Christine Walters, MAS, JD, SPHR of FiveL Company
It is my honor and privilege to serve as your 2012 Chair of the Board. As my term began I pondered how I would leave my mark; what can I add to the Chamber’s legacy? Two themes continued to surface.
1. Let business drive what we do so we can drive business to you. Carroll County’s 4,750 businesses employ 46,200 workers; more than 98% of those businesses have less than 100 employees. As of February 2012, our county had the 8th lowest unemployment rate of all 23 counties plus Baltimore City as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Small business is the engine that drives this county’s economy and the Carroll County Chamber is the engine that supports those businesses, small and large, towards continued growth and success. To demonstrate that commitment the Chamber is a proud partner of the newly formed Carroll Business Path, a joint venture of the Maryland Small Business Development Council, Carroll County Chamber, Carroll County Government and Department of Economic Development and Carroll Community College. To foster and support the Chamber’s efforts, the Board has already turned our attention introspectively, to assess our own business operations. We are in the throes of reviewing and updating our bylaws, insurance coverage, volunteer position descriptions, on-boarding processes and more, to ensure the continued efficiency of the Chamber’s business operations. This will facilitate Chamber staff and volunteers’ time to drive the Chamber’s business operations to best serve the needs and interests of you, our members.
2. Think globally; serve locally. It’s not just six ways to Kevin Bacon any more! Our global economy impacts our local economy with increasing speed as technology brings us all closer together. Everywhere I go, from coast to coast, another opportunity will present itself. An opportunity to ask a business colleague what he needs to enhance his business operations. Regardless of the location, we remind ourselves to consider local vendors and suppliers who can meet others’ business needs from right here in Carroll County.
So I will leave you with this thought. You are a Chamber ambassador! Each Chamber member is our very best marketing representative. As such, we have ordered business cards for you! Stop by the Chamber office and ask for your Chamber business cards; then pay it forward. Give a card to a colleague who has not yet enjoyed the benefits of Chamber membership. Then we’ll send you both a note of thanks! Until then, thank you for all you do as we work together to make Carroll County the best place to live, work and play.
