Here`s - Catonsville Chamber

A Newsletter from the
February
2015
INSIDE
VIEW
The Chamber
This Issue
President’s Message
Call for Outstanding Teacher
Awards Nominations
2
Business Award Surprises:
Present’s Award and
Business Person of the Year
4
Business Awards Photos
6
Welcome New Members
8
2015 Lunch & Learn
Seminar Schedule
9
2015 Calendar
At this year’s Catonsville Business Awards, local business owners
received special awards in seven different categories. Most of the
award winners learned in advance of their honors, but two very
special awards were not announced until the ceremony at Overhills
Mansion. Karen Gatzke, (inset), executive director of We Love
Catonsville received the President’s Award and Jim Bower, owner of
the McDonald’s restaurant, was named Business Person of the Year.
See page 3 for descriptions of these award winners and pages
6 & 7 for pictures of all the evening’s honorees.
11
Photo by Balance Photography
NETWORKING WITH A TWIST
B.O.B. Event
Business, Oysters
and Beer
Feb. 19, 2015
N
othing says February like beer and
oysters. (Hey, it is a month with an “R”
in it.) Take a break from winter and
join the Chamber for our first B.O.B. Event –
business, oysters and beer. This new event
is sponsored by Caton Auto Clinic; Erie
Insurance-The Upper Chesapeake Insurance,
Kathleen Carr; and Signs By Tomorrow.
Network with other area businesses while
enjoying a delectable variety of appetizers,
desserts and specialty beers. But of course, the
evening’s high light is local oysters on the halfshell accompanied by homemade sauces.
So come on out, enjoy the B.O.B., make new
contacts and reinforce old ones. It all happens
on February 19, 5:30 to 7:30pm at Overhills
Mansion, 916 S. Rolling Road. The cost is $25
pre-paid and $35 at the door and for nonmembers. Register online at catonsville.org or
call the Chamber office at 410-719-9609.
VIEW
The Chamber
Editor,
Design & Layout
Teal Cary
GCCC Executive Director
410-719-9609
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Chamber of
Commerce is to have a strong voice
with the county government,
business and local community;
to affect positive change in our area;
to foster growth and expansion of
our members’ business; and to
achieve the betterment of the
Catonsville community.
Chamber Web Site:
www.catonsville.org
ADVERTISING & PROMOTION
OPPORTUNITIES
One-Page Insert $75
Get special attention for an
event, sale, etc. An 8 1/2 “ x 11”
insert (pdf file) in The View
provided by your business.
Event Sponsorship
Your company can be
highlighted at one of our
monthly events.
(Costs vary)
Business After Business Host
Invite the Chamber to your
location for onsite promotion.
(Costs vary)
Website
Banner Advertising
Sidebar Advertising
Check the Homepage of the
Chamber’s website for additional
opportunities to promote your
business
Call the Chamber Office
410.719.9609
for more information.
The Chamber Working for You
President’s Message
Cathy Schneider
2015 President
I
am proud to
announce our first
program of the year
was a success! Thanks
to our Business Development Committee and
Bob Stansbury and his
staff at Overhills Mansion for a helping make our Business
Awards and Kick off Meeting a huge success.
We changed up the format to make it easier
for members to network, eat and drink
while celebrating our award winners. With
our attendance up and an overwhelming
positive response, we will plan the same for
next year! The Nomination Committee had
a tough task in picking our winners because
of the many great nominees. Congratulations to our 2014 Business Awards Winners:
Service/Retailer awarded to Caton Auto; Entrepreneurial Spirit awarded to Erin Travis
of Tails and Trails; Community Enthusiast
awarded to Coldwell Banker; Revitalization
awarded to Paradise Community Association; Legacy awarded to The Children’s
Home; Presidents Award awarded to Karen
Gatzke; Businessperson of the Year awarded
to Jim Bower of McDonalds. Each one of
these individuals and companies had gone
“over and beyond” to service, build, and
help our community grow. Thank you to
our winners for your hard work and commitment to our community. Our winners
will also have the opportunity to compete
for the county awards this spring.
On January 23rd, our Board of Directors
had our annual retreat at Overhills Mansion
to review our Mission and Goals of the 2015
Catonsville Chamber of Commerce. We discussed the pros and cons of 2014. A list was
compiled from our in-depth discussions
and feedback from other Chamber members. We will be incorporating these items
into our programs.
We have been busy adding new programs.
Our new Business Promotion Committee
continues with the on-going Shop the ‘Ville
campaign. The new Business Development
Committee has scheduled three Lunch and
Learn sessions that you do not want to miss!!
And, the new Business Networking Committee introduces The B.O.B Event (Business,
Oysters and Beer) on February 19th. Details
are included in this newsletter. You can find
these events as well as all of our wonderful
events on the 2015 Chamber Events Calendar. Please go to www.catonsville.org and
download the calendar and post it close to
your desk.
