Wheaton Chamber Breakfast Draws Diverse Crowd

Ana Lopez van Balen takes over position long-held by Natalie Cantor at the Mid-County Service Center.

By Melissa B. Robinson
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September 28, 2011

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Ana Lopez van Balen, the new director of the Mid-County Service Center.

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Tim Wiens, executive director of Jubillee Association of Maryland, which provides residential services to adults with development disabilities, spoke with state Sen. Rich Madaleno, D-18, who briefed the crowd about county redistricting.

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Ana Lopez van Balen was introduced by Kathleen Guinan, CEO of Crossway Community in Kensington and president of the chamber.

Credit Melissa B. Robinson

Marian Fryer, owner of Marian's Connections, sat with Jeannette Feldner, owner of Letterforms typography and graphic design. Feldner is chair, and Fryer vice chair, of the Wheaton Urban District Advisory Committee (WUDAC).

Credit Melissa B. Robinson

Kathleen M. Thompson, president of JTA airport and aviation systems planners, designers and engineers, speaks with A.C. Alrey, a public affairs and urban development specialist from Birmingham, Ala. Alrey was in town visiting his sister, Sanita Alrey-DeBose, owner of BrandUworld, a promotional products business that is a chamber member.

Credit Melissa B. Robinson

Ana Lopez van Balen, the new director of the Mid-County Service Center.

Credit Melissa B. Robinson

Ana Lopez van Balen listens to remarks from Oscar Artola, a Wells Fargo banker.

Credit Melissa B. Robinson

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Wheaton business and community leaders packed a corner of Panera Bread at the Wheaton Westfield Mall this morning to meet the new director of the Mid-County Service Center, Ana Lopez van Balen.

The breakfast "mixer" was organized by the Wheaton & Kensington Chamber of Commerce. Van Balen--who has long been a non-profit and community leader--began as director on September 12. Van Balen is taking over from Natalie Cantor, who retired in June after 16 years in the position.

The center is the principal liaison between the county and the businesses, communities and neighborhood organizations within the middle area of Montgomery County.

Thanks. We'll email you the next time we update this story.

Wendy Howard

11:16 am on Thursday, September 29, 2011

It was great meeting Ana yesterday. I am excited and encouraged by her visions for Wheaton and the county. I think the we will all gain much from her tenure. Welcome Ms. Van Balen!