GGCC Young Professionals Group Celebrates Four Years (PHOTO)

Brooke Bruch, Anne-Marie Samet, Brittany Wrinn PHOTO | Laura Rowles

Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce (GGCC) members and guests gathered at Smokey Glen Farm Barbequers, Inc. in Gaithersburg to celebrate the four-year anniversary of the Chamber’s Young Professional Group (YPG).

The Chamber’s YPG is packed with lots of enthusiasm and high aspirations. The mission of the group is to make the Gaithersburg-Germantown communities and surrounding areas a great place to live and work by harnessing the strength of our communities to make positive change.

“The YPG is a valuable asset for our Chamber. We strongly believe in supporting the next generation of business leaders,” said Marilyn Balcombe, GGCC Executive Director.

The chambers program is a networking group of professionals ranging in age from 21 to 40. Through the chamber, young professionals can engage with other like-minded business professionals to further their career, strengthen their professional image or just meet new friends.

Over the past year, the group has been focused on skill-building, information sharing, networking and growth. The last year was full of a variety of events, including several happy hours to strengthen their connections. They held these events at various locations including: Largent’s Restaurant & Bar, Senor Tequila’s, Harvest Plates & Pints, Boulevard Tavern & Not Your Average Joe’s.  Last year they volunteered at the Chamber’s wine tasting to garner visibility for the group. They held a Regional Young Professional Group football happy hour at Miller’s Alehouse with the Silver Spring, Rockville, and Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chambers & Leadership Montgomery’s Emerging Leaders. They named their 3rd Annual Young Professional of the Year, PJ Horan of Mass Mutual Greater Washington, in December and raised cash and food donations for Nourish Now over the holidays.

The YPG Title Sponsor is Mid-Atlantic Federal Credit Union (MAFCU). This event was sponsored by MAFCU & MassMutual Greater Washington.

Learn more about the group at: www.ggchamber.org/get-involved/young-professionals/.

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.

The GGCC is located at 910 Clopper Road, Suite 205N, Gaithersburg, MD. To learn more about the GGCC visit us at www.ggchamber.org. Find us on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gaithersburg-Germantown-Chamber-of-Commerce/64339954570.

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.

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