Frederick County Manufacturers Roundtable Presents: Lunch, Learn and Tour Series

When

December 9, 2010
11:30am – 1:30pm

Plant Tour
Washington Laboratories
Stanford Business Park
4840 Winchester Blvd., Suite 4
Frederick, MD 21703

Topics

Kaizen Tips and Strategies
Maryland Business Works Program

Who Should Attend?

All Frederick County Manufacturers

Agenda

11:30am-11:45am Welcome
11:45 – 12:45am Presentation & Lunch
12:45 – 1:15pm Facility Tour
1:15 – 1:30pm Wrap-Up

Does your organization hold Kaizen (Continuous Improvement) events at your facility? Shawn Wolf, President of Wright Manufacturing will provide strategies and tips to hold productive Kaizen events. Get the extra edge in the market when it comes to competition!

Does a 50% training reimbursement grant sound good to your organization? Learn from Latrice Lewis, Frederick County Workforce Services about the MD Business Works Training Program to assist manufacturers to become more productive and more competitive in our global marketplace.

Registration

Lunch provided by Washington Laboratories. Space is limited. To register, contact Jodie Bollinger at 301-600-1668 or by email jbollinger@frederickcountymd.gov by 12/3/10.

Swift Systems Unveils New Broadband Service

In today’s fast-paced business world, Internet access speed is vitally important! Especially so when companies are dependent upon e-mail and web access on a 24x7, 365 day cycle… and now more than ever time equals money.

Swift Systems, an award winning, technology-driven firm located in Frederick, Maryland, has just unveiled a new and exciting “Jetsons-like” broadband offering. Swift Systems’ brand new Business-Class High Speed Wireless Internet Service is like no other. The program is packaged in bandwidth rates of 3 and 6 Mbps (megabits per second), with speeds of up to 100 Mbps also available. These packaged rates, which are not affected by weather or construction, are two-to-four times faster than T-1 lines at 30 - 50 percent lower costs!

Swift Systems is transmitting this new Business-Class High Speed Wireless Internet Service from several locations throughout Frederick, providing maximum broadband access. The source of the service, Swift Systems’ fiber-based network backbone, has experienced zero downtime in the last three years plus! The network is delivered via a star topology, which means that a subscriber’s service is undisturbed regardless of the number of other users online at the same time.

“Swift saved the day. When other providers couldn’t make it work, they offered us a solution that not only increased our speed but saved us money too,” said Richard A. O’Hara, Assistant General Manager of the Farmers Co-op Association. “Their technicians were very thorough, making sure everything was just as it should be. We appreciate the service, the price and the opportunity to deal with a local company that we can trust.”

Swift Systems is offering a special introductory offer: subscribers will receive free installation, the first month’s service free and free web and e-mail hosting. For a free quote, which is almost as fast as their wireless service, call David Sprankle at (301) 682-5100. Visit Swift online at www.SwiftSystems.com and/or call toll free (877) Swift-si.

Business Appreciation Month Profile: The South Mountain Group

As a courtesy for being a part of the Frederick County Office of Economic Development (OED) 2010 Business Appreciation Month (BAM), we have offered all Frederick County BAM businesses the opportunity to use OED’s social media outlets to help market their business. Information is provided by each company and edited for content as needed by OED.

In 2005, The South Mountain Group opened its doors for business in Middletown. They serve Maryland, DC, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida, but you would think that their only service area is here in Central Maryland because of the responsive, personalized service they deliver.

They begin by providing staff and contractors who are experienced and highly knowledgeable in both forward and reverse mortgages. They are proud to have created their own Reverse Experts Seniors Trust (REST) Division, specializing in reverse mortgages. And, when was the last time you heard of a title company that does free in-home closings on weekends and evenings? They don’t hide their fees, either, or ask you to request a quote for fees. Fees are prominently listed on their website and they are highly competitive! Title-work services include:

Assignments
Lines of Credit
Loan Closings
Escrow Services
Notary Services
Reverse Mortgages
Construction to Perm for Land & Lots
Commercial and Residential
1031 Exchanges
Title Insurance
Sales
Refinances
Lines of Credit
Stand Alone Seconds

At The South Mountain Group, they are proud not only of the work they do for clients, but are also proud of what they do for their community. Being a good corporate citizen is the cornerstone of how they conduct business and why they have been successful. They believe strongly in supporting the communities they serve and conserving the environment everyone lives in. Call : 301.305.6502. Email: pat@southmountaintitle.com. Fax: 301.685.1398. Visit their website at www.SouthMountainTitle.com. And most important, don’t forget that they will COME TO YOU. That is what stellar service is all about.

