Business Briefs

Plant Sensory Systems and Amethyst Technologies Join bwtech@UMBC
Plant Sensory Systems, an agricultural biotechnology company, has chosen the technology incubator at bwtech@UMBC as its headquarters. The company's owners, Kathleen and Frank Turano, founded the company last summer.
Currently, the company is working on two projects: making plants that use nitrogen more efficiently and creating plants that can produce more sugar or plant oils to aid in the production of biofuels. "If we can make plants that use nitrogen more efficiently, then farmers won't have to use as much fertilizer. Not only will this save costs, but there will be less nitrogen run-off into streams and rivers," said Frank Turano.
Amethyst Technologies, a growing company specializing in services for life science companies and research organizations, has also set up shop at bwtech@UMBC's technology incubator.
The company, originally founded as Cell Systems Inc., in 1992, provides overall management, implementation and execution of current Good Manufacturing Practices (or cGMP) compliance systems. These services include equipment calibration and validation, quality management software, process validation, qualification and design services for clean rooms and high purity utility systems, and environmental monitoring system management.

CoStar Group Files Lawsuit in Dispute With LoopNet Inc.
Bethesda-based CoStar Group has confirmed that it has filed a lawsuit against LoopNet Inc. in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
According to LoopNet, one of its key metrics reported to its customers and investors is how many "registered members" it has. As of November 2007, LoopNet claimed to have 2.5 million registered members. The lawsuit raises questions about whether LoopNet has used this statistic in ways that imply that 2.5 million people use LoopNet, and about whether the actual number of people who use LoopNet is much lower.
In a November 2007 Credit Suisse First Boston investment conference, Richard Boyle, LoopNet's CEO and president, claimed that LoopNet had "2.4 million registered users at the end of the third quarter," which he described as "50% year-over-year growth."

TEDCO Announces $375,000 in Funding for BRAC Tech Transfer Initiative
The Maryland Technology Development Corp. (TEDCO) will provide $375,000 in funding to support Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC)-related technology transfer and commercialization initiatives by Maryland organizations.
The funding will provide five projects with up to $75,000 each and will be awarded to companies located in the state that are involved in transferring or commercializing technologies related to BRAC. For example, Maryland companies providing technology that supports the U.S. Department of Defense units transferring to the state as a result of BRAC can apply for these funds.
Applicants must submit a proposal, a commercialization plan for the technology to be developed, a scope of work and a budget. Applications can be made and more information can be found at www.MarylandTEDCO.org.

Assured Decisions Awarded SPAWAR Contract
Assured Decisions, of Columbia, has been awarded a $38.5 million contract to provide engineering capability support for requirements analysis, design and development for a range of programs and projects during the critical period from system conception through system operation.
These programs include efforts in the areas of engineering and technical support services required to augment Command and Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) programs and projects through the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center San Diego (SSC San Diego) C4ISR Programs Office in Philadelphia.
Work is expected to be performed through February 2011. This three-year contract contains two one-year options and one three-year option, which, if awarded, would bring the total cumulative value of this contract to $143,017,540.

LMLG Announces Acquisition Strategy
Last Mile Logistics Group (LMLG) has announced its intent to acquire local providers of logistics services, focusing first on the mid-Atlantic region. LMLG has already purchased Chesapeake Logistics, a mid-Atlantic regional carrier that provides home delivery of heavy consumer goods, delivering televisions, appliances, furniture, bedding and other heavy and high-value merchandise.
"Third party logistics companies are attractive targets to invest in, and despite the cooling marketplace, logistics remains a high-growth field that performs well. Investors are realizing the benefits from logistics consolidation," said Brian Flood, president of LMLG.
"The last mile sector of the [third-party logistics] industry, [which is] focused on getting products to the final destination, is highly fragmented," Flood said. "There are tremendous opportunities for greater market density, resource efficiencies, last mile technology applications and brand creation."

Fortress International Closes $130M in New Work for the Fourth Quarter
Columbia-based Fortress International Group, holding company for Total Site Solutions (TSS), has announced new engagements for services, including technology consulting, construction management and facility maintenance, totaling more than $130 million for the fourth quarter of 2007, bringing booked business for 2007 to more than $211 million.
This compares with $9 million of new business booked in the fourth quarter of 2006 and $34 million of new business booked for the full year 2006. Leading the new engagements in the fourth quarter are two contracts totaling $118 million from a significant new customer relationship. The new business brings work to all Fortress business units and includes technology consulting, owner representation, at risk design-build construction management and facilities management services.

