Dear Readers of The Business Monthly,

The board of directors, staff and membership of the Baltimore Washington Corridor Chamber (BWCC) — Maryland’s only regional chamber — welcome you to this special publication in The Business Monthly.

The BWCC serves members principally located in the four counties between the nation’s capital and Baltimore: Anne Arundel, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George’s. This area is at the heart of the fourth-largest marketplace in the United States and is home to 46% of Maryland’s population and a similar percentage of all the jobs in Maryland. The Corridor also is home to 45% of all households in the state, but occupies just 17% of the total land area.

As chair of the board, I (Harris) follow Ray Plummer, CPA, partner in the accounting firm of Bormel, Grice & Huyett P.A. Ray’s work in helping small- and medium-size businesses, along with nonprofits of all kinds, brought great insight to the program of work and initiatives of the Chamber on behalf of the regional business community. We collectively thank Ray for his leadership.

Having worked for large national corporations and now helping business owners prepare for their economic futures, I have seen the inner workings of businesses and institutions of all sizes, and I am excited about leading this organization and its members — incredibly gifted and varied, too — in the coming year.

Over the coming months, members and guests will hear prominent newsmakers; attend an economic forecast with one of America’s top regional economists, Anirban Basu; and enjoy each other’s company at the annual BWCC Holiday Mixer. There will be joint networking breakfasts with as many as 250 businesses, educational seminars and Women In Business programs as well.

Most importantly, as a member, you will have a seasoned team of professionals who work for you, but are not on your payroll. We are your advocates on legislative issues, helping you protect all that you have worked so hard to achieve.

The BWCC’s board and staff lead a team that supports you. We pride ourselves on having a welcoming organization where businesses get their questions answered, develop beneficial relationships and are assured their interests are championed.

We are proud of our 69-year history and invite you to join us if you are not a member and become even more involved and engaged if you are.

Sincerely,
Eric Harris
Marathon Financial
Board Chair, Baltimore Washington Corridor Chamber

Walt Townshend
President & CEO,
Baltimore Washington Corridor Chamber