We encourage you to get involved and
continue to build those relationships. In
turn, it will build your business and build
our community!
TIME TO NOMINATE AN
OUTSTANDING TEACHER
T
he Greater Catonsville Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for their
fourth annual "Outstanding Teacher Awards" banquet to be held at the John Erickson
Conference Center at Charlestown, Thursday, April 30, 2015 at 5:30 p.m. Students,
parents, fellow teachers, and community members and businesses are encouraged to nominate teachers, individuals and organizations they believe have made an outstanding impact
on education.
An online Nomination Form can be found at www.catonsville.org and a printable
nomination form can be found there, as well. Nomination forms can also be obtained from
participating Baltimore County public and private schools, and at the Greater Catonsville
Chamber Office (924 Frederick Road).
Completed nomination forms for the TEACHER CATEGORY and INDIVIDUAL/
ORGANIZATION CATEGORY should be sent directly to the Chamber office to the attention of
the Outstanding Teacher Awards Committee or emailed to [email protected].
The deadline for the submission of all nominations is February 20, 2015. Nominations
received after this date will not be considered. Hand delivered or emailed nominations must
be received by 5:00 p.m. Mailed nominations must be postmarked by the due date.
2 Greater Catonsville Chamber Newsletter • www.catonsville.org
The B.O.B. Event
“Business, Oysters & Beer”
February 19, 2015
(Inclement weather date: Feb. 26)
5:30 to 7:30 pm
Overhills Mansion, 916 S. Rolling Road
Sponsored by: Caton Auto Clinic,
Signs By Tomorrow, Erie Insurance-Kathleen Carr
Nothing says February like beer and oysters.
(Hey, it is a month with an “R” in it.)
Take a break from winter and join the Chamber for our first
B.O.B. event – business, oysters and beer!
Network with other area businesses
while enjoying a delectable variety of appetizers, beer and oysters.
Cost: $25 for registered & pre-paid members
$35 at door and for non-members
Register online at www.catonsville.org
or call 410-719-9609
Greater Catonsville Chamber Newsletter • www.catonsville.org 3
KAREN GATZKE AND JIM BOWER
T
he Catonsville Business Awards was
held on Thursday, January 15 at
Overhills Mansion at 5:30 pm. We
would like to thank Diamond Sponsors:
We Love Catonsville and Whalen Properties; Platinum Sponsor: CCBC Catonsville;
Gold Sponsors: Edible Arrangements and
Wolfe & Fiedler, P.A.; and Silver Sponsors:
Senator Ed Kasemeyer and Coldwell
Banker Catonsville.
Each year the Chamber celebrates
small businesses and the contributions
they make to our community and the
local economy. With the theme “The Best
of 2014 ,” the chamber was pleased to
honor those chamber member businesses who through their own inventiveness, creativity and innovation have
helped create a positive future for all of
Catonsville.
There were still a number of surprises
left for the evening when the Chamber
announced the recipients of the President’s Award, and the Business Person
of the Year.
And those winners are!!!!!!
PRESIDENT’S AWARD
Karen Gatzke,
WE LOVE CATONSVILLE
By Sally Griffin,
2014 Chamber President
“This has to be one of my favorite parts
about being president of the Chamber of
Commerce! Having my own award to
present, the President’s Award, and being
able to recognize, honor and embarrass
someone ALL at the same time is one of
my favorite sports! Choosing is difficult,
no doubt about it, Catonsville does not
lack for incredible, giving people.
First of all, let me clarify that everyone
who helps support the Chamber of Commerce throughout the year should win an
award because I know how full our lives
are and the many responsibilities we all
have, yet to give up one’s time (when
there’s not a whole lot of it left after all our
daily and weekly commitments are completed) is a selfless thing to do, especially
when it is for the betterment of our community and NOT for one’s own self-enrichment. Our Chamber of Commerce
has so many members who are selfless.
The person I chose for this year Presidents’ Award stands above the rest, for so
Karen Gatzke receives standing room applause as her name is announced for the “Best of 2014”
President’s Award.
many reasons. I’ll try not to go overboard
with my tribute.
While this person has fun performing
under the radar, definitely not wanting
any recognition, it’s hard to let this person’s value to the community go unobserved!
She (first clue) started a movement in
the community when it was so badly
needed with the most simplistic of ideas.
…Let’s let everyone know that We Love
Catonsville and we’ll start by wearing wrist
bands (second clue).
In fact, as a new real estate agent, she
thought that might be a great message to
send out to the throngs of people who
were sitting in chairs getting ready to
watch the 4th of July parade (captive audience) so she ordered a bunch and handed
them out. Forget giving out business
cards with her picture and phone number- something that I had originally suggested, and in hindsight sounds
boring--that just isn’t her style.
