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(Photo caption: Rue & Roe 1st Anniversary Celebration and Ribbon Cutting, Gaithersburg, MD)

We are the #GGCC. We are #StrongerTogether.

Together, we are the #UpcountyEngine.

Be in the know! Make sure you're social with us:

Upcoming Events

See the complete list of upcoming ribbon cuttings, celebrations, networking, and professional development events here.

Zumba Networking with Young Professionals Group

When: Wed., Sept. 6, 5:00-7:00 PM

Where: PowerHouse Studio, 615 S. Frederick Ave. (Rear Bay 2 & 3), Gaithersburg



Register Now!

Five-Year Anniversary Celebration Ribbon Cutting: Supporting Strategies

When: Thurs., Sept. 7,

4:30 PM

Where: Topgolf (Rooftop Bar), 20101 Century Blvd., Germantown

Register Now!

After Five Networking with Appetizers, Drinks, Music & Silent Auction!

When: Thurs., Sept. 7,

5:00-7:00 PM

Where: Topgolf (Signature Room), 20101 Century Blvd., Germantown

Hosted by Supporting Strategies following its ribbon cutting!

Register Now!

Annual Chamber Picnic with a Purpose at Smokey Glen Farm!

When: Thurs., Sept. 14, 5:00 PM

Where: Smokey Glen Farm, 16407 Riffle Ford Road, Gaithersburg



Register Now!

Networking Before Nine - Joint Chamber Event for "Chamber Challenge for MC"

When:Tuesday, September 26, 7:30 - 9:00AM

Where: Montgomery College Rockville

Joint event: GGCC, Greater Silver Spring Chamber, Greater Bethesda Chamber, & Montgomery Cunty Chamber.

More info and registration coming soon!

New Member Orientation

When:Wednesday, September 27, 8:30 AM

Where:GGCC Board Room

910 Clopper Road, Suite 205N Gaithersburg

Hospitality sponsored by: Channer Consulting, LLC



Register Now!

FYI Series: Member Expert Led Lunch and Learn, Personal Branding

When: Wednesday, September 27, 2023 12:00 PM thru 01:00 PM

Where: 910 N Clopper Rd, Gaithersburg MD

Register Now!

GGCC Business EXPO at the BlackRock Lil' Pumpkins Festival

When:Saturday, October 14, 2023 12:00 PM thru 04:00 PM

Where:BlackRock Center for the Arts

12901 Town Commons Drive

Germantown, MD 20874

See below for Registration & Sponsorship Opportunities

The chamber is here to support you and your business. A great way to get your business name out there is to host or sponsor an upcoming event. Contact Liza Freeman at [email protected] for upcoming spots.

GGCC Business EXPO at the BlackRock Lil' Pumpkins Festival

When: Saturday, October 14, 2023 12:00 PM thru 04:00 PM

Where: BlackRock Center for the Arts, 12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown

The GGCC Fall Business EXPO is part of BlackRock's Lil' Pumpkins Festival for 2023! 

This popular community event includes something for the whole family - a Biergarten, Artisans Market, Pumpkin Painting, Haunted Dance Party, Costume Parades, and Concerts! The day concludes with a family Halloween movie on the lawn.

And new for 2023 - GGCC's Business EXPO and Taste of Germantown will be part of the fun! We invite B2B and B2C businesses to set up at the event to engage with the community, meet potential new customers, and have a fun day at BlackRock! 

In-kind trade opportunities and sponsorships are available!

Business Expo booth: 

• GGCC member: 275 
• Nonmember: 375 

Taste of Germantown space: 

• GGCC member: 300 
• Nonmember: 400



Register Now!

Young Professionals Networking & Costume Contest at Topgolf Germantown

When: Thurs., Oct. 26, 5:00 PM

Where: Topgolf, 20101 Century Blvd., Germantown

Thanks to our venue sponsor Topgolf! They will also provide light finger foods and two hours of golf for attendees. Bring your business cards and come dressed in your best Halloween costume for a chance to win a door prize!



Register Now!

Committee Corner:

Highlights of GGCC's 4 Standing Committees of the Board

Next Meeting: September 21, 11:00 a.m. (In Person), GGCC Office

The Membership Attraction & Retention Committee meets the third Thursday of the month at 11 a.m.

We're looking for additional people to join the membership committee! If you'd like to join, email Angela at [email protected].

Please register to attend at the link above.

Next Meeting: Sept 20, TBA

The ED&LA Committee will not meet in August. Be on the lookout for September's meeting topics.

Next Meeting: September 6,

8:30 a.m., (Zoom)

The Events Committee typically meets the first Wednesday of the month at 8:30am. We'll be discussing Picnic with a Purpose and the annual golf tournament!

Please register to attend at the link above.

Next Meeting: September 11,

10 a.m (Zoom)

The Young Professionals Group (YPG) Committee meets the first Monday of the month at 10am (rescheduled to 11th due to holiday).

The committee is looking for active members that would like to contribute to the planning & coordination of the upcoming professional development series and social events for the group.

Please register to attend at the link above.

