the Chamber Volume XXXV No. 1 Bell Tower Building Cumberland, MD 21502 January 2017 we need to be more than opinionated. We need to be informed. Let us help you. It s what we do. Executive Director Fake News. This past presidential election revealed many of the shortcomings of society today. One is just how gullible people really are and another is how quickly people react to an alleged issue without taking the time to do any appropriate due diligence. This is a bad combination and many are being burned by it. It s more than believing today s fake news that is intentionally created to drive internet traffic with hoaxes, propaganda and disinformation inflamed by social media. Many times it s innocent misinformation quickly repeated by those who feel the need to show others they are in the know knowing full well they didn t witness the information personally and even refuse to disclose their source. The irony is that we have access to the truth more now than ever yet rumor-mongering, misinformation and disinformation seem to be at an all time high. One thing for certain, with increased internet access, technological advances and social media usage, the lust for information is great. Of equal certainty is the fact that the truth is out there and only a few clicks or phone calls away. Whether it s real property data or tax information; public meeting schedules, agendas, minutes or recordings; comprehensive and strategic plans or studies, it s all out there easily detected, visible and accessible. Have a question? Our elected officials and staff are personally accessible and, when approached appropriately, very responsive. Chamber of Commerce members have the additional resource of the Chamber staff at their disposal. It is our job to stay abreast of issues affecting business and the community on behalf of our members. To move forward At the Chamber s Annual Membership Meeting, held on December 1 st, six very qualified board members were elected. Elected as new board members were Samuel B. Griffith, National Jet Company, and Charles Croft, First Peoples Community Federal Credit Union. Re-elected to the board were Renee Adams, Adams Family Funeral Home, P.A., Rodney Barker, Edward Jones, Dr. David Cox, Allegany County Board of Education, and Dr. Ronald Nowaczyk, Frostburg State University. Elected to serve as officers were Debra Langan, Langan General Contracting Corp/Anchor Homes, as Chair, Scott Pfeiffer, Orbital ATK, as First Vice Chair, and Charles Croft, First Peoples Community Federal Credit Union, as Second Vice Chair. Jeremy Irons, Carl Belt, Inc., will serve as Immediate Past Chair. Congratulations! Thank you to all outgoing board members for your service, friendship and commitment to the Chamber and the community. It has been a pleasure working for you. On December 8 th, the Chamber s Holiday Reception, sponsored by Allegany Aggregates, Allegany Museum, Bella, LLC, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Hunter Douglas Fabrication, Dr. Paul Lin Family Dentistry, Potomac Edison/First Energy, Rusco Home Improvement, and Western Maryland Building & Construction Trades Council was held at the Allegany Museum. Thank you to Amy Shillingburg, Rusco Home Improvement, and the Holiday Reception Committee for pulling it all together and to all who attended this popular event. It was a great time and your support is appreciated. The Chamber looks forward to continuing to serve its members in 2017 by providing expanded networking, marketing and educational opportunities in addition to continued on last page January Calendar January 9 8:00 am Leadership Allegany! Alumni Committee Meeting January 12 7:30 am Education Committee Meeting January 17 8:00 am Leadership Allegany! Steering Committee Meeting January 18 8:00 am Economic Development Committee Meeting January 25 3:00 pm Expo Committee Meeting Inclement Weather Policy If you are wondering if a committee meeting or Chamber event will be held during inclement weather, please contact the Chamber office at 301-722-2820. The Chamber s voice mail will be programmed to include details of any cancellation or time change that may be necessary due to snow or inclement weather conditions.
Carpenters Teamsters Local 453 Chamber Holiday Reception Thank You to Our Sponsors Pictured from the left: Front Row: Stu Czapski, Chamber of Commerce Thomas Butcher, Potomac Edison Dr. Paul Lin, Lin Family Dentistry Debi Langan, Chamber of Commerce Daryl Smith, Allegany Museum Amy Shillingburg, Rusco Home Improvement Larry Wolfe, Western Maryland Building Trades Bob Smith, Allegany Aggregates Cliff Wendricks, Western Maryland Building Trades Gary Bartik, Allegany Museum Vic Rezendes, Allegany Museum Absent when the photo was taken were representatives from Bella LLC, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Hunter Douglas. ALLEGANY MUSEUM Local 37 Operating Engineers Iron Workers Local 568 Laborers Local 616 Painters District Council 53 Plumbers / Steamfitters Local 486 Local 307 Electricians Pipefitters & Plumbers Local 489 Cement Masons Local 926 Local 1024 Road Sprinklerfitters Local 669 Local 193 Boilermakers Sheetmetal Workers Local 100 Local 2 Asbestos Workers Local 34 Roofers Membership Committee Update Chamber After Hours Network and Win 2017 not only marks the beginning of a new year but the return of our popular Network and Win program. November did not have a winner so the pot grows to $750.00 for the next Chamber After Hours. For those not familiar with the Network and Win drawing here are the rules: Only current members in good standing are eligible to win. Must be pre-registered and present to win. At each Chamber After Hours event the Chamber draws the name of ONE MEMBER COMPANY. If they are pre-registered and present they win the drawing. All employees of the winning company who are present and pre-registered split the prize money! $5.00 charge collected at door payable by cash or check. If no one wins the Chamber adds $250.00 to the pot and continues to do so each month until a winner is drawn. If someone wins the drawing starts over at $500.00. Any new business that joins will have their company name added to the drawing at the next available After Hours. Your odds of winning increase greatly during the first couple months of the year. So make sure your membership dues for 2017 are paid in full prior to the next Chamber After Hours event. Questions about the Network and Win; please contact the Chamber office.
