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Technology Briefs
a2z, Inc. Wins Best E-business Of The Year Awarda2z, Inc. of Columbia, Md., was recently named the "Best e-Business Company of the Year" by the Maryland Technology Development Corporation, in conjunction with the Maryland business and investment community.
The winners of the distinguished "Maryland Incubator Companies of the Year Awards" were chosen based upon their achievements to date, their potential economic impact to the region, their potential social impact to the community and their success in meeting their objectives. The awards are given to current clients and graduates of Maryland incubators, whose achievements are worthy of recognition in a number of business categories.
A panel of judges, including representatives from American Express, the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, the Baltimore Business Journal, Sterling Capital and Steve Walker & Associates, selected a2z, Inc. from over 120 other outstanding Maryland businesses.
a2z, Inc. is an international developer of online trade shows, marketplaces, conferences and seminars for associations, independent show organizers and other businesses.
DBED Appoints Mahan As New Senior Biosciences Executive
The Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED) has announced the appointment of Lawrence C. Mahan, Ph.D., as its senior biosciences executive. Mahan is a senior scientist with more than 16 years experience in biomedical sciences. He has also served as a consultant in the areas of platform development in functional genomics and drug discovery.
Mahan has a Ph.D. in Physiology and Pharmacology from the University of California School of Medicine at San Diego. For 12 years he held top positions with the National Institutes of Health as a principal investigator conducting research in molecular neuroscience before leaving for the private sector. Additionally, he has published more than 100 articles and holds four U.S. patents.
As senior biosciences executive for DBED, Mahan will be responsible for further developing Maryland's biotechnology industry by serving as a comprehensive resource for bioscience companies at any stage of their development. He will also market the industry internationally to attract new business, new companies and new strategic alliances to Maryland.
Mahan replaces Dr. Martha Connolly, who left the position February 13 to become vice president of Clarus Technologies.
OPF/ERA Launches Company-Wide Work@nywhere Program
O'Conor, Piper & Flynn ERA (OPF/ERA) introduced their new work@nywhere program to sales associates and OPF/ERA offices last month.
Work@nywhere is a virtual Internet-based program designed so that sales associates can write contracts, negotiate with other agents and close deals for clients from any location, at any hour of the day or night. The program gives associates access to e-mail, contracts and a vast database of listings, wherever they are.
The new program is a lifestyle solution for clients who are on vacation, work long hours or need real estate transactions completed without immediate face-to-face contact.
Deal Allows Online IT Certification Training, Adds Web And Linux Courses
The UMBC Computer Certification Training Center (CCTC) announced a new partnership today with Magellan University (www.magellan.edu), the nation's first online university, adding web-based learning options to all of the Center's classes and rapidly expanding course offerings to include Linux and a variety of Internet technology certifications.
New titles added to the UMBC Center's curriculum include SAIR Linux Certification, MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) Upgrade Certifications (from NT 4.0), and various web technology titles (HTML, FrontPage 2000, Dreamweaver 4.0 and Flash 5.0). The new online offerings added to instructor-led classes will let students complete various certification modules in weeks to six months, studying at their own pace and around their own schedules. The online courses include pre- and post-assessment, threaded discussions with fellow students and online tutoring from experts in the respective technologies.
The UMBC Computer Certification Training Center is a Microsoft Certified Partner, a Prosoft/CIW Authorized Training Center, a CompTIA Partner, and an Authorized VUE Testing Center.
Magellan University is a Microsoft Certified Technical Education Center, a Prosoft/CIW Authorized Training Center, a CompTIA Partner, and a SAIR Linux Accredited Education Center.
Business Funding Advisory Office Opens In Howard County
Howard County Economic Development Authority's Center for Business & Technology Development has launched its newest program - the county's first Business Funding Advisory Office.
The Business Funding Advisory Office is staffed by specialists from area lending institutions and local government agencies who advise entrepreneurs of funding opportunities available to meet their needs. Funding advice is strictly business-related and provides counseling and resources in the areas of bank loans, lines of credit, venture capital, angel funding, alternative bank lending and state grant funds. Clients desiring to meet with funding advisers must have a viable business or an idea for a business, arrange a prerequisite meeting with a Center counselor, and submit a business plan. The Business Funding Advisory Office will work closely with the Jim Rouse Entrepreneurial Fund office, currently located in the Center.
Although targeted to serve small businesses with fewer than 25 employees, this program is available to all businesses in Howard County.
"Ninety percent of the clients visiting the Center ask about funding sources," says Cynetta Cardwell, manager of the Center's Business Resource Center.
Franchising Added To Center's Business Services
The Center for Business and Technology Development in Howard County has recently opened a Franchising Business Advisory Office. This new office will provide advice, guidance and seminars on the business aspects of franchising.
As part of this new initiative, an in-depth seminar entitled "Is Franchising for You?" will be offered in the fall of 2001. Led by Lee Meizlesh, an experienced franchising expert, the seminar will explore how franchising works, the fundamentals of buying an affordable new or existing franchise, why franchising is so successful, how to select the right industry, how to select the right franchise, what a franchisor looks for in a prospective franchisee, the disclosure document, avoiding pitfalls and much more.
Unwired Express Announces First Context-Based Enterprise Mobility Platform
Unwired Express, Inc., a Columbia-based company specializing in context-based enterprise mobility, has announced the release of its Express Mobile PlatformÔ. Unlike previous wireless solutions, the Express Mobile Platform delivers mobile applications that adapt and respond in real time to the dynamic needs of mobile users. This is achieved by determining the context - activity, intent, location, preferences and environment - for individual mobile employees and applying it to the navigation, presentation and business logic of mobile applications.
The Express Mobile Platform delivers highly personalized, actionable alerts and dynamic menus to mobile users even when out of wireless coverage. It features a scalable, secure and open architecture based on JavaÔ 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition (J2EEÔ). The Express Mobile Platform facilitates real-time integration with legacy systems, executes context-aware applications, renders content and delivers actionable alerts and menus to mobile devices including PalmÔ handheld, RIM", Pocket PCs and cell phones.
Unwired Express began shipping its Express Mobile Platform last week. In addition, the organization is actively seeking companies who wish to deploy this unique functionality approach to extend existing field sales, field service, customer relationship management and supply chain management applications. Customers qualifying for this charter program will receive discounts and other benefits. General availability of the Express Mobile Platform, including additional product enhancements and features, is scheduled for September.