Thank you for making the 2024 Business Awards Dinner a success!

2024 Business Awards Dinner

GLOBAL IMPACT AWARD

Association of Zoos & Aquariums
Co-Presented by CohnReznick LLP and Truist 

CORPORATE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

MedStar Montgomery Medical Center
Presented by Roberts Oxygen Company

EMERGING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Bark Social
Presented by Kaiser Permanente

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AWARD

Fitzgerald Auto Mall
Co-Presented by the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) and National Children's Center

BUSINESS PARTNER OF THE YEAR

Erin Allen
President
Contemporaries, Inc.
Presented by A. Prentice Ray & Associates, LLC

SMALL BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR

Rose Maria Li, PhD, MBA
President & CEO
Rose Li & Associates
Presented by Miles & Stockbridge

GOVERNMENT PARTNER OF THE YEAR AWARD

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
​Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU)
Presented by Contemporaries, Inc.

LIFETIME CORPORATE & COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD

James P. Martinko
CPA, Regional Managing Partner – Mid-Atlantic
CohnReznick LLP
Presented by Marsh McLennan Agency

SPIRIT OF FREE ENTERPRISE AWARD

Digging & Rigging Inc.
Presented by M&T Bank

AWARD WINNERS RECEPTION SPONSOR

WELCOME SPONSOR

GENERAL RECEPTION BEVERAGE SPONSOR

AWARD SPONSORS

PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS

A. Prentice Ray & Associates, LLC (APRA)
Adventist HealthCare
BGE
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
CohnReznick LLP
EagleBank
Federal Realty Investment Trust
​Fitzgerald Auto Mall
Gilbane Building Company
Holy Cross Health
HUGHES, An EchoStar Company
ITegrity, Inc.
Lerch, Early & Brewer, Chtd.
Lockheed Martin Corporation
Madison Services Group, Inc.
MedStar Montgomery Medical Center
​Montgomery College
​​​PEPCO, an Exelon Company
PilieroMazza PLLC
Red Coats, Inc./Admiral Security/Datawatch Systems
Rose Li & Associates
Sandy Spring Bank
Shapiro & Duncan, Inc.
Sodexo, Inc.
​Suburban Hospital
​TD Bank
The Universities at Shady Grove
​United Solutions, LLC
United States Pharmacopeia
Washington Gas, a WGL Company
Westat
​WSSC Water

SILVER SPONSORS

BOLAND
​Cordia Resources by Cherry Bekaert
​Digging & Rigging, Inc.
​Jackson Lewis P.C.
​Purple Line Transit Partners
​Rodgers Consulting
​Visit Montgomery / WorkSource Montgomery

2024 Guest List

A. Prentice Ray & Associates, LLC (APRA)
Adventist HealthCare
AstraZeneca
​Bark Social
​Beveridge & Diamond, P.C.
​BOLAND
​Brontide LLC
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
CohnReznick LLP
​Contemporaries, Inc.
Cordia Resources by Cherry Bekaert
Digging & Rigging, Inc.
EagleBank
​EveryMind Inc
Federal Realty Investment Trust
​Fitzgerald Auto Mall
Giant Food
Gilbane Building Company
Holy Cross Health
HUGHES, An EchoStar Company
Humanim
Information Systems Solutions, Inc.
​Interfaith Works
International Public Management Association HR,
Montgomery County Chapter (IPMA HR MCC)
ITegrity, Inc.
​Jackson Lewis P.C.
​JP Morgan Chase
JP Morgan Private Bank
​Kaiser Permanente
​KID Museum
Lantian Development
Lerch, Early & Brewer, Chtd.
Lockheed Martin Corporation
​M&T Bank
Madison Services Group, Inc.
Marriott International
​​Marsh McLennan Agency
​​MedStar Montgomery Medical Center
Miles & Stockbridge
​​Montgomery College
​Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC)
National Children's Center
​NolanMackenzie
​Old Glory DC (Major League Rugby)
​​​PEPCO, an Exelon Company
PilieroMazza PLLC
Pinnacle Financial Partners
​PNC Bank
Potomac Detailing
​Prime House Property Management LLC
Purple Line Transit Partners
​PwC
Red Coats, Inc./Admiral Security/Datawatch Systems
​Roberts Oxygen Company
Rodgers Consulting
Rose Li & Associates
Sandy Spring Bank
Schooley Mitchell of Germantown
Shapiro & Duncan, Inc.
Simply Fresh Events LLC
Sodexo, Inc.
​Suburban Hospital
T and T Consulting Services, Inc.
​TD Bank
The Universities at Shady Grove
​Tierra Events
​Total Wine & More
​Truist
United Solutions, LLC
United States Pharmacopeia
​USP Holdings
Visit Montgomery / WorkSource Montgomery
Washington Business Journal
Washington Gas, a WGL Company
​Westat
The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
​​WSSC Water

