Press Release

For Immediate Release:
Contact: Marji Graf, President & CEO

The Greater Rockville Chamber of Commerce has approved their slate beginning January 2023.

Officers: January 2023 – December 2023
Laura Nash, Chairperson – West Financial Services
Dan Helhowski, Vice Chairperson– Beltway Merchant Services
Joey Chambers, Treasurer – Capital Bank
Eric Jodts, Secretary – Westat
Babita Singh, Immediate Past Chairperson – Wesbanco

Returning Directors through December 2023
Leslie Keenan – Intelligent Office
Lane Hornfeck – Shulman Rogers
Pam Clark – Clark Concepts
Linda Moran – City of Rockville (Ex Officio)
Cindy Rivarde – REDI (Ex Officio)
Alberto Zegada – PEPCO
Beth Perell – Beth Perell Communications Consulting, LLC
Jorge Gutierrez – SERVPRO of Rockville/Olney
Kerri Donnelly – Marquis, Collingwood
Patrick McCloskey – John Marshall Bank
Dr. Liz Julich – Launch Physical Therapy & Fitness
Madalena Moreau – Federal Realty Investment Trust

New Directors through December 2024
Marcy Santos – Bahar Consulting
Stephane Grabina – BMW Excluservice

Returning Directors through December 2024
Cliff Veirs – C. Clifton Veirs Agency
Brian Barkley – Barkley & Kennedy, Chartered
Becky Brigss – Out Gift Biz
Alton Henley – Montgomery College

ROCKVILLE, MD — The Greater Rockville Chamber of Commerce (GRCC) annually
recognizes its Rock Stars of the Year in the following categories: Small Business of the
Year, Large Business of the Year, Non-Profit of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, and the
Young Professional of the Year. Following are this year’s winners in each category.

Award winners will be honored at a black-tie, red carpet, sit-down dinner at the Manor Country Club in Rockville on November 3, 2022. Please join us to celebrate our 2022 Rockstars by clicking here to purchase your tickets.

Small Business of the Year Award recognizes a company that has been in business for at
least five years with revenue under $5M. Specific criteria include: flexibility, innovation and has a proven unique business and marketing strategy that has benefited the Rockville
community. The 2022 Small Business of the Year goes to SHS Payroll.

Large Business of the Year recognizes a company committed to the vitality and community in
Rockville, which has over 50 employees or over $5M in revenue. Specific criteria include:  a
commitment to their employees, their customers and has invested time, energy, and resources in the Rockville community. The 2022 Large Business of the Year goes to Universal
Communities.

The Non-Profit of the Year recognizes outstanding practices among Rockville’s diverse non-profit organizations. Specific criteria include success in creating a lasting and beneficial impact for Rockville residents and sets a strong example for other non-profits in the community. The 2022 Non-Profit of the Year goes to Manna Food Center.

Entrepreneur of the Year recognizes a business owner, taking on financial risk and identifies a
need that no existing businesses address, and determines a solution for that need. Additionally, although the term “entrepreneur” is often associated with startups and small businesses, any founder of a successful household-named business began as an entrepreneur. Specific criteria include year-over-year growth, innovation, resilience, flexibility, and a unique business and marketing strategy, and a proven track record of commitment to the Rockville community and businesses. The 2022 Entrepreneur of the Year Award goes to Betty Sullivan of Architessa.

Young Professional of the Year recognized an individual who is active in the Young Professional’s group of our Chamber and steps up to a leadership role within their organization. Specific criteria include tenacity and an exemplary commitment to the Rockville
community and businesses. The 2022 Young Professional of the Year is Ethan Litvin of
SEEC.

Rockville Chamber president and CEO, Marji Graf, notes, “I extend my congratulations to this year’s award winners. They truly are ‘rock stars.’

Award winners will be honored at a black-tie, red carpet, sit-down dinner at the Manor Country Club in Rockville on November 3, 2022. Please join us to celebrate our 2022 Rockstars by clicking here to purchase your tickets.

