Dear Chamber Members and Friends:
Spring is always a refreshing time period. It is during this time of seasonal change that the weather warms, flowers bloom and we emerge from the doldrums of hats, scarves, gloves and wintery mix. For the Chamber, it is an equally exciting period as it means we are nearing the end of one leadership regime and beginning the start of another.
It also means it is time for our annual “Salute to Business,” when we honor and recognize the businesses and individuals that have led to the Howard Chamber’s success over the previous year. The Howard County Chamber continues to grow and evolve, which is directly related to the men and women and the companies they represent.
Over the last year we have continued to bring you dynamic programs where you can obtain critical business intelligence, yet leverage relationships with the sole purpose of growing your business. Whether you are a business focused on commercial growth or one seeking federal work, the Chamber staff, board of directors and I are focused on offering relevant and meaningful programs. As a result of this laser focus, we continue to see membership growth that led us across the 700-member threshold in 2015.
The current year has us focused on the future with the development of our three-year strategic plan and marketing assessment. When complete, the Chamber will have a blueprint that will enable us to better serve the Howard County business community. It is our ultimate goal to be an organization that is inclusive, impactful and influential. We are striving to be a Chamber that works with both small and large business, nonprofit and government.
We look back on the past year with a feeling of great accomplishment, yet we recognize that our work is never done. Market forces and various public policy efforts continue to threaten business successes. For these reasons, the Howard Chamber will continue to advocate for private industry and policies that benefit employers large and small and that lead to a favorable Howard County business environment.
Your partner in business,
Leonardo McClarty
President/CEO, Howard County Chamber