Archive for July, 2010

GREENBELT – The Bozzuto Group has created a joint venture with real estate investor Pritzker Realty Group to seek multifamily development and acquisition opportunities throughout the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan areas.  The companies have made an initial capital commitment of $75 million.

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LANHAM – A two-day grand opening began yesterday at The Residence at Greenbelt, a new assisted living community. 

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DAYTON – Web architect Christopher Hinkle of NetLink Resource Group has received two awards from the National Institutes of Health for his work on the Secure Payee Registration System, as well as streamlining the system into the existing grant review payment process.

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HANOVER – Following the retirement of Founder Dr. Howard Haft, Conmed Healthcare Management announced the appointment of Dr. Robert Younes as Chief Medical Officer and Dr. Stephen Goldberg as executive vice president. 

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ARNOLD – At the monthly Tech Focus gathering of the Chesapeake Regional Technology Council, panelists outlined how the Project Management Professional (PMP) designation is a baseline that can be shaped according to specific needs.  Often sought for software development projects, for example, the credential is an indicator of a mindset for continued learning, stressed Ed Townsend of IntelliGenesis.  Given the high failure rate of projects, a PMP can help mitigate risks during the planning, initiating, executing or monitoring stages.

Butler Newman of RWD Technologies defined PMP as a disciplined approach to achieving purposeful execution.  It’s not enough to just hit expectations, he said, because the real benefit comes when problems are detected early and outcomes are improved.  He called particular attention to the initiative aspect of the project management lifecycle, saying that it was crucial to Apple’s launch of the iPad because the company aimed to change the way that people interact with computers. 

For ARINC, the driver for consistency in project reviews, timeframes, integration and cost management was the company’s acquisition by The Carlyle Group in 2006.  Nancy Douglas explained how the company’s value increased by having common project management processes across all units, and a certification program with risk-based levels. 

Other common themes, underscored by moderator Lois Findlay, were that programs for PMPs need to be tailored to company needs, and that they can fail when there is no executive-level support.

ANNAPOLIS – Announced at an unusual gathering that featured numerous Maryland politicians in one place (albeit in ARINC’s secure facility), Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corp. (WDC) will receive $4.9 million to help fund cyber security job training.  Awarded through a U.S. Dept. of Labor competitive grant program, the funds will provide tuition assistance for 1,000 “dislocated” workers, aka those who are out of work or want to upgrade their skills.  Classes are expected to start this fall.

L to R: U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes, U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski, Gov. Martin O'Malley, ARINC CEO John Belcher, Vice Admiral Bernard McCullough III (head of U.S. Fleet Cyber Command). Not pictured: U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, AACC Pres. Dr. Martha Smith, and WDC President Kirkland Murray

WDC will implement the program with community colleges such as Anne Arundel, and the Pathways to Cyber Security Careers Consortium, a group of academic, government and industry partners including ARINC. 

In kicking off the announcement, Sen. Mikulski cited Maryland as the epicenter for cyber security and the program’s aim to create private-sector jobs.  The U.S. Fleet Cyber Command, part of the U.S. 10th Fleet, will be headquartered at Fort Meade. 

Asked about a recent series in The Washington Post that highlighted the immense resources spent and challenges associated with preventing terrorism and promoting cyber security, Mikulski had this to say:

“I disagree with the conclusion that there is no test for effectiveness.   The test is that we’ve had no attacks since 9-11.  That fact is that we need redundancy, and I support the proposal for an inspector general across all intelligence agencies.” 

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ANNAPOLIS – Margriet Mitchell has been named president of advertising firm Weitzman Agency.   Mitchell started at Weitzman as an intern in 1993, and has been executive vice president since 2008. 

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ANNAPOLIS – Biodefense firm PharmAthene will sell $3.9 million of its common stock and warrants to an existing institutional investor in a registered public offering. 

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BURTONSVILLE – New Energy Technologies will shortly unveil a prototype of a glass window capable of generating electricity.  Called SolarWindow, the glass has solar cells that create electricity from both natural and artificial light sources.

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EASTON – Background screening firm Inquiries, Inc. and Telos Identity Management Solutions have created an alliance to roll out IDVetting.   The service will deliver non-criminal, fingerprint-based background checks as an authorized FBI channeler through a secure, web-based enrollment and record dissemination service for authorized recipients.

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