Saturday, October 27, 2018

#BestChamber practices: Chamber Health Care innovation: Manitowoc Chamber and Sheboygan County Chamber member HFM Health: Walk-in Clinic at your Chamber; Paintsville/Johnson County Chamber of Commerce honors Fran Jarrell, businesses of the year; Aurora Chamber to Host Innovation Summit, Annual Celebration; Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber Education Statement Regarding Initiative to Legalize Marijuana; 2 SW Virginia congressmen honored by chamber of commerce groups; #BestChamber practices: Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce - Member Testimonials; Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles: The best in the U.S.




#BestChamber practices: Chamber Health Care innovation: Manitowoc Chamber and Sheboygan County Chamber member HFM Health: Walk-in Clinic at your Chamber


HFM Chamber Clinic

The HFM Chamber Clinic is a convenient, one-stop medical and wellness benefits to help people proactively engage in health behaviors, which drive personal and professional success.
The HFM Chamber Clinic offers services at two convenient locations: Manitowoc and Sheboygan, beginning in 2019. Those who are The Chamber of Manitowoc County or Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce members can go to either location.
Both locations offer primary, urgent, and preventative care. In addition to primary care, the Manitowoc location offers specialty services: physical therapy, wellness coaching, and emotional health counseling. There is a small annual investment of $99 per person and a $10 access fee for each visit.

How the HFM Chamber Clinic Works

In order to participate, employers must be members of either the Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce or The Chamber of Manitowoc County. Employers enroll for free, by completing this form for 2018, or this form for 2019. A link will then be sent for employee and dependent enrollments. Each enrollment has an annual fee of $99 that is billed to the employer.
Enrollees will then receive a benefit card in the mail. Enrollees who need to use the HFM Chamber Clinic then call to schedule an appointment and provide the $10 access fee at the time of service.


Paintsville/Johnson County Chamber of Commerce honors Fran Jarrell, businesses of the year

The Paintsville/Johnson County Chamber of Commerce held its annual awards ceremony Monday, honoring several community members for small business, large business, business person of the year and the posthumous honoring of the late Fran Jarrell with the chamber’s O.T. Dorton President’s Award.

During the ceremony, Field Representative for Sen. Mitch McConnell’s field office in London Donna McClure spoke, reading aloud an entry into the congressional record that was read to the U.S. Senate by McConnell in honor of Jarrell’s life and work.

“With (Jarrell’s) passing, I had worked with her for a dozen years and we wanted to pay tribute to her because we’ve worked with her in many different ways,” McClure said. “So, Sen. McConnell did a congressional record, which was entered in the library of Congress on Sept. 19, and we delivered copies of that to her family and friends and to the chamber.


“Today, I wish to remember the life of Fran Jarrell, of Paintsville, Kentucky, who passed away on Aug. 27, 2017, at the age of 72,” McClure continued. “For many years, Fran was a driving force in her community. She served on numerous public committees and boards, supporting the efforts of organizations from the mentoring committee of Community of Hope to the Paintsville Garden Club. She also was a member of the Paintsville City Council for many years, dedicating herself to making the community a better place to live and work. Most recently, (Jarrell) was the executive director of the Paintsville/Johnson County Chamber of Commerce, where she was committed to bringing economic development and opportunity to the area. In her numerous roles, Fran worked to bring out the beauty and the possibilities of her city. The Paintsville community mourned Fran’s passing. Flowers decorated the entire downtown area as a tribute to her life, her passion and her dedication to others.” Read more: Paintsville Herald


Aurora Chamber to Host Innovation Summit, Annual Celebration


Date: October 19, 2018
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Location: Belle Salle Banquets, 1920 E. New York Street, Aurora, Illinois

2018 State of Business Summit: Innovation to include presenters and
Annual Celebration of Membership Luncheon on Friday, Oct. 19

AURORA, IL — On Friday, Oct. 19, The Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce will focus on the State of Business: Innovation. The first of its kind summit will include exhibitors spotlighting their innovation through products and services, presentations by innovators sharing their experiences, and its Annual Celebration of Membership at noon.

The Summit is being presented by OnLight Aurora and is sponsored by Konen Insurance Agency and Umbrella Technologies.

