Greater Washington Board of Trade
Encyclopedia
The Greater Washington Board of Trade is a network of business and non-profit leaders in Washington, D.C.
Since its creation in 1889, the Greater Washington Board of Trade has provided advocacy, research, and programs for the area's business community. The Board of Trade is dedicated to resolve issues regarding workforce and transportation funding, research and economic development to expand the region's strengths, attracting new business investments and providing support through personal development, and education and networking programs. Their priorities include transportation, emergency prepardness, green as a competitive advantage, and workforce issues. Today, the Board of Trade is the only group representing all industry sectors. Board of Trade company members are currently employing 40% of the private-sector work force in the Washington, DC metro area.
The organization is composed of membership levels that range from "Business Member" to "Chairman's Council".
Notable organizations and companies that are currently a part of the Board of Trade include KPMG
, Hilton Hotels
, The Washington Post
, and the Calvert Group.
The current President and CEO of the organization is James C. Dinegar, CAE.
, ran an advertisement. The board was formally organized as a legal entity on December 2, 1889.
The Board of Trade spent a sizable portion of resources investing in the cultural infrastructure of the area and promoting the construction and maintenance of public venues, including for professional sports, civic meetings, conventions, arts, and cultural events.
Known as the Board of Trade for the District of Columbia at the time of its creation, the organization was referred locally to as the Washington Board of Trade. On October 20, 1959 during the 70th annual meeting, the organization welcomed their first female members when 188 new businesswomen were added to the 7200 total enrollment, and a name change was approved: The Metropolitan Washington Board of Trade. Twenty years later, during the 90th annual meeting, the members approved another name change to the Greater Washington Board of Trade. During that meeting, the Board adopted the logo that is still being used today: three interlocking circles that symbolize the unity of Northern Virginia
, the District of Columbia, and suburban Maryland
.
On November 3, 1992, the Greater Washington Board of Trade challenged the Washington, D.C. law that required employers to provide their at-work employees health insurance to continue to offer the equivalent health insurance coverage for disabled employees who are eligible for workers compensation insurance. On December 14, 1992, the legal decision that the Supreme Court ruled was that states cannot require employers to provide disabled employees the same health insurance with they provide active employees.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Since its creation in 1889, the Greater Washington Board of Trade has provided advocacy, research, and programs for the area's business community. The Board of Trade is dedicated to resolve issues regarding workforce and transportation funding, research and economic development to expand the region's strengths, attracting new business investments and providing support through personal development, and education and networking programs. Their priorities include transportation, emergency prepardness, green as a competitive advantage, and workforce issues. Today, the Board of Trade is the only group representing all industry sectors. Board of Trade company members are currently employing 40% of the private-sector work force in the Washington, DC metro area.
The organization is composed of membership levels that range from "Business Member" to "Chairman's Council".
- Business Member $1,000
- Emerging Business Leader $2,500
- Mid-Size Business Leader $5,000
- Corporate Council $10,000
- Leadership Council $25,000
- Executive Council $50,000
- President's Council $75,000
- Chairman's Council $100,000
Notable organizations and companies that are currently a part of the Board of Trade include KPMG
KPMG
KPMG is one of the largest professional services networks in the world and one of the Big Four auditors, along with Deloitte, Ernst & Young and PwC. Its global headquarters is located in Amstelveen, Netherlands....
, Hilton Hotels
Hilton Hotels
Hilton Hotels & Resorts is an international chain of full-service hotels and resorts founded by Conrad Hilton and now owned by Hilton Worldwide. Hilton hotels are either owned by, managed by, or franchised to independent operators by Hilton Worldwide. Hilton Hotels became the first coast-to-coast...
, The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, and the Calvert Group.
The current President and CEO of the organization is James C. Dinegar, CAE.
History
Before its creation, the District did not have a cohesive method of organizing and supporting its cultural infrastructure. Therefore, on November 27, 1889, the Greater Washington Board of Trade was founded after the local paper, The Washington PostThe Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, ran an advertisement. The board was formally organized as a legal entity on December 2, 1889.
