Baltimore Chamber to honor local firms at Nov. 13 gala

The Baltimore City Chamber of Commerce will hold its 2026 Legacy Awards Gala on Friday, Nov. 13. The event runs from 6 to 10 p.m. at Guilford Hall Brewery, located at 1611 Guilford Ave. in Baltimore.

The Chamber will present awards in 10 categories during the night. The Rising Star Award goes to a young entrepreneur, while the Breakthrough Business Award honors a startup. The She’s Limitless Award recognizes women in business.

Other honors include the People Builder Award for workforce development and the Heart of Baltimore Award for a nonprofit organization. The Excellence in Experience Award recognizes customer service, and the Charm City Award covers hospitality and tourism.

The Innovation in Tech Award recognizes work in technology and cybersecurity. The Health Impact Award honors work in health care. The Legacy in Innovation Award recognizes an innovator or industry disruptor.

Tiffany Bethea, the Chamber’s executive director, said the organization aims to create rooms, relationships, and resources that help businesses move forward. She stated, “We are stronger together, and our role is to create the rooms, relationships, and resources that help businesses move forward.”

The gala follows the Chamber’s State of Baltimore Business Summit, which sold out on June 5 at Camden Yards. That event brought business owners and policymakers together to discuss how legislation affects local businesses. Speakers included City Councilwoman Phylicia Porter, Shelonda Stokes, and Otis Rolley III.

The Chamber cited Bantech as an example of member success. Bantech reported securing five clients in its first 30 days as a member after attending two Chamber events. The organization is also developing industry-focused Business Councils for technology, real estate, and arts. A new Brand Marketing Cohort is planned for 2027. A portion of the gala proceeds will support the Baltimore City Chamber Foundation, which aids startups and early-stage entrepreneurs.