Commerce

The Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce is delaying its annual forum to review this year's Maryland General Assembly session. The chamber planned to hold the forum on May 9. However, amid speculation that the legislature will return to Annapolis for a special session, the chamber is going to wait until early June, chamber President Brien J. Poffenberger said Friday. Although many legislators and observers expect there to be a special session, one hasn't been called yet. The Washington County legislative delegation plans to hold a separate post-legislative forum on April 24 at 6:30 p.m. It will be in room 212 of Hagerstown Community College's Career Programs Building.

Waynesboro businessman Curtis Mummert became the 2012 recipient of the Roy S.F. Angle Award during the Greater Waynesboro Chamber of Commerce's annual banquet Thursday. Mummert owns Buchanan Auto Park's two stores in the Waynesboro area. In 2011, he acquired a Subaru store and a Kia store in Maryland and brought them under the Buchanan umbrella. Last year's award recipient, Robert Correll, joined award sponsor CenturyLink in introducing Mummert. It was the 12th year for the award, named for the late Waynesboro attorney who inherited a phone company.

William Alexander, president of the Chamber of Commerce of Chambersburg (Pa.) and burgess of the town, conceived the idea of the first flight over Chambersburg in 1911. The Chamber contracted Paul Peck, exhibition pilot for the Rex Smith Airplane Co., to fly over Chambersburg on Sept. 23, 1911. Peck was an aviation pioneer - the first pilot from West Virginia and the first to fly over the U.S. Capitol. He also was among the first to transport mail by plane. The biplane was manufactured at College Park, Md., and shipped on several flatcars by train and assembled in Chambersburg the day of the flight, according to historians.

The Tuscarora Area Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for Business Person of the Year. The award is given to a person who unselfishly committed to the local business community. Award criteria include: the nominee must be a current chamber member business owner or employee in good standing; his or her business must be located within chamber's service area of Peters, Warren, Montgomery, St. Thomas Townships and the Borough of Mercersburg; and must exemplify exceptional leadership and have a strong presence in community activities.

Geoff Bricker said one of the reasons he came to Potomac Walk on Wednesday night to meet newly elected U.S. Rep. John Delaney was so he could ask the Democrat why he left the private sector. “He was making millions of millions of dollars,” Bricker said of Delaney's work as a financier. Bricker was among about 140 people who attended the Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce welcoming reception for Delaney, who defeated 10-term U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-Md., in the Nov. 6 general election.

Washington County officials next week will hold a free evening "State of the County" presentation, in addition to the traditional morning event hosted by the Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce. Both events are scheduled for Tuesday. The morning presentation will be during a breakfast at Fountain Head Country Club that costs $20 to attend - $15 for chamber members who had registered by Thursday. In previous years, that format has drawn criticism from residents who say the time and cost make it harder for average citizens to attend.

A Fort Loudon, Pa., woman employed by the McConnellsburg Chamber of Commerce was arrested Tuesday on charges of stealing $13,432 from the organization, according to Pennsylvania State Police. Kathy Leigh Carbaugh, whose age was unavailable, was arrested at her home and later released on a $25,000 unsecured bail, state police said in a news release. Carbaugh has been charged with theft by unlawful taking or disposition, theft by failure to make required disposition of funds received, theft by deception, unlawful use of a computer and other computer crimes and two counts of forgery, the release said.

Downtown Hagerstown traffic was detoured briefly Tuesday morning as firefighters worked to remove a faulty wire from the roof of the Chamber of Commerce building. The wire had split sometime Tuesday and caused a continuous spark, Hagerstown Fire Department Capt. Brian Pile said. Pile said the building at 111 W. Washington St. was not burned, but could have been damaged had the spark gone unnoticed for several hours. Fifteen firefighters responded to the scene at about 9:10 a.m. and cut power to the wire.

o Fridgen elected to school board GREENCASTLE, Pa. -- The Greencastle-Antrim Chamber of Commerce announced Tuesday that Antrim Township, Pa., resident Joel Fridgen has been chosen as the Chamber's new executive director. Effective Monday, Fridgen replaces Bill Gour, who resigned in late August. Fridgen, former plant manager for Regency Thermographers, is a 1977 graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota, according to a news release. "I am excited and looking forward to working with the Chamber's board of directors," he said.

Business and government leaders on Thursday strolled through the new headquarters of the Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce, as the group's new president pressed the flesh and shared a few laughs with current and future members. Brien Poffenberger, who replaced longtime chamber President Fred Teeter last month, said that so far he is getting a lot of encouragement. "Just 'hi,' lots of congratulations, lots of good wishes. ... Everybody's been great," Poffenberger said.

