May 3, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
William Burns, Director of Communications
(410) 269-0642, (301) 261-2858 | Cell: (410) 733-9945

Maryland Chamber to Name Betty Buck its First Female Chairman

Annapolis, MD (May 3, 2007) – Betty Buck, President of Buck Distributing Co., Inc., will be named Chairman of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors on May 10, during the Chamber’s Annual Membership Meeting and Business Hall of Fame Awards Dinner at the Renaissance Harborplace Hotel in Baltimore. Blazing new trails, Buck will be the first woman Chair in the history of the Chamber.

“Betty is a dynamic business woman whose leadership experience and political insight make her a perfect fit to lead the Chamber’s efforts to position the organization for future success,” said Chamber President & CEO Kathleen T. Snyder, CCE.

Buck Distributing is one of the largest woman-owned and operated Miller Brewing Company distributors in the country. Founded in 1946 by her father Irwin Buck, the company currently employs more than 100 people and has annual sales of more than $40 million.

Buck has served on the Maryland Chamber’s Board of Directors since 2000. For the last two years, she has served as Vice Chairman. Drawing on her national experience, Buck has worked to improve the Chamber’s legislative advocacy and political engagement efforts.

Late last year, Buck became the first woman Chair of the National Beer Wholesalers Association, an association representing 1,900 independent beer distributors that recently ranked ninth on Fortune Magazine’s Power 25 list of the most powerful lobby groups in Washington, DC. She is also a Past President of the Prince George’s County Chamber of Commerce, and serves on a number of regional boards.

Buck has received numerous business awards. She is a member of The Committee of 200, an international organization of leading women business owners and corporate executives. She was named one of the Top 25 Woman Who Mean Business by the Washington Business Journal. In 2002, she was recognized by the Daily Record as one of Maryland’s top 100 Women in Business. In April 2007, she received the “Miller Legend” award during the Miller Brewing Company’s Annual Meeting. The award honors beer distributors who have made a difference in the beer industry and in their communities.

Buck is very active in the community. She’s a strong proponent for education and the responsible consumption of alcoholic beverages. In addition, each year the Buck family and Buck Distributing raise funds for United Cerebral Palsy though the sponsorship of a gold tournament named after her late father, Irwin Buck. She’s also very active in the numerous community organizations, including the United Way, American Heart Association, and the Red Cross.

The Maryland Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit coalition of 830 businesses who employ more than 440,000 people in the state. Its mission is to maximize opportunities for its members to grow and prosper. For more information about the Chamber, visit its website, www.mdchamber.org or call (410) 269-0642 or (301) 261-2858.

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