The 2nd annual Mega Chamber mixer, held at The Crossvines in Poolesville, invited 250 business leaders, all members of nine different Chambers of Commerce together for networking on June 5, 2025. Those Chambers were joined by leaders from an additional three Chambers for a special signing ceremony for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Chambers of Commerce, all serving Montgomery County business communities. See below for full text of the MOU. County Councilmembers Marilyn Balcombe, Andrew Friedson, and Laurie-Anne Sayles joined business leaders at the event.
Jinal Contractor, Small Business and Community Development Director for Comptroller Brooke Lierman, joined business leaders at the event to relay the Comptroller’s regards and to present a Certificate of Recognition to GGCC in recognition and celebration of our work in organizing the 2nd Annual Mega Multi-Chamber mixer. Says Paula Ross, “It is wonderful to have Comptroller Lierman engage with our Montgomery County business community and we appreciate her support and accessibility. This certificate is lovely and appreciated. This Mega event is certainly a team effort and so we share with all of our colleagues.”
About the event, Ross added, “Often, businesses might think our Chambers of Commerce are competitors. In reality, we work hard together behind the scenes for every business’s interests in Montgomery County. This MOU signing publicly affirms that cooperation, and I’m so glad we could make it happen here in the Upcounty at this special event.”
Steve Barber, Chair of the GGCC Board of Directors, who facilitated the signing ceremony, commented, “I’m happy today to be facilitating the first signing ceremony for a Memorandum of Understanding between many of our Chambers of Commerce serving the business communities in Montgomery County, MD, and I’m thrilled that our Chamber in the Upcounty could be a leader in this effort.”
Jacquelyn Puente with United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) also shared remarks in support of our Chambers’ event and support for one another.
The Chambers of Commerce involved include:
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- Asian-American Chamber of Commerce: Cindy Shao, President & CEO
- Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce: Paula Ross, President & CEO
- Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce: Allie Williams, President & CEO
- Greater Rockville Chamber of Commerce: Marji Graf, President & CEO
- Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce: Stephanie Helsing, President & CEO
- Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Montgomery County: Mauricio Vasquez, Executive Director
- Maryland Black Chamber of Commerce: Ken White, President & CEO
- Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: Marco V. Avila, President & Chairman
- Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, Angela Franco, President & CEO
- Olney Chamber of Commerce: Dan Peddicord, Board Member
- Poolesville Area Chamber of Commerce: Tom Kettler, President
- Potomac Chamber of Commerce: Steven Ornstein, Vice President
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Signing Ceremony.
Left Photo: Chamber of Commerce Leaders sign a Memorandum of Understanding affirming their mutual cooperation and respect in support of Montgomery County business communities.
Right photo (L-R): County Councilmember Marilyn Balcombe, Board Chair of the Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber and facilitator of the MOU signing ceremony Steve Barber (Supporting Strategies), Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Paula Ross, Greater Rockville Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Marji Graf, Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Stephanie Helsing, Maryland Black Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Ken White, Asian-American Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Cindy Shao, Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Allie Williams, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Montgomery County Executive Director Dr. Mauricio Vasquez, Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President & Chairman Marco V. Avila, P.E., Poolesville Area Chamber of Commerce Board Secretary Hilary Schwab, Potomac Chamber of Commerce Vice President Steven Ornstein, Olney Chamber of Commerce Board Member Dan Peddicord. Missing from photo: Angela Franco, Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce
Pictured (L-R): Asian-American Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Cindy Shao, Poolesville Area Chamber of Commerce Board Member David Meyers, Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President & Chairman Marco V. Avila, P.E., Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Paula Ross, Poolesville Town Commissioner Jim Brown, Small Business and Community Development Director for Comptroller Brooke Lierman Jinal Contractor, County Councilmember Andrew Friedson, County Councilmember Marilyn Balcombe, County Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles, Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Allie Williams, Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Stephanie Helsing, Greater Rockville Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Marji Graf, Maryland Black Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Ken White.
- Professional photos of the event are forthcoming. Professional photography was provided by GGCC/PACC member Hilary Schwab Photography.
- Epic Events mobile photobooth pics are here: Photos
- The host venue, The Crossvines in Poolesville, is also a GGCC/PACC member.
- DJ, photobooth, and audio services were provided by GRCC member Epic Events.
- Sponsoring businesses included: The Crossvines (GGCC/PACC member), Tierra Events, Epic Events (GRCC member), Cruise Planners (GGCC member), Schooley Mitchell (GGCC member), RobotLAB, Hispanic Chamber of commerce Montgomery County, Women’s Business Owners of Montgomery County (PCC member), The Committee to Control Montgomery County Spending, Carpet & Vacuum Expo (PCC member), Junkluggers of Capital Beltway (GSSCC member), Poolesville Area Chamber of Commerce, BNI of Central MD (GRCC/GCCC member), Interstate Moving and Storage (MHCC member), Maryland Transit Solutions – Purple Line Project.
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) text:
Whereas, Our Chambers of Commerce provide vital support and resources to sustain and boost the economic prosperity of Montgomery County; and
Whereas, Our Chambers of Commerce collectively represent the interests of thousands of employers, tens of thousands of employees, in all sizes of businesses and industry categories; and
Whereas, Our Chambers of Commerce are mutually concerned to support our members and the larger Montgomery County business community through connection opportunities, legislative advocacy, and professional development; and
Whereas, Our Chambers of Commerce may serve different geographic regions in Montgomery County or various affinity groups, but value our collaboration and friendship; and
Whereas, Our Chambers of Commerce are joining efforts to produce the 2nd Annual Mega Chamber Mixer in Montgomery County.
Now, therefore be it resolved, that on this special occasion, the leadership of the Asian-American Chamber of Commerce, Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce, Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce, Greater Rockville Chamber of Commerce, Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Montgomery County, Maryland Black Chamber of Commerce, Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, Olney Chamber of Commerce, Poolesville Area Chamber of Commerce, and Potomac Chamber of Commerce, do hereby affirm our mutual respect and cooperation in support of the Montgomery County business community and its interests, and welcome fellow Montgomery County Chambers of Commerce to join us in this affirmation.
Signed, this 5th Day of June, in the year 2025, by the leadership of these great Chamber of Commerce organizations:
Asian-American Chamber of Commerce: Cindy Shao, President & CEO
Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce: Paula Ross, President & CEO
Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce: Allie Williams, President & CEO
Greater Rockville Chamber of Commerce: Marji Graf, President & CEO
Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce: Stephanie Helsing, President & CEO
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Montgomery County: Mauricio Vasquez, Executive Director
Maryland Black Chamber of Commerce: Ken White, President & CEO
Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: Marco V. Avila, P.E., President & CEO
Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, Angela Franco, President & CEO
Olney Chamber of commerce, Dan Peddicord, Board Member
Poolesville Area Chamber of Commerce: Tom Kettler, President
Potomac Chamber of Commerce: Steven Ornstein, Vice President