Keynoting the morning will be Thomas D. Kuczmarski, president and founder of the global consulting firm Kuczmarski Innovation and an internationally recognized expert on innovation. During the course of his career, he has helped hundreds of clients, ranging from small businesses to Fortune 100 corporations, learn to systematically unlock the value of innovation. Attendees to the summit will receive a copy of his latest book, Lifting People Up: the Power of Recognition (Book Ends Publishing, 2018).

That morning will also include a panel of recognized innovators representing the City of Aurora and business leaders in the region. The City of Aurora is one of 100 finalists for the 2018 Innovation Award under the People’s Choice category.

Registration is open at www.AuroraChamber.com. CONTACT: Maureen Gasek, Director of Events & Marketing, (630) 256-3182


Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber Education Statement Regarding Initiative to Legalize Marijuana

Muskegon, MI – The Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce is asking voters to be aware of the business issues related to the 2018 Recreational Marijuana Ballot Proposal. A new law may threaten the ability of employers and communities to provide safe, drug-free workplaces, and the quality of the products they make.

In Muskegon County, there are thousands of local jobs in aerospace, automotive, healthcare, and food production. The area’s largest employers have zero-tolerance drug policies. “These employers will continue their zero-tolerance policies regardless of the vote outcome. Zero-tolerance means individuals testing positive for drug use, in most cases, will not be hired or can be terminated,” says Cindy Larsen, Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber President.

“Michigan is not ready for recreational marijuana because the proposed law is not clear on how to protect the rights of the employer or employee,” says Larsen. “We hope that voters will consider issues related to their own jobs and careers and those of their friends and family before they cast their vote regarding recreational use of this controversial drug.”

The chamber education statement references the business issues related to finding qualified workers, health and safety, liability, accuracy in testing, and current federal and state regulatory gaps.

Brief Law Description

The proposed law allows adults 21 and older to purchase, possess, use and grow marijuana. The law also allows individuals to keep up to 10 ounces of marijuana in their homes and cultivate up to 12 plants for personal use.

Business Issues

Qualified workers. The number of workers who fail drug tests has increased significantly in recent years. The number of available drug-free workers may dictate the size or scale of a business. Less available workers may force businesses to relocate or stifle growth resulting in a lower number of jobs available locally.

Open-ended liability. Under the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, employers are required to provide their employees with a place of employment "free from recognizable hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious harm to employees.” Failure to do so opens employers to liability and lawsuits.

No explicit statutory protections for employers. The proposal raises questions related to drug-free workplace policies and employer rights. Will the proposed law allow Michigan employers to:
Enforce drug-free workplace policies?
Define mental or physical impairments related to marijuana use?
Terminate employees for cause due to a positive drug test without eligibility for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits; and/or
Deny workers’ compensation (WC) benefits if a workplace injury was caused by the injured employee’s use of marijuana?

Other Federal limitations. On a federal level this activity is still illegal, therefore, the regulatory environment is unclear and confusing for a number of industries such as banking, transportation, manufacturing, healthcare and other related industries.

No impairment test. The lack of accurate impairment testing and measurements create significant human resources dilemmas as employers attempt to guarantee safe work environments and the quality of the products they make.

State Law violations. Education is needed regarding laws related to driving under the influence. Work time missed and fines/legal fees hinder employee credibility and financial independence.

Future workforce. Research supports that use of marijuana by teenagers may cause additional health concerns including marijuana as a “gateway drug.” The health of local residents and overall community will impact future generation workforce availability.


2 SW Virginia congressmen honored by chamber of commerce groups

The Roanoke Regional Chamber, Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce and U.S. Chamber of Commerce gave two Southwest Virginia congressmen an award for their support for pro-growth policies in the first session of the 115th Congress.

Congressman Bob Goodlatte and Congressman Morgan Griffith were given the Spirit of Enterprise Award Friday.

The U.S. Chamber’s Spirit of Enterprise Award is given annually to members of Congress based on their votes on critical business legislation as outlined in the Chamber’s How They Voted scorecard.

Members who supported the Chamber’s position on at least 70 percent of those votes qualify to get the award.

The U.S. Chamber recognized 249 members of the U.S. House of Representatives and 48 members of the U.S. Senate in March with the Spirit of Enterprise Award.

