2025 Sponsorship Oppurtunites 

AWARD SPONSOR - $12,000(2 Available) 
Present award from podium
Professional photos taken with award winner
Preferred location for Table of 10
Recognition in event website, marketing materials, and press releases
All Platinum Sponsor benefits listed below 

AWARD WINNERS RECEPTION SPONSOR - Sold Out
Provide welcome remarks at Award Winners Reception
Logo displayed on banner at Award Winners Reception
All Platinum Sponsor benefits listed below 

GENERAL RECEPTION
SPONSOR - Sold Out
Logo displayed on banner at General Reception
All Platinum Sponsor benefits listed below 

WELCOME TOAST SPONSOR - $10,000 (1 Available 
Lead on-stage toast in ballroom
All Platinum Sponsor benefits listed below 

PLATINUM SPONSOR: $10,000
Special recognition from podium during the event
Logo displayed on event jumbo screens
Logo and listing on event website and registration page
10 tickets to the invitation-only Award Winners Reception 

DESSERT BAR SPONSOR - $7,500
​(1 Available)
Logo displayed on signage at each dessert bar station
All Gold Sponsor benefits listed below 

BAR SPONSOR - $7,500
​(1 Available)
Logo displayed on signage at each bar during General Reception
All Gold Sponsor benefits listed below

GOLD SPONSOR - $7,000
2 Tickets to the invitation-only Award Winners Reception
Table of 10 at Awards Ceremony 

SILVER SPONSOR - $5,000
Table of 10 at Awards Ceremony
Company listed on the event website and registration page

AWARD WINNERS RECEPTION SPONSOR

GENERAL RECEPTION SPONSOR

GENERAL RECEPTION BEVERAGE SPONSOR

AWARD SPONSORS

PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

AT&T
Boland
Comcast
Door Dash
MCB Real Estate
Miles & Stockbridge
Olney Theatre Center for the Arts
​Verizon
Visit Montgomery
Door Dash
Global Government and Industry Partners, LLC
SPS Consulting LLC

The 2025 Business Award Dinner Honorees 

CORPORATION OF THE YEAR
​FO DAY
COMMUNITY IMPACT
Giant Food, LLC 
SMALL BUSINESS (LEADER) OF THE YEAR
David McNairy, Dabos, Inc.  
INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR
Olney Theatre Center for the Arts  
VERL ZANDERS EMERGING BUSINESS
Liatris 

BUSINESS PARTNER OF THE YEAR
Aprio 
GLOBAL IMPACT
​X-energy 
GOVERMENT PARTNER OF THE YEAR
Maryland Department of Labor 

2025 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
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
Washington Gas, a WGL Company
Nahkia Crossley
Maryland Public Affairs Lead
​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.
  • MedStar Montgomery Medical Center (2024)
  • 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.
  • Fitzgerald Automall (2024)
  • 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.
  • James P. Martinko (2024)
  • 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."
  • Erin Alllen, Contemporaries Inc. (2024)
  • 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."
  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (2024)
  • 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.
  • Rose Maria Li,  Rose Li & Associates (2024)
  • 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.
  • Digging & Rigging Inc. (2024)
  • 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.
  • Association of Zoos & Aquariums (2024)
  • 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.
  • Bark Social (2024)
  • 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.