2024 Business Awards Dinner Selection Committee

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

Chair of the Board
​​The Universities at Shady Grove
Anne Khademian, Ph.D.
Executive Director
First Vice-Chair
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the
​Mid-Atlantic States, Inc.
William N. Wiechmann
Vice President and Regional Counsel:
​Mid-Atlantic States Region
Second Vice-Chair
PNC Bank
​Andre Jaundoo
​Vice President
Immediate Past Chair of the Board
​Small Business Committee Chair
Contemporaries, Inc.
Erin Allen
President
Treasurer
​​M&T Bank
​Lowell Yoder
Group Vice President, Greater Washington Middle Market
Secretary
Washington Gas, a WGL Company
Brandon Todd
Director, Corporate Public Policy
Infrastructure & Land Use Committee Chair
​Beveridge & Diamond, P.C.
Gus B. Bauman, Esq.
Counsel
​Legislative Affairs Committee Chair
Suburban Hospital
Leslie Ford Weber
Director Campus, Government & Community Affairs
​Montgomery County
Westat
Janet Rosenbaum
Vice President and Chief Growth Officer
​CohnReznick LLP
Christine Williamson
Partner, Government Contracting Industry Practice

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.
  • Westat (2023)
  • Lockheed Martin Corporation (2022)
  • James G. Davis Construction Corporation (2021)
  • 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.
  • Marriott International (2023)
  • EagleBank Foundation (2022)
  • CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (2021)
  • 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)

Lifetime Corporate and Community Impact Award
Previously called the Emeritus Business Leader Award (2008-2021)

This award is presented to an individual approaching retirement 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.
  • Sharon Friedman, Advocate for Healthier Communities (2023)
  • Roberts Oxygen Company (2022)
  • Cathy Hughes, Urban One, Inc. (2021)
  • 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.
  • Compost Crew (2021)
  • 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

This award recognizes a business or individual 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."
  • PilieroMazza PLLC (2023)
  • Stephen P. Ramaley, Miles & Stockbridge, (2022)
  • Live Oak Bank (2021)
  • 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."
  • The Honorable Ben Cardin, U.S. Senate (2023)
  • The Honorable Kweisi Mfume, U.S. House of Representatives (2022)
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2021)
  • 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.
  • Tarandeep Bawa, ITegrity, Inc. (2023)
  • Zhensen Huang, Precise Software Solutions (2022)
  • Mitchell Wool, The Bean Bag Deli & Catering Co. (2021)
  • 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.
  • Silver Diner (2023)
  • Eat the Change (2022)
  • 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)

Global Impact Award Winners

This award recognizes an organization or individual headquartered in Montgomery County or Metro Maryland that has had a sustained and significant positive impact on national and global economic opportunity and wellbeing.
  • AstraZeneca (2023)
  • Novavax (2022)
  • U.S. Pharmacopeia (2021)

Visionary Award

Beginning in 2020, this award was sometimes presented at both the Business Awards Dinner and the Annual Dinner. 
  • James Waggoner, U.S. Department of State (2023)​
  • University of Maryland College Park (2021)
  • Dr. Francis Collins and Dr. Anthony Fauci, The National Institutes of Health (2020)
This award recognizes an individual or organization for its innovation and tremendous contributions to the County and beyond.

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.
  • ABCD & Company (2023)
  • Tetracore (2022)
  • Rehab 2 Perform (2021)
  • 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.