The 23rd annual Commerce Cup Golf Tournament will be held at Black Rock Golf Course on Friday, July 12, starting at 8:30 a.m. with a shotgun start. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. The tournament provides an opportunity for area businesses to entertain clients and promote their businesses as a lead sponsor in a relaxed setting. The tournament is open to every level of golfer, and offers a day of business networking, socializing and fun. The format will be three flights, best ball scramble.

Ed Lough has been appointed to the Hagerstown-Washington County Economic Development Commission, a Washington County official announced Thursday in a news release. Lough, a financial representative with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, will serve as the EDC's Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce representative, fulfilling the unexpired term of Hagerstown Downtown Manager Andrew Sargent, according to the release. Officially appointed April 2, Lough will be eligible to serve two additional three-year terms at the conclusion of his first term, which ends June 30, 2014.

The Martinsburg-Berkeley County Chamber of Commerce's Workforce Development Committee is examining local workforce needs by asking the business community to complete a business and industry workforce needs survey. The results of the survey will guide the chamber's efforts to facilitate the development of a more comprehensive picture of elements such as growth and development of businesses, education and training needs, and other areas where the chamber might be of assistance. It is the chamber's goal to inform the business community of the resources that are available and bridge any gaps that might exist.

Two representatives of the Maryland Competitiveness Coalition were critical of the state's public policies that deal with issues such as private business at a breakfast meeting Wednesday. At the same time, they praised Maryland's emphasis on such areas as education during the Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce's Eggs and Issues breakfast at the Ramada Plaza. The chamber is a partnering organization of the coalition. Kathy Snyder, president and chief executive officer of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, and Tom Lynch, principal of Miles & Stockbridge in Frederick, Md., partnering organizations of the coalition, spoke about the coalition to local business leaders.

Longtime Waynesboro resident Jackie Mowen has been named executive director of the Greater Waynesboro Chamber of Commerce. Mowen, 43, will begin her new duties with the chamber on Wednesday. “I'm looking forward to cultivating relationships with the local businesses, expanding membership and enhancing the programs and services the chamber already provides and hopefully coming up with new events and programs as well,” Mowen said Friday. She was unanimously approved by the chamber board on Wednesday to replace Carlene Willhide, who resigned last month to spend more time with her family.

After nearly six years as executive director of the Greater Waynesboro Chamber of Commerce, Carlene Willhide is leaving. Her last day will be March 22. She submitted her resignation to the chamber board Wednesday. Willhide said she is leaving her post to spend more time with her family. “I'm just going to be taking a little bit of a break. I worked the last 30 years full time in very demanding jobs,” Willhide said. “I'm going to take a little bit of time to just regroup and spend some time with my family.” Those family members include her husband Michael, her recently married daughter Meagan, son-in-law Chris and her great niece and nephew.

Three Pennsylvania lawmakers stopped by a Tuscarora Area Chamber of Commerce breakfast Thursday to talk about Harrisburg's ambitious political agenda that could have far-reaching and long-term effects. Members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly this spring are debating the merits of the governor's plans to improve revenues. For 2013-14, Gov. Tom Corbett has proposed a $28.4 billion budget, which represents 3 percent in new spending. “The budget is going to be a challenge again this year.

William Alexander, president of the Chamber of Commerce of Chambersburg (Pa.) and burgess of the town, conceived the idea of the first flight over Chambersburg in 1911. The Chamber contracted Paul Peck, exhibition pilot for the Rex Smith Airplane Co., to fly over Chambersburg on Sept. 23, 1911. Peck was an aviation pioneer - the first pilot from West Virginia and the first to fly over the U.S. Capitol. He also was among the first to transport mail by plane. The biplane was manufactured at College Park, Md., and shipped on several flatcars by train and assembled in Chambersburg the day of the flight, according to historians.

Area businesses showcased their services Saturday at the 17th annual Greater Waynesboro Chamber of Commerce Business Expo at Waynesboro Area Senior High School. Carlene Willhide, executive director of the Greater Waynesboro Chamber of Commerce, said the event was a huge success in terms of vendors and attendance. About 50 vendors set up displays inside the high school cafeteria and into the hallway, sharing literature on financial services, health care, food services, fitness and home improvement.

Geoff Bricker said one of the reasons he came to Potomac Walk on Wednesday night to meet newly elected U.S. Rep. John Delaney was so he could ask the Democrat why he left the private sector. “He was making millions of millions of dollars,” Bricker said of Delaney's work as a financier. Bricker was among about 140 people who attended the Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce welcoming reception for Delaney, who defeated 10-term U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-Md., in the Nov. 6 general election.