That amazing concept grew into something so HUGE, the likes of which this
town has never seen! Think about it,,, you
can now find people all over the United
States with the We Love Catonsville sticker
displayed on their car! In fact, I have relatives that insisted on having one for their
car and they live in Georgia! It wasn’t cre-
4 Greater Catonsville Chamber Newsletter • www.catonsville.org
ated to sell anything, just to start a movement and bring awareness of how cool
our town was and let everyone know it!
Want to know what fun is? Come and
help her give them out at the 4th of July
parade and you’ll understand what a mob
really is, especially when they rush you
screaming “over here, give me one!” They
don’t send their kids out to grab these, oh,
no, they scramble up out of their chairs
themselves! This is serious business.
So she has this great campaign going
on, but does she stop there? Oh no, she
starts a Facebook page that sets the standard in this town for any and all Facebook
pages, not only for the content and current news but for the number of friends,
(or is it likes? She knows I have a problem
with that terminology) far outnumbering
any other page.
She thinks of ideas and can imagine
their impact on the community more
often than we think food and what to eat
during the day. (I don’t know about you,
but that’s a LOT for me!) It’s a spigot that
just keeps flowing.
I certainly don’t know all of those ideas,
nor do I have time to mention them all,
but introducing Main St Maryland to the
Catonsville community at a town meeting
and then thinking outside the box when
she approached me saying “we can do a
RECEIVE CHAMBER HONORS FOR 2014
lot of these improvements on our own
without the expense and hassle of becoming a Main St Maryland town,” I knew I
had a kindred spirit and needed her to
join the Chamber Board.
Now that was a challenge of itself. “Really… What would I have to do… How
many meetings would I have to attend?...
Are you sure?... I don’t know … Really?”
Yes, really! The Chamber Board needs
someone like you to supercharge their
thinking!!!
So… fast-forward several years and
look at the creation of the Shop the ‘Ville
campaign that she helped to spearhead
with Kristen Leister and their Business
Promotion Committee. Amazing! Watch
how this campaign promotes and benefits
the businesses in Catonsville.
During my four years as president of
the Chamber, whenever I needed to get
grounded and wrap my head around
some issues, I’d seek out Karen. After
laying out the problem, she’d always ask,
“Is it for the good of Catonsville? Because
that is what it is all about, making the
town better, cooler, a great place to chat &
chill.”
The person I picked to honor this year
with the President’s Award likes to work
behind the scenes and not receive recognition, she is humble, kind, creative and a
gift to not only her family and friends,
but also to Catonsville.
Our town is truly enriched to have her
so involved in our livelihood. I know I
have been. This year, my President’s
Award goes to Karen Gatzke, thanks for all
you do.”
BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR
AWARD
Jim Bower,
MCDONALD’S RESTAURANT
“He’s just an all-around hero.” That’s
what the Hillcrest PTA said about our
Business Person of the Year when they
nominated him for a volunteer award in
2011. Since then he’s done even more,
and for much more of the population
than just Hillcrest Elementary School.
His restaurant on Frederick Road provides a welcome gathering place for all
members of the community and he recently undertook extensive renovations
to provide more thoughtfully organized
space for people to socialize or work
alone. The renovations also improved the
look of our main street and helped alleviate traffic congestion. And he has created
an atmosphere of understated elegance
in both service and décor. By putting
forth the time and effort to train his
young staff, he demonstrates to both
them and his clientele that outstanding
customer service is not found only in
five-star restaurants.
Jim Bower, owner of the McDonald’s
restaurants on Frederick Road in
Catonsville and Wilkens Avenue in Baltimore, has made substantial investments
in our community. It’s more than the
money invested to create a fresh façade at
the entrance to the main street commercial district. It’s an investment of self. Two
years ago, we honored Jim with the Community Enthusiast Award for his efforts
supporting all aspects of the community.
His sponsorship fuels the Chamber’s Outstanding Teacher Awards (donating ipads
for our award winners) and many other
Chamber events, Catonsville Rails to
Trails, the Rotary Club, St. Agnes Hospital,
Lighthouse Youth & Family Services and
schools – if we listed all the ways he’s supported the schools of our community
we’d have to rent this room for another
night. To go back to the words of the Hillcrest PTA when describing what makes
him such a great volunteer – “He has always said yes. No matter what.”
For reaching out to serve so many facets
of our community, for always saying
“yes,” the Greater Catonsville Chamber
of Commerce is proud to present the
Business Person of the Year Award to
Jim Bower of McDonald’s.
I M P O R TA N T
Chamber Membership Up-Grades
MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS
NOW DUE FOR 2015
M
“MORE membership benefits, MORE opportunities to promote your business”
Add advertising on the Chamber’s website and in the Chamber’s Directory to
your membership package! These packages INCLUDE your dues.
