Commerce

The Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce is member-driven, member-supported organization that has been the voice of business in Baltimore County since 1966. On behalf of our members, we have been following the impact of the stormwater fee legislation, passed by the state last year, which mandates Baltimore County to pass enabling legislation by July. A clean Chesapeake Bay is essential for all Marylanders and especially so for businesses in Baltimore County who depend on it for their livelihood.

The Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce is member-driven, member-supported organization that has been the voice of business in Baltimore County since 1966. On behalf of our members, we have been following the impact of the stormwater fee legislation, passed by the state last year, which mandates Baltimore County to pass enabling legislation by July. A clean Chesapeake Bay is essential for all Marylanders and especially so for businesses in Baltimore County who depend on it for their livelihood.

After spending seven years as director of the Harford County Public Library Foundation, Vanessa Milio recently took over the reigns of the county's chamber of commerce earlier this year and became the organization's first female CEO. “As a leader, it is important to remember who you are and what you stand for, both personally and professionally,” Vanessa says. “As a woman in leadership, the level of scrutiny can be challenging, making it even more important to stay true to yourself and your values.” As CEO, Vanessa oversees the largest chamber of commerce in Maryland.

Costco and the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce are among more than 70 businesses and groups that support raising the minimum wage in Maryland, according Raise Maryland, a group advocating for a higher wage. "We pay a starting hourly wage of $11.50 in all states where we do business, and we are still able to keep our overhead costs low," Craig Jelinek, Costco's president and CEO, said in a statement. "Instead of minimizing wages, we know it's a lot more profitable in the long term to minimize employee turnover and maximize employee productivity, commitment and loyalty.

Vanessa Milio announced Thursday she will resign as president and CEO of the Harford County Chamber of Commerce to accept another leadership position in Maryland's nonprofit community. Milio's departure comes after two years of service in which she advanced many of the organization's goals and helped strengthen Harford's greater business community, according to a news release from the organization. "Vanessa has been an invaluable, motivated leader for our organization and Harford's greater business community.

A noon rally on Jan. 13, held by the Towson Chamber of Commerce, drew about 60 people to Patriot Plaza to support the Baltimore Ravens in advance of Sunday's Divisional Round playoff game with the Houston Texans. Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Nancy Hafford had urged residents to "wear your favorite purple garb ... and show that Towson has more spirit than any other town in Maryland. " About 60 people heeded that call, and took part in an celebration and "home team" photo near the large Ravens logo, painted at the plaza earlier this week.

WASHINGTON -- As a big-time Washington insider, Commerce Secretary Ron Brown has fashioned a lucrative career in and around politics. But his deals and handshakes have also generated persistent suspicions that now threaten to overshadow his remarkable success.In the new GOP-dominated political landscape, Republicans have turned a spotlight on Mr. Brown's finances. At their urging, the Justice Department is reviewing his business dealings, the first step in an investigative process that could lead to the naming of a special prosecutor.

Commerce Corp., a Maryland-based distributor of lawn and garden supplies, said Thursday it is laying off some employees as it seeks to find a buyer or develop a new format. CEO Richard Lessans said the privately held company is still trying to determine how many of its 280 employees nationwide will be laid off. Commerce is based in Curtis Bay and has facilities in Grand Rapids, Mich., and Ontario, Calif. Some sales staff were told they were laid off. "The business is not closing," Lessans said.

OTTAWA -- Commerce Bancorp agreed to accept an $8.5 billion offer from Toronto-Dominion Bank yesterday, three months after the removal of its maverick founder, Vernon W. Hill II, made the sale of the company inevitable. Hill, a real estate developer, had dominated the New Jersey bank since its founding 34 years ago. But the mingling of bank business with his political interests and the businesses of its directors, officers and family led to his downfall. While Hill no longer has an executive role at Commerce, he remains a major shareholder.

Bill Seccurro, president of the Harford County Chamber of Commerce, the largest such organization in the state with more than 1,200 members, will retire at the end of the year. He joined the chamber in 2000, after serving for nearly 35 years with the Harford County Public Schools, the last 18 years as supervisor of career and technology education. Members credit him with bringing financial and staff stability to the organization. Five years into his tenure, he retired the chamber's mortgage on its office building in Bel Air. The chamber's board has formed a search committee to find a successor to fill this top leadership position.

