We hope you're enjoying your summer!! Was your month kicked off with some fireworks at the historical Antietam National Battlefield along with the sounds of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra? If so, you surely did Independence Day right! 

As these seasonal temperatures continue to climb, so do our membership numbers! We have several new additions and have loved seeing some enthusiastic new faces at our events. 

Our 27th Annual Commerce Cup last Friday was a hit! Yet another year of great weather (despite some early morning showers and some iffy-looking clouds here and there). Congratulations to John Latimer of Keller Stonebraker Insurance and his team. Check out some photos HERE!

Lastly, mark your calendars! Back again Thursday, August 10th, is our annual Minority & Women-Owned Business Conference at Hager Hall Conference & Event Center! REGISTER HERE
        
  Have a great rest of your month!
             
Paul, Donna, Tim, Rod & Tyana
In This Issue
Welcome Our New Members
Give a Warm Welcome to Some New Faces in Our Membership!
 
19918 Jefferson Blvd.
Hagerstown, MD
301-791-7387
 
14035 Pennsylvania Ave.
Hagerstown, MD
240-707-6540
 
Valvoline Instant Oil Change
180 S. Edgewood Drive
Hagerstown, MD
301-766-4412
 
Wal-Mart #2790
10420 Wal-Mart Drive
Hagerstown, MD
301-739-7517
 
33 W. Washington St.
Hagerstown, MD
301-790-3502
 
114 N. Potomac St.
Hagerstown, MD
301-733-9474
 
16404 Elliott Parkway
Hagerstown, MD
301-223-6933
Members Making News
Find Out What's New with Some of Our Members! 


First United Corporation Recognized at 18th Annual Women in Technology Leadership Awards


Winners of the 18th Annual Women in Technology Leadership Awards celebrate together on Thursday, May 11th at the Hyatt Regency, Reston, VA. Winners are as follows (L to R) Corporate: Large Market Sector, Annette Rippert; Corporate Board Award, First United Corporation (Carissa Rodeheaver); Unsung Hero, Shantrell Collier; Rising Star, Gabriella Ziccarelli; Technical Leadership, Meghan Good, Maureen Bunyan, Kathryn Harris, WIT President; Government, Patricia Wolfhope; Corporate: Mid-Market Sector, Michele Kang

On May 11, 2017, Women in Technology (WIT) held their 18th  Annual Leadership Awards in Reston, Virginia.  These awards showcase the talent among women in entrepreneurial, government and corporate roles across the Washington, D.C. region and celebrate the accomplishments of women leading the way across the technology industry. 
First United Corporation was presented with the annual Corporate Board Award.  This award honors a regional public company leading the way in appointing women to corporate board seats.  With women serving in four of its 12 Board seats, First United Corporation has exceeded critical mass for gender diversity impact.   
"We are honored to be presented with this year's Corporate Board Award and we are very fortunate to have such a talented Board of Directors.  I'd like to thank all of our directors for their continued service as we move into the future for the greater benefit of our customers and the markets that we serve," said Carissa L. Rodeheaver, CEO, Chairman & President of First United Bank & Trust.     
"This year's group of remarkable finalists and winners should make all women working in technology proud," said Kathryn Harris, President of WIT, "It's important that we celebrate the women who continue to pave the way and set the bar high in an industry changing so rapidly.  From our start-up community to established companies and the government sector, these women have demonstrated unwavering passion and the tremendous skill needed to lead and mentor other women along the way." 
 
 
About First United
First United Corporation operates one full-service commercial bank, First United Bank & Trust.  The Bank has a network of community offices in Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, and Washington Counties in Maryland, as well as Berkeley, Mineral, and Monongalia Counties in West Virginia.  First United's website can be located at MyBank.com.  As of 3/31/2016, the Corporation posted assets of $1.3 billion.  
About Women in Technology
Women in Technology (WIT) is a not-for-profit organization with the mission of advancing women in technology - from the classroom to the boardroom - by providing advocacy, leadership development, networking, mentoring and technology education.  With nearly 1000 members in the Washington, D.C. area, WIT strives to meet its vision of being the premier organization empowering women to be architects of change in the technology industry.  For more information visit womenintechnology.org. 



Smith Elliott Kearns & Company, LLC to Host Agribusiness Seminar



Washington County Large Business of the Year Smith Elliott Kearns & Company, LLC's Agribusiness Team will host a free educational event titled "Managing Ag Production Risk in Volatile Markets." The program is designed to help individuals learn how to better manage production risks. Topics will include timely cash sales, protection options, basis trades, and crop insurance.
 
Agribusiness Team Leaders Bradley H. Kearns, CPA, Member of the Firm, and Patrick R. Mulherin, CPA, Manager, have invited industry expert Mark Gold, Managing Partner at Top Third Ag Marketing, to share his extensive knowledge on developing a plan to address individual risks.
 
The program will be held on Wednesday August 9, 2017 at The Orchards Restaurant - 1580 Orchard Drive, Chambersburg, PA 17201. The presentation will run from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Lunch and questions will follow from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
 
To register or for additional information, contact MaryBeth at 717-637-5915 or mbhockenberry@sek.com . Please register by August 4th.



