Chamber. the. Executive Director. September Calendar

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1 the Chamber Volume XXXIV No. 9 Bell Tower Building Cumberland, MD September 2016 Executive Director One challenge I consistently hear from member businesses is good help is hard to find. One complaint we seem to constantly hear on the street is there aren t any good jobs here. Well, which is it? Companies can t find good help or help can t find companies? The answer is actually both. Workforce development and matching skills with appropriate jobs is a major effort by many in our community. We are a post industrial region in the process of re-inventing itself on top of the fact that technology and the way products and services are produced and delivered is changing at a feverish pace worldwide. Many of the jobs our children will have don t even exist yet. Preparing our workforce for the jobs of today and tomorrow is especially challenging when more and more don t possess the essential (soft) skills necessary in the workplace or can pass a drug test or background check. So what do we do about it? Our municipal, county and state economic development professionals are working to bring appropriate jobs to our region. At the same time there are multiple approaches to providing our workforce with the tools needed to be successful. Our educational institutions, Allegany County Public Schools, Allegany College of Maryland and Frostburg State University, are collaborating more now than ever and taking a proactive and cooperative approach to career readiness. Programs and services at the Allegany County Department of Social Services, the Western MD Consortium and the Allegany County One Stop Job Center are available for those needing assistance, job training and guidance. Opportunities provided in the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act and available grants from the Maryland Department of Labor assist with training needs for Maryland employers. There s not enough space here to include it all and I haven t even mentioned the widespread reach of the Bridges to Opportunity initiative. The bottom line is assistance is available in our community and cooperation amongst the various agencies is excellent. For more information please do not hesitate to contact the Chamber office. We can connect you with the appropriate people. It s what we do. Thank you to all who attended the 35 th Annual Chamber Crab Feast and to sponsors Anchor Homes, BB&T, Carl Belt, Inc., Laurel Renewable Partners, and Orbital ATK. Special thanks to Crab Feast Committee members Jeremy Irons, Carl Belt, Inc., Scott Pfeiffer, Orbital ATK, Michael Kerns, Ali Ghan Shrine Motor Corps and our own Peg McKenzie, and to all the volunteers for their hard work. We hope you had a great time and we appreciate your support! As we come to the end of summer and enter into fall it is again time to showcase Allegany County Chamber of Commerce members and celebrate the successes and opportunities we have. The fun will be in full swing at Expo 2016: GAME ON! on Tuesday, October 18 th at the Allegany College of Maryland Gymnasium from 11:30 am to 5:00 pm. A variety of local businesses, restaurants and non-profit organizations will be showcasing their latest products and services. With a sports and wellness theme vendors will have the opportunity to use their imagination to decorate their booth. First, second and third place prizes will be awarded for the best decorated booths and everyone attending can vote for their favorite. There will be no shortage of fun and prize drawings for all who attend. Attendees playing Bracket Bingo are eligible continued on last page September Calendar September 1 8:00 am Membership Committee Mtg. September 8 7:30 am Education Committee Meeting September 13 7:30 am Member Orientation September 15 Noon Past Presidents Advisory Council Meeting Cumberland Country Club September 19 8:00 am Leadership Allegany! Alumni Committee Meeting September 20 8:00 am Leadership Allegany! Steering Committee Meeting September 21 8:00 am Economic Development Committee Meeting 5:30 7:30 pm Chamber After Hours ACRE Coworking September 29 Noon Board of Directors Meeting

