Aquilent Announces New Wins Across HHS
Laurel-based Aquilent has been awarded more than a dozen new contracts within the past several months supporting numerous operating divisions and programs within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The company will be providing strategic consulting on a number of fronts, including the areas of mobile strategy and cloud computing.
Aquilent also will be delivering program management office leadership and support for major departmental information technology and grants management system efforts. Additionally, it will lead a number of efforts that will focus on web site design and development; web content management system implementation and migration efforts; usability testing; graphic design; content syndication; QA testing and publishing; 508 compliance; data integration layer support; business intelligence and reporting; and more.
Supported operating division, office and staff division customers include the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Food and Drug Administration, the Health Resources and Services Administration and the National Institutes of Health.
Arundel Seeks Input on Master Plan Update
Anne Arundel County has two remaining listening sessions to hear the public’s input regarding pedestrian and bicycle facilities in the county’s suburban and urbanized areas.
The Office of Planning & Zoning is working with a consultant on a study to identify deficiencies in the current network of sidewalks, trails, on-road travel lanes and crosswalks to develop a systematic way to prioritize improvements as funds become available or as development occurs. The study is largely funded through a Federal transportation planning grant and it is expected to take 18 months to complete.
The listening sessions will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Arundel Mills Community Room at 7000 Arundel Mills Circle on Tuesday, Feb. 7; and the Severna Park Middle School cafeteria at 450 Jumpers Hole Road on Wednesday, Feb. 22. County Executive John Leopold will also appoint a Citizens Advisory Committee to work with the Office of Planning and Zoning and project consultant to provide ongoing citizen and community perspective.
Conmed Enters Texas, Ninth State in System
Hanover-based Conmed Healthcare Management has signed an agreement with Galveston, Texas, to provide correctional health care services for the County of Galveston’s jail. The initial 20-month contract is expected to generate revenues of approximately $5.8 million during its initial term.
The contract contains the option, at Galveston’s request, for three additional one-year renewals, with medical services CPI increases in renewal years for a total aggregate value of approximately $16.2 million. It includes a full suite of medical and mental health services for the facility, which has an average daily population of approximately 1,000 Galveston detainees.
“Conmed continues to execute its growth strategy on all fronts, including expanding our geographic footprint through contract wins in new counties and municipalities,” said Chairman and CEO Richard Turner.
UMD, MAR Begin New Cybersecurity Partnership
The University of Maryland’s Cybersecurity Center (MC2) and MAR Inc. are partnering to promote cybersecurity education and research initiatives. The move is part of MC2’s efforts to forge a series of alliances and partnerships among academia, industry and government to deliver advanced educational programs.
Rockville-based MAR is a privately held professional services firm that specializes in four interrelated core competency areas: cybersecurity and information technology services, intelligence and special programs, systems engineering and integration, and specialized facilities management and marine operations.
UMD researchers are applying their expertise in a number of critical cybersecurity fields, including secure software, supply chain risk management, wireless and network security, attacker behavioral analysis and the economics of cybersecurity.
JACMD, HCPSS Partner to Launch Economics Education Program
Through a new educational partnership between Junior Achievement of Central Maryland (JACMD) and the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS), eighth-graders at all HCPSS middle schools will complete JA Finance Park, a comprehensive economics education program that is intended to build young people’s capacity to spur economic development and contribute to Maryland and America’s global competitiveness.
“Establishing this educational partnership with Junior Achievement allows us to support teachers and families with multiple resources related to financial education,” said Sydney Cousin, Howard County superintendent of schools. “This interactive approach to learning brings personal finance to life for our students, with help from community experts.”
Completion of Route 175 Widening and Improvements
Work has been completed on a critical link between Route 295 (the Baltimore-Washington Parkway) and Fort Meade, marking the completion of a public-private partnership between the developers of the Parkside mixed-use project under a Memorandum of Understanding with the State Highway Administration.
The one-mile stretch of Route 175 from Northbound I-295 to Rockenbach Road was widened by one lane in each direction and a center lane was added at a cost of about $6 million. Improvements beyond those needed for Parkside will be eligible for impact fee credits as building permits are approved. The county provided the necessary study of Route 175 at a cost of about $242,000.