We thank our sponsors:
Our title sponsor: Westat

ABOUT THE GREATER ROCKVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The GRCC serves as the voice of the thousands of businesses that proudly call Rockville, MD
their home. It strives to create and support a thriving Rockville through educational programs,
networking opportunities, and services; civic and business involvement in cultural and social
programs and services; and advocacy for the interdependence of business and civic goals to
expand economic vitality in Rockville.

For more information, visit https://www.rockvillechamber.org. Follow us on Twitter:
@ChamberRock, and find us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

For more information, press only:
MARJI GRAF
Greater Rockville Chamber of Commerce
+1 301-424-9300
marji@rockvillechamber.org

WSM Plans to Award Another $1 Million to Montgomery County’sSmall Businesses Community Over the Next Year Until Funds Are Exhausted

WorkSource Montgomery, Inc. (WSM) and the Montgomery County Workforce Development Board have recently awarded over $1.3 Million in Covid-19 relief funds under the Workforce Recovery Network (WRN) program to fifteen (15) local community workforce providers. This funding is part of the American Rescue Plan Act, State, and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds program, and its intent is to support organizations who provide employment & training services to Montgomery County residents that have been negatively impacted by the pandemic. WSM intends to award at least $1 million dollars a year over the next two (2) years in WRN funds until all funds are exhausted. “During the height of the pandemic, our Legislators worked extremely hard to pass the Affordable Care Act in order to quickly get financial relief to both people and businesses impacted by the pandemic. It was equally important for us to create a means or a “program” that would allow us to carry out the intent of the law with the same level of concern and urgency. Fortunately, this resulted in WorkSource Montgomery’s ability to expand its reach in terms of providing career counseling, job training, and employment services to populations that were previously underserved. As a result of the funding provided through the Workforce Recovery Network, WSM has been able to positively impact Montgomery County’s Vietnamese, East African, senior citizen, and youth with learning disabilities populations—just to name a few.” – Naté Gordon, Deputy Director, Administrative Services, WorkSource Montgomery Here’s what a couple of our awardees had to say about WRN 1.0: “Thanks to WRN, Identity has expanded workforce programs for unemployed and underemployed parents of our youth who were seriously impacted by the pandemic. We are now reaching more Montgomery County residents with industry-valued training and certifications, paid work experiences, and job coaching and placement services. Our participants are excited to be preparing for careers in healthcare, childcare, food service, and the trades.” – Monica Aigner, Workforce Development Manager, Identity Inc. “The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are still being felt by our hardest-hit Montgomery County neighbors. The recovery from lost lives, lost incomes, and lost housing is uneven and slow. With our Workforce Recovery Network grant from WSM, CareerCatchers will be able to help an additional 50 Montgomery County struggling residents rebuild their lives. Through our community partners and business networks, CareerCatchers will serve those most severely impacted and help them find careers, training, and other needed resources to put them on a path out of poverty. The impact of more neighbors finding meaningful careers benefits all of us and creates a more vibrant Montgomery County.” – Mariana A. McNeill, Executive Director, CareerCatchers Programs should be focused on strategic workforce initiatives that assist Montgomery County residents who have experienced hardship due to the pandemic. In addition to serving individuals negatively impacted by the pandemic, the programs may also serve individuals who are: low-income, have criminal backgrounds, have disabilities, are homeless, Veterans, English language learners, youth, public assistance recipients, or have barriers to employment. Programs and services targeting individuals in Montgomery County’s high poverty rate census tracks as well as the communities near the pending Purple Metro Line are encouraged. WSM just completed its second application process but expects to re-open it again in mid-2023 for a limited time. Funding requests could include expansion of traditional services such as recruitment, assessment, case management, training, subsidized employment placements, internships, and supportive services. However, WSM’s funding for this initiative is designed to be flexible and encourage new ways of offering programs and serving individuals in the county. Funds cannot be used for capital improvement or to purchase real estate or large equipment. Programming should fill in gaps brought to light by the pandemic, address issues magnified as a result of the pandemic, and/or expand innovative ideas piloted during the pandemic. For additional information or questions about WRN 2.0, please contact Naté Gordon at ngordon@worksourcemontgomery.com.

WorkSource Montgomery, Inc. | 240.641.6730info@worksourcemontgomery.com | www.worksourcemontgomery.com