This is year 30 for the U.S. Chamber to formally honor members of Congress. Read more and picture: VirginiaFirst.com


#BestChamber practices: Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce - Member Testimonials


"Having conducted business in Delaware County for over eighty years, Whitinger & Company has experienced first-hand the value of having an active and engaged Chamber of Commerce that supports local organizations. Our firm has especially found the Chamber's marketing services a tremendous asset in promoting our professional seminars and special events. Additionally, we've appreciated all the networking and relationship building opportunities that Jay and the team at the Chamber Facilitate."

Richard Crist, COO,
Whitinger & Company



Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles: The best in the U.S.


Town Square Publications, a division of the Daily Herald Media Group, is a national chamber custom publishing group that specializes in developing partnerships by producing high-quality print and digitally integrated publications along with other added value programs dedicated to creating relevancy for local chambers of commerce and other membership focused organizations interested in raising non-dues revenues.

Town Square Publications parent company, Paddock Publications, has over 100 years’ experience of print product development and dedicated customer service in communities throughout the Midwest. Our experience allows Town Square Publications to offer you attractive royalty and non-dues revenue share streams, provide direct distribution of your custom designed printed publications, including digital and mobile integration, and all with the quickest turn-around times available in the industry. Town Square also offers multi-media maps in both print and online formats, both with our No-Cost guarantee. More information: Town Square Publications

Chambers of Commerce and member focused organizations serve as a valuable resource in the local marketplace. The networking opportunities and representation with a wide variety of diverse businesses in your community is the catalyst of a successful organization. For further information about Town Square's publishing partnership with chambers of commerce and our No-Cost guarantee and Earned Revenue Share Program, To request your chamber publication or map proposal, contact Town Square Chamber Proposal

Tuesday, October 9, 2018

#BestChamber practices (From WCCE conference) - Tuesday Tidbits; SBA Celebrates National Women’s Small Business Month; Enjoy a Sipping Saturday in Downtown Barrington at the Fall Wine Walk Oct. 13; Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce Community Map; South Haven Chamber of Commerce: SUMMIT 2018 – Empowering Business Leaders; Frankfort Chamber CEO Carmen Inman wins Executive of the Year award; South Suburban Chamber of Commerce 2018 Community Resource Guide & Business Directory; IPS, Indy Chamber outline unconventional 3-year partnership to cut spending; Mary Claire Olson Potter named Hudson Chamber president; ‘Leadership Lafayette’ team recognizes 27 leaders, presents award; Northern Virginia Chamber, PSC Announce 2018 Greater Washington Government Contractor Awards™ Finalists Winners to be Announced Live at 16th Annual Awards Gala Nov. 5 at 5:30 p.m.; Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles: The best in the U.S.

Good morning #ChamberWorld! It's going to be a GREAT day!

#BestChamber practices (From WCCE conference) - Tuesday Tidbits


#BestChamber practices - Tuesday Tidbits - 85 words free about your business every week. Send in your information by Monday at 5PM. It goes into the Tuesday Tidbits Chamber newsletter.  Has the highest open rate of any newsletters by the chamber. - From a Wisconsin Chamber Executive


SBA Celebrates National Women’s Small Business Month

SBA 2018 National Womens Business Month graphic
By Linda McMahon, SBA Administrator
When April Lukasik’s second child was born, she couldn’t find a childcare center that met her high standards. So she started her own – and a small business was born, too.  Read more.
Read more women owned business success stories here.

Enjoy a Sipping Saturday in Downtown Barrington at the Fall Wine Walk Oct. 13


The Fall Barrington Wine Walk, sponsored by The Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce and the Village of Barrington, will take place on Saturday, October 13 from 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. Attendees are invited to enjoy a “Sipping Saturday” while visiting many unique stores in downtown Barrington and enjoying great wine provided by participating merchants. Check-in begins at 2:00 p.m. at NeoTeca, Inc. 130 S. Hough St. in Barrington. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased in advance online at www.barringtonchamber.com.

Ticket price includes: access to a 1-oz. pour at each merchant location, souvenir wine glass, a map of the wine-tasting locations, and a list to check off each tasting sample. Attendees must be over 21 years of age to participate and present identification in order to receive a wristband. A trolley will be provided to transport Wine Walk attendees throughout the downtown Barrington area.