Barbara Ingram School for the Arts Foundation Announces Board Members for 2017

 
The Barbara Ingram School for the Arts Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of one new board member, Timothy Johnston, Vice President M&T Bank, Senior Branch Manager at the Dual Highway Office and two Honorary Advisory Board members: Joseph Marschner and Brad Pingrey.  

"I am thrilled to have Tim join the Board. He brings a wealth of expertise as well as personal experience and passion for the Arts,"  remarked president Susan Wood

The Board currently consists of twenty members: Erin Anderson, Mary Anne Burke, Ranelle Flurie, Sarah Gamerman, Cynthia Garland, Karen Giffin, Heather Guessford, Stephen Hummel, James Jenkins, Timothy Johnston, Dr. Ron Keyser, Kelsey Lorman, Alfred Martin, Kelsi Palmer, Cynthia Perini, Kim Richardson, Randy Scott, Mary Helen Strauch, Susan Wood, Angela Youngblood. The Honorary Advisory Board: William Alexander, Katie Groh Fitzsimmons, Jospeh Marschner, Brad Pingrey, Mrs. Theron Rinehart, Elizabeth Schulze.

The 2017-2019 officers are as follows: Susan Wood, President, Karen Giffin, Vice President, Kelsi Palmer, Secretary, Timothy Johnston, Treasurer Al Martin, Past President. 

The Barbara Ingram School for the Arts Foundation looks forward to these upcoming years with this new board as they continue to strengthen the arts in our local community.
About Barbara Ingram School for the Arts Foundation-  Founded in 2008, the Barbara Ingram Foundation advances exceptional arts education by providing resources and funding that supports the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts High School and arts education in our community.



2018 Community Arts Development Grant Guidelines and Application Now Available



The Board of Directors of the Washington County Arts Council announces that the 2018 Community Arts Development Grant Guidelines and Application are now available at www.washingtoncountyarts.com/grants or by calling Mary Anne Burke at 301-791-3132.

Awards are made possible through the Maryland State Arts Council's Arts Develpment program which "Provides funds and technical assistance to the local arts councils of the 23 counties of Maryland and Baltimore City.  The purposes of the program are to better serve artists, arts organizations and audiences throughout the State and to encourage local decision-making, arts activity and funding for the arts at the local level."

To be eligible, organizations must be organized as a charitable purpose. 


Robinwood Players to Perform "Into the Woods"


Hagerstown Community College's Robinwood Players will present the Stephen Sondheim award-winning musical, "Into the Woods," on August 4, 5, and 6, in the Kepler Theater on HCC's main campus.
Show times are 8 p.m. on Friday, August 4 and Saturday, August 5, with a matinee performance on Sunday, August 6 at 2:30pm. Ticket prices range from $5 to $20, but HCC students, faculty, and staff can attend for free with a valid HCC ID. To purchase tickets online, visit www.hagerstowncc.edu/productions .
Production for "Into the Woods" is made possible by special arrangement with Music Theatre International, Inc. For more information, contact director David Dull at dbdull@hagerstowncc.edu



Hospital's Critical Care Staff Recognized Nationally

Pictured are members of the critical care staff at Meritus Medical Center with their notification of the award for excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.

Meritus Medical Center was one of four Maryland hospitals recently designated with a silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses or AACN. The AACN recognized successful improvement of patient outcomes and work standards and practices from the critical care staff, moving them from the bronze designation the unit received in 2013, to the new, three-year silver designation.
 
The Beacon Award for Excellence is a significant milestone for this mix-model hospital unit employing 54 registered nurses within its staff of 72. Primary critical care services for patients admitted by an intensivist or through trauma services are provided, and since July 2010, services began for intermediate care patients with similar diagnoses, but in a different stage of their disease. The award nomination highlighted the unit's teamwork approach to create great patient experiences; focused bedside handoff between nurses as a standard process; and improved outcomes and effective communication through nurses' participation in multidisciplinary committees, a unit task force to identify areas for improvement, job shadowing, regular rounding on the unit, team building activities and the use of forums, staff meetings, huddles and mass communication for messaging.



Leadership Washington County Announces 31st Class



Our very own Tim Luipersbeck, Director of Member Services, has been accepted into Leadership Washington County's prestigious Class 31.  In good company, he joins:

