September's Featured Manager: Bill Vanden Eynden

Vanden Eynden says, "Get involved in the community."

Name and title: Bill Vanden Eynden, 2009-10 chairman of the Board of the Harford County Chamber of Commerce. He is an associate broker with RKS Realty, Inc. in Bel Air.

Personal background: The 1971 Bel Air High School graduate earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Maryland College Park in 1975. He graduated from the University of Colorado’s School of Banking in 1980. He and his wife of 32 years, have three children.

Professional background: Vanden Eynden began his banking career in 1975, doing commercial lending. In the late 1980s he and several partners formed a consulting company. His first assignment was a two week trip to London, where he ended up living at the London Hilton for eight months.

After moving back to Bel Air in 1994, he obtained his real estate broker’s license and specializes in commercial real estate with RKS Realty.

Keys to success: A key to success, said Vanden Eynden, is participating in community civic and charitable programs and events. “This is a great way to meet people, under different circumstances, and you should never miss an opportunity to tell them what you do,” he said.

Goals: Noting the Harford Chamber is the largest and most active chamber in the state, Van Eynden said he wants to see even more involvement with the business community. The chamber has a new program to introduce businesses struggling in the current economy to join the organization, which promotes members doing business with members first.

Advice: “Get involved in the community. So many young people aren’t joining services club and these organizations are hurting,” said Vanden Eynden.

What could be done to make business more successful: “We are very fortunate to be in this county because of the Aberdeen Proving Ground and the number of jobs being relocated here because of Base Realignment and Closure,” said Vanden Eynden, adding infrastructure improvements are needed now to facilitate expected growth.