ensure you’re using a rewards programthat is effective and results in exactly whatyou intended – creating more loyal andprofitable buyers!

About Dennis J. Sullivan: Dennis is author ofThe Breakthrough One Page Marketing Plan(www.OnePageBreakthrough.com) and is an Associate Professor at CCBC. He is the recent recipient of the International Teaching Excellence Award from among 3,000 businesscolleges in the world. He is also Executive Director of the college’s Center for Business Innovation, a Lecturer at Johns Hopkins University and owner of Breakthrough Pros, a consulting company, specializing in growingand turning around businesses. Contact information: www.BreakthroughPros.com [email protected]


Real Estate Tip of the Month

Catherine Burke, Providence Realty

WW e are always looking for ways to savemoney in an economy where every-thing costs more today than it did a

year ago. Here are five simple ways to implementenergy efficient changes in your home that could

save you money:

1. Find and Fix Air leaks – according to Energy.gov airleaks are responsible for as much 20% of the energy usedto heat and cool your home. Updating the weather-stripping around the doors and windows will do thetrick and it’s inexpensive!

2. Upgrade the thermostat – investing in a programma-ble thermostat can help to save about $180 a year. It’s alittle bit of an investment to get one (about $200-$250)but over time it pays for itself. The FixR website providesa guide for purchasing and installing a thermostat.

3. Lighting – Old incandescent light bulbs use more en-ergy than needed. Energy efficient LED and CFL bulbsuse 1/3 to 1/30 of the energy than a traditional light bulb.Make sure to purchase the right kind of bulb for yourlight fixture. For example, if you have a dimmer switch,be sure to get a bulb that can be used with a dimmer.

4. Changing Air Filters – HVAC systems need to haveclean air filters in order to work properly and most effi-ciently. A good rule of thumb is to change the filtersevery season, so four times a year. The CleanAlert web-site can show you how much you can save by changingthe filters.

5. Air Vents – HVAC systems also have to work harder ifthe air vents throughout the house are dirty. All kinds ofdirt and pet hair linger in your air vents. If you get yourvents cleaned and sanitized every other year, you willbreathe easier and save a little money in the process.FixR gives a breakdown on the costs for getting this done.

By the way, I am never too busy for your [email protected] • www.realwise-realestate.comhttps://www.facebook.com/RWRETips/ 301/793-8732

5 WAYS TO CREATEAN ENERGY EFFICIENT HOME

FOR UNDER $500

"Luck is a dividend of sweat. The more you sweat, the luckier you get." Ray Kroc, founder of McDonald's

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44th Annual

CatonsvilleArts&Crafts

FestivalSunday, Sept. 10, 2017

10 am to 5 pmVillage of Catonsville, Frederick Road between

Bloomsbury & Melvin Avenues

Visit www.catonsville.orgclick Chamber Events

Presented by theGreater Catonsville

Chamber of Commerce

september 2017 · 2017. 8. 31. · 2 greater catonsville chamber newsletter • editor, design...

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