Small Business Council

Brian LePage, The Columbia Bank, Chairman

Gary Haynes, Long & Foster Real Estate, Vice Chairman

Mission Statement: To develop programs that encourage participation and action of our small business sector through specific initiatives meant to build on the Chamber's efforts to promote the business of our members. It has four primary areas of focus: BRAC Breakfast Briefs, Social Networking Education, Networking Events/Mixers, and the buy local campaing (The 3/50 Program).

All Chamber members are welcome to participate in Small Business Council events; the focus of our efforts, however, is on maximazing benefits for the smaller members of the Chamberso they can see concrete returns for their membership investment.

Meetings are held the first Tuesday of every month at the Chamber office at 8:30am.

To contact Brian LePage call him at 410-799-2553 or e-mail at blepage@thecolumbiabank.com. For general information contact the Chamber at 410-672-3422 or via e-mail at info@westcountychamber.org.

Key Accomplishments:

  • Tuesday Topics series - A networking event that focuses on current information surrounding the West County Area. Topics in 2010 included health care reform, BRAC, slots at Arundel Mills, current legislative initiatives, Fort Meade, the roads of West County, and cyber security to name a few. The meetings are held the fourth Tuesday of every month at Kauffman's Restaurant. There are networking opportunities both prior to and after the guest speaker. Chamber and non-Chamber members are invited. Registration is required.
  • BRAC Breakfast Briefs - an informal informational outlet from CEO Claire Louderto deliver the latest news on BRAC development and associated local business opportunities.
  • Social Networking Education - Using LinkedIn and Facebook members are receiving and submitting current information about the West County Region. If you are uncomfortable with this new marketing medium the SBC has created a four session hands-on seminar to bring you up to speed. One of the waves of the future is social networking; let the SBC get you there.
  • We also had seminars directly related to small business. The two most notable being on business growth and development after the economy collapse and on dealing with both young and older employees in the workplace.

Goals for 2011:

  • Continue the Tuesday Topics on a monthly basis
  • Start the "Buy Local" initiative to encourage Chamber members to purchase from other members. The three sections of this program are as follows:
    • education on why to buy local
    • networking events to introduce local merchants
    • member to member discounts
  • Create a viable education platform that personalizes the experience of social media to membership
  • Educate all members on how to utilize BRAC to increase your business