Arundel Business News Sold to The Business Monthly
The Arundel Business News (ABN), a 3-year-old weekly subscriber-based report, has been sold to The Business Monthly (TBM). The deal means that subscribers of ABN will automatically begin receiving TBM’s e-mail blast, the BizWeekly.
The former publisher of ABM, Chris Ourand, will continue providing marketing and communications consulting.
Four Companies Approved for AAEDC Business Loans
Four Anne Arundel County companies have been approved for loans through the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corp.’s (AAEDC) Business Financing Program, which provides alternative sources of business financing for growing companies.
They are Chesapeake Light Craft, a 21-year-old company specializing in wooden boat kits, boat plans, boat-building materials and boat building classes; OpinionWorks LLC, a 10-year-old company providing market research services and statistical analysis services; Six C/D Associates Limited Partnership, which owns and manages a 24,000-square-foot retail strip center that houses CVS Pharmacy, Domino’s Pizza, Minuteman Press and Mariner Finance; and Glen Burnie’s Honey Bee Diner, a family-owned and operated restaurant since 1952.
Annapolis Towne Centre Signs Three Companies to Leases
MacKenzie Commercial Real Estate Services has announced the successful completion of three new leases at Annapolis Towne Centre: Wells Fargo, Hannon Armstrong and RBC, which will open branch offices that total 23,000 square feet.
“The decision by these well-respected institutions to locate in Annapolis Towne Centre confirms the fact that [the mixed-use project] has truly become the benchmark in the Annapolis market. [Its] amenities, set within the Main Street atmosphere, provide all the ingredients necessary for success,” said MacKenzie Senior Vice President Scott Wimbrow.
HCLS Awarded $100K STEM Grant to Launch iTech
Howard County Library System (HCLS) has received $100,000 in federal grant funding to launch iTech, a STEM digital learning initiative for middle and high school students to elevate science, technology, engineering and math.
One of only 12 successful applicants, HCLS competed with 100 other educational institutions from 32 states. The competition was announced in answer to President Obama’s “Educate to Innovate” campaign, a nationwide effort to bring American students to the forefront in science and math. The grants were awarded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, along with the Institute of Museum & Library Services.
BWI Marshall Ranks Among Top 10 Tech Friendly Airports
With efforts at many airports pushing to increase the numbers of electrical outlets, USB ports and desks in their gate areas, as well as increase the speed of their facility’s Wi-Fi connection, comes good news from BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport.
The facility placed ninth on a list of the 40 busiest U.S. airports, on the number and quality of the tech amenities they offer, in a ranking in PCWorld. Reagan National Airport in Washington ranked No. 25 in the list and Dulles International Airport in Northern Virginia came in at No. 37.
SBA Accepting Nominations for SBIR Awards
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is seeking nominations for awards honoring the critical economic role small businesses play in federally funded research and development through the organization’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.
Three awards will be presented: one for companies that have participated in the SBIR/STTR programs, one for individuals who advocate on behalf of the programs and a third Hall of Fame award.
Peak Technologies Completes Acquisition of Ryzex
Columbia-based Peak Technologies has completed the acquisition of Ryzex, a mobile technology solutions company. Based in Bellingham, Wash., Ryzex has been in business for more than 20 years and is one of the largest integrators in the auto ID industry with more than 200 employees, more than 2,000 customers and a geographic footprint that spans the United States, Canada and Europe.
By acquiring Ryzex, Peak Technologies greatly expands its geographic reach and gains additional capabilities in areas such as mobility managed services, advanced mobile technology support services and other innovative mobile device offerings. For Ryzex, Peak’s coverage footprint throughout North America also greatly expands its geographic reach and provides additional capabilities, including SAP supply chain integration, on-site break/fix repair services and advanced printer/media offerings, among others.
Penn Camera Files for Bankruptcy
Penn Camera Exchange, headquartered in Beltsville, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. According to a release issued by Penn Camera, a dramatic decline in sales performance during the preceding holiday period precipitated this action.
On Jan. 4, the company announced the immediate closing of five of its eight retail stores in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, including a store in the Laurel Shopping Center. Retail stores in Rockville; Tysons Corner, Va.; and E Street in Washington, D.C., will remain open.
FFB Makes $8M Grant to University in Netherlands
The Columbia-based Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB), a national nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing sight-saving research, has announced a $1.8 million grant during the next five years to The Radboud University Nijmegen in The Netherlands.