Merchants participating in the Barrington Fall Wine Walk include: Anderson's Candy Shop, Angelina, Barrington Fine Rug Gallery, Barrington Flower Shop, Barrington Saddlery, Big Iron Horse BBQ/Cooper's Pizza, Colored Squid Gallery & Gift Shop, 18/8 Fine Men's Salons – Barrington, Estate Jewelers LTD, EWELINEB Fashion, Fancy Art, N.F.P., Flesk Brewing Co., Fleur De Lis Salon, Heinen's Grocery Store, Jewel-Osco, Long & Co. Jewelers, McGonigal's Pub, Neoteca Inc., Norton's U.S.A., Notice, One Girl, Paris Market Antiques, Savvy Spirit Women's Clothing and Accessories, Shakou Barrington, Skin Wellness by Renee, Studio 4 Hair Salon, Tootsies Shoes, Trevor James Salon and Vin Chicago.

For more information call (847) 381-2525 or visit the BACC website at www.BarringtonChamber.com.


Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce Community Map 

The Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce Community Map is available at the Rochester Regional Chamber today! Thanks to the chamber team for their help and direction putting this together!



 Rochester Regional chamber Map
Rochester Regional Chamber Map

Town Square Publications  (www.townsquarepublications.com) can help you accomplish your chamber's gloss map, directory, community guide or publication needs at no expense to the chamber. Please email John Dussman at jdussman@tspubs.com or call (847)-427-4633. 

South Haven Chamber of Commerce: SUMMIT 2018 – Empowering Business Leaders

SUMMIT SPEAKERS: Wealth of Knowledge, Expertise & Personal Experience

Christy Buck, Executive Director of the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan and Director of the “be nice.” initiative. “be nice.” is an action plan. It is a life-saving tool that helps individuals understand that they can have an effect on how people think, act and feel. It is the ultimate transformative experience that we all have the ability to save a life by simply being nice.

Tom Daldin, Emmy award winning producer, actor and writer, host of PBS’ “Under the Radar”, has created programs that have aired across Michigan and the U.S. on PBS.  He has also won a number of commercial television “best actor” awards.  His claim to fame is running around exploring cool people, places and things in Michigan.  Who better to share what makes a community stand out as a great place to visit, play, and live? 

Jeff Mason, As CEO of Michigan Economic Development Corporation, an agency dedicated to job creation, Jeff Mason is charged with implementing and executing MEDC’s core mission of business development and attraction, community development, providing access to capital and improving
Michigan’s image and brand.

Brooks Kindel, Small business strategist, coach and Certified Small
Business Consultant. The “silver tsunami” of retiring Boomer business
owners is in full force, while, at the same time, Gen X and the Millennials are seeking opportunities to enter the entrepreneurial space. Whether you’re seeking to buy or sell a business, Brooks will prepare you to successfully navigate the process.  

Call to Register: 269.637.5171
Or Register Online at www.SouthHavenMI.com

When: Friday, October 26, 7:45am-1:30pm
Where: Lake Michigan College-South Haven Campus, 125 Veterans Blvd.
Why: SUMMIT 2018 is an educational opportunity of high relevance to economic and community development in the Southwest Michigan region.
Registration: Tickets are $55 per person for Chamber members, $65 for non-members

Networking breakfast, lunch, and program materials are included.



Frankfort Chamber CEO Carmen Inman wins Executive of the Year award














Frankfort Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Carmen Inman was honored Thursday night as the Chamber Executive of the Year — and everyone seemed to be in on it except for her.

When the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Executives named Inman this year’s award winner, Frankfort’s longtime Chamber leader was taken aback.
“Once they started reading it I was like, ‘Wait a minute, that sounds familiar,’ ” Inman said.
She was even more surprised once she realized that her husband, sons and numerous colleagues had been keeping the news a secret from her for the past two weeks. Somehow, they managed to make it to Thursday night’s ceremony without spoiling the surprise.
Inman, who has been with the Frankfort Area Chamber for the past 23 years and has served as its director for more than a decade, credited the talent around her at the Chamber and said receiving the award for the first time meant a great deal to her.
As some of the initiatives that she said contributed to winning the award, Inman pointed to the Chamber’s efforts to brand the city as “Frankfort:Kentucky Distilled” as well as the Chamber’s Frankfort IMPACT program, which aims to help local students become more workforce ready.
KCCE Executive Director Amy Cloud spoke highly of Inman, calling her and the Frankfort Area Chamber a model for other groups to follow.
Despite Inman’s many years with the Chamber, Cloud said Inman has never shown signs of becoming content. Read more: State Journal


South Suburban  Chamber of Commerce 2018 Community Resource Guide & Business Directory  

The Muskego Area Chamber of Commerce 2018 Community Guide & Business Directory   is available at the Chamber of Commerce today! Thank you to Barbara Wesener and the Chamber team for their help and direction putting this together! 