These membership packages only available from October 1, 2014 until March 1, 2015
Please Check One:
❏
Chamber Advocate Membership
$2,500.00
Membership Benefits:
embership renewals were mailed on December 1. We encourage our
members to renew early so they don’t miss any of their membership
benefits beginning in 2015.
The Chamber is also continuing the up-graded membership levels that we
launched in 2011. Many members have already taken advantage of these new
membership levels. Now you can package your membership dues with the
advertising opportunities available through the Chamber which include
advertising in the Chamber’s directory and on the Chamber’s
website.
Please renew your membership today so you don’t miss out on all the
Chamber has to offer.
1. Ten Representatives
listed
2. Business Logo on
Chamber website home
page
3. Full Page Color Ad in
directory
5. One representative
pre-paid to ALL
Chamber events. All
other representatives pay
member rate.
6. Prominent recognition in
Chamber’s directory,
website, stationery, and
on a placard in chamber
office
4. Two pdf inserts in the
Chamber View newsletter 7. Member-to-member
discounts
Chamber Advocate receives this additional benefit:
■ FREE light post banner (either Holiday or July 4th)
❏
Sponsorship Plus Membership $775.00
Membership Benefits:
1.Five Representatives
listed
2.Business Logo on
Chamber website
rotating bar/Chamber
events calendar page
3.1/2 Page Color Ad in
directory
4.One pdf insert in the
Chamber View
5.All representatives pay
member rate to ALL
Chamber events.
6.Prominent recognition in
Chamber’s directory and
website
❏
Premium Plus Membership
$1,100.00
Membership Benefits:
1. Ten Representatives
listed
2. Business Logo on
Chamber website
rotating bar/community
calendar page
3. Full Page Color Ad in
directory
5. One representative
pre-paid to ALL
Chamber events except
the Crab Feast. All
other representatives pay
member rate.
6. Prominent recognition
in Chamber’s directory,
website, stationery, and
on a placard in chamber
office
4. One pdf insert in the
Chamber View newsletter 7. Member-to-member
discounts
❏
Member Plus
Membership Benefits:
1. One Representative
listed
2. Business Logo on
Chamber website
rotating bar/inside pages
$385.00
4. Member rate to ALL
events
5. Free listing in
Chamber’s directory and
website
6. Member-to-member
discounts
3. 1/4 Page Color Ad in
directory
7.Member-to-member
discounts
Greater Catonsville Chamber Newsletter • www.catonsville.org 5
The Chamber In Pictures
“The Best of 2014”
January 15, 2015
6 Greater Catonsville Chamber Newsletter • www.catonsville.org
OUR AWARD WINNERS
ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT AWARD
TRAILS AND TAILS PET CARE, Erin Travis
Presented by Sally Grace, center
COMMUNITY ENTHUSIAST AWARD
COLDWELL BANKER- CATONSVILLE
Presented by Omar Jennings IV, far right
SERVICE/RETAILER, CATON AUTO CLINIC, Steinbach family
Presented by Dennis Sullivan, far left
REVITALIZATION AWARD
PARADISE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION,
Jimmy Laughlin, President
Presented by Woody Powell, far left
LEGACY AWARD
THE CHILDREN’S HOME, CEO Andre Cooper
and Bruce VanDervort
Presented by Teal Cary
Photos by Balance Photography
Greater Catonsville Chamber Newsletter • www.catonsville.org 7
The Chamber
READY TO SELL OUT?
YOU SHOULD BE. Here’s why it matters... New Members
Dennis Sullivan, Executive Director
Center for Business Innovation, CCBC
Contributing View Columnist
Y
ou should always be in a position to sell your
company. Why? Who knows what the future will
bring. Heaven forbid, but you may be faced with
the prospect of not working any longer due to a medical
crisis. Or, you or your spouse may decide one day, “I don’t
want to do this anymore.”
The last thing you want is to feel like you don’t have any options because
you have a business to run. That’s not a business – that’s a curse!
Here’s my advice. Whether you’re just starting a business or you’ve been
running a business for 70 years, build it or re-build it to sell. A “Build to Sell”
philosophy should be part of your management strategy in the decisions
you make.
I’ve worked with many business owners who are shocked to learn that
their business isn’t worth much more than the desks, filing cabinets and
equipment in their offices. One business owner I know (not a client) just
sold everything he had for 20 cents on the dollar – and he was lucky to get
that! Another (again, not a client) just closed up shop last month and
walked away with nothing.
They didn’t build an asset – they created a monster liability. Without the
business owner, the business wouldn’t exist. No one else could the job better than the owner. Customers were very loyal – to the owner. Employees
were very loyal – to the owner. All the creative ideas and innovations to the
business came from one person – the owner. Without the owner, the business is worthless.
So whether you’re just beginning or need to rebuild here are 7 things you
can do to build an asset you can sell:
1. Hire people better than you – people who can run the business even if
you’re not there. If you can’t take time off because you’re worried about
what might happen, you own a liability.
