Mentorship & Networking
Contracts follow relationships. Buyers award work to businesses they know, and the fastest way to become known is to show up where procurement officers, prime contractors, and other business owners already are.
Maryland has a dense network of chambers of commerce, trade associations, and formal mentorship programs. This page organizes them so you can find the ones that match your industry, your region, and where your business is right now.
Chambers of commerce and business councils
Maryland's chambers run networking events, matchmaking sessions, and advocacy work. Many maintain their own supplier directories that buyers search. The certifying councils listed below go further: they verify your ownership status for corporate buyers, which is separate from the State certifications DoSEM issues.
Chambers, councils, and business associations
- Maryland Chamber of Commerce
- Maryland Black Chamber of Commerce
- Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- Maryland LGBT Chamber of Commerce
- Maryland Minority Contractors Association
- Md. Washington Minority Companies Association
- The Presidents' RoundTable
- Maryland Public Purchasing Association
- Business Network for Maryland Offshore Wind
- Greater Baltimore Committee
- Baltimore City Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Baltimore Black Chamber of Commerce
- Baltimore Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- Women Entrepreneurs of Baltimore
- Black Chamber of Commerce of Anne Arundel County
- Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Montgomery County
- Prince George's Chamber of Commerce
- Prince George's County Black Chamber of Commerce
- Southern Maryland Minority Chamber of Commerce
- Calvert County Minority Business Alliance
- Charles County Minority Business Advocacy Council
- Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland
- Women Construction Owners & Executives USA
- Women Business Owners of Montgomery County
- Women Business Owners of Prince George's County
- National Association of Women Business Owners, Baltimore Region
- Women Presidents' Education Organization
Meet buyers face to face at Ready, Set, GROW!
Build relationships with State procurement officers and prime contractors at DoSEM's Procurement Connections Workshop series, held across Maryland throughout the year.