Event Program

Award Winners Reception
(By Invitation Only)
​​5:00 - 5:45 pm
General Reception
 6:00 - 6:45 pm
Dinner and Awards Ceremony
​7:00 - 9:00 pm

Award Winners

Read this press release to learn more about the award winners and finalists.

SPIRIT OF FREE ENTERPRISE

CAVA
Presented By: CohnReznick LLP

​BUSINESS PARTNER OF THE YEAR

Bruce E. Lansdowne
President & CEO
Trinity Technology Partners, Inc.
Presented By: Sandy Spring Bank

EMERITUS BUSINESS LEADER
​OF THE YEAR

Deborah Marriott Harrison
Marriott International Global
​Cultural Ambassador Emeritus
Presented By:
Foulger-Pratt Companies

CORPORATE ACHIEVEMENT

Sandy Spring Bank

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

BOLAND
Co-Presented By: Shapiro & Duncan, Inc. and Clark Construction Group, LLC

GOVERNMENT PARTNER OF THE YEAR 

Jose L. Arrieta
Chief Information Officer
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Co-Presented By: 
CONTEMPORARIES, Inc. and United Solutions, LLC

SMALL BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR

Ahmed R. Ali
Founder and President
TISTA Science and Technology Corporation
Presented By: CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield

GREEN BUSINESS
​INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR

The Tower Companies
Presented By: The Montgomery County Departments of General Services and Environmental Protection

VERL ZANDERS EMERGING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

Presented By: PNC Bank
Adaptive Phage Therapeutics
Adaptive Phage Therapeutics (APT) is a clinical-stage company founded to provide an effective therapeutic response to the global rise of multi-drug resistant pathogenic bacteria. Since 2016, APT’s technology has been used to rescue critically ill patients in which standard-of-care antibiotics has failed.
INKY
INKY leads the industry in mail protection powered by unique computer vision, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. The company’s flagship product, INKY Phish Fence, uses these novel techniques to "see" each email - much like a human does - in order to block phishing attacks that get through every other system.
LunchSkins
LunchSkins reusable and recyclable bags are a patent-pending, stylish, durable, affordable, and award-winning alternative to single-use plastics bags. LunchSkins donates proceeds from every order to a non-profit partner that helps fight against plastic pollution in our oceans.
*Winner to be announced during the 2019 Business Awards Dinner.* 

Sponsorship

Event sponsorship helps increase your visibility and enhance your event experience.
The 2019 Business Awards Dinner provides multiple levels of event sponsorship.
For more information about event sponsorship, please contact Gigi Godwin.

Award Sponsors

Award Winners Reception Sponsor

General Reception Sponsor

"Where Are They Now?" Emerging Business Presenter

Selection Committee Chair
Award Presenter

PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS

Adventist HealthCare
BDO
Bloomberg Government
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
Clark Construction Group, LLC
CohnReznick LLP
Colonial Parking, Inc.
Comcast
CONTEMPORARIES, Inc.
Cooper Building Services
Cresa
DELTA Engineers, Architects, and Land Surveyors
DSFederal, Inc.
EagleBank
Federal Realty Investment Trust
Gilbane Building Company
Holy Cross Health
HUGHES, An EchoStar Company
Information Systems Solutions, Inc.
James G. Davis Construction Corporation
Lee Development Group (LDG, Inc.)
MedStar Montgomery Medical Center
Montgomery College
Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection
Montgomery County Department of General Services

Northwest Federal Credit Union
​Penn Parking, Inc.
PilieroMazza PLLC
Precise Software Solutions
Red Coats, Inc./Admiral Security/Datawatch Systems
Sandy Spring Bank
Shapiro & Duncan, Inc.
Smokey Glen Farm
Sodexo, Inc.
SunTrust Bank
T and T Consulting Services, Inc.
TD Bank
​The Gatewood Group, LLC
​The Tower Companies
The Universities at Shady Grove
Trinity Technology Partners, Inc.
United Solutions, LLC
Washington Adventist University
Washington Gas a WGL Company
​Washington Spirit - NWSL
WSSC Water
Westat
White Oak Business Capital, Inc.
White Star Investments

SILVER SPONSORS

BB&T
​Beveridge & Diamond, P.C.
​CAVA
​C.G. Wood Company LLC
​Critical Systems LLC
​Cummins-Wagner
GEICO
​GRF CPAs & Advisors
​Linowes and Blocher LLP
​LunchSkins
​Miles & Stockbridge, P.C.
Miller & Long Co., Inc.
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS)
Purple Line Transit Partners
TISTA Science and Technology Corporation
​United Bank