2. Put systems in place so people make decisions without you. If people are
constantly asking you, “How do I…?” you own a liability.
3. Brand your business so prospects and customers think of your people –
not you. If your customers are telling others to only talk with you, you own a
liability.
Member Plus Level
Simply Referable Team of Keller Williams
Realty Centre
Jeremy Walsh
6250 Old Dobbin Lane, Suite 140
Columbia MD 21045
(443) 610-5722
FAX (410) 312-0077
[email protected]
www.simplyreferable.com
The Simply Referable Team specializes in marketing and
selling homes quickly. While providing regular “one on
one” client communication throughout the process, and
utilizing strong negotiating skills, their company’s goal is
to become the client’s real estate consultant for life. The
Simply Referable Team has a comprehensive knowledge of
the local market ensuring that the properties they are entrusted to sell are priced properly and targeted to the most
qualified buyers. Providing the best service possible for
their clients is why the Simply Referable Team is creating a
business that stands the test of time regardless of the ongoing changes in the market.
Sustainability Massage Therapy
Karol Dale Montz
6 Arthur Ave
Catonsville MD 21228
(443) 928-8785
[email protected]
www.SustainabilityMassageTherapy.com
Sustainability Massage Therapy is a Catonsville-based
massage practice. Sustainability Massage Therapy believes
in sustaining the environment along with helping clients
sustain their bodies. Using environmentally friendly products helps them fulfill this vision.
4. Run your business so someone else could run it. Every business is unique
but if it’s so unique that only you can manage it, you own a liability.
5. Build customer and prospect lists. I’ve seen business owners double the
multiples they have received from buyers because they had well maintained
lists that a new owner could use to market the business right away. If your
contact lists are incomplete or in a file folder, you have a liability.
6. Prove your marketing and advertising works. If you can’t pull out several
marketing or ad campaigns and show step-by-step how to duplicate it, you
have a liability.
7. Keep accurate financial records. If you can’t confidently explain your
financials and the trends behind the figures, you have a liability.
Here’s the irony. Several business owners I have worked with made these
changes and decided not to sell. They finally had a business that didn’t rely
on them. Others have cashed out and are enjoying retirement.
To learn more, be sure to register for our Build Your Business to Sell,
March 12, noon at Babas, 19 Mellor Ave., Catonsville. This session is part
of the Chamber’s 2015 Lunch & Learn Seminars.
About Dennis J. Sullivan: Dennis is a full-time faculty instructor at CCBC teaching business
management, marketing, and sales and is the Executive Director of the college’s Center for
Business Innovation. He is also owner of Breakthrough Pros, a full-service marketing and
consulting company specializing in lead generation, sales conversion and product launches.
Contact information: [email protected] or at [email protected]
8 Greater Catonsville Chamber Newsletter • www.catonsville.org
Member Level
Franco’s Italian Bistro
Greg Orendorff
803-805 Frederick Road
Catonsville MD 21228
(410) 788-0075
www.francosofcatonsville.com
Franco’s Italian Bistro opened its doors in October 2014
and specializes in classic Italian cuisine. Early favorites
include the homemade ravioli, homemade meatballs
(all three meats!), gnocchi, shrimp and crab crema di
pomodoro and their bookie salad. Their chicken arancini
and veal dishes have also been well received. Franco’s has
a brick oven for the pizza fans of Catonsville. They have
craft beers on tap and in cans, along with the traditional
lineup of domestics and imports. Franco’s has an emphasis
on wine offerings to complement their food, décor and
cozy atmosphere.
Sponsored by BREAKTHROUGH PROS
Presented by the Greater Catonsville Chamber of Commerce
2015 Lunch & Learn Seminars
Build to SELL; Build to GROW; Build to LAST
Join us for a series of working lunches, hosted by the Chamber’s Business Development
Committee, geared toward helping your business grow, create sustained success, or prepare
for an exit strategy. Each lunch will cover a specific topic and include a speaker
or panel of guests that are there to share their experiences and expertise.
March 12, 2015
Build Your Business to SELL
May 21, 2015
Build Your Business to GROW
October 22, 2015
Build Your Business to LAST
Babas, 19 Mellor Ave., 12 noon
Brightview Rolling Hills,
848 S. Rolling Road, 12 noon
Location: TBA
This seminar will discuss in detail
what preparations need to be made
when considering an exit strategy.
Whether you’re just launching a business, you’ve been in business for 70
years or somewhere in between, you’ll
discover the top 3 things to create
value so you can get the highest return
on your hard work. This is something
every business owner must know. As
you will find out, there is more to it
than just putting up a “Business For
Sale” sign.
This seminar will focus on what
branding, marketing, and advertising
strategies work to grow a business,
and then how to execute them. In a
constantly changing technology
environment, we will also look into
how social media can be used for
more than just creating an “online
presence.”
