Carroll Businesses Get ConnectedThe Carroll County Board of Commissioners along with the Carroll County Department of Economic Development, 
Carroll Community College and Carroll County Chamber of Commerce hosted the "Get Business Now" conference earlier this month to inspire small business owners through local success stories and connect them to new business opportunities.
To focus on “Getting it Right” Skyline Network Engineering President Brian Holsonbake said, “Don’t follow the business norm - create a positive customer-focused workplace culture; listen for customer pain points and work to solve real problems. Watch industry trends and move forward assuming that there really is a win-win-win solution.”
Lean expert Kevin Haines, Operations Manager at Cobham Mission Control Systems in Westminster stated, “Lean systems are people systems, so employers must provide the right tools for success and create employee engagement and trust. These combined efforts will produce significant product and service value to the customer.”
The best way to “Get Known” according to marketing guru Laura Kirby-Meck, CEO of Sonata Venture Solutions, is to create a strategic marketing plan employing all available media. Laura says, “Be sure that your plan is 
measurable and relays consistent, repeatable messages about your product or service.”
And, Randy Goldstein, owner of BizMarquee.com said, “Take advantage of every networking and speaking engagement and business opportunities that arise from chance encounters when you least expect it.”
Maryland Department of Business & Economic Development Director of the Office of Small Business, Sean McEvoy, highlighted the department’s many small business resources available online at www.choosemaryland.org.
Economic Development Deputy Director Denise Beaver urged attendees to Buy Local, Build Local and Be Local to support Carroll’s economic growth. And, she introduced the Carroll County Economic Development team members that work in business, agriculture and workforce development as well as tourism and marketing.
Carroll County Economic Development team
members include:
Paige Sunderland, Business Development Manager
Gabe Zepp, Agriculture Development Specialist
JoAnna Crone, Tourism Manager
Denise Rickell, Business & Employment Resource Ctr. Mgr.
Brian Snyder, Research & Data Specialist
Carroll Business Path LaunchedCommissioner Doug Howard introduced the Carroll Business Path – a new consolidated system of small business services based at the Miller Center for Small 
Business at Carroll Community College.
Carroll County will hire a Small Business Navigator who will assess business client needs and deliver the “right mix” of small business services that will help the business to achieve its’ customer and growth goals.
Business services include:
Business plan development Market analysis for your product or service Sources for investment capital Technology transfer information Managerial and technical support services Educational resources Referrals to industry experts and business consultantsThe small business provider network includes Carroll County Government/Department of Economic Development resources, Carroll County Small Business Development Center counseling, Carroll Community College training services, and Carroll County Chamber of Commerce networking events.
Visit www.CarrollBusinessPath.com
Carroll County Small Business Development Center Counselor AnnouncedCarroll resident Amy Wallace 
has been hired as the Carroll County Small Business Development Center counselor effective January 6th.
Ms. Wallace has extensive market research and analytical experience with 10 years of non-profit and private sector business experience. Through the use of qualitative and quantitative research, she has aided 14 Fortune 100/500 companies in sales development, change management and executive decision making.
Using this expertise, Ms. Wallace will help small business clients effectively use a myriad of resources to gather and evaluate market research data to guide strategic business planning and decisions. Recently, Ms. Wallace has been working with multiple small business ventures with revenues from $250K to $8M to develop strategic marketing initiatives.
Ms. Wallace graduated from the University of Baltimore with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing/Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration with a focus on leadership.
For free confidential business counseling services, call 410-386-2317 or email awallace@carrollbiz.org.
