COC in Blue

Kent County Chamber of Commerce

122 North Cross Street

Chestertown, MD  21620
P. O. Box 146
410.810.2968 Tel  |  410.778.1406 Fax
[email protected]
www.kentchamber.org

Chamber News            valentine with arrow    February 2012

The Mission of the Kent County Chamber of Commerce is to serve, represent and be the leading advocate for the business interests of its membership in ways that enhance the environment of the business community and quality of life and well being of residents and visitors.

IN THIS ISSUE
Welcome New Members
Chamber Events
Chamber Member News & Events
Chamber Information
Our Sponsors
Upcoming Chamber Events
Membership & Marketing Committee Meeting 
Thursday, February 2, 2012 
12:00 P.M. 
Chamber Office

Legislative Committee Meeting
Thursday, February 2, 2012 
3:30 P.M. 
Chamber Office 
 
Chamber Board Meeting 
Thursday, February 9, 2012
12:00 P.M.

Chamber Office

Business After Hours Thursday, February 16, 2012
5:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M.
Kent County Public Library
408 High Street
Chestertown, MD   
LEADERSHIP

EXECUTIVE BOARD

 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

LORETTA LODGE

 

PRESIDENT

DOUG CAMP 

The Investor's Friend

 

VICE PRESIDENT

DAVID BOWMAN

PNC Bank 

 

TREASURER

DIANE BRANDT 

CNB Bank

 

   

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

 

DAVID BOWMAN 

PNC Bank

 

BOB GREENWALD 

East Coast Storage

 

JON HANLEY 

Hanleyman Services, LLC

 

JIM RICH 

Inn at Huntingfield Creek

 

JIM ROSS 

Chester River Health System

 

BILL RUCKELSHAUS 

Champion Realty, Inc. 

 

JAY SILCOX 

David A. Bramble, Inc.

 

KATIE WARRINGTON 

Horizon Organic Dairy

 

LANSING WILLIAMS 

Washington College

 

From the Executive Director   

 

2011 Awards Image 

 

WOW! What a party!!

 

The stars came out to shine on Friday night at the Kent County Chamber of Commerce 42nd Annual Excellence in Business Awards Gala. 

 

More than one third of our membership turned out at the newly renovated Garfield Center for the Arts at the Prince Theatre to celebrate our award winners for 2011; all the while dining on a splendid array of epicurean delights provided by The Imperial Hotel and listening to the strains of quiet jazz provided by Joe Holt on keyboard and Mike Buccino on upright base.

 

The setting in the theatre was beautiful with an elegant black and gold theme. The evening's fare of classic cuisine was delectable.  And the mood of the crowd was nothing short of festive!

 

We are pleased to announce the following winners of the

Kent County Chamber of Commerce 

2011 Excellence in Business Awards

  

~ ~ ~ 

 

K&L Services

2011 Environmental Awareness Award

 

Sabine Harvey

2011 Community Service Award

 

Against the Grain - A Bread Company

2011 New Business of the Year

   

Chesapeake CNC Manufacturing

2011 Outstanding Business of the Year

 

ILSbio

2011 Outstanding Business of the Year

 

Betsy McCown

Echo Hill Outdoor School

2011 Business Leader of the Year

 ~ ~ ~   

 

(Please note that naming two businesses as Outstanding Business of the Year is not a typo.  This year there was a tie for this category, which speaks volumes about the quality of our business community here in Kent County.)  

 

Congratulations to all of our Award Winners!  The effort you have put into your businesses to make them the hallmarks of commerce they are is evident.  You set a wonderful example and a high standard for everyone.  We applaud each of you!

 

In addition to recognizing our award winners, I don't want to miss the opportunity to acknowledge those businesses and individuals who were instrumental in making this year's Award Gala such a success.

 

CNB - Our gracious and generous Sponsor for this year's event

 

The Garfield Center for the Arts at The Prince Theatre - Lucia Foster, Executive Director and Sam Howell, Theatre Manager, for providing such a wonderful venue

 

The Imperial Hotel - Joe Dolce and Chef Bernie for providing the evening's fabulous fare

 

Eastern Shore Tents and Events - Rebecca Blizzard and Jonathan Mason for providing tables and linens

 

East Coast Storage - Bob & Inki Greenwald for providing the koozie favors for all our guests

 

Joe Holt & Mike Buccino for providing such great jazz

 

Doris Winter & Cabot Lodge - our volunteers who welcomed all of our guests for the evening 

 

And last, but not least, I want to thank all of our members and guests who joined us to celebrate and honor the "best of our best" and who helped make the evening such a grand success.

 

Thank you to all of you and again, congratulations to all of our Award Winners!!

 

One last note, I want to extend a warm welcome to our Board Member, David Bowman of PNC Bank who will be filling the position of Vice President for the Chamber for 2012.  We know you will do a tremendous job for the Chamber in this capacity David. 

 

Loretta

Loretta M. Lodge

Executive Director

          

Welcome New Members 

      

The following businesses have recently made an important investment in their future and a significant commitment to the community by joining the

Kent County Chamber of Commerce

  _________________________ 

 

 

  

 Galena Family Medicine   

 

Amy Gervis - Office Coordinator 

119C N. Main Street 

Galena, MD  321635 

Tel 410.648.5150  |  Fax 410.648.5140 

  www.shorehealth.org  

 

Galena Family Medicine is a small family practice located in Galena, MD.  Dr. Frederick Van Dusen is the sole provider of the practice.  The practice is affiliated with Chester River Health System - SCF. 

~~~

State Farm Insurance 

948 Washington Avenue 

Chestertown, MD 21620

Tel 410.778.0647   |  Fax410.778-4949

[email protected] 

 www.hankstarkey.com  

 
We are a full service insurance and financial services company.  We are locally owned and operated by life long Kent County natives and have over 25 years of experience.
   ~~~   
 

 Please join us in welcoming our newest

Chamber members!