Recognized as one of the world’s foremost institutions for genetic, laboratory and clinical research for inherited retinal degenerative diseases, Nijmegen will serve as a Foundation Fighting Blindness Research Center. In that role, Nijmegen will conduct collaborative laboratory and clinical research efforts to facilitate the advancement of potential treatments and cures and related human studies. Nijmegen becomes the third Foundation Center Grant in Europe, joining Moorfields Eye Hospital in London and the Institut de la Vision in Paris.
KoolSpan Grows Business Out of bwtech@UMBC Research Park
Bethesda-based KoolSpan has located at bwtech@UMBC Research & Technology Park to further develop its business in the Baltimore/Washington area. The privately-held cybersecurity company provides secure connectivity solutions that unite mission-critical network devices using its high performance TrustChip technology. UMBC’s strategic location positions KoolSpan, which operates in the mobile security technology and protection space, to take advantage of an abundance of private and public sector opportunities, particularly in the Baltimore-Washington Corridor. By the company’s admittance into the Northrop Grumman Cync Program, it plan to further promote its product, TrustChip, which turns a standard mobile phone into a trusted and secure networking and communication device.
Eurotech Announces Plans for Embedded Module in Catalyst Family
Columbia-based Eurotech, a supplier of embedded technologies, products and systems, has launched the next generation of modules in the Catalyst series of embedded computers. The Catalyst CV, based on the Intel Atom processor N2000 series, will offer significant benefits to customers looking for dual-core performance capabilities with enhanced multimedia and a greater choice of operating environments while maintaining very low power consumption.
With advanced feature specifications for performance, graphics, power and size, the Catalyst CV can be used in the next generation of devices in medical, industrial, gaming, digital signage and automotive markets. “The Catalyst CV platform showcases our low-power expertise without sacrificing any of the capabilities and features customers want from this new Intel Atom processor series,” said Haritha Treadway, product manager for Eurotech in North America.
Chesapeake Lodging Trust Acquires Holiday Inn New York City Midtown
Annapolis-based Chesapeake Lodging Trust has closed on the previously announced acquisition of the newly developed, 122-room Holiday Inn New York City Midtown – 31st Street for a purchase price of $52.2 million (or approximately $428,000 per key). The trust entered into an agreement with Real Hospitality Group to manage the hotel.
“We are excited to acquire our first hotel in the New York City market at a very compelling entry point,” said James Francis, Chesapeake’s president and CEO. “Given the robust demand in midtown Manhattan, our operator’s experience managing hotels in New York City and the strength of the IHG reservation system, we expect the Holiday Inn New York City Midtown – 31st Street to ramp-up very quickly.”
Full-Time Hiring in Full Swing for Columbia’s New Wegmans
Wegmans Food Markets is now recruiting full-time employees for its new Columbia store. The 145,000-square-foot supermarket with a two-floor parking garage will open in mid-June 2012 at the intersection of Snowden River Parkway and McGaw Road. It will be the chain’s fifth store in Maryland.
The new Wegmans will offer more than 70,000 individual products, including an extensive prepared foods department, fresh seafood delivered daily, up to 700 fresh produce items, and 300 varieties of imported and domestic cheese. It also will offer restaurant-style food service in the Market Café. About 250 of the 700 total positions available are full-time; hiring for part-time positions will begin in March. To apply, visit www.wegmans.com/careers.
Maryland Live! Casino Employment Center Opens
The under-construction $500 million Maryland Live! Casino gaming and entertainment destination at Arundel Mills is ramping up its recruitment efforts with the opening of its employment center. It is located at 7270 Park Circle Drive in Hanover.
The casino will be filling more than 1,500 new positions during the next several months, including hundreds of casino positions, as well as jobs in marketing, facilities, food and beverage, environmental services, security, information technology and finance. Full-time and part-time positions will be available in all departments and all shifts. For information, call 443-445-2500.
Infoblox Files for $125M IPO
Infoblox Inc. has filed a registration statement on Form S-1 for up to $125 million with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a proposed initial public offering of its common stock. The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the offering have not yet been determined.
Headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., Infoblox is an automated network control specialist and operates its North American branch office in Annapolis.
