People In business

Kiely To Direct FIRN

Edward D. Kiely has been named executive director of the Foreign-born Information and Referral Network (FIRN), taking over from Dawn F. Thomsen who has been serving as interim director. A graduate of Princeton, he holds master's degrees from University of Michigan and Cornell.

A former Peace Corps volunteer and assistant director and master trainer at the Peace Corps Training Center in Cameroon, Kiely also worked for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Kinshasa, Zaire.

Most recently he was working in Washington, D.C., for the International Foundation for Election Systems as a program officer managing democracy and governance and rule of law programs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (ex-Zaire).

Kiely brings to FIRN solid experience leading people and managing programs and resources in nonprofit organizations; his background and training in adult education; his rich experience working with and for persons from different cultures and countries; his people skills-communication, facilitation, relationship-building; as well as his high-energy and dynamic personality.

FIRN helps immigrants and refugees in Howard County achieve self-sufficiency through a program of immigration assistance, job search coaching, translating and interpreting services, tutoring, information and referral and counseling in housing, health, emergency intervention and consumer issues. For more information, call 410 992-1923.



North Arundel Hospital News

Hand surgeon Terrence O'Donovan, M.D., F.A.C.S., became the first surgeon in Maryland to perform hand joint replacement. The prosthesis was implanted in the left index finger of an arthritis sufferer at North Arundel Hospital.

Endrocrinologist Robert Lavine, M.D., is the new medical director of the Joslin Diabetes Center at North Arundel Hospital.



Microcosm Announces Addition

Eric E. Tucker joined Microcosm in March as its vice president and general counsel. He joins the company from the Business Transactions practice group of Venable, Baetjer & Howard, LLP.

His responsibilities will include pursing joint venture and licensing opportunities for Microcosm's proprietary Hyper-Spectral Imaging and Fluorescent Probe technologies.



Goggin To Head KPI

Dave Goggin has been named president of Key Performance Innovators, LLC (KPI) of Ellicott City.

KPI is a general business consulting group specializing in providing operational and financial savings solutions for the retail, grocery, wholesale, distribution and restaurant business sectors. Services include: strategic and annual business planning, operations analysis/reviews, benchmarking and goal setting.



Stone Joins Optivor Technologies

Vance E. Stone has joined Optivor Technologies, a network security consulting firm in Ellicott City.

Stone helped transform a 2000 startup (Exault, LLC) into a viable acquisition for VeriSign in 2001.



South River Consulting Hires Gregg

South River Consulting, LLC, specializing in a comprehensive range of energy procurement services, announces that it has hired Jack B. Gregg, previously with BGE for 32 years, to its staff.

Gregg will be assisting Mid-Atlantic commercial and industrial energy users and specifically those needing to purchase their energy on the open market beginning July 1, prepare for the deregulated energy market by developing procurement strategies, including supplier selection, pricing options and contract considerations and negotiation.



Sorden New SBDC Counselor

Lehr A. Sorden has been appointed business counselor for the Howard County office of The Maryland Small Business Development Center (SBDC).

In his position, Sorden will provide counseling assistance in the areas of marketing, loan packaging, MBE/WBE Certification, government procurement and specialized strategic business planning for Howard County small businesses.

He most recently held the same position for Anne Arundel County.



Thomas To Advocate For AARP Maryland

Virginia Thomas, director of Community and Intergovernmental Relations for the Center for Health Program Development and Management at UMBC and former member of the Maryland House of Delegates, has been chosen as the executive volunteer for Advocacy for AARP Maryland.

As a member of the newly formed Executive Council, she will create policy aimed at serving the interests and needs of the group's 770,000 Maryland members.



Sullivan Opens Enterprise

Mortgage Office

Jerome Sullivan has joined Enterprise Mortgage Investments, Inc. to open its first satellite office in Chicago. As vice president he will manage the production and underwriting process for special Fannie Mae lending program.

Enterprise Mortgage is a Columbia-based full-service affordable housing lender.



Melvin Named To Citizens Board

Citizens National Bank has named Daniel H. Melvin to its board of directors.

Melvin is president of Melvin Motors, Inc. and is a respected business leader in the area.



Gray New VP At Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman Corporation's Electronic Systems sector has announced the appointment of Katherine A. Gray as vice president, Procurement and Material Management.

In her new position, she has executive responsibility for the sector's procurement and material strategies, programs and operations.



Hood Joins Protection One

Rob Hood, formerly with Security-Link and ADT, has accepted the position of sales executive with Protection One.



Breitenother Promoted

CB Richard Ellis, a global leader in real estate, has promoted Charles A. Breitenother to first vice president.

The Clarksville resident specializes in the sale and leasing of office properties in the Baltimore-Washington Corridor.



Wallis To Head Chamber

Marcie B. Wallis is now executive director of the West Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce.

She had held a similar executive position with the National Association of Realtors.



COPT Names Fowler VP

Corporate Office Properties Trust has hired Mary Ellen Fowler to be vice president, Finance and Investor Relations.

She was formerly a senior relationship manager/national accounts team for Key Bank in Cleveland.



Magazine Honors APL Researchers

Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine has honored staff members from The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory for their contributions to the NEAR mission to an asteroid and the resulting advancement of space science.

Thomas B. Coughlin, Robert W. Farquhar and the Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous mission team will be inducted as 2001 Laureates in the space category. Additionally, Stamatios "Tom" M. Krimigis is an "honoree" for his contributions to NASA's New Horizons mission to Pluto.