Next Meeting: September 14, 2:00 p.m. (In Person), M&T Bank, 77 Upper Rock Circle, Ste. 800, Rockville

Join us! The GGCC Board has created a brand-new Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEI&B) Committee and would love interested Chamber members to join the committee! The DEI&B committee will focus on advancing the DEI&B goals of our organization by advocating for economic inclusion, growth and competitiveness of our community’s diverse business population. Our goal is to ensure that the diversity of cultures, backgrounds, ethnicities, races, and experiences within our business and non-profit communities is reflected in every aspect of the Chamber’s operations.

This committee meets in person every second Tuesday of the month at 2 p.m.

Please register to attend at the link above.

Direct Connect Groups:

(Does your DC group have news to share?...email us!)

Direct Connect groups are member-led affinity groups that strategically connect smaller groups of GGCC members. More information here.

Minority Business Owners & Entrepreneurs

Next Meeting: August 28, 5:00-6:00 p.m. (Virtual)

This new direct connect invites members to join and discuss topics that will help business owners and business leaders of color within the Chamber! The meetings are twice a month for 90 minutes at the end of the workday. Hybrid format first meeting of the month and second meeting online.

This direct connect partners with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Montgomery County. B2B and B2C businesses are welcome! Contact Fernando Fuentes for more information or the Teams link at [email protected].

Nonprofit Direct Connect

Next Meeting: September 11, 11:00 a.m. (Zoom)

September: We will hear from Narbeli Galindo about MCEDC and her work at the organization. We will also preview the Annual Picnic with a Purpose and nonprofit showcase, which will be held September 14th! 

Our August speaker was Eric Ashmont, Edward Jones. The State of Maryland has mandated that all businesses (including nonprofits) that have employees offer a retirement savings option to employees. Eric talked to the group about the options that Maryland has created for businesses to comply with the legislation, and also talked about other options businesses might want to explore. Don't be caught in non-compliance. 

If you are interested in joining this Direct Connect, email Paula at [email protected].

SOHO (Small Office Home Office)

Next Meeting: September 13, 9:00 a.m. (Zoom)

"SOHO" is for GGCC Members who own and operate a "Small Office - Home Office". If you are a Member who works from home or in a very small office, please feel free to join us at the monthly “SOHO” Meeting.

Pathways Direct Connect for Women

Next Meeting: September 15, 8:30 a.m. (Virtual)

A supportive community of women in business and entrepreneurs committed to growth and connection. We support each other by sharing our experiences, expertise, and knowledge to help each other grow professionally and personally.

The group meets every third Friday of the month from 8:30 to 10 a.m. It alternates between Zoom and in person at a Chamber member restaurant! Email Philippa Channer or Kari Primozic to join.

Veteran Direct Connect

Next Meeting:TBD

The new Vet Connect Group is open to any veteran, dependent or family member. The meetings will be conversations regarding business and opportunities for veterans and will include speakers, marketing, vet-benefit information but not limited to these topics.

Thanks to our Chamber member Traci Eisenberg-Rayburn from E&R Business Consulting for leading this new direct connect! If you are interested in joining, please email Traci at [email protected]. To register, please click on the link above or click here.

Wellness in Aging

The group recently met in person at Asbury Methodist Village Campus in Gaithersburg. Contact Mark Asch for more information about the next meeting at [email protected]

If you have any updates, news, celebrations, recognitions & more about your business you would like to be included in the GGCC weekly newsletter, please email a brief description to Paula Ross at: [email protected].

• Aston Carter, a leading staff and consulting firm, offers the following articles about workforce management tips, including an Introduction to Finance Transformation, The Emergency of AI in the Customer Service Industry and Benefits of Blended and Multimodal Learning in Employee Training. Interested in partnering with Aston Carter? Connect here.

• Bahar Consulting has great business advice to share with the business community about Strategies for Effective Communication and Collaboration in Remote or Hybrid Work Environments

• Capitol Benefits, LLC is proud to announce it has been ranked on Inc. 5000's prestigious list of Fastest Growing Private Companies! This achievement reflects Capitol Benefits' unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation in the field of insurance. By providing top-notch insurance services, Capitol Benefits has gained the trust and loyalty of its clients. Congratulations!

• Cornerstone Montgomery Home Run for a great cause! Come support Cornerstone Montgomery fundraiser at Camden Yards on Tuesday, Aug 29th, 7pm. For each ticket sold, $5 will be benefited to Cornerstone Montgomery. More information, please click here

• The Carnegie at Washingtonian Center has begun its Founding Member Program and is providing a glimpse of what life will be like in the diverse and amenity-rich community to those who wish to call it home. The program members select and secure their apartments in advance and begin meeting their neighbors and building connections! To learn how to secure your apartment, call or stop by the Discovery Center! For more information, please click here.

• The City of Gaithersburg is looking for community groups and other organizations to march in its 8th Annual Labor Day Parade on September 4! Interested in participating? Check out their website here for more information.

• The City of Gaithersburg continues to offer its summer outdoor concert series in Olde Towne at the City Hall Concert Pavilion until end of August! The concerts are free and family-friendly. Bring a blanket or low-back chair for lawn seating. To check out the schedule, click here.

