Archive for November, 2009

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If you haven’t seen the Arundel Biz calendar of events, the early adopters last week that listed events are Entrepreneur’s Exchange, SBIR, BWI Biz Partnership, Balt-Wash. Corridor Chamber and the Chesapeake Regional Tech Council.  That means this week we’re right in the middle of the bell curve, so join them in posting Webinars, and company or business group events.  No charge.

LINTHICUM – At the BWI Business Partnership breakfast, guest speaker Dr. Stephen Schimpff gave what amounted to an open letter to Congress saying that the current bills do not address the real problems with health care.  With credentials numerous enough to crash a server, including the recently published The Future of Medicine: Megatrends That Will Improve Your Quality of Life, he described how the health care hubbub is more about care financings and access, but not improving delivery.  Specialists comprise 70% percent of all doctors, while primary care physicians are 30% and are not paid or incentivized enough for preventive care.  By improving the system for care coordination, where chronic conditions can be better managed so that patients can’t get multiple (and possibly counteractive) prescriptions from different doctors, for example, then overall costs will decrease.

The real culprits that challenge better health care are the aging population, the rise of chronic diseases, and risky behaviors (smoking, obesity, stress, and poor nutrition and exercise).  More coverage for the uninsured needs to be coupled with preventive care, reasonable income for practitioners and greater responsibility for healthy behaviors.

LAUREL – The Howard County Technology Council named winners in seven categories at its second awards program themed Recognizing Innovators and Bright Ideas.  With emcee Richard Story of HoCo Economic Development Authority and Keynoter Brian Darmody (a key figure in forming the state’s TEDCO), the event culminated in these accolades:

• Technology Advocacy: Ken Ulman, County Executive
• Technology Legend: Larry Letow, President/COO of Convergence Technology Consulting
• Support of the Council: Vic Hess, outgoing chairman of the council
• Green Technology Company of the Year: E-Structors
• Life Sciences Company of the Year: Osiris Therapeutics
• New/Emerging Technology Company of the Year: Bioactive Surgical
• Technology Company of the Year: Sourefire.

ANNAPOLIS – Severn Savings Bank and its parent Severn Bancorp have entered into supervisory agreements with the Office of Thrift Supervision under which the bank will change some lending practices.  With some already underway, the revisions include policies regarding problem assets, the allowance for loan and lease losses, the use of interest reserves and the loan modification policy.

See SSB release.

CROFTON – BlueWing Environmental Solutions and Technologies is working with the City of Annapolis to deploy floating islands, a filtration system of recycled plastic mesh and native grasses that cleans the water and improves wildlife habitat.  The project has been in the capital budget for two years and with funding will now be tested in a local lagoon.

See City of Annapolis release.

LINTHICUM – Network specialist Ciena has won the bid in the auction of the optical networking and carrier Ethernet assets of Nortel’s Metro Ethernet Networks (MEN) business. Following a Dec. 2 approval of the bankruptcy court, Ciena will pay $769 million in cash and senior convertible notes.

See Ciena release.

ANNAPOLIS – The Maryland Dept. of General Services has selected Purple Cherry Architects to conduct a feasibility study that may lead to the expansion of the Maryland State Archives building.  The building houses historical records dating back to 1634.

See PCA release.

ANNAPOLIS – Looking at a slate of initiatives such as stepped up lobbying efforts for more state budget, a Tourism Industry Awareness Day in Annapolis during the General Assembly session and planned growth of its membership base, the Maryland Tourism Council has elected its board for the next two years.  They are:

• Ross Peddicord, co-publisher of Maryland Life Magazine
• Sandy Turner from Cecil County Tourism as First Vice Chair
• Rachelina Bonacci from Howard County Tourism as Second Vice Chair
• Monroe Harrison from the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor as  Treasurer and
• Scott Walker from the Hess Hotels Group as Secretary.

See MTC release.

COLUMBIA – Database marketer Merkle named Patrick Hennessy and Tim Berry to the newly created positions of co-presidents. Both are 12-year veterans of the company and are responsible for consolidating core operating units including technology, data, analytics, strategy, creative and production management.

See Merkle release.

ANNAPOLIS – BankAnnapolis has added Peggy Hall as vice president and asset manager who will work with the bank’s Special Assets Resolution Group on building new commercial banking relationships with local businesses.  Also new is Tammy Cursey as vice president in the new commercial real estate banking division.

See BankAnnapolis release.