Your Go-To Source

for Upcounty News

and Events

(Photo caption: 20th Annual Wine Tasting at Kentlands Mansion last week)

We are the #GGCC. We are #StrongerTogether.

Together, we are the #UpcountyEngine.

Be in the know! Make sure you're social with us:

The new Veteran Connect Group is kicking off at 8 a.m. on June 1 in our GGCC conference room. This group is open to any veteran-owned business, veteran, dependent, or family member.

The meetings will be conversations regarding business and opportunities for veterans and will include speakers, marketing, and vet-benefit information, but not limited to these topics.

Thanks to our Chamber member Traci Eisenberg-Rayburn from E&R Business Consulting for leading this new direct connect!

To attend the first meeting on June 1, click here to register.

If you're interested in joining, please email Traci at traci@erbusinessconsulting.com.

Check out That Smoothie Place if you haven't been to already!

The shop is located at 9815 Main St. #106, Damascus, MD.

Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For more information on their mission, visit their website That Smoothie Place!

We're gearing up for our Annual Public Safety Awards Breakfast at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds on July 14!

Let's honor our men and women who provide public safety in our area and their achievements the past year!

**Breakfast catered by GGCC member Silver Diner.

For details, sponsorship opportunities and to register, click here.

Thank you to Paul Davis Restoration for once again being our Title Sponsor for this meaningful event!

Thank you everyone who attended our 20th Annual Wine Tasting Event at the Kentlands Mansion last Wednesday! It was a beautiful evening of professional networking, food and wine tasting, music, and door prizes.

The event was on the Fox 5 DC news - click here to watch the video! Thanks to our GGCC board member Colette Releford for providing the interview!

A special thank you to our venue sponsor the City of Gaithersburg, our wine sponsor Vine Alley, wine glass sponsor Tehrani Law (glasses designed by Crown Trophy), music sponsor - our very own Romy Nunez, and participating restaurants this year: Apna Pizza, Caribbean Caterers, Kofemi Grub N' Go, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Roaming Rooster & True Food Kitchen!

Upcoming Events

See the complete list of upcoming ribbon cuttings, celebrations, networking, and professional development events here.

Grand Opening: Red Door Escape Room

When: Fri., June 9, 10:00 AM

Where: RIO, 125 Boardwalk Place, Gaithersburg

Register Now!

Grand Opening: Synergy Business Center

When: Tues., June 13, 11:30 AM

Where: 18630 Woodfield Road, Gaithersburg

Register Now!

Business Networking Before 9: sponsored by Ellis-Lopez Travel

When: Thurs., June 15, 7:30 AM

Where: GGCC Conference Room, 910 Clopper Rd., Ste. 205N, Gaithersburg

Cost: Free for members and first-time guests. Returning non-members $40

Register Now!

Ribbon Cutting: Maryland Spine and Health Chiropractic

When: Fri., June 16, 4:30 PM

Where: Maryland Spine and Health Chiropractic Clinic, 20680 Seneca Meadows Parkway, Suite 213, Germantown

Light appetizers will be provided, as well as soft drinks/wine and prizes!

Register Now!

Coffee with a Cop Series

When: Tues., June 20, 8:30 AM

Where: Chick-fil-A, 19945 Century Blvd., Germantown

Sponsored by ServPro!

Register Now!

Business Card Exchange Lunch: Asbury BBQ Picnic

When: Tues., June 20, 11:30 AM

Where: Asbury Methodist Village/Hefner Community Center, 417 Russell Ave., Gaithersburg

Cost: $20 for members, $40 nonmembers

Lunch BBQ, networking, bocce ball, shuffleboard, croquet and more!

Register Now!

Ribbon Cutting: ISAAC's Poultry Market

When: Thurs., June 22, 11:30 AM

Where: 12163 Darnestown Road, Gaithersburg

Register Now!

Ribbon Cutting: Gold's Gym

When: Wed., July 12, 11:30 AM

Where: 12911 Middlebrook Road, Germantown

Register Now!

29th Annual Public Safety Awards Breakfast

When: Fri., July 14, 7:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Where: Montgomery County Agricultural Center, 16 Chestnut St., Gaithersburg

Honoring the men and women who provide public safety in our area!

Register Now!

Committee Corner:

Highlights of GGCC's 4 Standing Committees of the Board

Next Meeting: June 7, 8:30am, (Zoom)

The Events Committee meets the first Wednesday of the month at 8:30am. We'll be discussing the Public Safety Awards, and the Golf Tournament!

Please register to attend at the link above.