• Cruise Planners Check out the latest event presented by Cruise Planners - Bookanothercruise.com, and AmaWaterways.! Christmas Markets Sip & Sail with AmaWaterways at Laperaux Bistro! Call (240) 912-3100 to reserve your space! $59.00 PP plus Tax & Tip! Their very own chef, Chef Gregory Webb, will be cooking dishes for the different regions that will be discussed. If you have always been interested in the Christmas Markets of Europe, this is for YOU!

• Ellis-Lopez Travel Partners continues making a difference in Montgomery County college students' education one ride at a time! He donates a portion of his transportation sales to fund the GGCC Montgomery College scholarships. Thank you, Jerry for your generous support!

• Lancaster County Dutch Market in Germantown is gearing up for its Customer Appreciation Days with Outdoor Pig Roast & Chicken BBQ, plus raffles and great prizes! This will take place September 7-9.

• Laperaux Bistro in Germantown continues to offer half-priced bottles of wine every Wednesday all summer long! Dine alfresco on their patio, enjoy Louie's Bar, or join the main dining room! Laperaux Bistro will be awarded "Best Restaurant Germantown 2023" and is sponsoring the Legacy event at the Arts Barn fundraiser on September 9th.

• The Maryland Department of Commerce invites Maryland businesses to take part of the delegation to BioJapan, the premier biotech medicine show, from October 9 to the 13th! For more information on this opportunity, email [email protected].

• Metropolitan Ballet Theatre Fall registration has begun at MBT’s Academy! MBT offers classes in Creative Movement, Early Ballet, Classical Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap, Modern, and more, for ages 3 through adult. In addition, MBT also offers classes for beginners, a track for pre-professional ballet students, and several performing opportunities for all students. Click here for additional information.

• Montgomery County Government's Parks Department is planning to build five new skate parks, including in Germantown! Take the survey and help build the best skate parks possible. The survey will close on September 30.

• Nando's is offering a great dinner special to wrap up the summer with. Between now and Oct 8th, check out what they have to offer.

• Rio Grande Bar & Grill in Germantown offers authentic Tex-Mex food all week long, with catering available! Try their Rio Grande salad, platanos fritos, cheese dip, yuca frita, sopapillas & more! Come by for $5 Margaritas on Thursdays!

• Sherman Wealth Management announces that Brad Sherman was named on the seventh annual Investopedia 100 list of most influential financial advisors of 2023 for the fifth year in a row! Congratulations!

• SkyPoint Federal Credit Union celebrates 55 years of purposeful commitment to its members, partners, and the community! Skypoint is dedicated to making banking simple and accessible to all by providing information, education, products, and tools needed to succeed. This year it launched business solutions, which include business accounts, loan products, and solutions to help businesses sustain their financial security and reach their goals. For more information on SkyPoint FCU services, click here.

• SkyPoint Federal Credit Union wants to remind us to consider supporting Montgomery County Public Schools through their #GiveBackPacks program! For only $20 you can provide one student with school supplies; for $300 you can support an entire classroom; and there are more opportunities to provide! 

• Story Tapestries is holding an arts supply drive to create Arts and learning Kits" in to support students of Montgomery County. It's hosting a free event, "Elevate Voices - Celebrate Community," with music performances on October 22 at the Ratner Museum in Bethesda! For more information on donations and how to participate, become a sponsor, become an art supply drop-off site, or to attend the event, contact Lorienne at [email protected] or 301-916-6328.

• Wendie Veloz Enterprises's Founder Wendie Veloz is speaking at the Maryland Women's Business Center on October 3! Congratulations on such a big accomplishment Wendie! For more information on the workshops, click here.

• Worthington Manor  invites you to participate in our END OF SUMMER SHOOT-OUT a 27-hole 2-Person Team Golf Tournament. For more information Click Here

If you have any hiring announcements you'd like to include in our newsletter, please email a brief description to Liza Freeman [email protected].

• Laperaux Journeymanchef's French Bistro is hiring restaurant professionals to join the team! They're looking for hiring wait staff and bartenders who have true hospitality in their hearts, know that every guest is important, who enjoy working in an upscale restaurant. You can pick up an application in person and arrange an interview with Chef Gregory Webb. The restaurant is located at 18056 Mateny Road in the Cloppers Mill Village on Great Seneca. You can also email: [email protected].

• My Cup Runneth Over Southern Cuisine is hiring a fry cook, cashier/line server, and food prep full-time! You can send your resume to [email protected] or stop by in person Wednesday to Sunday.

• Pare & Associates, LLC is a growing law practice with three locations throughout Montgomery County. We represent clients in family law, civil, bankruptcy, and criminal matters. We are looking for experienced Family Law Attorneys to join the team! The ideal candidate will have a minimum of three years of experience in family law. In addition, they will "hit the ground running" and be a team player. For more information, email [email protected].

• Walmart is hiring for temporary positions at the Germantown location store 2357! They're looking for overnight and day positions, must work weekends. Check out this flyer for more information and to help spread the word. An application can also be found here www.walmart.com/careers.

Thank you again to these Annual Corporate Sponsors who support the Chamber's important community engagement, advocacy, and business development work all year round!