SPONSORSHIP LEVELS

Award Sponsor
SOLD OUT
Award Winners
​Reception Sponsor
SOLD OUT
General Reception
​Sponsor
SOLD OUT
Platinum
$10,000
ONLY 1 LEFT!
Beverage Sponsor
$5,000
Benefits:
  • 10 tickets to the Award Winners Reception
  • Special recognition from the podium during the event
  • Table of 10 seats in a preferred/premier location
    • Company name on table tent
  • Logo on event jumbo screens
  • Logo and listing on the event website and registration page
Benefits:
  • Special recognition from the podium during the event
  • Table of 10 seats in a premier location
    • Company name on table tent​
Gold
$6,000
​ONLY 1 LEFT!
Benefits:
  • 2 tickets to the Award Winners Reception
  • Table of 10 seats in a premier location
    • Company name on table tent
  • Company listed on event jumbo screens
  • Listing on the event website and registration page
Silver
$4,000
ONLY 2 LEFT!
Benefits:
  • Table of 10 seats - Company name on table tent
  • Company listed on event jumbo screens
  • Listing on the event website and registration page
MCCC Member Ticket: $250   |   Non-Member Ticket: $300

Look Who's Coming

  • 365BOOKSPRO
  • Adaptive Phage Therapeutics
  • Adventist HealthCare
  • AITHERAS, LLC
  • Asian American Chamber of Commerce
  • AstraZeneca
  • ​BB&T
  • BDO
  • Beveridge & Diamond, P.C.
  • Bloomberg Government
  • Blueridge Restaurant Group
  • Blusonic Inc.
  • BOLAND
  • Bravium Consulting Inc.
  • CAMBRiA Hotel Rockville
  • ​CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
  • ​CAVA
  • C.G. Wood Company, LLC
  • Chesapeake Public Strategies
  • City of Gaithersburg
  • Clark Construction Group, LLC
  • CohnReznick LLP
  • Colonial Parking, Inc.
  • Comcast
  • CONTEMPORARIES, Inc.
  • Cooper Building Services, LLC
  • Council Rock Consulting
  • Cresa
  • ​Critical Systems LLC
  • ​Cummins-Wagner
  • D&D Installations, LLC
  • DC United
  • DELTA Engineers, Architects, and Land Surveyors
  • Denizens Brewing Co.
  • DSFederal, Inc.
  • ​Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School
  • EagleBank
  • ​EDGE Commercial Real Estate
  • Elite Personnel / The Atlas Agency
  • Envirosys Technologies
  • EVEN Hotel Rockville
  • EveryMind
  • Executive Decisions, LLC
  • EZ Consulting Group, LLC
  • Federal Realty Investment Trust
  • ​GEICO
  • ​GRF CPAs & Advisors
  • Gilbane Building Company
  • Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce
  • Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors (GCAAR)
  • Holy Cross Health
  • HUGHES, an EchoStar Company
  • Information Systems Solutions, Inc.
  • INKY
  • James G. Davis Construction Corporation
  • ​Johns Hopkins University
  • Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc.
  • Kingstonville, LLC
  • Lantian Development
  • Lee Development Group (LDG, Inc.)
  • Lena Barnett & Associates, L.L.C.
  • Lerch, Early & Brewer, Chtd.
  • Linowes and Blocher LLP
  • Lockheed Martin Corporation
  • LunchSkins
  • M&T Bank
  • Madison Services Group, Inc.
  • Managed Care Advisors, Inc.
  • Manor Country Club
  • Marriott International, Inc.
  • Maryland General Assembly
  • Maryland Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
  • Mary's Center
  • MedStar Montgomery Medical Center
  • Merit321
  • Miles & Stockbridge P.C.
  • Miller & Long Co., Inc.
  • Mission Dispensaries
  • Montgomery College
  • Montgomery County Board of Education
  • Montgomery County Council
  • Montgomery County Department of Police
  • Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC)
  • Montgomery County Government
  • Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS)
  • Motorola Solutions, Inc.
  • Northwest Federal Credit Union
  • Penn Parking, Inc.
  • Pepco, An Exelon Company
  • Perry, White, Ross & Jacobson
  • PilieroMazza PLLC
  • Planet Aid Thrift Store
  • PNC Bank, N.A.
  • Precigen, Inc.
  • Precise Software Solutions
  • Red Coats, Inc./Admiral Security/Datawatch Systems
  • Rehab 2 Perform
  • Robert Joseph Group
  • Roof Maxx / Roof Rescue
  • saf.ai, Inc.
  • Sandy Spring Bank
  • SECU Credit Union
  • Shapiro & Duncan, Inc.
  • SHS Services, LLC
  • Smokey Glen Farm
  • Sodexo, Inc.
  • SoftDev Incorporated
  • Stanford Grill
  • Suburban Hospital
  • SunTrust Bank
  • T and T Consulting Services, Inc.
  • TalEx LLC
  • TD Bank
  • The Harbor Bank of Maryland
  • The Gatewood Group
  • The Law Office of Richard Melnick
  • The Tower Companies
  • The Universities at Shady Grove
  • The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company
  • Tierra Events
  • TISTA Science and Technology Corporation
  • Total Wine & More
  • Trinity Technology Partners, Inc.
  • United Bank
  • United Solutions, LLC
  • United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
  • United States Senate
  • United States Small Business Administration (SBA)
  • V-Project Management Consulting LLC
  • Washington Adventist University
  • Washington Gas, a WGL Company
  • Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)
  • Washington Spirit - NWSL
  • Washingtonian Coach Corporation
  • WSSC Water
  • Westat
  • White Oak Business Capital, Inc.
  • White Star Investments

