Bay Business Group -- BBG CBA Join Forces

News Release - For immediate release

For more information, contact:
- Lynda Striegel, President of the BBGCBA at 301-855-2246 or email

(North Beach and Dunkirk, MD) - The 85-member Beach Business Group and the 30-member Calvert Business Alliance are merging to create a new entity to provide more services - and representative clout - to small businesses in northern Calvert and southern Anne Arundel Counties.

The new organization will be known as the Beach Business Group/Calvert Business Alliance or BBGCBA for short [SEE FOOTNOTE].

“The merger will offer our small business members new opportunities to take advantage of strength in numbers,” said Lyn Striegel, BBG President who will also be President of the new Group.

Ms. Striegel adds, “We are excited to welcome the members of the CBA into our group. Their energy, enthusiasm and expertise will benefit all of us. The merger also presents us with the opportunity to expand our scope beyond the beaches areas of Chesapeake Beach, North Beach, and Deale and into the more populated areas of Dunkirk, Owings, and Huntingtown.” Our combined small businesses now serve a large portion of Northern Calvert and Southern Anne Arundel Counties.”

CBA leader Gary Armstrong, a new Vice President of the BBGCBA, will chair a new committee on Services and Cost Savings dedicated to finding and offering benefits to members that will take advantage of the estimated $10 million combined purchasing power of our 115 members.

“I am very happy to see BBG and CBA, two great groups, work together to support our local members and communities. The BBGCBA will have shared strength and focus, and provide best practices to help the small business owners throughout Southern Maryland. We have great products and services that now will be able to shine brighter, together as one voice. Resources like ‘buying power, marketing power and better ways to promote their businesses’ will help all members.”

Gary adds, “Networking is key to making great things happen, and we will provide many opportunities for networking for our members. We’re creating a true partnership between BBGCBA and the community. You will love what we do as the new formed BBGCBA.”

The new Board of Directors of the BBGCBA will consist of the following members:

Lynda Striegel, Law office of Striegel and Buchheister in North Beach, President

Gary Armstrong, owner of Heavenly Chicken and Ribs in Dunkirk, Vice President

Diane Burr, owner of Bayside Partners Marketing & Management Consulting, Vice President

Pat Carpenter, owner of Celebrate! event and floral design in Chesapeake Beach, Vice President

Eric Franklin, President and CEO of ERIMAX, INC., a technology and management solutions company based in Dunkirk, Vice President

Norma Robertson of Chesapeake Beach, REMax Realtor in the Twin Beaches, Vice President

Leanne Githens, owner of Bay Treasures, Secretary

Russ Mogel of Chesapeake Beach, owner of the charter boat, Mary Lou Too, Treasurer

Bob Munro of Chesapeake Beach, owner of Bay Shore Webs, continues as Webmaster

Businesses interested in learning more about the BBGCBA are invited to attend an upcoming meting. The September BBGCBA meeting will be at Herrington on the Bay in Rose Haven on September 16 at 8:30 a.m. while the October 21 meeting will be at Friday’s Creek Winery in Owings at 7:00 p.m. Following the merger, meetings will be alternated between mornings and evenings in the future, and will continue to be held on the third Wednesday of each month.

President Lyn Striegel adds, “We have made great strides in the past five years, growing the membership and offering such services as free weekly E-News, informational monthly meetings, networking opportunities, a speaker’s bureau, and free website listings. We remain a non-profit organization whose sole mission is to support our members, and 2010 promises to be an even more exciting year for the BBGCBA. Our primary goals will be to produce cost savings opportunities for members and expand our visibility into the communities we serve by producing an online personalized membership directory. “

The “Taste of the Beaches” Cookbook project has also been a tremendous success for the BBG, with the first 1,000 cookbooks being sold out. A new shipment is on order, and reservations are now being accepted for these books, which would make perfect holiday gifts. The Boys & Girls Club Bayside Unit receives $1.00 contribution from each cookbook sold, and the rest of the proceeds will benefit local business interests. The Boys and Girls Club will formally receive a $1,000 contribution at the BBGCBA meeting on September 16th.

For additional information, explore this website.

