Chamber Update

Posted

Please give a warm welcome to our newest members (find them in our directory at www.gspacc.com):

  • Advance Auto Parts (bronze member) This new franchise will open its doors on November 17 on the upper level of the Clement Hardware building in Severna Park. The company retails various brand name, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and private label automotive replacement parts, accessories, batteries, and maintenance items for domestic and imported cars, vans, sport utility vehicles, and light and heavy-duty trucks. Advance Auto Parts serves both the professional installer and the do-it-yourself (DIY) customers. We will hold a ribbon-cutting celebration on November 18 at noon and all are invited to attend and meet the owner.

  • Zen Leaf Oceanside – This company’s mission is to guide you along the path toward elevated wellness through cannabis products, education, and expertly trained cannabis advisors at each dispensary. Zen Leaf has operated licensed dispensaries across the country since 2016.

  • NewAge Ariix – The team works with a global network of hundreds of brand partners to bring health, wellness, and life solutions for better living. One well-known brand that they market is the Noni product.

  • Play & Thrive Speech Therapy – Providing bilingual speech therapy in-person and online, Play & Thrive provides individual therapy sessions, language assessments, articulation/speech sound assessments, and parent coaching.

  • Resolute Properties LLC – Resolute Properties is a locally owned, family operated company that purchases and restores residential properties throughout Anne Arundel County. No repairs, no cleaning, no fees and no waiting. Resolute Properties buys houses "as is" and takes the stress out of selling your home by managing every aspect of the selling process.

  • BD Provisions, Severna Park is a new franchise concept offering a carefully curated collection of bulk foods sold by the pound in sustainable containers. The business has a tremendous selection of items in bulk – ranging from your basic pantry staples to that crazy new superfood everyone has been talking about, with new items coming in all the time! BD Provisions also roasts coffee in the front of the store for the ultimate in freshness, so you can watch your beans being roasted and take them home still warm.

September was a great month for ribbon-cutting celebrations. Our first was the open house and ribbon-cutting celebrating Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi’s 22 years of successful business. Owners Billy and Nancy Greer welcomed close to 100 people who attended, and they talked about their story and how they give back to the community through fundraising. Also in attendance were 10 nonprofits distributing literature and raising awareness at the event.

Another ribbon-cutting/open house celebrated the three-year anniversary of the Life of Joy Foundation. Joy Cortina started the foundation for personal reasons, and with the help of dedicated volunteers and businesses, has grown to nurture mental wellness and prevent suicide by serving as a link to integrative care of mind, body and spirit, and as advocates with their collaborative network of resources, community engagement and cost assistance programs. The celebration was held at the Severna Park Community Center.

The last ribbon-cutting/open house was held at Nature Junction, formerly the Wild Bird Center in Severna Park. Owner Kim Stagi grew up with a love of birds and nature and has created a business that provides high-quality products and information on birding and wildlife, while promoting the conservation of nature in every community and backyard.

We participated in a multi-chamber end-of-summer bash at the beautiful Walden Country Club in Crofton. All of the chambers in Anne Arundel County participated, and funds were raised through a cornhole tournament for the Life of Joy Foundation.

Our Successful Women in Business group held a luncheon at the new Taichi Bubble Tea spot in Severna Park. The restaurant is beautiful and features a life-size cherry blossom tree that the owner created by hand. Owner Amy Chen told us how she immigrated from China to the U.S. and through hard work opened her first business in Annapolis with her husband. They plan to expand to Crofton later in the year.

Our monthly wellness committee meeting featured Carrie Baquie,’ a chronic illness coach. Carrie shared the best practices on how to get the most out of your medical visits.

Due to popular demand, we hosted one last cookout at the chamber. The TGIF “Endless Summer” Cookout was sponsored by Robin Torrence of ATG Title, and as always, it was well-attended.

Finally, it would not be a September without our annual Driving Force for Business golf tournament. This sold-out event was held at the gorgeous Chartwell Golf and Country Club, and the presenting sponsor was Live! Casino and Hotel. Eagle sponsors were Chick-fil-A Severna Park, Alexander Animal Hospital, Moran Insurance, Rosso Commercial Real Estate, Fellner Legal Services, Steak ‘n Shake Millersville and SERVPRO Annapolis/Severna Park. Hospitality tent sponsors were Sandy Spring Bank, the Matt Wyble Team of Century 21 New Millennium, and Passanante’s Home Food Services. The hot dogs were sponsored by Garry’s Grill. The publication sponsor was What’s Up? Media. The beverage carts were sponsored by Abode Title and Escrow and Cassilly Financial Services. Brightview Severna Park and the Bank of Glen Burnie sponsored snacks. The photographer was sponsored by Barranco Funeral and Cremation Services. Ravens Hole was sponsored by M&T Bank and the hole-in-one by Wilkins Buick. Landmark Roofing sponsored the pro shot, with donations going to the Wellness House in Annapolis. The Severna Park Community Center and Severna Park Lanes were the tee sponsors.

Please check out our website calendar (www.gspacc.com) for upcoming events and our Facebook page. You can reach me at ceo@gspacc.com or 410-647-3900. Thank you for buying local and shopping small!

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here