Island Travel & Tours to Offer Charter Flights to Cuba from BWI Marshall
Island Travel & Tours Ltd., based in Tampa, announced that nonstop air charter service between BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport and Havana, Cuba, will begin on March 21. The flights are scheduled to depart BWI Marshall at 3 p.m. The weekly service begins shortly before the scheduled visit to Cuba by Pope Benedict XVI. The Vatican recently announced that the Pope would visit Cuba from March 26 to 28.
Last year, the White House announced new policies to encourage further “purposeful” travel to Cuba; last spring, BWI Marshall received federal approval from U.S. Customs and Border Protection to handle passenger charter air service to and from Cuba. The Cuban government subsequently approved Island Travel &Tours, a licensed travel service provider, to offer the service from BWI Marshall.
QAI Wins Multi-Year NIH Contract
Fulton-based Quality Associates Inc. has been awarded its second consecutive five-year contract with The National Institutes of Health (NIH). The agreement, initially valued at $18 million, calls for QAI to provision a broad scope of document scanning, conversion and electronic content management-related services.
Efforts to transition NIH’s grant applications function to a paperless process will thus proceed uninterrupted and benefit from the expertise accrued during the initial contract period. In addition, the new contract expands the service offerings QAI will provide NIH; notably, QAI will offer 508 compliance consulting and training and will design, install and manage end-to-end electronic content management (ECM) systems.
Koffel Associates Acquires The Code Consortium
Koffel Associates Inc. has acquired The Code Consortium, a California-based fire protection engineering consulting practice. Its clients include the American Pyrotechnics Association; Trespa, a manufacturer of a composite exterior wall panel system; and 3A Composites, a manufacturer of an MCM exterior wall panel.
The company, which provides leadership service for the development, management, growth and work of the fire protection industry’s professional organizations and governing entities, has grown at what it terms “a steady rate” for the past five years and recently relocated to new offices in Columbia.
Tecore, Alliance Technology Set to Move to New Quarters
Tecore Networks has purchased the 48,000-square-foot office building at 7030 Hi Tech Drive in Hanover to serve as its new corporate headquarters. This transaction follows the September sale of 7010 Hi Tech Drive, a nearby 40,000-square-foot building, to Alliance Technology Group.
The company, which supplies mobile network infrastructure, is moving from its current location at 7061 Columbia Gateway Drive in Columbia to the new building this summer. Alliance Technology Group, a systems integrator and information technology solutions company, will take occupancy of its building this spring.
Vision Technologies Partners With Lenel
Glen Burnie-based Vision Technologies has been selected as a Lenel OnGuard Value Added Reseller. OnGuard offers advanced access control, alarm monitoring, digital video, intrusion detection, asset tracking, information security integration, credential production, and employee and visitor management functionality.
The enterprise multi-server synchronized database solutions are designed for customers with multiple facilities spread across global geographical areas. They permit corporate security and information technology managers to maintain central control over the entire integrated system, while allowing regional offices to maintain independence and autonomous operation of their applications. Of the Fortune 100, 92% of the companies use Lenel, which is also widely used among federal concerns.
Capitol College’s Online Graduate Engineering Program Receives U.S. News & World Report Ranking
U.S. News and World Report released its rankings of top online degree programs and Capitol College was ranked No. 43 for its graduate engineering program in the category “Student Services and Technology.”
The rankings for top online graduate engineering programs took into account the following factors: 24/7 live tech support, live tutoring, smartphone applications and live-streaming video. Capitol’s graduate program outranked many large schools nationwide.
Maryland Live! Casino to Utilize Micros Technology
The new Maryland Live! Casino, by The Cordish Company, will build its operational technology infrastructure for food and beverage utilizing Columbia-based Micros Systems’ Simphony Enterprise Solution on Micros Workstation 5a and Mobile Micros hardware.
Leveraging Simphony’s state-of-the-art technology and service-oriented architecture, Maryland Live! Casino can streamline the integration of various applications to accommodate targeted functionalities. The casino, currently under construction at Arundel Mills, will be the largest gaming facility in Maryland, featuring 4,750 slot machines and electronic table games, several nationally-acclaimed restaurants and a live entertainment venue. It is scheduled to open in summer 2012 (pending approval by the Maryland State Lottery Agency).
Hogan’s Land Sales Volume Triples
Larry Hogan, president and CEO of the Annapolis-based Hogan Companies, announced that 2011 land sales volume for the company more than tripled and revenue for the firm was up 80% from 2010 figures.