The Board of Trade spent a sizable portion of resources investing in the cultural infrastructure of the area and promoting the construction and maintenance of public venues, including for professional sports, civic meetings, conventions, arts, and cultural events.
Known as the Board of Trade for the District of Columbia at the time of its creation, the organization was referred locally to as the Washington Board of Trade. On October 20, 1959 during the 70th annual meeting, the organization welcomed their first female members when 188 new businesswomen were added to the 7200 total enrollment, and a name change was approved: The Metropolitan Washington Board of Trade. Twenty years later, during the 90th annual meeting, the members approved another name change to the Greater Washington Board of Trade. During that meeting, the Board adopted the logo that is still being used today: three interlocking circles that symbolize the unity of Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia consists of several counties and independent cities in the Commonwealth of Virginia, in a widespread region generally radiating southerly and westward from Washington, D.C...
, the District of Columbia, and suburban Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
.
On November 3, 1992, the Greater Washington Board of Trade challenged the Washington, D.C. law that required employers to provide their at-work employees health insurance to continue to offer the equivalent health insurance coverage for disabled employees who are eligible for workers compensation insurance. On December 14, 1992, the legal decision that the Supreme Court ruled was that states cannot require employers to provide disabled employees the same health insurance with they provide active employees.
Accomplishments
The Board of Trade helped:- 1902 – Promote the construction of Union StationUnion Station (Washington, D.C.)Washington Union Station is a train station and leisure destination visited by 32 million people each year in the center of Washington, D.C. The train station is served by Amtrak, MARC and Virginia Railway Express commuter rail services as well as by Washington Metro subway trains and local buses...
- 1937 – Envision the city’s subway system
- 1966 – Create the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit AuthorityWashington Metropolitan Area Transit AuthorityThe Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is a tri-jurisdictional government agency that operates transit service in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, including the Metrorail, Metrobus and MetroAccess...
to build and operate MetrorailWashington MetroThe Washington Metro, commonly called Metro, and unofficially Metrorail, is the rapid transit system in Washington, D.C., United States, and its surrounding suburbs. It is administered by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority , which also operates Metrobus service under the Metro name...
and MetrobusMetrobus (Washington, D.C.)Metrobus is a bus service operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority . Its fleet consists of 1,480 buses covering an area of in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. There are over 300 bus routes serving 12,216 stops, including 2,398 bus shelters. In fiscal year 2009,... - 1987 - Secure the transfer of NationalRonald Reagan Washington National AirportRonald Reagan Washington National Airport is a public airport located south of downtown Washington, D.C., in Arlington County, Virginia. It is the commercial airport nearest to Washington, D.C. For many decades, it was called Washington National Airport, but this airport was renamed in 1998 to...
and DullesWashington Dulles International AirportWashington Dulles International Airport is a public airport in Dulles, Virginia, 26 miles west of downtown Washington, D.C. The airport serves the Baltimore-Washington-Northern Virginia metropolitan area centered on the District of Columbia. It is named after John Foster Dulles, Secretary of...
airports from federal to local control, paving the way for expansion and renovations - 1990s – Obtain funding for reconstruction of the Woodrow Wilson BridgeWoodrow Wilson BridgeThe Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge is a bascule bridge that spans the Potomac River between the independent city of Alexandria, Virginia and Oxon Hill in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. While over the water near the Virginia shore, it crosses the southern tip of the District of...
- 2001 – Get National Airport reopened after its extended closure following the September 11, 2001 attacksSeptember 11, 2001 attacksThe September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
- 2002 – Establish a National Capital Region Coordination office in the federal Department of Homeland Security
External links
- Board of Trade URL.
- A history of the Washington Board of Trade from the Center of History and New Media
- Greater Washington Initiative Affiliated research and economic development marketing organization