2 New Members (Patronize these members and welcome them to the Chamber) Calvary Christian Academy McMullen Highway SW Cumberland, Maryland Ext Contact: Jeremy C. Adams, Business & Finance Administrator Category: Education Day Care Description: Non profit private religious education center; in operation for over 40 years, operates a day care, Pre-K 3 & 4 and Kindergarten 12th grade traditional school. Kehrwald Consulting 27 Bealls Lane Frostburg, Maryland Contact: Kristin Kehrwald, Owner Category: k@bigsavageideas.com Marketing Consultants Business/Development Consultants Description: Woman-owned management consulting firm and small business in Western Maryland that specializes in marketing/ public relations, project management, and fundraising development. Kristi Otto Allstate Agency 1225 B National Highway LaVale, Maryland Fax: Contact: Kristi Otto, Agency Owner Kristi.minnigh@allstate.com Category: Insurance Description: Local Allstate Agency serving Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Virginia offering auto, home, life, retirement and more. New Grace Media 522 Beall Street Cumberland, Maryland Contact: Ryan Brenneman, Owner Category: ryan@newgracemedia.net Website Design, Photographer Marketing, Videographer Virtual Tour Description: Providing innovative ways to reach customers through creative story telling, Google services, aerial photography/ videography and more. Nominating Committee Seeking Candidates for Chamber Board of Directors The Allegany County Chamber of Commerce is actively seeking candidates to run for the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is composed of eighteen members, one third (six members) of whom are elected annually to serve for three years. Each candidate must be willing to meet the following criteria in order to serve: Be an active member in good standing with the Chamber Serve as a member of the Board of Directors for a period of three years Attend all regularly scheduled board meetings (held the last Thursday of each month, an Orientation (held in December) and Strategic Planning Session (held in January) Attend Chamber events, including After Hours, Quarterly Meetings, and Recognition Dinner Assist with Chamber events and fundraisers According to the Chamber By-Laws no board member who has served two full consecutive three-year terms is eligible for election for a third term; a period of one year must elapse before eligibility is restored. Prior to October 1, the Nominating Committee shall present to the Chairman a slate of at least six (6) candidates to serve three-year terms, to replace the Directors whose regular terms are expiring. Each candidate must be an active member in good standing and must have agreed to accept the responsibility of a directorship. Upon receipt of the Nominating Committee s report the Chamber membership will be notified as to the names of the individuals who have been nominated. Additional names of candidates for directors may be nominated by petition bearing the genuine signature of at least five (5) qualified members of the Chamber. If you or a member you know has an interest in running for this office, please contact Nominating Committee Chair Mr. Stacey Bingaman, First Peoples Community Federal Credit Union at The candidates will appear on the ballot to be voted on during the December 1st Annual Meeting at the Cumberland Country Club. Thank you.

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9 Member Profile: Cornwell Remodeling and Restoration Little Orleans, MD Anthony Cornwell, owner Cornwell Remodeling and Restoration is a full-service company that handles a wide array of construction services. The first thing they build is trust! They take great pride in their reputation of having high-quality performance and outstanding customer service. Using owner Tony Cornwell s artistic talent, combined with over 30 years home improvements experience, they can make your home or business beautiful. Their vast experience qualifies them to manage any of your construction needs from small bathrooms upgrades to large additions and unique custom home projects, specializing in historic restoration. Their team succeeds on designing and building new spaces to meet the needs of families and businesses. They are committed to providing superior craftsmanship with attention to detail. If your home isn t quite as big as you d like, or if your kitchen or bathroom hasn t been updated in a while, contact them. If your business needs a makeover or you want to expand, contact them. They will work alongside you, within your budget, to accomplish the goals you set forth for your project. They go the extra mile to fully understand your project therefore creating the highest level of customer satisfaction. You can count on their team to be on-time, efficient, professional and clean. They secure all the necessary permits, manage and account for all components of your project and communicate with you throughout the process. They can easily handle every aspect from demolition to final inspection. Cornwell Remodeling is fully licensed, with the Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC), and completely insured to meet all your general construction, remodeling and restoration needs. Their services include (but are not limited to): Complete remodeling and renovation Combining rooms by eliminating interior walls or adding walls to create more intimate spaces Full kitchen renovations: cabinetry repairs or replacement, countertop and sink installations, tile repairs or replacement, appliance installation, fixtures and finishes Full bathroom renovations: plumbing fixture replacements, cabinetry replacements, tile replacements, fixtures and finishes Flooring replacements of all types Windows and patio door replacement or repair Drywall installation and repairs All finished carpentry which includes custom trim (historically correct by matching trim profiles) Water damage repair Purchasing and installation of interior finishes and amenities Roofing Interior painting Decks, Screened Porches and Patios Home Additions Your home is one of your biggest investments; it is a place for your family to live. The result of choosing Cornwell Remodeling and Restoration is an experience you will thoroughly enjoy and a home you will absolutely love. COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATION: Are you ready to create YOUR masterpiece? Contact Tony Cornwell at to schedule your complimentary consultation. During this initial consultation they will discuss your project objective, which includes design concerns, type of construction and your individual needs Annual Business Recognition Dinner Honorees Announced The Chamber is pleased to announce this year s winners for the Outstanding Business Recognition Dinner to be held on Tuesday, October 25, 2016 at Frostburg State University in the Lane Center. Business of the Year CBIZ, Inc. Entrepreneurial Spirit Award Evergreen Heritage Center Foundation Community Service Award Sean L. McCagh, MD During the dinner Jeremy G. Irons will receive the 2016 Jaycees Outstanding Young Professional Award. Formal invitations will be mailed. If you need additional information, please contact the Chamber office at