The above is excerpted from a press release which occurred before the new name was finalized. A copy of this press release can be printed here.

News Release - For immediate release For more information, contact: - Lynda Striegel, President of the BBGCBA at 301-855-2246 or email (North Beach and Dunkirk, MD) - The 85-member Beach Business Group and the 30-member Calvert Business Alliance are merging to create a new entity to provide more services - and representative clout - to small businesses in northern Calvert and southern Anne Arundel Counties. The new organization will be known as the Beach Business Group/Calvert Business Alliance or BBGCBA for short [SEE FOOTNOTE]. “The merger will offer our small business members new opportunities to take advantage of strength in numbers,” said Lyn Striegel, BBG President who will also be President of the new Group. Ms. Striegel adds, “We are excited to welcome the members of the CBA into our group. Their energy, enthusiasm and expertise will benefit all of us. The merger also presents us with the opportunity to expand our scope beyond the beaches areas of Chesapeake Beach, North Beach, and Deale and into the more populated areas of Dunkirk, Owings, and Huntingtown.” Our combined small businesses now serve a large portion of Northern Calvert and Southern Anne Arundel Counties.” CBA leader Gary Armstrong, a new Vice President of the BBGCBA, will chair a new committee on Services and Cost Savings dedicated to finding and offering benefits to members that will take advantage of the estimated $10 million combined purchasing power of our 115 members. “I am very happy to see BBG and CBA, two great groups, work together to support our local members and communities. The BBGCBA will have shared strength and focus, and provide best practices to help the small business owners throughout Southern Maryland. We have great products and services that now will be able to shine brighter, together as one voice. Resources like ‘buying power, marketing power and better ways to promote their businesses’ will help all members.” Gary adds, “Networking is key to making great things happen, and we will provide many opportunities for networking for our members. We’re creating a true partnership between BBGCBA and the community. You will love what we do as the new formed BBGCBA.” The new Board of Directors of the BBGCBA will consist of the following members: Lynda Striegel, Law office of Striegel and Buchheister in North Beach, President Gary Armstrong, owner of Heavenly Chicken and Ribs in Dunkirk, Vice President Diane Burr, owner of Bayside Partners Marketing & Management Consulting, Vice President Pat Carpenter, owner of Celebrate! event and floral design in Chesapeake Beach, Vice President Eric Franklin, President and CEO of ERIMAX, INC., a technology and management solutions company based in Dunkirk, Vice President Norma Robertson of Chesapeake Beach, REMax Realtor in the Twin Beaches, Vice President Leanne Githens, owner of Bay Treasures, Secretary Russ Mogel of Chesapeake Beach, owner of the charter boat, Mary Lou Too, Treasurer Bob Munro of Chesapeake Beach, owner of Bay Shore Webs, continues as Webmaster Businesses interested in learning more about the BBGCBA are invited to attend an upcoming meting. The September BBGCBA meeting will be at Herrington on the Bay in Rose Haven on September 16 at 8:30 a.m. while the October 21 meeting will be at Friday’s Creek Winery in Owings at 7:00 p.m. Following the merger, meetings will be alternated between mornings and evenings in the future, and will continue to be held on the third Wednesday of each month. President Lyn Striegel adds, “We have made great strides in the past five years, growing the membership and offering such services as free weekly E-News, informational monthly meetings, networking opportunities, a speaker’s bureau, and free website listings. We remain a non-profit organization whose sole mission is to support our members, and 2010 promises to be an even more exciting year for the BBGCBA. Our primary goals will be to produce cost savings opportunities for members and expand our visibility into the communities we serve by producing an online personalized membership directory. “ The “Taste of the Beaches” Cookbook project has also been a tremendous success for the BBG, with the first 1,000 cookbooks being sold out. A new shipment is on order, and reservations are now being accepted for these books, which would make perfect holiday gifts. The Boys & Girls Club Bayside Unit receives $1.00 contribution from each cookbook sold, and the rest of the proceeds will benefit local business interests. The Boys and Girls Club will formally receive a $1,000 contribution at the BBGCBA meeting on September 16th. For additional information, explore this website.
The above is excerpted from a press release which occurred before the new name was finalized. A copy of this press release can be printed here.