Hogan closed out 2011 with strong economic performance numbers. Given the tough market conditions, land sales volume for the company more than tripled in 2011 with an increase of more than 230%. Company-wide, across all profit-centers, the company showed an 80% increase in gross revenues from 2010 to 2011.
WBC Forms Owners Representative Service Corps
Bob Wood of Wood Builders Collaborative (WBC) has formed the Owners Representative Service Corp. (ORSC), a group of construction specialists that work with both medium and small companies to oversee the design and construction of buildings and facilities.
Its mission is to ensure that the owner’s interest and budgets are considered throughout all phases of the construction process. “ORSC helps the owners by dealing directly with the ‘army of people’ involved in the building or expansion of a business,” said Wood. “We watch their back, manage their budgets and play the role of watchdog so the owners can focus on running their business.”
HCC’s Global Distinction Program Wins 2012 Heiskell Award
Howard Community College’s (HCC) Global Distinction Program has been named a winner by the Institute of International Education (IIE) in the 11th annual IIE Andrew Heiskell Awards for Innovation in International Education.
The award honors the most outstanding initiatives in international higher education created and conducted by universities and colleges in IIE’s membership network of more than 11,000 higher education institutions. Selected colleges and universities emerge as Heiskell winners for developing highly unusual initiatives that are specifically designed to remove institutional barriers and broaden participation in international teaching and learning on campus. Howard Community College is sharing the Heiskell Award with the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC), its partner in the Global Distinction Program initiative.
OBA Bank Expands to Arundel Mills
OBA Bank, headquartered in Germantown and founded in 1861, has opened a Commercial Banking Center and Full Service Branch Facility in Arundel Mills at 7556 Teague Road, Hanover. It is the bank’s sixth location.
OBA Bank, with assets of $382 million and 66 employees, is committed to serving the needs of the businesses and communities of Central Maryland.
NAACCC Holds Gala at La Fontaine Bleu
The Northern Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce (NAACCC) held its annual Presidential Gala at La Fontaine Bleu in Glen Burnie on Jan. 21, where various businesses and businesspersons were honored for their contributions to the community in 2011.
The honorees included ShopRite of Glen Burnie, Business of the Year; Bruster’s Ice Cream, Small Business of the Year; Debbie and Mike Feather, Citizen(s) of the Year; Nabil Sheikh of OmegaCor Technologies, President’s Leadership Award; and George Behr, Jr., of Arundel Federal Savings Bank, President’s Legacy Award.
Offit Kurman Continues Expansion, Opens Office in Virginia
Offit Kurman has made an advancement in its regional growth plan by opening a new office in Tyson’s Corner, the law firm’s first in Virginia and the second office the firm has opened in six months. It now has 84 attorneys operating out of six offices, including Baltimore; Maple Lawn; Washington; Philadelphia; Wilmington, Del.; and Tysons Corner.
“Our growth is indicative of a national trend, in which an increasing number of companies are switching to full-service, mid-sized firms, rather than larger firms. Companies are choosing mid-sized law firms based on the value and personal service offered by a smaller firm,” said Offit Kurman Managing Principal Ted Offit.
Howard County Opens VITA Site, Will Provide Free Income Tax Prep
Howard County has opened its first Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site, which will run throughout the 2012 tax season. It will offer free tax assistance preparation and free electronic filing to most taxpayers who earned up to $49,000 in 2011.
Individuals who choose to take advantage of the e-file program will receive their refunds in half the time compared to returns filed on paper (and faster, when tax refunds are deposited directly into a bank account). The site will operate out of the North Laurel Community Center, 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road in Laurel, three days a week, through April 14: Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call 410-313-0386 or visit www.howardcountymd.gov/VITA.htm; this year’s tax deadline is April 17.
Local Author Schimpff Releases New Book
In local author Stephen Schimpff’s new book, The Future of Health Care Delivery, he details the coming disruptions to health care delivery and clarifies facts regarding the public’s misconceptions.
Schimpff then offers specific recommendations that he feels America needs to take to move from a health care system that fundamentally treats disease and injury to one that focuses on health promotion and disease prevention. The book is intended to give a clear, easy-to-understand overview of the characteristics of our current medical care delivery system and how it is changing, and offer suggestions as to how each individual’s actions can influence his or her health, quality of care and costs.
