MCCC Business Award Dinner Criteria & Past Winners

CORPORATE ACHIEVEMENT
This award is presented to an individual or company that demonstrates leadership, innovation, commitment and good corporate citizenship in Metro-Maryland and beyond. The awardee has set consistently high standards for financial performance, sound management and sustained growth over a period of many years and has made significant and lasting contributions to the local economy and to the community.

  • GEICO (2017)
  • Whiting-Turner Contracting Company (2016)
  • Sodexo (2015)
  • Hughes an EchoStar Company (2014)
  • Westat (2013)
  • Lockheed Martin (2012)
  • The JBG Companies (2009)
  • QIAGEN Sciences, Inc. (2008)

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY 
This award is presented to an individual or company that has demonstrated exemplary business practices and dedicated involvement and unyielding commitment to community service and volunteer programs that enrich the lives of residents of Metro-Maryland.

  • Kaiser Permanente (2017)
  • CohnReznick LLP (2016)
  • SunTrust Bank (2015)
  • Clark Construction (2014)
  • BB&T (2013)
  • Sandy Spring Bank (2012)
  • Danya International (2011)
  • Aronson & Company (2010)
  • TerpSys (2009)
  • Lanigan, Ryan, Malcolm, Doyle, PC (2008)

EMERITUS BUSINESS LEADER
This award is presented to an individual approaching or newly retired and has had a substantial impact on the way business is conducted in Metro Maryland and who has shown, through many years of active and continuing service, a true commitment to the Community.

  • Robert Henley, Henley Constructions (2017)
  • Kevin Sexton, Holy Cross Health (2016)
  • John McMahon, Miller & Long (2015)
  • Barbara Krumsiek, Calvert Investments (2014)
  • J.W. Marriott, Marriott International (2012)
  • Enos Fry, Efry Consulting (2009)
  • William F. Peel, Jr., Red Coats; Admiral Security; Datawatch Systems (2008)

GREEN BUSINESS INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR 
This award is presented to an individual or company in Metro-Maryland who demonstrates ecologically-integrated business practices and leads change in the marketplace through the goods and services they provide.

  • Fitzgerald Auto Malls (2017)
  • AstraZeneca/MedImmune (2016)
  • EVEN Hotel Rockville (2015)
  • Scott Nash, MOM's Organic Market (2014)
  • Seth Goldman, HonestTea (2013)
BUSINESS PARTNER OF THE YEAR
(Nominated by GovConNet Council)The goal is to recognize a business that demonstrates excellence in sub-contracting and/or supports small business to accelerate their success and meets the mission of GovConNet, "to promote the economic impact of the federal government presence and to advocate on behalf of the contracting community for business opportunities."
  • Bloomberg Government (2017)
  • DAI (2016)
  • National Government Services (2015)
  • Northrop Grumman (2014)
  • Booz Allen Hamilton (2012)
  • L-3 Stratis (2011)
  • Lockheed Martin (2010)
GOVERNMENT PARTNER OF THE YEAR 
(Nominated by GovConNet Council)This award will recognize a public partner that supports the mission of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce GovConNet, "to promote the economic impact of the federal government presence and to advocate on behalf of the contracting community for business opportunities."
  • Emily Murphy, GSA (2017)
  • Pam Monroe, US Army (2016)
  • Don Camden, DIA (2015)
  • Mauricio Vera, USAID (2014)
  • U.S. GSA (2013)
  • Montgomery County Department of General Services (2012)
  • NIH (2011)
  • FDA (2010)

SMALL BUSINESS LEADER 
The Small Business Leader award is presented to a successful small business owner or manager with 500 or fewer employees whose business has experienced substantial growth and whose leadership provided a positive impact on the business community in Metro-Maryland.

  • Sophia Parker, DSFederal (2017)
  • Ben Edson, VariQ (2016)
  • Cidalia Luis-Akbar and Natalia Luis, M. Luis Construction (2015)
  • Lisa Firestone, Managed Care Advisors (2014)
  • Gerald Shapiro, Shapiro & Duncan, Inc. (2013)
  • Gregory Knoop, OKKS Studios, Inc. (2012)
  • Linda Houk, Information Systems Solutions (2011)
  • Ben Long, Longview International (2010)
  • Judy Stephenson, OFFICEPRO, Inc. (2009)
  • Sterling Crockett, Sterling Construction (2008)

​SPIRIT OF FREE ENTERPRISE 
This award is presented to an individual or company that is successful in business, a leader in promoting free enterprise and a competitive business climate and actively involved in making Metro-Maryland a great place to live, work and play.

  • Sunny Bajaj, Digital Management, LLC (2017)
  • United Solutions (2016)
  • Julie Verratti, Denizens Brewing Co. (2015)
  • Michael Binko, kloudtrack (2014)
  • White Flint Partnership (2013)
  • Sue Healy, MyEyeDr. (2009)
  • The Tower Companies (2008)
  • Barbara Keating, Computer Frontiers (2007)
VERL ZANDERS EMERGING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR 
(Three Finalists - The winner is announced at the Business Awards Dinner.)
This award is presented to an emerging company on the leading edge of innovation by creating milestones in technology and/or business that has achieved enhanced earnings and contributed to Metro-Maryland’s reputation as an outstanding place to do business.

About Verl Zanders
In 2008, the  MCCC Board of Directors approved renaming the 'Emerging Business of the Year Award' in honor of Verl Zanders who sadly passed away that summer at the age of 61. For many MCCC members, our first introduction to Verl was on the Business Awards stage in 2006, when Z-Tech, the company he founded was named the Emerging Business of the Year. From 2006 to 2008, he served on the Chamber’s Board of Directors and he was the first Vice Chair of the Chamber’s Small Business Committee. In 2007, ICF International acquired Z-Tech. Soon after selling his company, he joined the Chamber’s staff as Director of Business Development. We were thrilled to have him on the team. Prior to founding Z-Tech, Verl worked for more than 30 years in the Federal government as a contracting officer and as a small business representative. Verl was the inspiration behind the Chamber’s GovConNet and was passionate about growing Maryland’s Federal contracting community. He was an extraordinary mentor to many small business owners. He used the power of his example to inspire others to succeed. Every day, we strive to follow the example he set.

  • Xometry (2017)
  • Hungry Harvest (2016)
  • Cellphire, Inc. (2015)
  • WeddingWire (2014)
  • Sanaria (2013)
  • Brainscope Company, Inc. (2012)
  • GetWellNetwork:) (2011)
  • Sweetgreen (2010)
  • Radius Technology Group (2009)
  • Get Real Consulting (2008)
  • Honest Tea (2007)
See for yourself how MCCC brings our community together.