Business in Frederick County comes in many different forms and the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce’s membership proudly reflects that diversity. The Chamber offers its members spaces and opportunities to grow and connect in ways that matter most to them. Whether striving to meet other business leaders in the community, create visibility for an organization, or simply form purposeful relationships with likeminded professionals, the Chamber provides the chance for you to engage, thrive and develop. With over a hundred events a year, as well as a variety of committees and programs, the connections that Chamber members make are constantly turning into momentum. These stories highlight member businesses and individuals who dove into these opportunities and created meaningful progress in a variety of ways.
Nikkie Byrd, Sage Cakery
Nikkie Byrd, founder of Sage Cakery, joined the Chamber in 2021. Since then she has jumped headfirst into everything that the Chamber has to offer, making her experience unique and valuable in her own way. Nikkie’s support of S.H.E. Week, led her to join the Chamber’s Women In Business committee. Here she found a supportive and engaging group that she has formed close friendships and collaborations with. Nikkie shares, “Being surrounded by strong, supportive women in business is something truly special. There’s a real sense of power in showing up for one another and our community and I’m grateful to be part of it.”
Nikkie’s success goes beyond committee connections. Opening Sage Cakery right before the pandemic, she has created a thriving and well-respected business in the county. She celebrated her five year anniversary with a ribbon cutting in collaboration with the Chamber. Nikkie is an admirable example of a hardworking entrepreneur who believes in the value of putting yourself out there and making a difference in your community. She hopes to continue to engage, adding, “I hope my Chamber involvement continues to connect me with people who can support and grow alongside me through each new chapter. My goal is to mentor, inspire and support others as we continue to grow and evolve together.” SageCakery.com
Cameron Harris and Brian Munday Jr., Purple Donut Studios
Meeting different professionals in the community has often led to new and unexpected opportunities. Cameron Harris and Brian Munday Jr. are fantastic examples of Chamber members who have truly engaged with events and made a lasting connection. Running individual businesses in 2023, the two met at a Chamber Generation Connect mixer and hit it off immediately. Deeper conversations led to the creation of their joint company, Purple Donut Studios. They share, “That connection changed the trajectory of our careers and genuinely wouldn’t have happened without the Chamber. It has played a huge role in both our personal networks and professional growth.”
Boundless and exciting opportunities occur when you are bold enough to put yourself out there and be consistent. Cameron encourages those who are interested in membership but don’t know how to start to, “Show up consistently, and show up as yourself. Join a committee, attend events regularly, introduce yourself to someone new, and follow up after that conversation. You don’t need a perfect elevator pitch, you just need to be willing to connect authentically. The more you invest in the community, the more the community invests back in you.”
Purple Donut Studios has recently opened their first official studio space and attribute this amazing milestone to the connections they have made with like-minded individuals in the Frederick County community. PurpleDonutStudios.com
Kaylin Corsiatto, Dill Dinkers
Joining the Chamber presents someone with a variety of opportunities to get involved. Kaylin Corsiatto, owner of Dill Dinkers Frederick, joined the Chamber in November 2024 and has already created lasting partnerships. The Chamber’s Generation Connect committee had the opportunity to host a mixer in collaboration with Dill Dinkers at their facility. This event focused on wellness and all of the different forms it comes in and even allowed attendees to try out the pickleball courts and learn more about the game. Kaylin has also collaborated with members that she has met through the Chamber to put on a variety of networking events in their space, allowing participants to meet new people and be active at the same time.
As a newer member, Kaylin shares this advice, “The people in the Chamber are very kind, and they are ready to welcome you. As an introverted person, I can understand how intimidating it can feel to walk into a room full of people you do not know. However, I can assure you many others feel the same way. We are always willing to make room for you in the conversation.” Kaylin is a wonderful example of someone who has taken the opportunities presented to her in full stride, allowing herself to engage with the community while also creating one of her own. She looks forward to hosting more events in the Dill Dinkers facility and participating in more events that focus on professional development. DillDinkers.com
Marty Bates, Bates Architects
Membership also holds value for long standing businesses in the community . Marty Bates, owner of Bates Architects, has been running his business in the same downtown Frederick office for their entire twenty years of operation. Bates Architects' focus on community engagement has made them a stand out organization that continuously puts positive energy into the community. Marty shares his thoughts, “Running a successful business obviously requires providing quality and creative services but also requires a strong and growing exposure in the community serviced by the business. The Chamber is a proven way of accomplishing this exposure. You can never be too involved in your community.”
Recently, Bates Architects hosted a ribbon cutting for their twentieth anniversary in collaboration with the Chamber. This significant event, brought many community members to celebrate the goal that, “BA sees its future in the City as a service provider as well as helping to improve the built environment and to support our local businesses, neighbors and friends. BA’s growing portfolio of new work with institutional clients, multi-family, and specialty users will provide broader services to the community and further opportunities to support the Chamber in their mission.” With supporting and engaging the community as their goal, there is no doubt that Marty Bates and his team will continue to thrive as they have for the past twenty years. BatesArchitectSPC.com
Valerie Pearson, Mount St Mary’s University
Success comes in many different forms. Valerie Pearson, Director of Recruitment for the Division of Continuing Studies at Mount St Mary’s University, has undoubtedly created a name for herself in the community. Her unwavering commitment to engagement is an inspiration for anyone looking to professionally develop. Actively involved in multiple Chamber committees and programs, Valerie has served as the Chair of Generation Connect, participated in Leadership Frederick County, and volunteers through the Ambassador program. “The [LFC] program has blessed me with close friendships that I believe I will have for the rest of my life. I learned a great deal about Frederick through LFC, but I also believe that I became a stronger and more confident leader through the program as well”
Valerie has created opportunities that have impacted both herself as well as the organization she works for. “I love creating new partnerships for the Mount, and these partnerships are always mutually beneficial. They help us recruit more students, but they also offer the employees of our partner organizations tuition discounts to make their academic goals more affordable.”
Valerie continues to be actively involved in the Chamber, making a lasting positive impact on everyone she meets. Just as she has had the opportunity to develop, she also goes out of her way to lift others up as well. msmary.edu
Sue Hough, Octavo Design & Nick Marchetti, AMI Signs
Everyone joins the Chamber with partnership opportunities in mind and it is exciting when they happen in an extremely organic way. Chamber Board Members, Sue Hough of Octavo Designs and Nick Marchetti of AMI Signs, have recently worked together on a variety of projects. Between Sue’s creative perspective and Nick’s commitment to quality installation, they have made a fantastic team.
Sue and Nick’s frequent collaborations began with the installation of the branding in the Chamber office. Sue shares, “Since that first project, we’ve continued working together on a variety of wall graphics for local businesses, as well as vehicle graphics. The Chamber played a key role in bringing us together, and it’s been a great example of how relationships formed there can turn into strong, long-term creative collaborations.”
Both Sue and Nick have invested a great deal of time engaging with the Chamber community and taking advantage of the resources available. Their knowledge and openness to meeting new people and learning new things have helped them in their individual and joint successes. Nick shares this piece of advice, “Chamber events provide a wide variety of formats, targeted attendees and types of interactions. Try all of the events and you will determine which are the best for you and your business. Your goal should be to meet a few new members, learn about their businesses and how you may be able to help each other make new connections within the community.”
8vodesigns.com | amisigns.com
“The more you invest in the community, the more the community invests back in you.”