GGCC’s Balcombe Named Chamber Exec of the Year

The Maryland Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (MACCE) named Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce (GGCC) President Marilyn Balcombe its 2014 Chamber Executive of the Year during a luncheon at Ripken Stadium.

Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber President Marilyn Balcombe receives the 2014 “Chamber Executive of the Year” award from Bill Scarafia,, President of the St. Mary’s County Chamber of Commerce and this year’s President of MACCE, at the Maryland Chamber of Commerce Business Breakthrough Awards Luncheon at Ripken Stadium.
(Photo credit – Laura Rowles, GGCC Director of Events & Marketing)

Balcombe has been with the GGCC for almost 9 years and with her leadership, the GGCC has grown in number of members, revenue, and stature within the business community. She sits on many Boards in the community which enhances her reputation as a leader and also highlights the great work of the Chamber.

Balcombe has a great working relationship with the Board of Directors, her staff, our members, and our elected officials. She has created a robust calendar of events for our members. She has established a comprehensive recruitment plan. She directly implements our legislative agenda each year. She also manages the office, supervises the staff, and ensures the financial stability of the organization.

GGCC Board Chair, David Edgerley stated: “Simply put, Marilyn has made our Chamber relevant and positioned it as a significant force advocating for the needs of our member businesses. Marilyn is a respected leader in our community and a functional expert on many land use and public policy issues. She has leveraged this stature to influence others and further our Chamber’s agenda.”

The GGCC is active in providing business-to-business networking opportunities throughout the year: a collective voice in local, regional, and state legislative affairs, professional development opportunities and other services that enhance the business environment.

About Laura Rowles

Laura authors the blog Your Success is Our Business on MyMCMedia. Laura is the Director of Events & Marketing for the Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce - a member-based organization of businesses that have joined together for the purpose of promoting the civic, commercial and industrial progress in our communities. The area's economic well-being is a result of the caliber of work that is done by the Chamber. The Chamber has a major impact on business, income and future growth of the area. My position at the Chamber - Director of Events & Marketing - affords me the opportunity to plan quality events for our Members and market the Chamber is a variety of avenues. At the GGCC, we typically have around 30 events each year including: breakfasts, lunches, after-five's, ribbon cuttings and special events. The consensus is we have high quality events with good energy. In 2012, we had over 2,040 people visit our events. Most our events are free to Members so securing sponsorships for all events. Additionally, I am responsible for planning networking, overseeing the budget and marketing of all events in order to make them successful. Lastly, I coordinate all marketing and communication efforts of the GGCC including weekly email blasts, its quarterly newsletter, all social media platforms, media relations and community outreach.

View all posts by Laura Rowles