Sourcefire Voted '2008 Hot Company' at Technosium 2008 Executive Summit
Columbia-based Sourcefire Inc., a network intrusion prevention concern, has announced that it has been voted a "2008 Hot Company" by Network Products Guide. The honor recognizes Sourcefire's growth, as well as the innovative solutions it has delivered during the last 12 months.
"It's time for technology companies to focus on innovation and growth now," said Rake Narang, editor-in-chief of Network Products Guide. "This will help companies to survive the global economy uncertainties in 2008. For the past five to seven years, companies in the technology industry have already done major overhauls to productivity augmentation, made considerable cost-cuttings and undertaken manufacturing outsourcing."

Verizon Wireless Wraps $300M in Mid-Atlantic Network Enhancements
Laurel-based Verizon Wireless has announced completion of a $300 million investment in its wireless voice and data network in the Washington, D.C.-Maryland-Virginia region in 2007, bringing the company's regional network investment to more than $1.8 billion since 2000.
In 2007 alone, Verizon Wireless invested $6.5 billion nationwide to expand and advance its network coast-to-coast. The company has invested nearly $44 billion since it was formed - $5.5 billion on average every year - to increase the coverage and capacity of its national network and to add new services.

Gemfire, Covega Join Forces to Enable Next-Generation Integrated Photonics
Gemfire Corp. has merged with Jessup-based Covega Corp., a provider of indium phosphide and lithium niobate components and modules to the telecommunication, industrial, medical, defense, and test and measurement industries.
Covega will become a wholly-owned subsidiary and the active component division of Gemfire's growing Planar Light Circuit (PLC) product family. Products from the Covega facility include superluminescent light emitting diodes (SLEDs), Fabry-Perot lasers, tunable laser gain chips, semiconductor optical amplifiers and lithium niobate modulators.

UM Business School Launches $12M Ph.D. Program Initiative
The Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland (UM) has announced a $12 million Ph.D. program initiative that will significantly enhance the school's ability to retain and attract the world's best and brightest students.
The initiative increases annual doctoral stipends by 45% to $32,500 and provides research and travel support. Philanthropist and school namesake Robert H. Smith, a 1950 graduate, contributed $6 million toward the program, matched with funds from UM and the business school.

O'Malley Calls for Emergency Session, State Passes Emergency Regs to Track Loan Servicers
Gov. Martin O'Malley recently called for an emergency work session with mortgage loan servicers to help find real solutions to the foreclosure crisis and protect middle class families from losing their homes.
During the work session, the governor will call for a public agreement with major servicers to set a standard for consistent, timely and sustainable loss mitigation services for Maryland homeowners. O'Malley also announced that Maryland has adopted new emergency regulations requiring reports from mortgage loan servicers, detailing their efforts to help homeowners facing default and foreclosure. Maryland is only the second state in the nation to require this data.

Company Changes Policy, Agrees to Stop Charging Excessive Forfeiture Fees
The state of Maryland's Consumer Protection Division has reached a settlement with Pennsylvania-based David's Bridal Inc.
The division alleged that David's Bridal, which has a store in Glen Burnie, violated the Maryland Consumer Protection Act and the Maryland Layaway Sales Act by charging consumers excessive amounts if they cancelled a layaway purchase or defaulted under a layaway agreement.
Under the settlement, David's Bridal agreed to stop charging consumers cancellation or forfeiture fees that exceeded the limitations imposed by the Layaway Sales Act. It also agreed to pay restitution to the division equal to the amounts it charged Maryland consumers in excess of the limits contained in the Layaway Sales Act.

BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport Sets New Passenger Record
A record of 21,044,384 commercial passengers flew through BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport in 2007. The figure represents an increase of 1.7% from 2006. Southwest Airlines was the leading carrier at BWI in 2007, transporting more than 11 million passengers, which was 52.5% of the airport's market share. Last year was the second time in Southwest's history that the airline carried more than 10 million passengers at BWI Marshall in a year.


Howard County Awards $4 Million Grant to HCGH
Howard County recently announced a $4 million grant award to Howard County General Hospital (HCGH), which was approved by the County Council, to help with the large-scale capital project currently underway to renovate and expand the Johns Hopkins-owned facility.
Per the agreement, HCGH will receive the first installment of $3.5 million now with a follow-up payment of $.5 million in April. The hospital hopes to raise a total of $30 million in private donations to complete the project which is expected to cost a total of $105 million. The pavilion is scheduled for completion in late 2009. The entire project will be complete in 2011.

