Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber Hosts BIG Data! Seminar

(l:r) Barbara Crews, Asst Executive Director, Comm Relations, Johns Hopkins University; Alton Henley, Sr. Program Director, Montgomery College, Workforce Development & Continuing Education; Marilyn Balcombe, Executive Director, Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber; Eric Myers, Business Development Officer, M&T Bank; Ellen Coren, President & CEO, Chesapeake Public Strategies; Paul Chon, Owner, Aver Analytics; and Kris Hawley, Sr. Digital Marketer/ Office Mgr., 270net Technologies at the Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber BIG Data! for Business Seminar held at Johns Hopkins University Montgomery County Campus on April 4, 2017.
(photo credit: Laura Rowles, GGCC Director of Events & Marketing)

The Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce (GGCC) held its BIG Data for Business! Seminar sponsored by Johns Hopkins University Montgomery County Campus & M&T Bank on Tuesday, April 4.

Business owners, entrepreneurs, college students and others gathered to learn how to use data. This seminar was designed to assist companies plan and implement big data initiatives.

Attendees learned that big data is “truly big” and changing the business world. We had the opportunity to explore and learn what big data is, how to gather it, the impact it can have on your product and/or service, in your marketing or target marketing efforts and more. The amount of data out there is incredible, and it just keeps growing. It’s what organizations do with the data that matters. Big data can be analyzed for insights that lead to better decisions and strategic conception.

Our keynote speaker was data specialist Alton Henley, Sr. Program Director at Montgomery College, Workforce Development & Continuing Education. Our data panelists included: Paul Chon, Aver Analytics; Kris Hawley, 270net Technologies; and Ellen Coren, Chesapeake Public Strategies.

It was suggested that all companies need to analyze their data and its potential to create value if they want to compete. Knowledge of data then informs the creation of new service offerings and the design of future products.

“Numbers don’t lie,” said Chon. And he suggested that we should make better use of the information that flows through our organizations every day.

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. Or on Twitter at: @GGCCNEWS.

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