Sara Abshari of Meritus Medical Center
Joseph Anderton of M&T Bank
Shirley Baker of Citi
Kim Bowen of MSB Architects
Mary Ellis Bowman of Bowman Foundation
Autumn Brown of Leiters' Fine Catering, Inc.
Jerred Brown of Antietam Wealth Management
Cameron Clark of Laundry Equipment Services, Inc. 
Raegon Clutz, Jr. of Washington County Public Schools
Susan Cvijanovich of First Data
Joseph Deinlein of Herald Mail Media
Lt. Rebecca Fetchu of Hagerstown Police Department
Wendy Haislip of Meritus Medical Center
Stacy Henson of Washington County Public Schools
Aaron Howell of Bank of Charles Town
Kylie Johnson of W House (dba Lasting Change)
Chuck Kaslavage of Volvo Group Trucks Technology
Shannon Kraushaar of Washington County Free Library
Doug Massey of Massey Auto Group
Nicki Maynard of Kaplan University
Mary Teal Medina of Chick-Fil-A
Nancy Motherway of Washington County Museum of Fine Arts
David Nathans of SOCSoter, Inc.
Morgan Plummer of Hagerstown Neighborhood Development Partnership, Inc.
Lauren Pogue of Washington County Government
Shana Ruff of Girls Inc. of Washington County
Alex Samuel of Innovative Inc.
Ryan Sellers of Callas Contractors, Inc.
Theresa Shank of Hagerstown Community College
Angela Shubert of Middletown Valley Bank
Georgia Smith of First Data
Bill Swartz of Volvo Group Trucks
Karen Webber of Jamison Door Company
Michael Weiss of Weiss Bros.
and Stefani Wood of DIOS-Tech, LLC


Something exciting and/or notable happening within your company? Has someone done something remarkable and you think it should be shared with our extensive list of newsletter recipients? Simply excited about an upcoming event?
We're here to help you get the word out! 

Email tim@hagerstown.org to be featured in our next 
Chamber Newsletter!
 
Crossroads Business Journal - Be Included!


Crossroads Business Journal, a monthly publication celebrating and reporting about business along the I-81, I-70 and I-68 corridors, will debut July 1st!
 
This business-to-business publication will be mailed to business owners and other key decision-makers in the coverage area. Among other features, Crossroads will cover issues and events, profile key business people and report critical statistics.
 
The publication will be accompanied by a website (crossroadsbizjournal.com) and targeted, newsy emails to begin and end each workweek.
 
Crossroads is a project of Herald-Mail Media. For inquiries about news, contact editor Joseph Deinlein at jdeinlein@herald-mail.com or reporter Mike Lewis at mlewis@herald-mail.com. For information about advertising or marketing opportunities, contact Brittney Hamilton, advertising director, at 301-791-7177.
 
Ribbon Cuttings, Grand Openings & More!
Did you know that the Chamber can help you & your business get the attention you deserve when you're a new business, celebrating an anniversary, or a seasonal open house?

 

Valvoline Instant Oil Change General Manager Andy Gilliland cuts the ribbon alongside incoming Board Chair Heather Guessford of Kaplan University, and Board Member Steve Swayne, Julianna Albowicz of Sen. Chris VanHollen,  and Linda Spence
of Washington County Government. 
Chamber Connects News
Chamber Connects is a free professional networking group within the Chamber for select members to create opportunities for each other!
 

 

Interested in joining a Chamber Connects referral group??

Mark your calendars for Friday Morning, July 28th from 8am-9am at Hagerstown Community College's Valley Mall office.  This breakfast group is focused on professional development and work/life balance tips - with members representing different industries all based on personal connections & the resulting referrals! No obligation - simply come and check it out!





To find out which industries are represented in each group, & much more:
 

 

 



Upcoming Chamber Events
Mixers, Learning Sessions, Signature Events & More!



 
Learning Lunch Hour
"Storytelling for Your Business" a presentation by Michael Doub
of ThinkEfficient Consulting, LLC
Tuesday, August 1st - 11:30am - 1pm
Hager Hall Conference & Event Center
Hagerstown, MD 



 
2017 Minority & Women-Owned Business Conference
Thursday, August 10th 7:30am - 12 Noon
Hager Hall Conference & Event Center, Hagerstown, MD
 



Business After Hours 
Hosted by Shepherd's Spring 
Thursday, August 17th, 5:00-7:00pm
16869 Taylor's Landing Rd., Sharpsburg MD



GenNext News
 
 
Have you heard about GenNext? We're a group for 21-40 year old professionals in the Washington County region who are interested in referrals, developmental guest speakers, networking & advocacy!  Lean more HERE!



Thursday, August 24th
5pm - 8pm - Networking Happy Hour
Big Cork Vineyards, Rohrersville, MD




To join GenNext, please email Tim Luipersbeck at tim@hagerstown.org to get started at just $30/year!  Special events will have a GenNext member / non-member registration fee. It pays to join! 
Accident Fund - A New Member Benefit!
A Wright-Gardner Insurance Initiative!


 
Through our group pooling power, your small to mid-sized business can have access to dividends that you wouldn't otherwise obtain on your own! 

- Benefits include a 5% up-front savings on Premium
- Access to safety materials through Accident Fund's WorkSafe Toolbox TM 
- Potential to earn a dividend based on experience of the individual policy loss performance and written premium.

Interested in joining the program? Contact
Wright Gardner Insurance at 
301-733-1234!
 
About Us
Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce members include more than 560 organizations, representing over 40,000 local jobs in a wide variety of industries:  Retail, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Skilled Trades, Service and Hospitality, Technology, Government, Nonprofit, and Education. 

We can't wait for our next opportunity to work with you, and for you! 

 

Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce
28 W. Washington St., Ste. 200
Hagerstown, Maryland 21740
Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce
(301) 739-2015

 

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