Town Square Publications  (www.townsquarepublications.com) can help you accomplish your chamber's gloss map, directory, community profile or publication needs at no expense to the chamber. Please email John Dussman at jdussman@tspubs.com or call (847)-427-4633.


IPS, Indy Chamber outline unconventional 3-year partnership to cut spending
Indiana’s largest school system is on the cusp of an unusual, three-year partnership with the local chamber of commerce designed to carry out extensive cuts that the business group proposed for balancing the district’s budget.
Under an arrangement that the Indianapolis Public Schools board will vote on Thursday, the Indy Chamber would pay as much as $1 million during the first year for two new district administrators and consulting by outside groups to implement its cost-cutting plan. The agreement is nonbinding, and the chamber or district could withdraw at any time.
The partnership is the culmination of months of negotiation between the chamber and the IPS board, which agreed last spring to delay a public vote on two tax increases to give the chamber time to analyze district finances. In exchange, the chamber agreed to help draft a new request from taxpayers and lend its political support to two tax increases that are on the ballot in November.
The staff members and consultants would help the district implement some of the chambers’ broad recommendations for hundreds of millions of dollars in cuts in the coming years, including possible school closures, reduced transportation, and staff reductions. Many of the potential cuts would likely need approval by the school board.
The aim of the cuts is to stabilize the district budget and generate enough savings to pay for raises for teachers and principals. Chamber officials say they are so invested in the effort because the prosperity of the city’s urban core, and its ability to attract investment, depend on the success of IPS.
But the plan gives the Indy Chamber a rare level of involvement in managing the district, said Zachary Baiel, president of the Indiana Coalition for Open Government. If the chamber is able to help the district improve its operations, the arrangement could be positive for the community, he said. But he raised concerns that the public could be shut out of decision making.
“Any constituent group would love to have this kind of access,” Baiel said. “It’s a fascinating precedent that’s unfolding.”
At a meeting Tuesday night where the proposal was discussed, school board member Venita Moore said the chamber has expertise that the district “desperately” needs. But she also asked for assurances that the district would have ultimate say on the cuts. “I just want to make sure that we’re taking the lead,” she said.
Superintendent Lewis Ferebee assured Moore that the district is “clearly driving this work.” The new positions would be funded by the chamber, he said at a press briefing Tuesday morning, but the district would choose who to hire and supervise the staff members.
The chamber and the district have already discussed how the business group can help the schools find savings, Ferebee said. “This is an opportunity for us to cement some of those details of how they will collaborate with the district,” he said. Read more: indianapolis Business Journal

Mary Claire Olson Potter named Hudson Chamber president

The Hudson Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau announced last week that Mary Claire Olson Potter has accepted the position of chamber president.

Potter brings 17 years of chamber experience to the Hudson Chamber of Commerce including the Rochester Area Chamber, Saint Paul Area Chamber, and the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce. Potter also was President of the Hudson Chamber of Commerce for seven years.
For the past 10 years, she has worked as Director of Business Development for AECOM, a global architectural/engineering firm and most recently as Business Developer for HGA, a national multi-disciplinary architectural/engineering firm.
A resident of Hudson for over 22 years, Potter has remained involved in the community, including serving on the Plan Commission since 2008, and as a member of the Hudson Community Foundation Board of Directors since 2012. Potter was also the Founder and Chief Fundraiser for the David C. Olson Graduate Scholarship for Business Community Excellence in partnership with Minnesota State University, Mankato, and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.
Potter will bring her extensive chamber experience and knowledge of the Hudson area to continue moving forward the Chamber's mission, the strategic plan, and the current programs and events of the Hudson Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau. Read more: Hudson Star Observer


