Mix & Mingle at the April After-Hours

Join GSSCC for the April Business-After-Hours from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. next Wednesday, April 27, hosted by Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. in the Civic Building (One Veterans Plaza). Mix and mingle, enjoy complimentary appetizers and drinks, and make new connections. This event is FREE for members and first-time attendees. Register now!

Class Acts Arts' Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Join GSSCC from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 28, for a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of Class Acts Arts' new office space. Light refreshments will be provided. RSVP is required to Christina Walton at 301-588-7525 ext. 105.

SPONSOR Just a few sponsorship opportunities left! Promote your company with a Hole Sponsorship that puts your logo at one of the 18 tee boxes.

DONATE The Chamber is seeking raffle prize donations! Donor company logos are featured for all golfers and volunteers to see as they check-in, as well as on display throughout the awards reception.

PLAY Only TWO foursomes left! Gather your team and sign up before it's too late!

Survey Says: Traffic/Transportation is Greatest Area Challenge

GSSCC President Jane Redicker was among business leaders at a press conference last week to release the results of the Greater Washington Transportations Study, conducted jointly by the Suburban Maryland Transportation Alliance and the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance. The study included telephone interviews with 800 randomly selected adults in the Greater Washington region. When asked to name "the greatest long-term issue or challenge facing the Greater Washington region" - without prompting - 33% of respondents named traffic/transportation as the #1 challenge and gave the region's current transportation network a "C." Not surprising, some 43% of respondents said the traffic situation is getting worse. The study also asked about various proposed solutions. Highly favored were the Purple Line (67%); adding new Metro cars to provide 8-car trains (75%); widening the Maryland portion of the Beltway (71%); adding express lanes to 1-270 (70%); and adding a bridge crossing north of the American Legion Bridge (59%). Interestingly, bus rapid transit received support from only 39% of respondents. To view the slide show from the press conference, click here. To see the full report, click here.

Montgomery County Issues Comprehensive Economic Study

In anticipation of the impending transfer of economic development functions from County government to the private Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation, the County Executive has completed a Comprehensive Economic Strategy (CES). The CES proposes a set of strategies to promote the County's future economic prosperity. As a comprehensive blueprint for the continued economic prosperity of the County, the CES addresses issues of business vitality (including target industries), talent, creative economies (including entrepreneurship), and place-making, all with the goal of increasing access to jobs, enhancing the success of the County's businesses, and expanding the tax base. The County is currently seeking feedback on the plan. To read the full plan, click here. To see a condensed version that is the official Executive Regulation, click here. Written comments should be submitted to Alison Wakefield, Office of the County Executive, 101 Monroe Street, 2nd floor, Rockville, MD 20850.

GSSCC101 New Member Orientation Breakfast

Mark your calendars! Whether you are a new GSSCC member or a new employee of a long-time member, this FREE breakfast can help put your Chamber membership to work for you. Join us from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 4, at Eggspectation (923 Ellsworth Drive). Register now!

All Set to Host Networking Breakfast

Join GSSCC for our May Business Networking Breakfast, scheduled from 7:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. on Wednesday, May 11, hosted by All Set Restaurant & Bar (8630 Fenton Street) and sponsored by Riderwood. To take advantage of early-bird pricing, register now!

YPN Wine Education Workshop & Happy Hour

Join the Young Professional's Network for a "Wine Education" Workshop & Happy Hour, scheduled from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18, hosted by Copper Canyon Grill (928 Ellsworth Drive). The workshop will be presented by Copper Canyon's own sommeliers who will teach wine serving tips and etiquette, how to properly order and taste, how to pair wine with food, and more. Enjoy a complimentary glass of wine and complimentary appetizers, a cash bar, and access to dinner after the event! Click here to register.

Connect@Lunch Hosted by The 4 Corners Pub & TransCen Inc.

More pictures here

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: GSSCC Shining Stars of Silver Spring

GSSCC will once again recognize the Shining Stars of Silver Spring at its 2016 Awards & Installation Dinner. GSSCC member companies will be recognized for demonstrating excellence in corporate social responsibility, specifically service to the community during the past year in support of non-profit/ community organizations or causes. To access the nomination form, click here. Deadline for nominations is Wednesday, May 25.

* Join SW Creatives, LLC for a free non-profit webinar "Working Effectively with a Graphic Designer" scheduled from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 28. Senior Designer, Christy Batta, will discuss how to use time efficiently, how to budget effectively, to produce great design work that advances the group's mission. Click here to register.

* During the "Miracle Month of May", Costco is offering businesses the opportunity to have their advertising seen by more than 40,000 shoppers that visit the Wheaton location weekly. In return for a one time tax deductible donation to Children's Miracle Network Hospital, Costco will place a company's promotional advertisement inside the store. Click here for more information.

* Patient First has releases its spring safety tips to help "Weekend Yard Work Warriors" avoid the mishaps that injure thousands of people every spring.

* Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a fiesta at El Golfo Restaurant from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Thursday, May 5. Enjoy specials on tacos, margaritas, and beer, as well as a live performance by Liz Springer and the Built 4 Comfort Band from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Click here for more information.

* GSSCC members are invited to join Brookfield Properties from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, May 12, for its annual health fair for tenants of Silver Spring Metro Plaza. Meet local vendors, including foods purveyors, banks, chiropractors, massage therapists, and more, and see demonstrations by local yoga and fitness instructors. For more information or to RSVP, please email Tiesha Hackley.

* DeWayne Ellis of The Wealth Syndicate LLC is hosting a 5-Week Financial Planning Academy with early-bird special pricing until Thursday May 12. Live online webinars will be held at 2 p.m. every Tuesday from May 17 through June 21. Tips and strategies will be provided for accelerating financial goals and creating a financial plan. Space is limited; register here.

* Congratulations to seven EagleBank mortgage bankers who ranked on the Scotsman Guide 2015 Top Originators list. Click here to read the full article.

* The Maryland Board of Nursing recently gave approval for Kaplan University to offer three new nurse practitioner graduate programs in Maryland, making it the 21st state in the nation to allow nurse practitioners to have full practice privileges. Read the full article here.

See your company's news here! GSSCC would be pleased to highlight news from our member companies in this section of the weekly e-news. Simply send us your information before close of business each Friday.

Upcoming GSSCC Committee Meetings

* Membership Development Committee - 9 a.m. on Tuesday, April 26

* Events Committee Meeting - 9 a.m. on Tuesday, May 3

* Young Professional's Committee Meeting - 4 p.m. on Wednesday, May 4

About GSSCC Committee/Team Meetings: All GSSCC members are welcome to participate in Chamber committees. Members are welcome to attend committee meetings to assess interest in joining a committee. Meetings are typically held in the GSSCC Conference Room. Advance RSVP is required and priority will be given to existing committee members when speakers are scheduled.

Thank you to our 2015-2016 GSSCC Partners

Corporate Partners - Downtown Silver Spring; Lee Development Group; Montgomery College; Statland & Katz Insurance, Inc.; Washington Adventist Hospital

Business Partners - AFI Silver Theatre; Apex Home Loans; Bud Miller Associates, Inc.; Digital Industry; Discovery Communications; EagleBank; The Fillmore Silver Spring; Holy Cross Hospital; Lerch, Early & Brewer, Chtd.; Linowes & Blocher LLP; M&T Bank; The Tower Companies (The Blairs); United Therapeutics Corp.; Washington Property Company.

Partners - Adam S. Lowe Photography; Atlantech Online; EBA Ernest Bland Associates; Elite Personnel; My Office Products; Signs By Tomorrow;
Social & Scientific Systems.

Friends- Harvey Maisel/Maisel Hollins Development