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Black History Month Spotlight: Fred Dorsey

1/24/2022

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February is Black History Month.  While The Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce celebrates all our members throughout the year, this month we are shinning a spotlight on our members within the African American community.  Join us all month long for our 2nd annual spotlight series.  This special feature helps our communities learn a little more about some of their business leaders who work so hard to make it a community to be proud of.
 
Today, we would like you to get to know Fred Dorsey. 
 
Fred was born and raised in Baltimore City, MD.  He has been a licensed real estate agent since 2005 while spending many of his years working directly with first-time home buyers and investors.  He is also a Notary Public for the State of Maryland helping personal representatives, administrators, executors, and attorneys with probate, estate, and trust sales /documents (but not limited to).  Fred is known for producing the best results for his clients with as little stress for them as possible.
 
Fred’s favorite saying is “Don't Worry, Let ME do the WORRYING”.
 
Fred sees himself not as a salesperson, but as a professional coach who guides his clients through the steps of buying or selling a home and all other major life-changing
events.
 
We asked Fred three important questions.  Read his responses below.
 
Q1. What are some challenges you faced early on that helped prepare you for the role you are in today and how did you overcome them?
 
  1. Early challenges - staying focused, sticking to the path. I had to l earn to be able to identify the main goal. I researched and applied myself to be effective at what I do, to get positive results.  My focus is assisting clients with buying, selling, probate, estate, and trust (but not limited to) real estate services.
 
Q2. Who/What is your biggest inspiration in both your personal and professional life?
 
  1. My drive is what inspires me in my personal life. This is what keeps me going. My passion for success and not being complacent. These fuels my inner self to be Fearless and Driven towards any obstacles I may encounter. Professionally, being a role model is leading by example. Identifying my own strength, which I apply to accomplish daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly goals.
 
Q3. What is your biggest piece of advice to businesses struggling with diversity and
inclusivity in the workplace?
 
  1. The dynamics have changed dramatically, people beliefs, well-being, and lifestyles have shifted.  With modern-day cultures, diversity, and inclusivity focus on the workplace i s adopting and being open-minded.  Expectations should not be the focus but being welcoming to hearing people’s views as they see it and being able to understand all levels on the charts, as it relates to people's well-being, educational, and financial capabilities.  The bottom line i s being willing to coach and be coached on a professional level.

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Black History Month Spotlight: Doris ‘Shanel’ Ramsey of Aldon

1/24/2022

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February is Black History Month.  While The Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce celebrates all our members throughout the year, this month we are shinning a spotlight on our members within the African American community.  Join us all month long for our 2nd annual spotlight series.  This special feature helps our communities learn a little more about some of their business leaders who work so hard to make it a community to be proud of.
 
​
Today, we would like you to get to know Doris ‘Shanel’ Ramsey of Aldon. 
 
Shanel has been with Aldon for the past 6 years and serves as Community Manager for their Aldon of Chevy Chase Community.  The community is comprised of 402 apartment homes which she and her staff team of 7 successfully manage.  For 75 years, Aldon has been creating better places to call home. They develop and manage properties that enrich the lives of residents and bring value to the surrounding community. Grounded in their firm commitment to exceptional service, Aldon seizes every opportunity to evolve the concept of modern apartment living.
 
We asked Shanel three important questions.  Read her responses below.
 
Q1. What are some challenges you faced early on that helped prepare you for the role you are in today and how did you overcome them?
 
Despite not being raised by my biological parents, I’m grateful that I was raised by and surrounded by a village of very hard-working people from the steel cities of Pittsburgh, PA and Clairton, PA. Many times, an upbringing like mine can pose a number of setbacks and stumbling blocks along the way that are never overcome, but despite the ones I faced, including becoming a teenage mother, I stayed focused and persistent, and I was determined to not allow my past to dictate my future. I’ve worked hard at every single job I’ve had, regardless of the nature. If it was pushing a broom, that was going to be the cleanest place you laid eyes on that day. I’ve prioritized myself and my success by taking continuing education and college courses, as well as completing career-furthering certification programs. I think because of all this, I’ve been fortunate to have been recognized and promoted in every single job I have had so far in my career. My early years prepared me to take the good with the bad, to be flexible, to pivot in moments of adversity, to be prayerful, to appreciate the challenges, and most importantly, to treat every one of my customers and co-workers with dignity, kindness, and professionalism.
 
Q2. Who/What is your biggest inspiration in both your personal and professional life?
 
Emphatically and passionately, my daughters have been the driving inspiration for every decision in my personal and professional life. I wanted to instill in my girls the same core values of good ethics, faith, and hard work. With these core values and the presence of our supportive village, I’m so very proud to say that they both have executed these attributes very well and have not only graduated from acclaimed universities like Johns Hopkins and Penn State but have earned advanced degrees and have been able to contribute to their own communities and family.
 
Q3. What is your biggest piece of advice to businesses struggling with diversity and inclusivity in the workplace?