 

 

Chamber Events

_______________ 

      

 

 
Membership & Marketing Committee
Meeting
 

Thursday, February 2, 2011

12:00 P.M.

Chamber Office, 122 N. Cross Street, Chestertown

  

~~~~~
 
Legislative Committee Meeting 
 

Thursday, February 2, 2011

3:30 P.M.

Chamber Office, 122 N. Cross Street, Chestertown
  
~~~~~
 
Chamber Board Meeting 
 

Thursday, February 9, 2011

12:00 P.M.

Chamber Office, 122 N. Cross Street, Chestertown

The meeting is open to all members.  Please contact Loretta at 410/810-2968 or 
[email protected] if you plan on attending. 

 

~~~~~

     

Business-After-Hours

Thursday, February 16, 2011

5:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M.

   

Hosted by

Kent County Public Library

408 High Street

Chestertown, MD

410-778-3636

  

Come out and find out what's new at our Public Library and help celebrate "Love Your Library" month in conjunction with their 50th Anniversary! 

  

RSVP's Appreciated  



Chamber Member News & Events
________________ 


Blogging For Business - the New Marketing & PR

For Business Owners and Marketing, Public Relations, Human Resources, and Executive personnel

 

WYE MILLS - On February 14, 2012 from 10 a.m. to noon, Chesapeake College will offer a two-hour training seminar focused on a new marketing and public relations tactic that defies most traditional models for business.  Travel writer and social media expert, Mindie Burgoyne will demonstrate how to use blogging platforms, generate blog content, get followers, optimize search engine results, and put a personal "face" on a company that can engage today's customers and the media.  "Blogging is about joining the conversation, interacting, learning, and leading customers into your world."

 

Burgoyne, who runs three successful blogs, will make blogging practices the technical focus, but will interweave skills on how to interact with customers, and become a part of their conversation.  Attendees will learn that blogs are a marketing tool best used to engage the public rather than sell directly.  The best bloggers draw customers into communication, and those customers create buzz and drive more traffic to company websites. Additionally blogs help build customer profiles and provide insight to the latest sales trends in the market.

 

"The days of getting wide media coverage by sending sterile press releases to media outlets are over" Burgoyne states.  "And, while spending money on marketing and advertising is still important, it's no longer enough to just state your good news.  A company must listen more than it talks.  Blogging provides the platform for that."  

 

Blogging is not just for tech companies, on-line sellers and tourism

Burgoyne imparts the uncomfortable truth that blogging isn't a marketing tool only for companies who primarily serve an on line customer base. "All your customers are on line now" Burgoyne emphasizes. "Farmers, construction workers, watermen - once thought to be dinosaurs when it comes to technology- are buying fertilizer and equipment, checking weather trends and tracking competitors on line." Burgoyne will show how manufacturers, retailers, pharmaceutical companies and service industries (accounting, plumbing, electricians) are using blogs to attract customers, get referrals, and positioning themselves as opinion leaders in their fields. 

By the end of the two-hour session, each attendee will have an overview of how to start a blog, create content, define a publishing schedule and use additional social media platforms to accelerate building a following.  Burgoyne will also provide information on resources both online and hard copy that can assist in helping bloggers in the first few months.

 

SEMINAR SPECIFICS

Blogging for Business - the New Marketing & PR

DATE:    Tuesday, February 14, 2012

TIME:    10:00 AM to 12 noon

PLACE:  Chesapeake College  - Wye Mills Campus  COST:    $49

REGISTER CONTACT:  Marci Leach 410.827.5833     [email protected]

 

Course outline found at http://www.writingthevision.com/bloggingforbusiness.htm 

 

 

 

 

Do you have news about your business that you want to share with our readers?  Send it to [email protected]

IN THE NEWS & AROUND THE STATE

________________



Maryland Chamber of Commerce
Legislative Report - February 1, 2012 

 

Get up to date information on current legislative issues by clicking here

 

Chamber Information  

_________________________  


  • E-Blasts - Broadcast E-Mail Service Now Available!

The Chamber now offers an E-Blast service to all of our members.  In an effort to help you build your business and get your message out efficiently and cost effectively, the Chamber office will send an email specifically on your behalf to all Chamber members and non-members who have signed up for our mailing list.  This is an excellent way to announce new products, services or events.  As a Chamber member, you can take advantage of this service at a very reasonable cost of $25.  Please contact the Chamber office for further details.

  • SCORE (Senior Core of Retired Executives)   

Invites retired executives to become counselors for new and existing local businesses. Contact Damon Bradley at SCORE to get more information: [email protected] 

  • Help Us Help You.  Keep Your Business Information Current! 

Please remember to contact Loretta in the Chamber office if you have any changes or updates to your business contact information.  We want to keep all of our members' information current.

  • Member-To-Member Benefit Program

This program allows any Chamber member to offer discounts on their products and services to other Chamber members and their employees.  Even if you do not offer a discount to fellow members, as a Chamber member, you may take advantage of the discounts offered by other members.  

 Don't miss out!  Sign up for this program today.

Call Loretta at 410/810-2968 or email at [email protected]   


The following businesses are participating members.
Please support these businesses!

 

 



  ~~~ OUR SPONSORS ~~~ 

 

 

PLATINUM
PNC Bank


GOLD

Atlantic Broadband

CNB

 

SILVER

Chester River Health System 

Horizon Organic Dairy 

The Peoples Bank

Washington College

 

BRONZE

Affinity Business & Technology Solutions

Sears Hometown Store - Chestertown