A well deserved congratulations to Maryland Chamber Chairman Betty Buck, President of Buck Distributing Co., Inc., for being honored as Executive of the Year by the Gazette of Politics & Business. She was selected by a panel of Business Gazette editors and executives based on her business success and commitment to community service.
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. In 2006, she 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. In 2007, the Maryland Chamber named her its first female Chair. She is also a Past President of the Prince George’s County Chamber of Commerce, and serves on a number of regional boards.
Drawing on her national experience with the National Beer Wholesalers Association, Buck has worked to improve the Maryland Chamber’s legislative advocacy and political engagement efforts. Under her leadership, the Maryland Chamber has raised statewide awareness of its business advocacy efforts, strengthened its statewide grassroots program, and increased attendance at its legislative events.
Earlier this month during the Chamber’s Business Day in Annapolis event in the Miller Senate Office Building, Buck continued to encourage Maryland business people to get more engaged. “We’re in this building for a reason,” she said. “It is imperative that you do not walk away from this meeting this morning and go back to work. You’re here. Please walk upstairs and see your senators. Please walk across the street and see your delegates. It’s imperative that we get to know these people. You need to know their favorite color. You need to know what kind of beer they drink—and they better say Miller Lite.”
The Gazette’s profile on Buck features a quote from Sen. Douglas J.J. Peters (D-Dist. 23) that sums up her impact on the Chamber’s advocacy efforts:
“She really made us pay attention to legislation that impacts small business negatively and made sure her people lobby for legislation they want,” he said.
View the complete story in today’s Gazette of Politics & Business. Click here to view it online.
