Watch the 2021 Business Awards Trailer

2021 Award Winners

EMERITUS BUSINESS LEADER

Cathy Hughes

Founder and Chairperson
Urban One, Inc.
Sponsored By:
BDO

GOVERNMENT PARTNER OF THE YEAR 

Accepted By:

Dr. Rick Spinrad

Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere & NOAA Administrator
Sponsored By:
T and T Consulting Services, Inc. and Precise Software Solutions, Inc.

VISIONARY AWARD

Sponsored By:
Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC)

VERL ZANDERS EMERGING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Co-Sponsored By:
Sworkit

SMALL BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR

Mitchell Wool

The Bean Bag Deli & Catering Co.
Sponsored By:
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield

GREEN BUSINESS INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR

Sponsored By:
The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection and Washington Gas a WGL Company

​BUSINESS PARTNER OF THE YEAR

Sponsored By:
PilieroMazza PLLC and Madison Services Group, Inc.

CORPORATE ACHIEVEMENT

Co-Sponsored By:
Aronson LLC and James G Davis Construction Corporation

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Sponsored By:
EagleBank

GLOBAL IMPACT AWARD

Sponsored By:
M&T Bank

COUNTDOWN SPONSOR

Award Sponsors

Countdown Sponsor

PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS

Accountable Health Solutions Inc.
Adventist HealthCare
A. Prentice Ray & Associates, LLC (APRA)
AT&T
​​Beveridge & Diamond, P.C.
BOLAND
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
Clark Construction Group, LLC
CohnReznick LLP
CONTEMPORARIES, Inc.
Cooper Building Services, LLC
Cresa
DELTA Engineers, Architects, and Land Surveyors
EagleBank
Federal Realty Investment Trust
Gilbane Building Company
Holy Cross Health
HUGHES, An EchoStar Company
Information Systems Solutions, Inc.
Lee Development Group (LDG, Inc.)
Lerch, Early & Brewer, Chtd.
Lockheed Martin Corporation
Madison Services Group, Inc.
MedStar Montgomery Medical Center
Montgomery College
​​Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC)
OppZo, Inc.
​PEPCO, an Exelon Company
​​​Penn Parking, Inc.
PilieroMazza PLLC
Precise Software Solutions
Red Coats, Inc./Admiral Security/Datawatch Systems
Sandy Spring Bank
Sodexo, Inc.
​Suburban Hospital
Sworkit
T and T Consulting Services, Inc.
TD Bank
The Universities at Shady Grove
​Trinity Technology Partners, Inc.
Truist
United Solutions, LLC
Washington Adventist University
Washington Gas a WGL Company
​WSSC Water
Westat
White Oak Business Capital, Inc.

2021 Business Awards Dinner Selection Committee

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

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
Audit  Committee Co-Chair
​​BDO
Marlon Bernal
Audit Partner
Board Co-Treasurer
​EagleBank
Andrew S. Bridge
Senior Vice-President, C&I Relationship Manager
​Sworkit
Greg Coleman
CEO
General Counsel
​PilieroMazza PLLC
Antonio R. Franco
Partner
Board Co-Treasurer
​TD Bank
​David Hargadon
​Regional Vice President
PNC Bank
​Andre Jaundoo
​Vice President
Truist
​Jack Litzenberger
Senior Vice President
Sandy Spring Bank
Ashumi Lee
Vice President, Commercial Banking
Penn Parking
​Lisa Renshaw
President
Immediate Past 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
Chair of the Board
​M&T Bank
​Lowell Yoder
Group Vice President, Greater Washington Middle Market

Watch the 2020 Broadcast

Photos from the 2019 Business Awards Dinner

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.
  • The Emmes Company, LLC (2020)
  • 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.
  • World Central Kitchen (2020)
  • 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.
  • Edward J. Quinn, Jr., TW Perry (2020)
  • 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."
  • Christine P. Williamson, CPA, PMP, CohnReznick LLP (2020)
  • 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."
  • Mathew Blum, Associate Administrator, Office of Federal Procurement Policy (2020)
  • 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.
  • Gregory Coleman, Sworkit (2020)
  • 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.
  • Penn Parking (2020)
  • 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.
  • CuriosityStream (2020)
  • 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.