Tourism Council of Frederick County Wins Award

The official guide that promotes Frederick County as a visitor destination has been named the best in the state. At the 2010 Maryland Tourism and Travel Summit Conference, the Tourism Council of Frederick County (TCFC) won the Best Visitors Guide Award.

The awards recognize the most creative, innovative, and thoughtful marketing projects and programs that bring visitors to Maryland. TCFC has the unique distinction of winning this award in the last four out of five years.

Destination Frederick, the Tourism Council's Visitors Guide, is designed and produced in partnership with Frederick-based Jean Peterson Design. The guide was judged on content, presentation, organization, and ease of use by tourists. “Destination Frederick is the primary promotional publication for visitors to the area and proves to be the most efficient method for local businesses and attractions to reach people who are planning a visit to Frederick County,” says Tourism’s Executive Director John Fieseler. 170,000 copies of the 2010 guide were produced.

The winners were announced during the Annual Awards Banquet at the conference on November 4, 2010 at the Loews Annapolis Hotel in Annapolis, Maryland.

The next edition of Destination Frederick County will be available in the spring of 2011. To advertise in the 2011 edition, contact Jean Peterson at 301-631-2401. For information about more things to see and do in Frederick County, visit www.FrederickTourism.org.

Business Appreciation Month Profile: VoIP Business Solutions

As a courtesy for being a part of the Frederick County Office of Economic Development (OED) 2010 Business Appreciation Month (BAM), we have offered all Frederick County BAM businesses the opportunity to use OED’s social media outlets to help market their business. Information is provided by each company and edited for content as needed by OED.

VoIP Business Solutions (VBS) is a provider of Voice over IP solutions for businesses that are looking to save money on telecommunication costs while presenting a professional image to current and potential customers. VBS voice systems provide your business with a number of key benefits, including ease of use, manageability, configurability, and lower total cost of ownership than alternative closed solutions such as Nortel and Lucent. Our software and hardware architecture and best of breed solutions extend enterprise-class voice services to offices of any size, keeping employees fully connected wherever they go.

In addition to the VBS PBX system, we have also developed additional standalone applications. The VBS Autodialer is suitable for anyone who needs automated phone messaging solutions. From the smallest businesses and individual users on up, the VBS system is a full-featured industrial-strength autodialer that does what you need at a fraction of the cost. This incredibly easy-to-use, yet powerful software package completely eliminates the tedious and error prone human labor of repetitive phone calls while freeing up your staff to work on other tasks. It is so cost-effective that it will pay for itself almost immediately.

The VBS Fax Server is suitable for anyone who needs a solid, easy to use fax server system using the Asterisk PBX. It can be used as both a fax broadcasting system or can be used to send a single fax. With the VBS fax server, sending faxes to one recipient or one-thousand has never been easier. Forget about having your employees congregate around the department fax machine waiting for their turn in line. Simply use your web browser, create your call list by exporting names and numbers from your favorite CRM software package, spreadsheet, or text editor, select your fax document, the time and date to start sending faxes, and click upload. The system will take care of the rest.

For more information, visit http://www.voipbusiness.us/ or call 1-240-215-3479.

Business Appreciation Month Business Profile: Tim's Lawn & Landscape Service, Inc

As a courtesy for being a part of the Frederick County Office of Economic Development (OED) 2010 Business Appreciation Month (BAM), we have offered all Frederick County BAM businesses the opportunity to use OED’s social media outlets to help market their business. Information is provided by each company and edited for content as needed by OED.

Tim’s Lawn & Landscape Service, Inc. was established in 1994. We are a family owned and operated business in Frederick County. TLS is a full service design, installation, and maintenance landscaping and hardscaping company. We pride ourselves in our Professionalism, Quality of Work, and our Customer Service. We treat our customers just as we would want to be treated ourselves. Tim’s Lawn & Landscape Service, Inc. provides services to both residential and commercial properties.

Let us take your ideas to help you create the landscape you have always desired! For more information on our company please visit us on our website at www.TLSMD.com or contact us during business hours at (301) 829-2707.

Annual Business Reception Honors Companies

Frederick, MD – November 11, 2010 - The Frederick County Business Development Advisory Council (BDAC) and the Office of Economic Development (OED) held their Annual Business Reception at Dutch’s Daughter restaurant.

Over 200 Frederick County business representatives, elected officials and partner organizations attended this year’s event. A brief awards ceremony was held honoring three outstanding Frederick County companies who have made a significant impact on Frederick County’s economy. Also, four business incubator companies were honored for graduating from the Frederick Innovative Technology Center.