Member Profile: Holiday Inn Express Rick Brode, General Manager 1076 National Highway LaVale, MD 21502 301-729-4800 301-729-4801 (fax) hielavale@gmail.com www.ihg.com Holiday Inn Express & Suites opened in LaVale on September 28, 2015. The hotel is owned by Umesh Patel, from Morgantown, WV. Mr. Patel also owns the Super 8 and is part owner of the Days Inn in Frostburg. The hotel is operating under the legal name of Allegany Grove Properties. The hotel has 87 rooms including 27 suites, 12 of which are very spacious for larger families as well as long term guests. Each smoke-free room offers flat-screen TV s with cable channels and sitting areas. Suites add extra living space with pull-out couches. The hotel features free Wi-Fi and has a heated indoor pool, a hot tub, fitness room and offers free hot breakfast buffet served in a casual dining area. The hotel also has two meeting areas that can be rented for a small group up to 12 people or a larger room that can seat up to 50 people. Reservations can be made by calling the hotel at 301-729-4800. The Holiday Inn Express & Suites is located at 1076 National Highway, LaVale, MD beside D Atri s Restaurant. Ribbon Cutting Ceremony The Allegany County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, December 14, 2016 to celebrate the opening of Sleep Inn and Suites, 13320 Ali Ghan Road NE, Cumberland, Maryland. Sleep Inn and Suites, a non-smoking hotel in Cumberland, Maryland near Rocky Gap State Park, is a simply stylish sanctuary designed for a happy night s sleep. Amenities include free hot breakfast, free WiFi, fitness center, business center, indoor heated pool, meeting room, guest laundry, electric vehicle charging station, Pergola with grill and they are pet friendly. For more information visit their website at www.sleepinn.com/hotel/md291. Pictured left to right: Steve Nelson, Chamber Membership Committee Chair Joan Kraus, Sleep Inn and Suites Clay Rick, Sleep Inn and Suites Amanda Coccagna, Sleep Inn and Suites County Commissioner William Valentine Lauren Van Nosdall, General Manager, Sleep Inn and Suites Wayne Smith, Sleep Inn and Suites Stu Czapski, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Debi Langan, Chamber of Commerce Board of Director Chairperson Back row: Kendra Stosick, Sleep Inn and Suites Brian Derabasse, Sleep Inn and Suites County Commissioner Jacob Shade Western Maryland House of Delegate Jason Buckel Timothy McGuire, Sleep Inn and Suites Steve MacGray, Chamber of Commerce Board of Director member Charles Croft, Jr., Chamber of Commerce Second Vice Chairman
Chamber Holiday Reception Memories
Mark Your Calendars 2017 Events Executive Director continued from page 1 being a force to bring about positive change. At the core of the Chamber s mission is to function as an organization that attends to challenging matters which impact the advancement of businesses and the community. We will continue to promote matters of change openly, objectively and reasonably while nurturing a spirit of deliberate review. Jump on board. Great things are happening. Happy New Year! Stu Czapski Executive Director First Annual Golf Tournament Friday, April 21, 2017 Crab Feast Friday, August 4, 2017 Annual Membership Meeting Thursday, December 7, 2017 2017 Board of Directors CHAIR Debra M. Langan Langan GC Corp/Anchor Homes of LGC FIRST VICE CHAIR Scott C. Pfeiffer Orbital ATK SECOND VICE CHAIR Charles L. Croft, Jr. First Peoples Community Federal Credit Union Renee L. Adams Adams Family Funeral Home, P.A. Peter M. Bajc AES Warrior Run Dr. Cynthia S. Bambara Allegany College of Maryland Rodney W. Barker Edward Jones Investments William G. Boyer III Chick-Fil-A in the Country Club Mall Maureen T. Brewer First United Bank and Trust Dr. David A. Cox Allegany County Public School System IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR Jeremy G. Irons Carl Belt, Inc. Nicole R. D Atri Conxx, Inc. Samuel B. Griffith National Jet Company Steve K. MacGray Perry Wellington Realty Nicole L. Alt-Myers Myers Building Systems Dr. Ronald H. Nowaczyk Frostburg State University Jeffery D. O Neal Western Maryland Health System Troy A. Raines The Lions Center for Rehabilitation and Extended Care the Chamber The Chamber News is published monthly by the Allegany County Chamber of Commerce Bell Tower Building 24 Frederick Street, Cumberland, Maryland 21502 301-722-2820 301-722-5995 Fax e-mail: info@alleganycountychamber.com www.alleganycountychamber.com Stuart C. Czapski, Executive Director Allegany County Chamber of Commerce 2017 Officers Chair: Debra M. Langan First Vice Chair: Scott C. Pfeiffer Second Vice Chair: Charles L. Croft, Jr. Immediate Past Chair: Jeremy G. Irons