The Hunt Valley Business Forum hosted the
2018 Annual Meeting at Hunt Valley Country Club
on Thursday, April 12th.
The 2018 Annual Meeting was a success! Our member-only event was well attended and very informative. Our members were provided with breakfast and the opportunity to network. Attendees ranged from long-time members, to new members!
Matt Blum, the new HVBF Executive Director, shared with our members that 2017 had an 88.3% renewal rate. Upcoming events will be focused on HR Roundtable events, Lunch & Learn's with a focus on Marketing, Business Development, and Technology in Business. In addition, more networking events will be added to the calendar for new members, and evening & breakfast social's for all members.
New for 2018 is the Taste of Hunt Valley event. This will be HVBF's major event for 2018 and replace the Annual Golf Tournament. The goal of this event is to be more inclusive for the entire membership base, while also highlighting all the great restaurants and businesses in Hunt Valley! This event will take place in the fall, stay tuned for details and event announcements!
The Strategic Outlook for 2018 is focused on "not reinventing the wheel". In going back to our "value proposition," the forum will continue to host networking events, educational events, and recruitment of new members and businesses. We hope you will use our website and social channels to connect with us and promote your business!
Pat Reid, HVBF Treasurer, reported the forum financials as of December 31, 2017. Compared to the previous year, total assets were higher. Despite having larger expenses, the 2017 total revenue was greater than 2016. The Taste of Hunt Valley event is expected to be the largest revenue generating event for 2018.
The Stakeholders Committee, developed in 2017, focuses on bringing a voice to the area. The goals of the committee are to improve rush hour traffic flow, ensure pedestrian safety, and balance light rail & vehicle traffic. In November, officials from the Baltimore County DPW and State Highway Administration came to the committee's panel discussion. We encourage you to get involved with the committee and have your voice heard! Please visit our calendar for upcoming meetings.
The Annual Meeting marked the end of Paul King's term as Chairperson of the Board. Paul named his successor, Amy Smolenski, HR Director at PDP Group, Inc. Amy has been involved with the Hunt Valley Business Forum for several years and most recently oversaw the HR Roundtable events. Thank you, Paul, for your service to the forum!