This seminar will be built for those
owners looking to sustain their business. Most owners know that this
starts with retaining the best employees. We will discuss best practices in
attracting and retaining employees. In
today’s business environment, clearly
successful companies will be those
that provide a flexible and challenging
work environment. This seminar will
show you how to make this a reality
for your business.
Cost: $25 members pre-registered, $35 at door and for non-members
Register for all three: $65 members pre-registered, $90 at door and for non-members
For more info. & to register visit catonsville.org or call 410-719-9609
Greater Catonsville Chamber Newsletter • www.catonsville.org 9
FINANCIAL PREPARATIONS FOR
SPOUSE CAN BRIGHTEN
EVERY VALENTINE’S DAY
Matthew Dunigan
Edward Jones Financial Advisor
Contributing View Columnist
V
alentine’s Day is almost here. And while it’s
certainly fun to give and receive chocolates
and roses, why not go a little deeper this
year? Specifically, if you are married, consider using
this commemoration of love as a starting point for
taking care of your spouse in the future — even if you’re not part of it.
Actually, both you and your spouse could designate Valentine’s Day
as the beginning of your joint efforts to provide financial security for
the surviving spouse when one of you is gone. Your strategy should
involve at least these three key elements:
• Understanding your household’s finances — In some marriages,
one spouse handles all the household financial matters, including
investments. If this person were to pass away first, it could leave the
surviving spouse with the dual responsibility of managing day-to-day
finances and tracking down all investment information. These tasks
could be overwhelming to someone who is unprepared to deal with
them, so you’ll want to take steps to ensure you and your spouse are
aware of your joint financial picture. For starters, keep good records
of all your financial assets, including investment accounts, life insurance policies and legal documents — and make sure both of you
know where these records are kept. Also, if you use the services of a
financial professional, it’s a good idea for you and your spouse to
meet regularly with this individual to ensure both of you know where
your money is being invested and how close you are to achieving
your financial goals.
• Creating a future income plan — You and your spouse should
discuss your sources of income and identify which ones are specifically tied to each spouse and may be affected by a death, such as
pensions and Social Security benefits. You’ll also want to talk about
options to boost future income upon the death of a spouse. Do you
have adequate life insurance? Have you considered investments that
can be structured to provide a lifetime income stream? Have you
thought about having the higher-earning spouse delay taking Social
Security to maximize the survivor benefit for the surviving spouse?
These are the types of questions you’ll want to answer as you think
about providing adequate income for the partner who outlives the
other.
• Leaving a legacy — If you and your spouse haven’t already done
so, take this opportunity to discuss your estate plans. For example,
you may want to talk about the need to consult with a legal advisor to
determine if you, as a couple, could benefit from setting up some
type of trust arrangement. You should also discuss how, when the
time comes, you want to handle any retirement assets, such as IRAs,
that were titled in the deceased spouse’s name. Do you both want the
assets to immediately roll over to the surviving spouse, or should you
name your children as beneficiaries? Estate considerations can be
complex and involve many different aspects of your financial
resources. So you and your spouse need to be “on the same page”
with your desires and goals.
Valentine’s Day will come and go quickly. But if you use the
occasion to start having the types of discussions described above, you
can create something that will last a lot longer than candy or flowers.
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local
Edward Jones Financial Advisor.
10 Greater Catonsville Chamber Newsletter • www.catonsville.org
The Chamber
Member News
Del Thebaud Sr. of Gutter Helmet® by Harry
Helmet™ Wins Baltimore SmartCEO’s
Family Business Award
D
el Thebaud Sr., owner and President of Gutter Helmet®
by Harry Helmet™, recently won the Family Business
award from Baltimore SmartCEO. Thebaud was selected
among 4 finalists in the Family Business category, all of whom
are individuals that have demonstrated excellence in their respective industries. Across all categories there were 29 finalists
who collectively generate more than $1 billion in annual
revenue and employ 6,129 individuals in Greater Baltimore.
Thebaud founded Gutter Helmet by Harry Helmet in 1981
with a staff of five and has since grown to a staff of more than
70 full-time employees, serving 100,000 residents in nine
states. Before Thebaud brings on family members, he insists
that they must meet two initial qualifications: First, they must
have a strong desire to work for Gutter Helmet, and second, it’s
essential that they have outside experience and expertise so
they can bring value to the business. Family member or not,
he teaches all of his employees how to handle the delicate balance between quality and service: “Our employees understand
that if one suffers, the entire system suffers,” Thebaud says. He
puts a premium value on customer service and is proud to display the company’s A rating from the Better Business Bureau.
Thebaud was selected as a winner from an independent
committee of local business leaders who selects 30 finalists on
average each year, from which 10 winners are chosen based on
the quality of nominations submitted in their respective category including: Construction, Family Business, Food/Beverage, Government Contracting, Healthcare, Marketing/PR,
Minority-owned, Nonprofit, Real Estate and Technology.