Photos from the 2019 Business Awards Dinner

2019 Business Awards Dinner Selection Committee

COMMITTEE CHAIR:
​Jerry Shapiro, President, Shapiro & Duncan, Inc.

Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc.
Lorelie Alexander
Business Development Executive, Mid-Large Group
Small Business Committee Chair
Contemporaries, Inc.
Erin Allen
President
Small Business Committee Co-Chair
​CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
Kal Attia 
Account Executive, Large Group
Infrastructure & Land Use Committee Chair
​Beveridge & Diamond, P.C.
Gus B. Bauman, Esq.
Counsel
Treasurer
​EagleBank
Andrew S. Bridge
Senior Vice-President, C&I Relationship Manager
Economic Development Committee Co-Chair
​The Universities at Shady Grove
Stewart L. Edelstein, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Northwest Federal Credit Union
​Nohman Ishaq
AVP Retail Business Development
PNC Bank
​Andre Jaundoo
​Vice President
SunTrust Bank
​Jack Litzenberger
Senior Vice President
​White Oak Business Capital, Inc.
Kysha Pierre-Louis
Chief Operating & Credit Officer
Penn Parking
​Lisa Renshaw
President
Chair of the Board
​Legislative Affairs Committee Chair
Johns Hopkins
Leslie Ford Weber * 
Director Campus, Government & Community Affairs
​Montgomery County
​CohnReznick LLP
Christine Williamson
Partner, Government Contracting Industry Practice
MCCC Second  Vice-Chair
M&T Bank
​Lowell Yoder
Group Vice President, Greater Washington Middle Market
MCCC First Vice-Chair
​Marriott International, Inc.
Jim Young*
Vice President
Corporate Facilities, Services, and Real Estate

Award Criteria and Past Award 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 the community.
  • Sandy Spring Bank (2019)
  • Marriott International (2018)
  • 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.
  • BOLAND (2019)
  • Shapiro & Duncan, Inc. (2018)
  • 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.
  • Deborah Marriott Harrison, Marriott International (2019)
  • Chet Burrell, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (2018)
  • 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 that demonstrates ecologically-integrated business practices and leads change in the marketplace through the goods and services they provide.
  • The Tower Companies (2019)
  • McDonald's River Road (2018)
  • 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 MCCC's GovConNet Council

The goal is to recognize a business that demonstrates excellence in subcontracting 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."
  • Bruce E. Lansdowne, Trinity Technology Partners, Inc. (2019)
  • Managed Care Advisors, Inc. (2018)
  • Bloomberg Government (2017)
  • DAI (2016)
  • National Government Services (2015)
  • Northrup Grumman (2014)
  • Booz Allen Hamilton (2012)
  • L-3 Stratis (2011)
  • Lockheed Martin (2010)

Government Partner of the Year

Nominated by MCCC's GovConNet Council

This award recognizes a public partner who supports 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."
  • Jose L. Arrieta, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (2019)
  • U.S. Small Business Administration (2018)
  • Emily Murphy, U.S. General Services Administration (2017)
  • Pam Monroe, U.S. Army (2016)
  • Don Camden, Defense Intelligence Agency (2015)
  • Mauricio Vera, U.S. Agency for International Development (2014)
  • U.S. General Services Administration (2013)
  • Montgomery County Department of General Services (2012)
  • National Institutes of Health (2011)
  • U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2010)

Small Business Leader of the Year

This 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.
  • Ahmed R. Ali, TISTA Science and Technology Corporation (2019)
  • Joseph E. Brown, CEO, The Insurance Exchange (2018)
  • 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.
  • CAVA (2019)
  • Red Coats, Admiral Security, and Datawatch Systems (2018)
  • 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 Winners

Three finalists are selected for this award. The winner is announced during 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.
  • LunchSkins (2019)
  • Senseonics Holdings, Inc. (2018)
  • 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)
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.