Levin COO At Magellan

Magellan Health Services, Inc. has named Jay J. Levin to the new position of chief operating officer.

He will oversee the management of the company's health plan, workplace and public sector divisions, as well as strategic planning, marketing and product development activities.



Slade Honored

Harry M. Slade, III, investment representative with the Ellicott City office of Edward Jones, has been named to the President's Club of The American Funds Group, one of the nation's leading mutual fund families.



Battle Promoted At Provident

Ron Battle has been promoted to branch manager III at Provident Bank's Ellicott City Branch.

He was transferred from the Govans branch where he was a branch manager II.



Thompson's Site Cited

USA Today recently named Bill Thompson's Eye on Books (www.EyeOnBooks.com) a "Hot Site."

The Ellicott City resident's Eye on Books features interviews with authors of new and current books, presented in streaming audio that web site visitors can enjoy for free. USA Today wrote of "a treasure trove of audio interviews with top selling authors."



Manekin Expands With

Three New Hires

Manekin, LLC's asset management team has expanded with the hires of Mike Bojanowski, Nina Mrazeck and Rudy Ramirez. It also has promoted Robert Williams, a 20-year Manekin employee.

Bojanowski serves as operations manager, overseeing building operations, capital improvements and construction projects for Manekin's Baltimore portfolio. Mrazeck, who has 12 years accounting industry experience, serves as an administrative assistant. As property manager, Ramirez oversees five facilities in Howard County. Williams, who has an RPA accreditation from BOMA, now serves as property manager of The Blaustein Building in Downtown Baltimore.



NAI KLNB Hires Morris

NAI KLNB, Inc., a full-service commercial real estate brokerage firm, has hired Bob Morris in the Columbia office of its retail division.

Morris, who focuses on landlord and tenant representation of retail real estate in the Mid-Atlantic region, spent more than nine years in retail operations with The Home Depot and Bank of America.



Waltrup Joins KAWG&F

KAWG&F, a regional certified public accounting and consulting firm, has announced that Jody K. Waltrup, CPA, has accepted a position as a staff accountant with the firm.

Waltrup graduated from Towson University in 1998 with a bachelor of science degree in accounting.



Wilkins VP For Encompass

Robert A. Wilkins has been named vice president for Finance of the Encompass Capital Region. A resident of Ellicott City, Wilkins will work out of the Encompass office in Columbia.

Wilkins, who brings to Encompass some 21 years of experience in financial management with such companies as The Rouse Company, Riparius Construction and Marriott Senior Living Services, will focus his efforts on consolidating the financial responsibilities of the four separate offices that make up the Encompass Capital Region.



Linwood Under New Leadership

Linwood Children's Center, Inc., in Ellicott City, has named BillÊMoss as executive director and Karen Spence as deputy director of the agency.

Linwood provides programs and services for individuals with autism and related developmental disabilities.



Staff News At HCGH

Howard County General Hospital announced the following promotions and accomplishments of its staff:

Kim Barnes, R.N., has been appointed administrative coordinator of Obstetrical Services. In her new role, she will be the administrator of Labor and Delivery, Maternal Child Unit, heading screening and lactation services.

Judy Brown, R.N., senior vice president of Nursing, has been accepted into the Year 2002 Johnson & Johnson - Wharton Fellows Program in Management for Nurse Executives.

Marilyn Lauffer, R.N., M.S., education specialist and Cindi Miller, R.N., M.S., director of Community Education, coordinated a poster presentation about HCGH's Community Cardiovascular Project, which was presented at the 2002 National Cardiovascular Health Conference on April.

Nancy Knowles-Tuell, R.N., M.A., has been named nurse manger of the Neonatal

Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

Beatty Shipley, R.N., has been appointed the new clinical program manager for the hospital's Intermediate Care Unit (IMC).



Tracy Joins Natoli Design

Natoli Design Group has appointed Karin Tracy as creative director. In this role, she will lead and evolve the company's capability to provide effective strategic counsel to clients.

She graduated summa cum laude from the American College in London with a BFA in Graphic Design.



Best Joins Optinel Board

Optinel Systems, a privately held provider of optical communication systems for the cable market, announced that cable industry icon Alex Best has joined the company's Board of Directors.

Best, who is highly regarded within the cable industry for his technical savvy and product development experience, served as the executive vice president of Engineering at Cox Communications prior to his retirement in late 2000.



Bates New On Tourism Board

The Howard County Tourism Council has announced its newest board member, Del. Gail H. Bates.

Bates served as executive assistant to County Executive Chuck Ecker as well as Legislative Aide to Delegate Donald Murphy and currently represents District 14B (Howard and Montgomery Counties) in the Maryland General Assembly.



Keddell Is Educator Of The Year

Bob Keddell, a math and science teacher at Wilde Lake Middle School, was selected as the Howard County Chamber of Commerce Educator of the Year at the Chamber's annual Community Awards Night.

Keddell was cited for his significant contributions to in computer technology both for students and his fellow educators at Wilde Lake. He has helped students at risk and helped to rejuvenate the math and science program, while helping veteran teachers to bring computer technology into the classroom.

Other educators recognized at the event were Charles Ashcraft, Glenelg High School; Reg Hahne, Atholton High School; Stacey Kopnitsky, Lime Kiln Middle School; Connie Lewis, Atholton High School; Vinitha Nithianandam, Howard Community College; Tracy Parent, Swansfield Elementary School; and Teresa Waters, River Hill High School.