Finalists were profiled in the November/December issue of
SmartCEO magazine and celebrated at an awards reception in
November. “The Circle of Excellence finalists are shaping the
future of Baltimore’s business community, and ensuring the
sustainability, safety and efficiency of our community for
years to come,” says Jaime Nespor-Zawmon, President of
SmartCEO Events. “We proudly recognize their success and
contributions, and believe that their impacts will make a
difference for customers and clients across the nation.”
About SmartCEO
SmartCEO’s Circle of Excellence honors leaders who have successfully taken
their companies to the forefront of their industries. SmartCEO’s mission is to educate and inspire the business community through its award-winning magazine, connections at C-level events and access to valuable online resources.
About Gutter Helmet® by Harry Helmet™
Established in 1981 and headquartered in Millersville, MD, Gutter Helmet by
Harry Helmet is the largest manufacturer certified installer of the revolutionary
Gutter Helmet gutter protection system. Family-owned and operated, Gutter
Helmet by Harry Helmet also offers Helmet Heat®, seamless gutter installation,
replacement roofing, retractable awnings, and other related exterior home improvement products. Harry Helmet serves over 100,000 customers located in
Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio,
Western Washington, and the District of Columbia. Visit www.harryhelmet.com
for more information on our products.
2015 Chamber Events Calendar
FEBRUARY
Event:
“The BOB” Networking Event
Business, Oysters and Beer
Sponsors: Caton Auto Clinic,
Erie Insurance- Kathleen Carr,
Signs By Tomorrow
Date:
Thursday, February 19, 2015
(Inclement Weather Date: Feb. 26)
Time: 5:30 pm
Place: Overhills Mansion
Cost:
$25 pre-registered & pre-paid
$35 at door, $35 non-members
MARCH
Event:
Lunch & Learn SeminarBUILD Your Business TO SELL
Sponsor: Breakthrough Pros
Date:
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Time:
12 Noon
Place: Babas, 19 Mellor Ave.
Cost:
$25 pre-registered & pre-paid
$35 at door, $35 non-members
Event: Breakfast Networking Event
Joint event with the Baltimore County
Chamber & Baltimore Washington
Corridor Chamber
Date:
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Time: 7:30 am
Place: Overhills Mansion
916 S. Rolling Road
Cost:
$25 pre-registered & pre-paid
$35 at door, $45 non-members
MAY
Event:
Date:
Time:
Place:
Cost:
Southwest Area Mega Networking Event
Joint event with the other southwest area
Business Associations
Date:
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Time: 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Place: Arbutus Volunteer Fire Dept. Hall
5200 Southwestern Blvd.
Cost:
$25 pre-registered & pre-paid
$35 at door, $35 non-members
Date:
Time:
Place:
Cost:
Chamber Open House/
Networking Event
Thursday, May 7, 2015
5:00-7:00pm
924 Frederick Road
FREE
Lunch & Learn SeminarBUILD Your Business TO GROW
Sponsor: Breakthrough Pros
Date:
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Time:
12 Noon
Place: Brightview Rolling Hills
848 S. Rolling Road
Cost:
$25 pre-registered & pre-paid
$35 at door, $35 non-members
JUNE
Event:
Date:
Time:
Place:
Taste of Catonsville
Monday, June 1, 2015
6:00-9:00 pm
Overhills Mansion
916 S. Rolling Road
$35 pre-registered & pre-paid,
$45 at door
Event:
Date:
Time:
Place:
Cost:
Baltimore County Commercial
Revitalization Awards
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
5:30-7:30 pm
UMBC University Center
1000 Hilltop Circle
$25 pre-registered & pre-paid,
$30 at door
JUNE through AUGUST
Cost:
Outstanding Teachers Awards
Thursday, April 30, 2015
5:30 pm
John Erickson Conference Center
at Charlestown
Tickets $40
Date:
Time:
Place:
Cost:
Date:
Time:
Place:
Cost:
42nd Annual Catonsville
Arts & Crafts Festival
Sunday, September 13, 2015
10 am to 5 pm
Frederick Road
FREE
57th Annual Crab Feast
& Auction
Friday, September 25, 2015
5:30 pm
The Lodge in Oella
TBA
OCTOBER
Event:
Event:
Event:
Date:
Time:
Place:
Event:
Event:
Event:
Cost:
APRIL
SEPTEMBER
Catonsville Flower Fest
Opening of Sunday Farmers
Market (each Sun. 5/3 to 11/22)
Sunday, May 3, 2015
10:00 am
Frederick Road
FREE
Event:
Date:
Time:
Place:
Cost:
Frederick Road Fridays
Every Friday, June 12-Aug. 28
6:30-8:30 pm
The Shops on Mellor
FREE
Event:
Date:
Time:
Place:
Cost:
Chamber Open House/
Networking Event
Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015
5:00-7:00pm
924 Frederick Road
FREE
Lunch & Learn SeminarBUILD Your Business TO LAST
Sponsor: Breakthrough Pros
Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015
Date:
12 Noon
Time:
Place: TBA
$25 pre-registered & pre-paid
Cost:
$35 at door, $35 non-members
Event:
NOVEMBER
Event: Legislative Luncheon
Guest Speakers: Elected Officials
Thursday, November 12, 2015
Date:
Time: 12:00 noon
Place: Knights of Columbus
1010 Frederick Road
$20 pre-registered & pre-paid
Cost:
$25 at door, $35 non-members
DECEMBER
Event: Holiday Party
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Date:
Time: 12:00 noon
Place: Overhills Mansion
$30 pre-registered & pre-paid,
Cost:
$40 at door
NOTE: Times, locations, and costs are subject to change. Check chamber website for the most updated information.
