C&A Believes in Helping Communities Thrive

We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.
~Winston Churchill

One of our focuses at Clemons & Associates, Inc. is to support charitable organizations through community service projects by volunteering our time and talents.  C&A believes in making a difference and encourages employees to give back to our communities through volunteerism. We are active in supporting a variety of non-profit organizations and charitable events.  

How do we choose which organization to support?  With a small staff of less than 14 we each have an opportunity to support the organization that is near and dear to our hearts.  Each quarter one team member gets to choose an organization and to support it through providing a team of volunteers to do whatever needs to be done.  Most recently, Allyson Lancaster, who has been with the C&A family for one and half years, chose to support the Duncan Street Miracle Garden in Baltimore, Maryland.  Lancaster organized the service project through the Baltimore Office of Sustainability and the C&A team got behind her in full support of her choice in charity.

On June 26, 2012 eight team members from C&A spent the morning at Duncan Street Miracle Gardens (North Avenue-Collington Avenue-Terrell Place-Chester Street block) in East Baltimore helping to beautify the community gardens.  C&A worked together to weed, pick up trash, sweep and clean the gardens so that area could support a future harvest.  Mr. Lewis Sharpe, the garden’s self-appointed manager, provided the knowledge and tools needed to get the job done.  Mr. Sharpe has been caring for the gardens for over twenty years.  He is well-known in the community and is responsible for the continuous success of the gardens.  The various beds contain strawberries, tomatoes, broccoli and watermelon, among many other things.   The C&A team also assisted Mr. Sharpe in cleaning a vacant lot not far from the Duncan Street Gardens.  This empty lot is not ready to be used for harvesting just yet, but according to Mr. Sharpe it is important to help keep the neighborhood clean.  The C&A team was happy to help Mr. Sharpe and the other community members in caring for the gardens.

Through our community service initiative C&A is able to focus on teamwork and fulfill our mission in helping our communities thrive. By supporting the choice in charity of our employees we are able to make a difference not only in the community, but also in the hearts of our team by coming together to support an organization that they care about. “We feel that we are all truly blessed, and that giving back to charitable communities is our duty,” says Natalie Villabon-Martz, Vice President and creator of the C&A Community Service Initiative.  “We want to be of service to others and especially to those that are less fortunate than ourselves. Giving builds relationships, character and is the meaning of life,” says Martz.  “Our team looks forward to not only a break in the day-to-day duties of our office, but also that feeling of satisfaction that one feels when giving back.  It is truly an important part of our mission as a company.”

Click here to view our slideshow of photos from this project!

For more information on the Duncan Street Miracle Garden, please contact the Baltimore Office of Sustainability at http://www.baltimoresustainability.org/successStoryDetail.aspx?id=44. 

C&A Welcomes New Finance Coordinator, Jason Dumm

Baltimore, MD – Clemons & Associates, Inc. (C&A) has recently hired Jason Dumm as the Finance Coordinator for the Baltimore-based association management firm. 

“Jason's experience working at a leading financial services firm as a Remittance Processor makes him highly qualified to handle the flow of financial transactions that C&A sees on a daily basis," says CEO Crista LeGrand, CMP, CAE.  "This is a newly formed position that needs someone with experience in the processing of financial transactions of all sizes.  Jason comes to C&A with the know-how and attention to detail that is needed in this position."  

 

Jason has relocated from Binghampton, New York to the Baltimore area to take the position at C&A.  He is a graduate of Binghampton Univeristy.  In his spare time Jason is getting to know his new hometown and making friends along the way.

Natalie Villabon-Martz of Clemons & Associates, Inc. Completes Another Year at Institute for Organization Management

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Allyson Paul 410-931-8100, ally@clemonsmgmt.com

Washington, D.C., January 13, 2012 ~ Natalie Villabon-Martz of Clemons & Associates, Inc.
Completes Another Year at Institute for Organization Management
A Leadership Training Program Produced by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce 

Institute for Organization Management, the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, is pleased to announce that Natalie Villabon-Martz,  Chief Operating Officer (COO), of Clemons & Associates, Inc has recently completed her second year at Institute for Organization Management, a four-year nonprofit leadership training program at the University of Arizona in Tucson.

