Happy Spring!  March marked the 1-year anniversary of the COVID-19 World-Wide Pandemic.  It’s hard to believe that it has been one year. At times, it felt like 10 years and in other aspects, it felt like the last 12 months flew by.
 
During that dreaded and fearful March of 2020, the Dow Jones Industrial Average had dropped by nearly 36%.  All of us were in fear for our health, our families, our children, our jobs and our savings.  With that historic market drop came a scary time for small businesses.  Restaurants that rely on patrons to enter their doors were forced to close. Some for numbered days while others forever. Every business in Bethesda (and worldwide) was affected in one way; most in a painful way. I remember putting my children to sleep one night in late March and just sitting outside their bedroom door, on the floor and wondering what will be.  What will become of our family, our community, our county and even what of our world.  I cried silently in the darkness of our home. That day I was not able to see the light.

Guest Blog by Mike Shelah, Director of Marketing and Business Development, Advantage Industries

Back in December 2020, My colleague Russell and I shared a webinar with Chamber members (you can watch it here https://youtu.be/Wsidf2Q-wYM ) about simple , effective and low cost cyber security tips that every business should follow.

Here is a hard truth, the days of having an “IT break fix guy” that puts out fires for you when something breaks are long gone. It is super easy for a hacker to steal your information today, you really need to be proactive and work with a team to keep everything up to date. That said, there is plenty you can do as a business owner to better protect your company, your data and your reputation.

Today, The Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce celebrates standing with our local business community for 95 years. We have advocated for the Bethesda region during times of growth, recession, war, and change.

​We continue to advocate for businesses, providing a strong voice of clarity through the uncertainties and impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. We’ve been a helping hand, a (virtual) shoulder to cry on, and an encourager, while also providing clarity about the confusing maze of resources designed to help sustain businesses.

Guest Blog by Ellen Coren, President & CEO of Chesapeake Public Strategies

​Successful public policy efforts call for sincere engagement with community residents and civic leaders.  Whether for a development project or a legislative issue, effective outreach campaigns establish meaningful dialogue, stakeholder agreement and active support.  A successful civic engagement strategy will help you ascend the Community Engagement Ladder. 
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​One of the most rewarding benefits of my position is getting out and meeting with our community leaders.  During this unprecedented year of uncertainty related to the global pandemic, we are all hindered with being able to safely and carefully do so.
 
In the past few weeks, I have been fortunate to visit a few of our leaders and learn more about the impacts of effective operations.  

I had a terrific meeting with Jim Willard, General Manager of Euro Motorcars Bethesda. ​

During February, I realized that inspiration comes in many forms.  On a national level, vaccines are rolling out and slowly but surely, we will all have our turn at the shot.  Here at home, the Chamber’s inspiration has come in the form of Allie Williams.  As you know, Allie officially started as President and CEO on January 1.  In two months, he has increased our membership and is working to make us a bigger and better organization. He is questioning why and how things are done; improving our internal processes and systems and taking to the streets to meet current members and bring on new ones.  

Today's Black History Month Spotlight is Travis Royall, the Director of Community Relations of Brandywine Living at Potomac!

Q: What is the most important event or milestone to occur in your lifetime? 
​A: There are several things, but the one that sticks out the most is that my oldest son Tyler has received a partial athletic and academic scholarship to play football at Assumption University in Worcester, Mass.  Seeing him get the opportunity to pursue his dreams is extremely rewarding.

Our Black History Month Spotlight today is Anthony Featherstone, the Executive Director of Worksource Montgomery. 
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Q: What is the most important event or milestone to occur in your lifetime?
A: There are two—the birth of our two sons. Realizing that everything I do will have a direct influence on their lives gave me a new sense of responsibility.

Today's Black History Month Spotlight is Tami Watkins, Government & Public Affairs Manager at Pepco and one of our Board members.  

Q: What is the most important event or milestone to occur in your lifetime? 
​A: Coming to Washington DC when I was 8 years old as part of a family vacation. That trip was very inspirational. I believe that it was on that trip that I knew I was destined to work in public service or in some capacity of government.  

​Kicking off this week's Black History Month Spotlights is Bola Audena, Managing Partner of MBA Growth Partners!  

Q:What is the most important event or milestone to occur in your lifetime? 
A: The most important milestone to occur in my life thus far has been deciding to leave my comfortable cushy corporate job to start our consulting firm and pursue my entrepreneurial career. ​