Greater Catonsville Chamber Newsletter • www.catonsville.org 11
The Chamber Member News
Catonsville's Own Whitehouse
Caterers at Overhills Mansion Wins
the WeddingWire Couples' Choice
Award® 2015
W
eddingWire, the nation's leading
online wedding marketplace,
named Whitehouse Caterers at
Overhills Mansion as a winner of the
prestigious WeddingWire Couples' Choice
Awards® 2015 for Ceremony & Reception
Venues in Baltimore.
The WeddingWire Couples' Choice
Awards® 2015 recognizes the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate
excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism. The esteemed
awards are given to the top local
wedding vendors in more than 20 service
categories, from wedding venues to
wedding photographers, based on their
professional achievements from the
previous year.
While many industry award winners
are selected by the host organization, the
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards®
winners are determined solely based on
reviews from real newlyweds and their experiences working with Whitehouse
Caterers at Overhills Mansion. Awardwinning vendors are distinguished for the
quality, quantity, consistency and timeliness of the reviews they have received
from their past clients.
“It's always exciting to start the year by
honoring the top-rated wedding
professionals within the WeddingWire
Network who represent more than two
million reviews on our website," said Timothy Chi, CEO, WeddingWire. "Each of the
See Videos of Our Special
Events on
Quote for February
2015
15
®
Whitehouse Caterers at Overhills Mansion
businesses recognized are committed to
quality, professionalism and all around
top-notch service. We applaud Whitehouse Caterers for their impressive
achievements within the wedding
industry."
As a Couples' Choice Awards®
winner, Overhills Mansion is highlighted
within the WeddingWire Network, which
is comprised of more than 200,000
wedding professionals throughout North
America and abroad.
Whitehouse Caterers at Overhills
Mansion is proud to be one of the top
Wedding Ceremony & Reception Venues
in Baltimore in the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding
sites such as WeddingWire, Project Wedding, Brides.com, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Weddingbee.
“We would like to thank our past
clients for taking the time to review our
business on WeddingWire. We value all of
our clients and truly appreciate the positive feedback that helped us earn the
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards®
2015.”
To learn more about the Couple's
Choice Awards®, please visit www.weddingwire.com/couples-choice-awards.
Like us on
ASE FCU Merges with
Saint Agnes Federal Credit Union
O
n December 1, 2014, Saint Agnes
Federal Credit Union finalized
the merger with ASE Federal
Credit Union. ASE FCU, established in
1969 as the credit union for Avesta
Sheffield East (originally Eastern Stainless Steel) in Dundalk, Maryland, had
more than 400 members and approximately $2.1 million in assets as of September 30, 2014. A transition team of St.
Agnes FCU management and staff kept
the Dundalk branch location operating
through December 19, 2014, with assistance from Lawrence G. Vasold, Jr., former Treasurer of ASE FCU.
“We’re excited to welcome ASE FCU
members to our credit union,” commented Jim Whipp, President/CEO of St.
Agnes FCU in Baltimore. “St. Agnes offers new products and services to ASE
members such as online banking and
bill payer, telephone teller, ATM cards
and surcharge-free Allpoint ATMs, Visa®
credit cards, IRAs and mortgages. Mergers with credit unions like ASE FCU benefit St. Agnes Credit Union by adding
members, strong assets and additional
net worth.”
St. Agnes Federal Credit Union
(SAFCU), headquartered in Baltimore,
was founded in 1969 to serve St. Agnes
Hospital employees and has expanded
to include more than 30 Select Employee
Groups throughout the Baltimore area.
As of September 30, 2014, SAFCU had
7,147 members and $45 million in
assets.
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An organization's ability to learn, and translate that learning into action rapidly, is the
ultimate competitive advantage.
Jack Welch, Former General Electric CEO
12 Greater Catonsville Chamber Newsletter • www.catonsville.org