“Institute participants are recognized across the country as leaders in their communities,” said Raymond P. Towle, IOM, CAE, the U.S. Chamber’s vice president of Institute for Organization Management. “These individuals have the knowledge, skills, and dedication to achieve professional and organizational success in the dynamic association and chamber industries.”

Since its commencement in 1921, the Institute program has been educating tens of thousands of association, chamber, and other nonprofit leaders on how to build stronger organizations, better serve their members and become strong business advocates.  Institute’s curriculum consists of four weeklong sessions at five different university locations throughout the country.  Through a combination of required courses and electives in areas such as leadership, advocacy, marketing, finance, and membership, Institute participants are able to enhance their own organizational management skills and add new fuel to their organizations, making them run more efficiently and effectively.

Graduates of Institute receive the IOM recognition, signifying completion of 96 hours of course instruction in nonprofit management. In addition, participants can earn credit hours toward the Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) or Certified Association Executive (CAE) certifications. Nearly 1,000 individuals attend Institute annually.

Institute is a 501(c) (3) affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and is the premier nonprofit professional development program for nonprofit professionals, fostering individual growth through interactive learning and networking opportunities.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations. 

Natalie Villabon-Martz Named To The Daily Record's 2011 List Of Maryland's Leading Women

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:  Allyson Paul, 410-931-8100, ally@clemonsmgmt.com

Baltimore, MD December 29, 2011 ~ Natalie Villabon-Martz has been named to The Daily Record’s 2011 list of Maryland’s Leading Women. 

The Daily Record’s list of Leading Women identifies 50 women who are 40 years of age or younger for the tremendous accomplishments they have made so far in their careers. A panel of judges selected the honorees based on their professional experience, community involvement and commitment to inspiring change. 

“Since 1996, The Daily Record has recognized more than 800 high-achieving women who are making an impact in the state with its annual list of Maryland’s Top 100 Women,” Daily Record Publisher Suzanne Fischer-Huettner said. “We are committed to growing women leaders, which is why we introduced the Leading Women event in 2010.  Leading Women shines the spotlight on the next generation of this state’s outstanding women, who represent Maryland’s future. It is our honor to recognize both their accomplishments to date and the promise they hold for the future.”  

The Daily Record earlier this year also established the Path to Excellence speakers program to connect the current generation of Maryland’s high-achieving women, Top 100 Women, with the next generation, Leading Women, Fisher-Huettner said. Previous winners of The Daily Record’s Top 100 Women and members of the annual list of Leading Women will be invited to meet several times each year to discuss specific issues of concern to the women and the state. 

“It was a true honor to have the opportunity to stand beside other awardees and together be recognized as the future of MD leadership.  Many of these ladies are not only established leaders within their companies and industries, but also balancing a successful home life.  It was a pleasure to meet and network with the fellow leading women.  The connections made at this event will surely grow into rewarding business relationships and lasting friendships,” said Natalie Villabon-Martz, 2011 Maryland Leading Women winner.   

The Daily Record receives more than 150 nominations each year for the Leading Women list.  Nominations are solicited from previous winners of The Daily Record’s Top 100 Women, area economic development agencies, women’s organizations, chambers of commerce and the business community at large.

Nominees were asked to complete an application that outlined their educational and career history; examples of mentoring; career-related officer and board memberships in professional, business or trade organizations; volunteer involvement in civic and nonprofit organizations; awards and honors; professional accomplishments; and commitment to inspiring change in their organization or the community.

A panel of judges comprised of past Top 100 Women winners from across Maryland reviewed all of the Leading Women applications submitted, then narrowed the list to the 50 Leading Women who best represent Maryland’s future.