‘Leadership Lafayette’ team recognizes 27 leaders, presents award


Twenty-seven local leaders take their fine-tuned skills into the community after graduating from the Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce’s 30th annual Leadership Lafayette Program on Aug. 23. The eight-month program is centered around enhancing teamwork, generating and executing new ideas and serving the local community.
“I’m extremely honored each year to be apart of such a prestigious group of leaders in Lafayette Oxford University community,” said Torie White, Leadership Lafayette Program chair. “I know this class will do like so many of the others and go on to do great things in this community and state.”
The 2018 class includes Lindsey Abernathy, University of Mississippi Office of Sustainability; Brandi Binder, FNB Oxford Bank; Joseph Brummett, Wes Schilling; Jamie Carr, J. Carr Properties, LLC; Delia Childers, Oxford Eagle; Kevin Cozart, The Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies; Natalie Damore, Byrne & Associates, PLLC; Dana Fisher, Charter Road Hospitality, Inc.; Luke Harris, Renasant Bank; Scott Iverson, CoreLogic | FNC; Jacob Jenkins, Insight Park; Jeffery Johnson, University of Mississippi; Cassie McCutchen, Baptist Memorial Hospital-North MS; Jeff McCutchen, Oxford Police Department; Justin Mills, University of Mississippi; Katie Mink, Mississippi Small Business Development Center; Jonathan Nance, Ole Miss Athletics; Matt O’Keefe, University of Mississippi; Kristen Paris, ProMatura Group; Patrick Perry, University of Mississippi; Stuart Povall, Develop Design Studio; Cayce Read, CoreLogic|FNC; Michelle Robinson, City of Oxford; Casey Rogers, Innovative Construction Management; Julia Tatum, Delta Grind; Julie Wells, Evans Petree PC; and Brian Whisenant, Oxford Treatment Center.
The 2018 graduating class planned diverse community projects by dividing into four self-planned teams: ALZ In, LOUnity Project, Oxford Community Clean Up Challenge and Team OXCM Hootenanny. ALZ In collaborated with the Memory Makers organization to create a corporate fundraising program and to provide marketing materials for donors. LOUnity Project worked to unify the Brittany Woods community with the City of Oxford through providing a modern and safe recreational place for children who live in Brittany Woods Apartments.
Oxford Community Clean Up Challenge organized a county-wide litter pickup day to unify the community by cleaning up soiled areas and beautifying local surroundings. Team OXCM Hootenanny worked on a new annual fundraiser for the Oxford Community Market. The team organized a family-friendly event, Hootenanny, to raise funds to support Harvest Angel, a program funding fresh foods to at-risk families at Thanksgiving.
This year’s Leadership Lafayette class also chose Jeff McCutchen, Major of Operations for the Oxford Police Department, as recipient of the 11th Annual Leadership Award, recognizing his leadership capabilities and dedication to improving the community throughout the program.
“This year’s class had such chemistry in their small groups,” said Pam Swain, Leadership Lafayette program director and senior vice president of the Chamber. “They each had a great amount of passion for their community and worked hard for the organizations they got involved with through their projects. My hat is off to them for the lasting impact they have left on this community through their determination and goals for their projects.” Read more: Mississippi Business Journal


Northern Virginia Chamber, PSC Announce 2018 Greater Washington Government Contractor Awards™ Finalists Winners to be Announced Live at 16th Annual Awards Gala Nov. 5 at 5:30 p.m.


Tysons,  Va.  –The  Northern  Virginia  Chamber  of  Commerce  (Northern  Virginia  Chamber)  and  
the Professional  Services  Council  (PSC)  have  announced  finalists  for  the  16th  Annual  
Greater  Washington Government  Contractor  Awards™,  the  premier  awards  event  for  the  
Washington  area  government contracting community.  The winners of the most prestigious awards in 
the industry will be named at a Nov. 5 gala at The Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner.

In addition to recognizing the best-in-class among the government contracting industry, the awards 
also honor  public  sector  leaders  who  have  done  the most  to  promote  effective  
partnerships  between  the sectors, through the annual Public Sector Partnership Award. This year, 
that recognition, presented by Raymond  James,  will  go  to  The  Honorable  Susan  M.  Gordon,  
Principal  Deputy  Director  of  National Intelligence (PDDNI) Office of the Director of National 
Intelligence.

In addition, George J. Pederson, Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board ManTech International 
will be inducted into the Greater Washington Government Contractor Hall of Fame. Both will be 
honored at the Nov. 5 dinner.

