Archive for February, 2010

ANNAPOLIS – ESnet is new resident of the Chesapeake Innovation Center, the business accelerator for government and homeland/national security initiatives.  ESnet is funded by the DOE Office of Science to provide network and collaboration services in support of the agency’s research missions.

See Web site.

CROFTON – Force 3 Consulting received the Anne Arundel County Business-Based Mentoring Award for its work with Crofton Meadows Elementary School.  Bestowed by the Volunteer Center For Anne Arundel County and the Anne Arundel Mentoring Roundtable, the award was provided because of the company’s program for student visits to the office, its perspective of approaching the IT marketplace and giving hands-on experience with technologies.  Force 3 also announced the addition of Owen Meeks as an account executive.

See full release.

LINTHICUM – Bel Air is the site of the newest branch of SECU, the largest state-chartered credit union in Maryland.  SECU, with locations at Pasadena, Glen Burnie, downtown Annapolis and Annapolis Towne Centre, is hiring for 40 positions across the organization and hired 127 last year.

See full release.

COLUMBIA – The Law Offices of Kirk Halpin & Associates, P.A. and Business & Technology Law Group have formed a strategic alliance to serve clients with litigation and real estate law. The agreement is an outgrowth of past referral efforts.

See full release.

ODENTON – M-Edge Accessories plans to launch this Spring a suite of accessories designed for Apple’s iPad.  Based on its eReader offerings, the company wants to deliver protection, innovation and personalization to the iPad experience.

See full release.

COLUMBIA – JPB Real Estate Services has brought on board VP Susan Homberg, a former retail leasing executive with Jones Lang Lasalle. The company is one of a family of business service companies under the JPB Enterprises umbrella, which includes affiliated investment companies JPB Capital Partners and JPB Real Estate Partners.

See full release.

This week’s view outside the ABN office is indicative of the last two years for many businesses:  there were no bubblers (i.e. sales activity) nearby to keep the water moving and avoid freezing, so the ice (i.e. creditors) closes in and puts pressure on the hull, finding a weak spot that invites the water, and down goes the ship.   (No, it’s not my boat.)

The pundits say the tide is turning because of recent economic numbers, but what’s happening in the trenches?   Is your sales pipeline looking better or worse?  Planning to hire or fire?  Any big technology or equipment purchases on the horizon?  Send us your news and opinion.

How many times have you noticed the cycle of retail shops going out of business and getting new owners?  It takes a solid margin to pay staff, buy merchandise and give the landlord his due, even before e-commerce took hold.  Let’s change that.

Arundel Business News is part of Annapolis Bricks n’ Clicks, a March 23^rd event at Federal House restaurant in Annapolis.  Speakers are Web specialists in SEO, Google Adwords, email marketing and sound Web practices for local retailers.  The two-hour gathering starts at 7:30 am, and the $12 cost includes breakfast.

COLUMBIA – Old-fashioned email is not the ghetto of communication that it sometimes seems when compared to social networking (hey, what happens if Twitter goes down?).  Customer relationship specialist Merkle has released a free report that shows 71% of respondents spend at least 20 minutes a week exchanging personal email.

See full report.

ANNAPOLIS – After winning a taste test by US Naval Academy midshipmen, Vocelli Pizza filled a 3,000-pizza order and delivered them to the Academy last Sunday at 4:30 pm in time for the Super Bowl.  Seven local Vocelli franchises helped to prepare 1,500 cheese and 1,500 pepperoni 14-inch pizzas.

See full release.