Celsion Now Listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market
Celsion Corp. has announced that the listing of its common stock has switched from the American Stock Exchange to The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC, as of Feb. 8. The company now trades under the symbol NASDAQ:CLN.
"This decision was reached after careful consideration of capital market alternatives and analysis of the electronic market model, which provides added visibility to our investors," said Michael Tardugno, president and CEO of Celsion, a Columbia-based company. "We believe that NASDAQ's electronic multiple market maker structure will provide our company with enhanced exposure and liquidity, while at the same time providing investors with the best prices, the fastest execution and the lowest cost per trade."

Raptor Networks Technology to Become Member Company of CIC
Raptor Networks Technology Inc., provider of the world's first "distributed core" network switching equipment, has become a member company of the Chesapeake Innovation Center (CIC) in Annapolis.
The company recently announced the first sale of "distributed core" network switches to Military.com, the nation's largest online military destination and subsidiary of Monster Worldwide for use in upgrading its legacy network. "We look forward to benefiting from CIC's guidance," said Tom Wittenschlaeger, Raptor chairman and CEO, "in evolving Raptor Networks' products to better address the federal sector."

Maryland Retains AAA Bond Rating
Maryland Treasurer Nancy Kopp has announced that all three major bond rating agencies again affirmed the state's AAA bond rating before the sale of $400 million of General Obligation bonds.
Maryland is one of only seven states to be awarded the AAA rating, the highest possible rating, from all three major bond rating agencies: Fitch Ratings, Moody's Investors Service and Standard & Poor's. The rating means that the state can borrow money to undertake new critical building projects such as public schools, hospitals and prisons while paying relatively low interest rates and saving taxpayers millions of dollars.

Optemax Garners More Funding to Develop Optical Wireless Networking for National Defense
Optemax LLC, a Columbia-based optical wireless networking company, has received additional funding from the fiscal 2008 Defense Appropriations Bill which passed Congress and was signed into law by President Bush. This funding will help develop ultra high-speed laser communications networking products for use by the military for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance applications.
"This funding will help us in our efforts to provide our troops with tools to be better informed of enemy activities and to minimize the loss of American lives. We are proud that we are able to help our brave men and women in uniform, and we are grateful to Congressman Elijah Cummings who helped us receive this funding," said CEO Shirley Collier.

NASA, NGC Partner to 'Measure the Immeasurable'
The new Space Act Agreement has been signed between NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Northrop Grumman Corp.'s (NGC) Electronic Systems sector. The deal calls for researchers from the two Maryland-based organizations to collaborate on the development of advanced civil radar system architectures that can be leveraged into new space-based remote sensing instruments.
These systems will help scientists measure with far greater accuracy, precision and detail such things as the three-dimensional structure of Mars and other planets and heavenly bodies, as well as cloud composition and other characteristics on Earth to better understand climate change.

Group Z Opens Headquarters at Howard's Center for Business & Technology Development
The Center for Business and Technology Development has announced the addition of Group Z to its NeoTech Incubator as a new resident. The company made the move because the incubator "offers us the space to meet and collaborate as well as expand," said President Anthie Zairis, adding that the Howard County operation was "the only one [in the state] that offered such comprehensive resources."
The firm's seven full-time employees and four subcontractors work in the field to provide IT solutions to a host of organizations, including the state of Maryland and commercial clients. It was recently awarded SBA 8(a)/SDB certification and plans to expand into the federal arena.

Glen Burnie Bancorp Announces Stock Repurchase Plan
Glen Burnie Bancorp, parent company of The Bank of Glen Burnie, announced that it has authorized the company to repurchase from time to time up to $1 million of the company's common stock.
Such purchases may be made in the open market, including through block trades or in private transactions, at times and in amounts which management deems appropriate. The stock repurchase program can be terminated, extended or limited at any time. Mike Livingston, president and CEO of the company, said, "At its current level, we consider Glen Burnie Bancorp's common stock to be undervalued. The board is sensitive to this issue and we will consider repurchases of shares at appropriate intervals."

O'Malley Comments on Constellation's Absence at Recent PSC Meeting
Gov. Martin O'Malley released the following statement in reaction to no representative from Constellation Energy attending a recent hearing organized by the Public Service Commission (PSC):
"If Constellation is suing ratepayers for an additional $386 million, it seems only fair that they would appear before the Public Service Commission to explain why. We will support the Public Service Commission in its efforts to obtain answers to the very serious questions that have been raised about ratepayer liability for stranded costs and decommissioning expenses."