CMRT Corp.’s Travel Training Program Approved for CEUs
The Laurel-based Central Maryland Regional Transit Corporation (CMRT) has announced that the curriculum developed for its Travel Training Program has been approved for Continuing Education Credits (CEU).
CMRT’s two travel trainers, Julie Rosekrans and Donna Stinchcomb, have spearheaded the program, which launched in June 2011. It teaches the necessary skills for individuals with disabilities and seniors to travel safely and independently on fixed-route public transportation.
DBED Introduces Finance Tracker
The Maryland Department of Business & Economic Development (DBED) recently launched the first phase of an online tool, Finance Tracker, which is designed to make tracking state grants, tax credits, equity investments and loan enhancements more accessible and transparent to both businesses and citizens.
It features a searchable database of DBED funding awards in 30 categories and is sortable by company, amount, location, program and fiscal year. “The goal of Finance Tracker is to both inspire interest in our finance programs and help businesses and entrepreneurs understand the types of financing available by perusing the nature and number of qualified recipients,” said DBED Secretary Christian Johansson.
Cyber Center at AACC Named Title Sponsor of CRTC’s TechAwards
The Chesapeake Regional Tech Council (CRTC) has announced the Cyber Center at Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) as the Title Sponsor for its 7th Annual TechAwards program, a celebration of technology excellence in the Chesapeake region that recognizes outstanding achievements in the areas of innovation, strategic growth, customer service and stewardship.
The theme for the program is “Vision 2032: 20 Years in Tech.” In addition, the CRTC added a new award category called Future Innovator that promotes excellence in technology advancement by a regional high school or college student. The event will be held March 29, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the Hilton Baltimore BWI Airport.
DARS Adding New Discipline to Firm’s Offerings
Davis, Agnor, Rapaport & Skalny’s (DARS) new Tax Planning & Litigation Group will provide tax advice and representation to individuals, businesses and nonprofit organizations. Its attorneys will service clients in both federal and state tax matters, including business entity formation, payroll and benefits, compensation structuring, mergers and acquisitions, succession planning, capital investments and individual tax planning.
In addition, the group will represent businesses and individuals in federal and state tax disputes and litigation, including tax appeals, and offers and compromise.
State’s Stem Cell Research Commission Announces New Program
The Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission has announced a new program for pre-clinical and clinical research grants that will support for-profit companies in advancing medical therapies using human stem cells. The commission has issued a new request for Applications (RFA), RFA-MD-12-4, to solicit proposals for the program.
“To grow Maryland’s biotech and life sciences assets, this session we are proposing $10.4 million to continue the state’s investment in stem cell research,” said Gov. Martin O’Malley. “I am pleased that the Maryland stem Cell Research Commission will help our state continue to create jobs and tap into science and discovery. Together, with business and government partners alike, we can continue to make critical investments in the way we feed, fuel and heal our world.”
IndiSoft Awarded ISO 27001:2005 Certification
Columbia-based IndiSoft has achieved the ISO 27001:2005 Information Security Management System Standard.
The certification verifies IndiSoft’s practices for software development, licensing as well as support services and will give its U.S. clients added assurance that they are working with a company that operates using well-established, reputable principles. The ISO 27001:2005 ISMS Standard is a series of documents established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the world’s largest developer of international standards.
APL Named Among Baltimore Mag’s ‘Best Places to Work’
For the third year in a row, The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel has been named to Baltimore magazine’s “Best Places to Work” list.
APL is among 25 companies featured in the magazine’s February 2012 issue as “workplaces that employees really want to roll out of bed for, ones with a bright future and with serious rewards.” The lab was cited specifically as “a place where extremely smart and talented people are set free to do important, innovative work,” and enjoy benefits including employee tuition reimbursement, retirement plan contribution matching, a dependent scholarship program and recreation facilities.
Business Suites of Columbia, Vircity, Establish Alliance
Business Suites of Columbia, which rents executive office space, and Vircity, a Baltimore-based business resource center, have announced a strategic alliance. The announcement comes as both companies look to expand their marketed services to their respective clients and continue to build a greater presence in the Baltimore-Washington region.
“This is a unique situation that is advantageous for both of us. We are entrepreneurial women-owned entities looking to offer additional services to our clients without adding additional overhead,” said Janine DiPaula Stevens, owner of Vircity. “With this alliance, we have expanded our services and increased our competitive advantage. It’s a win-win for us both.”