In keeping with the program’s history of identifying a charitable partner, the 2018 Charity Partner 
is Luke’s Wings, an organization dedicated to the support of service members who have been wounded 
in battle. Recognizing the immediate need for families to be with their loved ones at such a 
difficult time, Luke’s Wings  provides  families  with  the  means  to  visit  during  the  service 
 member’s  hospitalization  and rehabilitation.  By  purchasing  travel  agency  services  and  
travel  tickets  for  loved  ones,  Luke’s  Wings provides an immediate and invaluable service to 
the families of our men and women at arms while also helping to encourage and motivate the service 
member’s recovery.

The  Program  of  the  Year,  introduced  in  2014,  will  represent  the  most  successful  
contracted  program chosen from among the finalists of all four Contractor of the Year categories, 
which are grouped by annual revenue of up to $25 million, between $25 and $75 million, $75 to $300 
million and greater than $300 million.  The  winner  was  recommended  by  the  judges  for  the  
program’s  combination  of  mission achievement and customer recognition and will be presented on Nov. 5 at the awards.
  
Presented annually, the 2018 Gov Con awards honor the leadership, innovation and commitment to the 
excellence of the individuals and businesses in the region's government contracting sector.

Four Contractor of the Year and three Executive of the Year awards will be presented. This year’s 
finalists for Contractor of the Year and Executive of the Year are:

Contractor of the Year (up to $25 million)
Presented by: JP Morgan Chase
•     Axiologic Solutions
•     Berico Technologies
•     Evans Incorporated
•     InCadence Strategic Solutions
•     Invictus International
•     Ridgeline International

Contractor of the Year ($25-75 million)
Presented by: Baird
•     AbleVets, LLC
•     ACT I (Advanced Concepts and Technologies International, LLC)
•     Ad Hoc
•     Atlas Research
•     Dev Technology Group
•     Kihomac

Contractor of the Year ($75-300 million)
Presented by: CohnReznick
•     Attain
•     E3 Federal Solutions
•     Knight Point Systems
•     OGSystems
•     TeraThink
•    T-Rex Solutions, LLC

Contractor of the Year (greater than $300 million)
Presented by: PwC
•     CGI
•     ICF
•     LGS Innovations
•     ManTech
•    SAIC

Executive of the Year (up to $75 million)
Presented by: BDO
•     Cosmo DiMaggio, CEO, The Tauri Group, Inc.
•     Sarbari Gupta, CEO & President, Electrosoft
•     Michael McDermott, President, InquisIT LLC
•     Marybeth Wootton, CEO, Berico Technologies, LLC
•     Amy Wright, President & CEO, Macro Solutions

Executive of the Year ($75-300 million)
Presented by: PNC
•     Greg Baroni, Chairman & CEO, Attain, LLC
•     Sonny Kakar, CEO, Sevatec Inc.
•     William Vantine, President & CEO, Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc.
•     John Wood, CEO & Chairman of the Board, Telos Corporation

Executive of the Year (greater than $300 million)
Presented by: United Bank
•     John Goodman, Chief Executive, Accenture
•     Tim Hurlebaus, President, CGI Federal
•     Tony Moraco, CEO, SAIC
•     Susanna Mudge, President & CEO, Chemonics International
•     Kevin Phillips, President & CEO, ManTech International
More information about the Awards can be found at www.novachamber.org follow the conversation on 
social media using #GovConAwards #GovCon2018 @NovaChamber @PSCSpeaks.

Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles: The best in the U.S.

Town Square Publications, a division of the Daily Herald Media Group, is a national chamber custom publishing group that specializes in developing partnerships by producing high-quality print and digitally integrated publications along with other added value programs dedicated to creating relevancy for local chambers of commerce and other membership focused organizations interested in raising non-dues revenues.

Town Square Publications parent company, Paddock Publications, has over 100 years’ experience of print product development and dedicated customer service in communities throughout the Midwest. Our experience allows Town Square Publications to offer you attractive royalty and non-dues revenue share streams, provide direct distribution of your custom designed printed publications, including digital and mobile integration, and all with the quickest turn-around times available in the industry. Town Square also offers multi-media maps in both print and online formats, both with our No-Cost guarantee. More information: Town Square Publications

Chambers of Commerce and member focused organizations serve as a valuable resource in the local marketplace. The networking opportunities and representation with a wide variety of diverse businesses in your community is the catalyst of a successful organization. For further information about Town Square's publishing partnership with chambers of commerce and our No-Cost guarantee and Earned Revenue Share Program, To request your chamber publication or map proposal, contact Town Square Chamber Proposal