Sponsors of The Daily Record’s Leading Women include title sponsor Chimes, awards sponsor Kaiser Permanente, leadership sponsor Wells Fargo, inspirational sponsor Alexander & Cleaver P.A. and visionary sponsors PNC and VPC Inc.

Table sponsors include Ballard Spahr LLP, Gordon Feinblatt, Legg Mason, Linowes and Blocher LLP, Saul Ewing LLP

For more information about The Daily Record’s Leading Women and a complete list of winners, visit www.TheDailyRecord.com. 

About Clemons & Associates, Inc.

Clemons and Associates, Inc. is a family-owned association management business in its 33rd year of service.  We are committed to building leadership skills in our people.  Our President/CEO and Chairman are Certified Association Executives as designated by ASAE. The company’s primary business is association management. Clemons & Associates, Inc. was incorporated in 1982 in the state of Maryland. An Association Management Company is a professional service firm that provides executive, administrative, and financial management; strategic planning; membership development; public affairs and lobbying; education and professional development; statistical research; meetings management; trade shows; and marketing and communication services. The firm also serves as a strategic advisor and consultant, and provides management and headquarters services to international, national, regional, state and local nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations. We also encourage volunteerism amongst our staff. Clemons & Associates, Inc. representatives have held leadership roles in various organizations, such as AMCInstitute and the National Association of Women Business Owners.

About The Daily Record

For more than 123 years, The Daily Record Company has provided trusted legal and business information to Maryland readers. In addition to the daily newspaper published five days a week, The Daily Record publishes its website, www.TheDailyRecord.com; four blogs, On the Record, Eye on Annapolis, Maryland Business, and Generation JD; four e-newsletters, TDR Insider, Real Estate Weekly, In-house Counsel, and Auction Notices and a variety of special publications on topics of interest to Maryland business and legal professionals.

The Daily Record also honors leading Marylanders through events such as Heath Care Heroes, Maryland’s Top 100 Women, Influential Marylanders, 20 in Their Twenties, VIP List, Innovator of the Year, Leadership in Law and Innovator of the Year. The Daily Record is owned by The Dolan Company, trading as DM, of Minneapolis, Minn. 

Clemons and Associates’ COO Graduating from SBA Program

BALTIMORE:   November 18, 2011 – Graduation is the completion and celebration of a period of time that enables a person to gain knowledge and experience in a particular area of study. The number of times a person experiences a graduation can vary.  At 5pm on November 18, 2011, Natalie Villabon-Martz will walk across the stage at the University of Baltimore as a graduate of the SBA Emerging Leaders Program.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has a prestigious program known as the SBA Emerging 200 Initiative. According to their website, “the SBA Emerging 200 Initiative will enable the participating small businesses to engage in an intensive curriculum focused on developing a winning, expansion strategy for their business, including options for capital access and contracting. The program participants will have the opportunity to work with experienced mentors, attend workshops and develop connections with their peers, city leaders, and financial community”.

Natalie Villabon-Martz explained, “the SBA program was 8 months of work, but the end result was a positive, rewarding experience”.

The class Villabon-Martz participated in included 14 other CEOs and C-Level executives, or managing partners of a variety of companies. They met every other Wednesday and on the Wednesday they did not have class, they were expected to meet with their CEO mentoring group to discuss different topics. A few of the Wednesday classes were held at the Clemons and Associates, Inc. office. “I developed friendships with those in my CEO mentoring group and we are working on continuing to meet after graduation”, said Villabon-Martz.

This is a federally funded program with the purpose of teaching small businesses how to succeed in a tough economy and grow their businesses. Clemons and Associates, Inc. applied for the program and was one of the selective few that had the opportunity to participate.

The culmination of the program involved each participant creating a strategic growth action plan the spanned over the next three years. This detailed plan needed to explain what is taking place in the business right now and how the business will be moving forward. The participants also had to present their plan to a panel that would offer constructive criticism, as well as their fellow program peers.

“I met interesting and dynamic people that shared the same business-related issues. Throughout the previous 8 months we were able to share ideas and learn from one another”, said Villabon-Martz.