Big Lots Stores Inc. has agreed to purchase inventory from the financially ailing Commerce Corp. for an amount expected to top $6 million, according to recent bankruptcy court documents. The entire proceeds are slated to go to M&T Bank, which was owed $17.9 million by Commerce in principal alone as of late February, court documents said. Creditors of Commerce filed an involuntary bankruptcy petition last month against the Curtis Bay-based distributor of lawn and garden supplies.

Vanessa Milio announced Thursday she will resign as president and CEO of the Harford County Chamber of Commerce to accept another leadership position in Maryland's nonprofit community. Milio's departure comes after two years of service in which she advanced many of the organization's goals and helped strengthen Harford's greater business community, according to a news release from the organization. "Vanessa has been an invaluable, motivated leader for our organization and Harford's greater business community.

Several creditors of Commerce Corp. filed an involuntary bankruptcy petition against the Maryland-based distributor of lawn and garden supplies. In the petition filed last week, five creditors claim they are owed a combined $1.73 million from the Curtis Bay distributor and want it placed in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation. The creditors are DeWitt Co. Inc. in Missouri; Franklin Electric Co. Inc. of Indiana; Dramm Corp. of Wisconsin; and Premier Horticulture Inc. and J.R. Peters Inc., both of Pennsylvania.

Twenty-two outstanding educators from area schools were honored at a dinner Jan. 10 by the Chesapeake Gateway Chamber of Commerce, which honors teachers as part of their annual awards and installation dinner,. Superintendent of Baltimore County Public Schools Dallas Dance was on hand to honor the Baltimore County Public School educators Teachers from Carney Elementary, to Kenwood High School, to the Community College of Baltimore County were selected on the basis of having five or more years of service in education, classroom leadership, involvement in extra-curricular activities, respect from colleagues and service as positive role model for students.

The Better Business Bureau of Greater Maryland is warning that Commerce Energy representatives are using "strong-arm tactics" when going door-to-door selling residential electric services in some neighborhoods. "According to complaints, sales representatives visit the same house repeatedly even after being asked to leave, not solicit, not come back or even when told the resident is ill," the BBB said Thursday in a release. The group suggests consumers screen solicitors at their front doors.

Each year your Towson Chamber spends over $100,000 to provide events and services in our community. Our executive committee and board of directors will be meeting in the near future to plan for 2013. Please read the following and give us your much-appreciated feedback. As we enter into the new year, it is a time to reflect on the past and prepare ourselves for the future. The Towson Chamber's first priority is to support our business community. We do that in a variety of ways. We host over 60 outdoor events each year.

WASHINGTON -- The extent of John Huang's access to sensitive intelligence on overseas trade while he was an official of the Department of Commerce is becoming a key focus of congressional inquiries into the international banker and heavyweight Democratic fund-raiser.Investigators say Huang might have had access to a wealth of financial and commercial information that could benefit his former employers at the Lippo Group, a multibillion-dollar Indonesian conglomerate with interests spanning the Pacific.

WASHINGTON -- Commerce Secretary William M. Daley has asked the department's inspector general to expand his investigation into whether officials systematically concealed and destroyed documents sought in a lawsuit, after a federal judge made those charges in a stinging rebuke of the department, officials said last week.Judge Royce C. Lamberth compared the behavior of former Commerce officials to that of "con artists" and "scofflaws." In harshly criticizing the department in a ruling last month, Lamberth demonstrated that he had lost patience in trying to supervise a lawsuit brought by Judicial Watch, a conservative group, against the department.

Commerce Corp., a lawn and garden supplies distributor based in Curtis Bay, notified state regulators that it was laying off between 60 and 70 workers. Commerce Corp., a lawn and garden supplies distributor based in Curtis Bay, notified state regulators Thursday that it was laying off between 60 and 70 workers. According to the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, Commerce initially said it was closing its principal office at 7603 Energy Parkway. The company later said it was not shutting operations there, but instead had started to lay off workers on Dec. 28, according to the agency.

Commerce Corp., a Maryland-based distributor of lawn and garden supplies, said Thursday it is laying off some employees as it seeks to find a buyer or develop a new format. CEO Richard Lessans said the privately held company is still trying to determine how many of its 280 employees nationwide will be laid off. Commerce is based in Curtis Bay and has facilities in Grand Rapids, Mich., and Ontario, Calif. Some sales staff were told they were laid off. "The business is not closing," Lessans said.