  1. When a company is inclusive and understands the benefits of diversity, its results in rich services and products, and a positive environment where people want to work. I personally know that having a diverse organization and workplace motivates and inspires everyone when they see themselves represented, and it ultimately benefits the business’ bottom line. Let me share a personal story. I wouldn’t be a community manager without the support of a woman named Ms. Polita Young from the Philippines. Polita saw past race and background and saw me for who I was and my talents, giving me my first job in residential property management, which ultimately started my career and shaped how I wanted to build a team and manage. So, I would advise businesses to do the same thing I do in my family, with my own staff, and customers. Remember that we all belong to the same humankind first. We generally all want and value the same things. Recognizing this, we understand that diversity is not a struggle and that exercising racial equity, and social justice is not a chore, it’s an opportunity and obligation of humanity.  

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PROOF OF VACCINE REQUIREMENT RESOLUTION ORAL COMMENTS AT COUNTY COUNCIL WORK SESSION

1/19/2022

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GREATER BETHESDA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PROOF OF VACCINE REQUIREMENT RESOLUTION ORAL COMMENTS AT COUNTY COUNCIL WORK SESSION

January 18, 2022 
  • Thank you. Ellen Coren, Chesapeake Public Strategies. Here today on behalf of the Greater Bethesda Chamber as the volunteer Vice President of Economic Development and Government Affairs.
  • Thanks to Council President Albornoz for holding this work session. • Also want to thank Dr. Earl Stoddard and Jake Weissmann for working with us since the resolution was introduced.
  • I'll speak to overall concerns that our members have expressed to us, then discuss some recommended amendments.
    • Even with these amendments, we remain concerned about the imbalance we see between the cost of this proposal and the limited actual benefits it may produce, given our very high vaccination rate.
    • We have coordinated our comments with the Greater Silver Spring Chamber, so we are in agreement with Jane Redicker's comments today.
  • We understand the desire to keep our community safe and this is a priority for us as well. Through our Just Mask It campaign, our Chamber worked hard to help businesses implement the mask mandate and encourage their patrons and workers to comply.
  • The resolution describes the mandate as a way to avoid closing businesses or imposing capacity limits. To that statement, our members say, "Please don't help us. You don't understand how our businesses operate; you don't know our unique challenges."
  • We heard businesses testify just now about their challenges with severe labor shortages. This resolution exacerbates that problem.
  • Today's packet includes examples of major cities that have instituted a proof of vaccine mandate. These are cities - not communities like Montgomery County.
    • For example, we don't have bars in the County. So, no one is already at the door carding people that can just add one more card check.
    • Those cities also have much lower vaccination rates than Montgomery County. New York, for example, had a rate only in the 60's when they 2 imposed the mandate. They had much room for improvement. This isn't the case in our County where 95% of residents have at least one dose of the vaccine and about 85% have the second dose.
  • There's the practical reality to consider. Our member hotels saw their business increase when DC passed its proof of vaccine mandate and people moved their events from DC to Montgomery County. They began losing business to Virginia when people learned that our County was considering a similar law.
  • With this resolution, the onus is on establishments to find reasonable accommodations for select unvaccinated people. How does a restaurant do this? Seat them outside in weather like we have had this week? Block off precious square footage, just in case they show up? And how do you decide which employees you will knowingly expose to unvaccinated patrons? Having said all that, we have several amendments to suggest:
    1. Push back the implementation date. We don't believe the County will be able to provide the support and resources that businesses will need in so short a time. And the businesses need time to gear up, figure out the staffing and train employees.
    2. Rather than put the onus on the establishment for screening guests at an event, we suggest making that the responsibility of the group or person that is actually hosting the event. You may recall that volunteers screened guests at the December Committee for Montgomery Breakfast and it worked well.
    3. Speaking of hotels, let's make it clear that the resolution does not apply to overnight guests. The way the resolution reads now, the hotel would be required to post people at every entrance, just to check the status of any person who enters, regardless of why they are there.
    4. Determine a sound way of showing a medical or religious exemption, perhaps requiring the unvaccinated person to produce a document certifying that the person is exempt.
    5. Include a sunset provision in the resolution. Please keep in mind that even with these amendments, we remain concerned about the impact of this legislation on our members, as compared to what we see as limited positive impact on the community.
  • We look forward to continuing our discussions with the County Executive and the Council. Thank you.
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Bethesda Magazine's "Best of Bethesda"

1/11/2022

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Congratulations to our members featured in Bethesda Magazine's "Best of Bethesda 2022"! 
​
Sports & Social Bethesda
Gringos & Mariachis
Mon Ami Gabi Bethesda
Casa Oaxaca
Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza
Caddies
Quartermaine Coffee Roasters
Silver New American Brasserie
Summer House
Duck Duck Goose
Tommy Joe's
Rock Bottom
Sandy Spring Builders
GTM Architects
Suburban Hospital
Sandy Spring Bank
Palisades of Bethesda
Health for Life
Peake ReLeaf
Henry's Sweet Retreat
Hank Dietle's Tavern
Brickside Food & Drink
Anna Behnam & Associates
Malech Law
Chevy Chase Acura
Euro Motorcars Bethesda
Bone Jour
AMR Commercial
The Blue House
Potomac Audiology
Christ Episcopal School
Glen Echo Park
CarePlus Homecare​

​...and others! The Chamber is proud to house some of the best businesses in the greater Bethesda area in our organization. We celebrate you, your hard work, and your contribution to our community!
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