Across the Board
Our biweekly Across the Board e-newsletter keeps you informed of Board of Trade activities. Members and non-members can subscribe.
November 1, 2007
Potomac Conference Identifies Priorities for a "Green" Region. More than 200 business, government and civic leaders gathered at the 2007 Potomac Conference Oct. 29-30 to discuss "Green as a Competitive Advantage" and forge an agenda for environmental sustainability in Greater Washington. Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine and DC Mayor Adrian Fenty shared their vision for a green region, and attendees participated in a dialogue about best practices and innovative, new technologies for energy management, air and water quality improvement, construction and transportation. The conference worked through a series of breakout sessions to develop an action agenda with four priorities for the region: 1) raise awareness about the region’s green assets & practices; 2) create business incentives for companies that adopt green practices; 3) set a regional greenhouse gas reduction target; and 4) support regional organizations’ plans for transit-oriented development and alternative transportation. To see the initial findings of the Green Benchmarks study, click here. Watch for a full conference report and next steps. Questions View Photos Read Washington Business Journal Article
**A very special thank you to our overall conference sponsor, Pepco; Presenting Partners: Bank of America, Calvert, Fannie Mae, Meyer Foundation; Keynote Speaker sponsor, Marsh; Green Benchmarks sponsor, Cassidy & Pinkard Colliers; Conference sponsor, rand* construction corporation; Workshop sponsors: Brookfield Properties, Gensler, and Trinity (Washington) University; Voting Technology sponsors: BDO Seidman, CB Richard Ellis and Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.**
Board of Trade Urges Maryland Leaders to Invest $600 Million in New Transportation Funding. A special session of the Maryland General Assembly to address the current $1.7 billion budget deficit began this week as called for by Gov. Martin O’Malley. On Wednesday, the Board of Trade testified at the Joint Hearing on the Governor’s proposed Transportation Investment Act along with the Greater Baltimore Committee and the Maryland Chamber of Commerce. The Board of Trade called for a minimum of $600 million in new transportation funding, citing that the majority of these revenues should come from transportation related sources including a gas tax and titling fees. Read Testimony
Celebrate Small Business on Nov. 7. Join the Board of Trade on Nov. 7 for an inspiring evening with diverse entrepreneurs who have benefited from the Small Business Network’s programs. Network with large corporations who support growing small companies and congratulate successful small firms who have exhibited regional staying power and growth. The dinner will feature a keynote address by Stephen P. Hills, President & General Manager, The Washington Post, on the role of innovation, passion and entrepreneurship throughout his career and as the former founder of a small, regional publication until his time at the Post. Register
Great Places to Work Celebrates with Substance. This year’s Great Places to Work luncheon, in partnership with the Washingtonian Magazine, attracted a sold-out crowd and honored regional organizations that excel at making their employees motivated. Keynote speaker Paul S. Speranza, Jr., Chairman of the Board of Directors, US Chamber of Commerce, and Vice Chairman, General Counsel and Secretary, Wegmans Food Markets, Inc., discussed the root of good business: how you treat your employees affects how they treat your customers, which impacts your bottom line. For the first time the Board of Trade hosted a morning conference on “Becoming a Great Place to Work”. This conference briefed small growing firms, middle market companies and their growing human resources departments and HR professionals on trends in the workplace and region. Ken Tucker discussed “Exceeding the Expectations of Your Workforce” while panelists Lori Golino, Jill Goebel, Jennifer Schramm and Tracey Watts discussed “Solutions that Create a Strong Workplace” and offered realistic techniques to enhance firms recruitment and retention efforts. View Panelists' Bios View Photos
Other News
Business Hall of Fame Dinner is Nov. 27. Join the Board of Trade, Junior Achievement and The Washingtonian for the 2007 Washington Business Hall of Fame dinner and awards ceremony on Nov. 27. This year's honorees are: Sidney O. Dewberry, Chairman, Dewberry; Vernon E. Jordan, Jr., Senior Managing Director, Lazard Frères & Co. LLC; John P. McDaniel, Chief Executive Officer, MedStar Health, Inc.; David Reznick, Chairman, Reznick Group; and David M. Rubenstein, Co-Founder and Managing Director, The Carlyle Group. This special event brings together well over 1,000 of the region's business leaders for an evening of celebration and recognition of lifetime accomplishments. To purchase your table, visit www.washingtonbusinesshalloffame.org.
