Across the Board

Secretary of the US Treasury Will Speak To Regional Businesses.  The Board of Trade, in partnership with The Washington Post, is hosting a half-day event for Greater Washington’s business community to reflect on the state of business in our region and celebrate the Post 200.  Henry M. Paulson, Jr., Secretary, U.S. Treasury, will deliver the keynote address at the May 16 session at the JW Marriot Hotel, Pennsylvania Avenue. In addition to Paulson’s comments, speakers will present on workforce issues in The Quest for Talent and the region’s economy in Dealing with the Downturn. Learn More

Business Leaders Examine Generational Differences.  On March 19, the Board of Trade hosted "Workforce Issues in Greater Washington: Recruiting and Retaining Across Generations" to discuss new trends in recruiting and retaining qualified employees. Keynote speaker Neil Howe, author and founder of LifeCourse Associates, discussed the characteristics of the four generations in today’s workforce. Stan Smith, National Director of Next Generation Initiatives at Deloitte, and Mary Abbajay (left), Founder & Partner at Careerstone, focused on effectively managing employees across these four generations. View Photos

Welcome New Members! The Greater Washington Board of Trade is growing stronger. Some of our newest members include Bechtel Corporation, Littler Mendelson, Mercer and the National Conference Center. We look forward to welcoming even more new members with our Greater Returns program, which provides our members with more benefits for no additional charge. To recommend a new member, contact Kevin O’Neill at 202-857-5960.

Maryland General Assembly Closes. On April 7, the Maryland General Assembly adjourned for the year. The Assembly repealed a new sales tax on computer services and defeated bills that aimed to stop the construction of the Inter County Connector. The Assembly’s House Economic Matters Committee also voted down a bill that mandates a 25% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2020 and a 90% reduction of emissions by 2050. Questions?

Small Business Academy Accepting Applications.  For six years, the Board of Trade has been offering courses that teach everything you need to know about starting a business. The Small Business Academy, a six-month program for entrepreneurs, launches this spring. The Academy offers executive management training, peer-level discussion and guidance from Academy alumni. Each month, courses focus on a key aspect of business development, such as marketing and social networking, business planning and partnering to expand capacity. Hurry, the due date for applications is April 11. Download application