10 Scenes from the August 5th Chamber Crab Feast Special Thanks to Our Sponsors:

11 EXPO 2016: GAME ON! Sponsored by: Mark your calendar now and attend this FREE and open to the public event. Tuesday, October 18, :30-5:00 pm Allegany College of Maryland Gymnasium Hosted by the Allegany County Chamber of Commerce, Expo 2016 provides local businesses and organizations the opportunity to showcase their products and services. Visit Chamber member sports/wellness themed booths and discover what their business can offer you. Take advantage of the opportunity to network with fellow customers, potential clients, area vendors and business owners. Limited booth space and sponsorship packages are available. Be sure to join in the fun Reserve your booth today (Sports/wellness theme not required to participate). Prizes will be awarded to Top 3 Booths as voted on by attendees! Free Admission Lots of Giveaways Door Prizes World Champion Sponsor: U. S. Cellular National Champion Sponsors: Orbital ATK Planet Fitness Potomac Edison Rocky Gap Casino Resort Regional Champion Sponsors: First Peoples Community Federal Credit Union Frostburg State University Frostburg State University - Cultural Event Series M & T Bank Western Maryland Health System State Champion Sponsors: Allegany College of Maryland Edward Jones Investments Health Matters Urgent Care ServiceMaster of Allegany County Local Champion Sponsors: Allegany County Habitat for Humanity Allegany County HRDC American Cancer Society Evergreen Heritage Center Foundation Horizon Goodwill Mountain Maryland Trails Ray of Hope Western Maryland Building and Construction Trades Council Western Maryland Food Bank Tailgater Sponsors: Chick-fil-A in the Country Club Mall Roy Rogers Family Restaurant Shooters The Expo will be open from 11:30 am to 5:00 pm and is open to all Chamber members, guests and the general public. The Expo is the perfect outlet for attendees to gain knowledge of the best that Allegany County has to offer learn about new products and services or simply exchange information and ideas with the various exhibitors. Join us on October 18 th ; bring a friend participate in the Minute to Win It games, play bracket bingo or just browse the various display booths as you sample the best that Allegany County and the region have to offer. Who knows you may just find that perfect item you have been searching for! For more information, contact the Chamber at or visit online at chamber.com.

12 Fuel Your Membership Orientation Breakfast Tuesday, September 13, :30 am Chamber After Hours Wednesday, September 21, :30 to 7:30 pm Hosted by ACRE Coworking Member Orientation Tuesday, September 13, :30 am Have you recently joined as a new member and want to learn more about the workings of the Chamber? Have you been a member for a while and want to become more active in the Chamber and are not sure how? Do you have new employees that you would like to introduce to the Chamber or are you just looking for information on what Your Chamber can do for you? Give your morning a kick start by adding fuel to your body while energizing your membership. Join us on Tuesday, September 13th for our Member Orientation. The orientation provides an opportunity for you to learn more about your Chamber, the variety of networking opportunities that you can participate in as well as an overview of the many programs and events that the Chamber conducts throughout the year. Committee chairpersons will be on hand to answer all your questions. The format for the orientation will be informal. The event will be held in the Boardroom of the Bell Tower Building beginning at 7:30 am a light breakfast will be served. Sign up today and kick start your membership. Please RSVP by contacting the Chamber directly at or by to: carrie@alleganycounty chamber.com. Executive Director continued from page 1 to win a Fit Bit Blaze courtesy of Health Matters Urgent Care. Expo 2016 is proudly sponsored by U.S. Cellular and is once again an event you don t want to miss. Limited booth space is still available and the Expo is open to the public. Reserve your booth space today. Thank you to Christine Congedo and all at Nature s Granite, LLC for hosting the August Chamber After Hours. The Network & Win cash drawing grows to a near record $3,250 as Mid-Atlantic Protel was drawn but not present at the August event. Are you feeling lucky? The next Chamber After Hours will be held on Wednesday, September 21 st at ACRE on North Centre Street, Cumberland from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. The pre-registration deadline is Thursday, September 15 th. We look forward to seeing you there. Stu Czapski Executive Director the Chamber The Chamber News is published monthly by the Allegany County Chamber of Commerce Bell Tower Building 24 Frederick Street, Cumberland, Maryland Fax info@alleganycountychamber.com Stuart C. Czapski, Executive Director Allegany County Chamber of Commerce 2016 Officers Chair: Jeremy G. Irons First Vice Chair: Debra M. Langan Second Vice Chair: Scott C. Pfeiffer Immediate Past Chair: Maureen T. Brewer