10/25/23

The Universities at Shady Grove was host once again on October 24 to the 11th annual Montgomery County Business Hall of Fame (MCBHOF) luncheon, a major community event that honors remarkable local business leaders who have made exceptional contributions to the world of business and to the community. The event not only recognized the achievements of four outstanding business leaders, who were indicated into the Hall, but it also raised funds for the USG scholarship fund.

This year's inductees into the MCBHOF included:

  • Jillian Copeland, Founder of Main Street Connect.
  • Joseph Craig English, a renowned artist and printmaker
  • David Trone, co-founder of Total Wine and More, and now a U.S. Congressman, serving Maryland’s sixth district.
  • S. Tien Wong, Chairman & CEO of Opus8, Inc.

Melissa Mollet, a morning anchor at News4 Today, served as emcee for the event and opening remarks were delivered by Lawrence N. Rosenblum, MCBHOF Committee Chair and Hall co-founder. Kevin Beverly, Chair of the USG Board of Advisors, delivered the event’s keynote remarks.

Hope Klein, a 2022 graduate from the University of Maryland Communication program at USG, delivered a heartfelt and inspiring speech. She shared her personal journey of overcoming adversity, including the loss of her mother, and how scholarships from the Montgomery County Business Hall of Fame had been instrumental in supporting her educational success. Her story moved the audience as she demonstrated the transformative power of education and support.

Dr. Anne Khademian, USG Executive Director, gave the closing remarks and expressed gratitude to the inductees for their immense contributions. She stated, "You all have built so much more than successful businesses. You are building and supporting community. Thank you all." She also highlighted the importance of the event’s impact on raising funds for student scholarships, noting: “The Business Hall of Fame helps make sure that nothing stands in the way of success. We aspire to have every USG student graduate debt free. It’s going to take a lot, but together we can make it happen.”

The Montgomery County Business Hall of Fame has been committed to raising funds for the USG scholarship fund, since the event’s inception. Over the years, it has raised over $1.7 million, which has supported countless students in their pursuit of higher education through the USG campus.

A livestream replay of the event can be found below, as well as a copy of this year's program book, which includes bios of the honorees, a list of past honorees, and information about the event's sponsors.