IHG Hotels Standardize on Micros POS as Preferred Vendor Solution
Micros Systems, a provider of information technology solutions for the hospitality and retail industries, announced that IHG (Intercontinental Hotels Group), one of the world's largest hotel groups by number of rooms, has selected MICROS 9700 and 3700 point-of-sale (POS) systems as the preferred vendor solution for all of its owned and managed hotels. IHG will also deploy mymicros.net, Micros's web-based software suite. Installation of 30 corporate locations is targeted for April 2008.
Part of IHG's growth strategy involves improving hotel efficiency and delivering consistent customer experiences. Standardizing on Micros POS will support its requirement to meet these goals.

Millennium Selects Micros for All U.S.-Based Millennium Hotel Properties
Columbia-based Micros Systems has announced that Millennium Hotels and Resorts has selected Micros Opera as the standard property management solution and MICROS 9700 Hospitality Management System (HMS) as the standard food and beverage point-of-sale solution for its 14 Millennium Hotel properties located in the United States.
The system will be deployed and centrally hosted in the Micros Data Center located in Ashburn, Va. Millennium Hotels in North America are upscale, deluxe properties located in a various city centers and resort areas.

SWAN Dives Into Networking Pool
The South West Area Networking (SWAN) Group is a group of business professionals from the southwest areas of Baltimore County, Baltimore City and northern Anne Arundel County who want to network in a casual and friendly environment without having to pay high membership dues to join.
In fact, there are no membership fees. The group meets every Tuesday morning from 9 to 10 a.m., with the common purposes of meeting new people, enhancing business prospects and targeting small businesses for business growth. The group currently meets at the Linthicum Luncheteria and will be there until the end of March. For more information, contact David Spedden at 443-938-3771 or dspedden@fortitudepublicrelations.com.

NAIOP-Maryland Unveils New Membership Program
The National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP), Maryland Chapter, has unveiled a new membership program, "Developing Leaders," that targets young professionals involved with or interested in entering the local commercial real estate industry. The membership, which provides the complete spectrum of benefits and services available to the general membership, is open to individuals 35 years of age and under at a reduced annual cost.
The program offers a full membership to NAIOP-Maryland for $175 annually, as compared to the cost for a principal member involved in real estate ownership, asset management or development that runs $920 per year. For more information, contact Dianna Wilhelm at 410-880-6242 or dianna@wilhelmbe.com.

MMS Wins Five Awards
The Printing & Graphics Association Mid-Atlantic (PGAMA) honored Millennium Marketing Solutions with five awards at the 2008 Print Week Banquet on Jan. 31. The program recognizes excellence in all aspects of printing and graphic communications.
Millennium received three Best in Category awards for Folders & Brochures for projects created for Laurence Construction, Gotham Banks and Ryland Homes. The company also garnered Awards of Merit for projects created for Gotham Banks and Columbia Builders.

Area Company Makes Top 20 on Entrepreneur List
Pasadena-based Clean Agency made the Top 15 in Entrepreneur magazine's 2008 "Hot List" as green consciousness gains a foothold among consumers. "We realize sustainability is a relatively new concept for some of our clients," said Ken Eskenazi, partner and co-founder of the company. "But sustainability is incremental and every step in the right direction, a small triumph."

Maroon, Hillman PR Agencies to Team Up, Announce WSOP Deal
Marriottsville-based Maroon PR and Sandy Hillman Communications have formed a strategic relationship for the purpose of co-representing clients. The two companies' first collaboration will be the handling of public relations for the World Series of Poker (WSOP), with which Hillman has been associated since it was purchased by Harrah's Entertainment in 2004.
Based in Las Vegas, the World Series of Poker is the largest, richest and most prestigious event of its kind, with 55 nations participating annually. The $150 million prize pool is larger than those of the Indy 500, Kentucky Derby, The Masters and Wimbledon combined.

Sensics Supplies NASA With Telepresence System
Sensics, manufacturer of panoramic head-mounted displays, has successfully completed the delivery of a Phase II SBIR project for NASA, which included a unique panoramic, high-resolution telepresence system based on the piSight HMD line.
Deployed last year at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center for the Robonaut, a humanoid robot developed by NASA and DARPA, the Sensics system includes a panoramic, high-resolution camera array and the piSight panoramic, high-resolution head-mounted display.

UMBC Startup Receives Funding from TEDCO
The Maryland Technology Development Corp. (TEDCO) has announced that three Maryland university-based startup companies have received $45,000 total in funding, including one concern based at UMBC.
Stephen Freeland, associate professor of biological sciences and inventor; Teresa Willabus, entrepreneur; and Wendy Martin, technology manager; have received funding to study potential markets for a software product that provides a web-based medium for development.

Correction:
In the All Around Town section of the February issue of The Business Monthly, an erroneous loan figure appeared at the top of page 23 in a photo caption concerning j-ref. The correct figure was $175,000. We regret the error.