Next Meeting: June 15,

11am (In-Person)

The Membership Attraction & Retention Committee meets the third Thursday of the month at 11 a.m.

Next Meeting: June 5, 10am (Zoom)

The Young Professionals Group (YPG) Committee meets the first Monday of the month at 10 a.m.

The committee is looking for active members that would like to contribute to the planning & coordination of the upcoming professional development series and social events for the group.

Please register to attend at the link above.

Next Meeting: June 21,

8:30am (Zoom)

We will hear a presentation form Montgomery County Planning about eh Clarksburg Gateway Sector Plan.

Please register to attend at the link above.

Direct Connect Groups:

(Does your DC group have news to share?...email us!)

Direct Connect groups are member-led affinity groups that strategically connect smaller groups of GGCC members. More information here.

NEW Veteran Direct Connect

First Meeting: June 1, 8:00am at GGCC Conference Room, 910 Clopper Road, Suite 205N, Gaithersburg

The new Vet Connect Group is kicking off! Be sure to join the first meeting on June 1. This is open to any veteran, dependent or family member. The meetings will be conversations regarding business and opportunities for veterans and will include speakers, marketing, vet-benefit information but not limited to these topics.

Thanks to our Chamber member Traci Eisenberg-Rayburn from E&R Business Consulting for leading this new direct connect! If you are interested in joining, please email Traci at traci@erbusinessconsulting.com. To register, please click on the link above or click here.

Nonprofit Direct Connect

Next Meeting: June 12, 11:00am (Zoom)

The Nonprofit Direct Connect Group is back for 2023! Facilitated by Paula Ross at the GGCC, this group will explore professional development and strategic planning topics specifically of interest to our GGCC Nonprofit members! The group will meet on the 2nd Monday of each month, on Zoom for now.

Thank you to Cliff Peterson from Integrency for presenting in May about the "must-dos" for cybersecurity for small nonprofits, or volunteer-led organizations.

SOHO (Small Office Home Office)

Next Meeting: June 14, 9:00 a.m. (Zoom)

"SOHO" is for GGCC Members who own and operate a "Small Office - Home Office". If you are a Member who works from home or in a very small office, please feel free to join us at the monthly “SOHO” Meeting.

Business 2 Business Direct Connect: Paddle & Picnic on June 25!

Paddle up an appetite with the Chamber's Business 2 Business Direct Connect group! Enjoy a Sunday afternoon from 2 to 5 p.m. at Black Hill Regional Park!

For more information and to register, click here.

Pathways Direct Connect for Women

A supportive community of women in business and entrepreneurs committed to growth and connection. We support each other by sharing our experiences, expertise, and knowledge to help each other grow professionally and personally.

The group meets every 3rd Friday of the month from 8:30 to 10 a.m. It alternates between Zoom and in person at a Chamber member restaurant! Email Philippa Channer or Kari Primozic to join.

If you have any updates, news, celebrations, recognitions & more about your business you would like to be included in the GGCC weekly newsletter, please email a brief description to Gitzel Puente at: gpuente@ggchamber.org.

Lerch, Early & Brewer welcomes 15 new attorneys to its law firm! Help us in congratulating our member for this 25% increase in attorneys! To read the announcement, click here.

• Cornerstone Montgomery is hosting the "Bearers of Hope Celebration" - an art program fundraiser and art show on May 24 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Glenview Mansion in Rockville, MD. For information and to register, click here.

• Courageous Living is offering a two-part Vision Board Workshop to teach you how to use a vision board as a tool to get your personal and professional goals accomplished! The workshop will be held on Friday, June 2 and Friday, June 9 from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the GGCC conference room located on 910 Clopper Road, Ste. 205N, Gaithersburg. Cost is $65/person. If you're interested in participating, you can register using this link. **Chamber members receive a 15% discount by entering code: GGCC15.

• Hilary Schwab Photography is offering outdoor photo sessions this spring! Do you need to update your headshot? Book a Photo Session with Hilary for June 1. Standard fee is $85/session and $70/session for Chamber members. (Session includes 15-minutes with wardrobe stylist and make-up touch-up with blurred backround, unlimited usage of one selected digital image high resolution).

• Lowe's offers special business counts and discounts for businesses that help them grow, no matter how big or small. Their MVP PRO Rewards proram offers benefits, such as point rewards, business tools and select drinks and snacks.

