Dewey comes aboard staff of Chamber of Commerce

Catherine A. Dewey has joined the Howard County Chamber of Commerce staff as director of marketing, membership development and direct benefits.

She will be responsible for the Chamber's Business Dialogue groups and Ambassadors Committee.

Dewey is a 30-year resident of the county and a member of the first graduating class of Wilde Lake High School.

She has 18 years of experience in marketing, sales and management.

Builder's 1st Choice acquires several clients

Builder's 1st Choice, a Columbia-based company offering sales and marketing services -- including training, competitive market analysis and advertising -- to new homebuilders, has acquired several clients.

Among them are River Downs Partnership, which is building a golf-course community in Carroll County; Regal Homes, a builder of townhouses in Prince George's County; and Precision Homes, a custom home builder in Baltimore and Howard counties.

People

Brandt Rider has been named branch manager for The Columbia Bank's Long Gate Center branch in Ellicott City. He will supervise all operations of the branch, including new business development, consumer banking relationships and staffing. Rider was formerly the manager of the Oakland Mills branch.

Susan L. Belisle has joined the Elkridge Furnace Inn as its manager of off-premises catering events, such as dinner meetings, luncheons, breakfast buffets, parties and weddings.