Over 160 guests attended to help celebrate a successful fiscal year, and witness the ceremonious passing of the gavel to The Chamber's Incoming Board Chair.

This year, The Chamber's Immediate Past Board Chair, Abraham "Abe" Perez, III of Middletown Valley Bank, did the honors in handing over the gavel to fiscal year 2027 Board Chair, Chuck Eichelberger of Tele-Plus Corporation. 

Eichelberger has served on The Chamber's board of directors since 2021. He is a lifelong resident of Washington County and currently serves as Regional Sales Manager of Tele-Plus Corporation. Prior to working at Tele-Plus, Eichelberger spent 30 years in the financial industry.  He has served on the boards of the United Way of Washington County and YMCA of Hagerstown. Eichelberger is also a member of the Hagerstown Lions Club, Hagerstown Rotary, and is a Class 32 Leadership Washington County graduate. Eichelberger stated, "I am excited to be part of the continued growth taking place in Washington County. I look forward to collaborating with our community partners and serving as an advocate for the business community to help provide the infrastructure needed to support future growth. By working together, we can strengthen Washington County's position as a preferred place to live, work, and invest."

The Chamber recognized two outgoing board members, Julie Rohm of Valley Mall and Mary Ellen Waltemire of One Step Closer Coaching. The Chamber also honored deserving individuals and organizations within the community with a Distinguished Service Award during the event. Recipients include Herb Melrath of the Maryland Small Business Development Center; John Krumpotich and Joyce Johnson of Cascade Properties LLC; Jim Kercheval and Erin Griemsmann of The Greater Hagerstown Committee; Kevin Crawford and Justin Burnett of Hagerstown Community College; and Kim Harbaugh, Helen Huffer, Adam Parry, and Tonya Rowe of Washington County Public Schools.

About the Washington County Chamber of Commerce

Growth. Community. Success. The Chamber values the diversity of our business and nonprofit community and encourages participation, inclusion, and collaboration, while promoting and facilitating cooperation and collaboration among our elected officials at all levels of government. 

Washington County Chamber of Commerce members include more than 660 organizations, representing over 40,000 local jobs in a wide variety of industries: Retail, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Skilled Trades, Service and Hospitality, Technology, Government, Nonprofit, and Education. For more information, call 301.739.2015 or visit www.hagerstown.org.

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