The first award was presented to a company who has helped to position Frederick County as a culinary tourism destination and is a major supporter of Frederick’s local agriculture community. The 2010 Frederick County Innovative Firm of the Year was presented to VOLT restaurant.

The second award was given to a company for their creative business practices and providing integrated IT solutions to help businesses develop their technical processes for competitiveness, profitability, and growth. The 2010 Frederick County Creative Firm of the Year was presented to Acela Technologies, Inc.

The last award was given to a Frederick County company for their forward thinking and expanded business line, manufacturing a product for data centers that reduces energy and costs. The 2010 Frederick County Emerging Markets Firm of the Year was presented to Stulz Air Technology Systems, Inc.

Biaera Technologies, CynerGene, WGS Systems and ThoughtQuest were presented certificates for graduating from the Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Frederick’s business incubator.

This year’s Platinum Event Sponsor was SAIC-Frederick, Inc. Additional support was provided by the following sponsors: Corporate Occupational Health Solutions, LLC, Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Matan Companies, The Columbia Bank, Frederick County Bank, Frederick County Department of Solid Waste Management, Frederick County Workforce Services, The City of Frederick Department of Economic Development,and the Frederick County Government – FCG TV.

Public Meeting on Top, Local Road Project

The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) will be holding a public informational meeting on the U.S. 15/Monocacy Boulevard Interchange Project on Tuesday, November 16th from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The forum will take place at Governor Thomas Johnson High School, on North Market Street in Frederick.

The meeting will acquaint the public with the project and provide an update on issues and studies concerning the interchange work, which began in 2005. The SHA says design efforts to alleviate traffic problems in the area are continuing. Authorities have completed the planning phase of the project and propose a grade-separated interchange to replace the existing at-grade intersection of U.S. 15 and Monocacy Boulevard.

The new interchange, according to the SHA, will allow motorists on Monocacy Blvd. to cross over U.S. 15, creating an east-west connection with Christophers Crossing. The project includes a bridge, ramps and signalized intersections.

For further information, please visit the SHA's website: www.roads.maryland.gov (click on Projects & Studies/SHA Projects Page/Frederick County/Monocacy Interchange).

Joint Technology Transfer Iniatitive with TEDCO

The Board of County Commissioners and The Frederick County Office of Economic Development signed a partnership with the Maryland development Corporation (TEDCO) to establish the Joint technology Transfer Iniatitive. This new program will focus on providing assistance to companies that are seeking to transfer technologies either on or off FT. Detrick that are related specifically to meeting the needs of the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command.
The JTTI program awards up to $75k and will be made to for-profit small businesses in support of technology development that fall within the scope of the JTTI program.
Bussiness Assistance will be available through the Frederick County Office of Economic Development and through TEDCO. You may visit their website at http://www.marylandtedco.org/.

Great Companies

Frederick County is home to more than eight-thousand successful businesses. One of these, established in 1907 in Jefferson, is H.C. Summers.

H. C. Summers has been family owned and operated for over 100 years, providing customers with quality products and customer service for all of their pet, livestock, farm, home and gardening needs. Lewis E. Summers started this small business to provide fellow farmers with feed, fertilizer, seed and other farming supplies. Over the years, H. C. Summers has evolved into a gardening center and has increased its feed supply services and sales dramatically due to the increased demands of pet, farm and equine ownership in Maryland and Virginia.

Times have changed considerably since 1907, but you can still rely on the honest and friendly customer service you will receive at H. C. Summers. This is what brothers Tom, Mark and Mike pride themselves on the most!

Visit them on the web at www.hcsummers.com

Additional Funding for Employee Training is Now Available through Maryland Business Works

Maryland Business Works (MBW) is a State program that supports private sector employers in the retention and growth of their workforce by providing grant funding to upgrade the skills of currently employed workers. Through MBW, employees receive industry training and credentials, resulting in a more knowledgeable and qualified workforce. The MBW program has been proven to encourage job promotion, create additional job opportunities and improve employee retention. Up to fifty percent of the employer’s training costs are reimbursed through MBW. Priority focus areas include Healthcare, Manufacturing, Aerospace, Bioscience, Construction, Education, Retail, Finance/Insurance, Hospitality/Tourism, Information Technology, Professional/Business Services, Transportation/Warehousing industries, and any Green Industry or Occupation.

To find out if your business is eligible to participate in the MBW program, please contact Latrice Lewis: llewis@frederickcountymd.gov.