• FunnelWhirl has recently completed M&T Bank's 10-week Montgomery County Small Business 0 to 100 Accelerator! This program is also facilitated by AJ Nwoga, the Chamber's Board President. The accelerator brings direct expertise directly from the county on programs, contracts and ways businesses can support and be supported. To learn more, visit the program's page.

• Kevin Grolig Real Estate Team is hosting a First Time Home Buyer Seminar on Thursday, June 8 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Kentlands Carriage House in Gaithersburg! It'll feature expert guests in the real estate industry. The seminar will give an introduction to the current market, a breakdown of the home buying process, a Q&A and a meet and greet with some of the top professionals in the area. There'll food and drinks provided! For more information, visit their Facebook page.

• Montgomery County Agricultural Fair is looking for local businesses to be a sponsor of the annual fair that'll be held from August 11 to 19! There are two levels: $1,200 for one side barn entrance and $1,600 for two side barn entrances during the Fair week. This includes a mention on the MCAC website, rotating logo ad, and six admission tickets to the Fair. The deadline to apply to be a sponsor is May 30. Check out the benefits here, and email William Herrera if interested in being a sponsor.

• ProudlyGive has been selected for MindShare's 2023 Cohort! The participants will attend a series of classes, taught by notable speakers, on building a business as a CEO. Each year, MindShare participants hail from some of the most innovative organizations in the DMV. To read more about this announcement, read their press release here.

• Radiant Livin' offers trivia nights every Monday and Wednesday at 6 p.m. Grab your team and play to win! Trivia night is hosted at La Mex on 16143 Shady Grove Rd., Gaithersburg.

• Redfin has recognized GGCC board member Colette Releford as a Top Producer in Maryland! Colette is one of the firm's top agents! She has more than 20 years experience in real estate, business, account management and consulting. Congratulations Colette!



If you have any hiring announcements you'd like to include in our newsletter, please email a brief description to Gitzel Puente at: gpuente@ggchamber.org.

• Asbury Methodist Village is looking for a Sales Counselor and Outreach Sales Coordinator to join their team! Introduce seniors to a 134-acre campus with a certified nature preserve and arboretum, unparalleled programs, accomplished, energetic residents, cutting-edge wellness (including a climbing wall and boxing), and life-changing opportunities! Join Asbury and help change lives for the better every day.

• ComTech Systems, Inc. is hiring a Tier 1 Help Desk Technician to join the growing team in Gaithersburg. The idea candidate is someone who can balance both technical and soft skills while providing an exceptional customer service experience. A crucial part of the job is understanding the unique needs of each client, understanding the urgency and priority of each request. Check out the job posting here.

• Laperaux Journeymanchef's French Bistro is hiring restaurant professionals to join the team! They're looking for hiring wait staff and bartenders who have true hospitality in their hearts, know that every guest is important, who enjoy working in an upscale restaurant. You can pick up an application in person and arrange an interview with Chef Gregory Webb or General Manager Patty Hunt. The restaurant is located at 18056 Mateny Road in the Cloppers Mill Village on Great Seneca. You can also email: gregorywebb@laperaux.com.

• Manna Food Center is looking to fill three positions as soon as possible! They're hiring a full-time Nutritional Education Classes, Special Events Driver and Warehouse Assistant with pay rate of $25/hr. This position serves as operator of the bus for nutritional classes and special events. They're also looking for a full-time SNAP Outreach Coordinator to work with community members by providing direct outreach and application assistance to comunities eligible for SNAP benefits. Hourly wage of $17.25 to $20/hr. The third position they are looking to fill is a full-time Development Manager to advance development strategy and increase resources for advancing Manna's mission. Salary range is $49,000 to $56,000. For more information and to send resumes & cover letter, email jobs@mannafood.org.

• My Cup Runneth Over Southern Cuisine is hiring a fry cook, cashier/line server, and food prep full-time! You can send your resume to MyCupRunnethover235@gmail.com or stop by in person Wednesday to Sunday.

• Pare & Associates, LLC is a growing law practice representing clients in family law, civil, bankruptcy, and criminal matters seeking an experienced Attorney - Family Law to join the team! The ideal candidate will have a minimum of three years of experience in domestic violence and family law. In addition, they will "hit the ground running" and be a team player. Telecommunity is accommodated. For more information, email alicepare@alicelaw.com.

• Walmart is hiring for temporary positions at the Germantown location store 2357! They're looking for overnight and day positions, must work weekends. Check out this flyer for more information and to help spread the word. An application can also be found here www.walmart.com/careers.

Thank you again to these Annual Corporate Sponsors who support the Chamber's important community engagement, advocacy, and business development work all year round!