Nominations Open for 2016 Frederick County Best Places to Work Awards

Nominations are now open to all Frederick County businesses to enter for the Frederick County Best Places to Work Awards. Companies can be considered by completing an online nomination form http://bit.ly/bestplacesfred2016. Nominations will be accepted through April 30, 2016, and winners will be announced at the annual Frederick County Best Places to Work Awards ceremony and reception on July 28, 2016.

Companies are evaluated on a variety of criteria, including employee compensation and benefits, business culture, human resource metrics, and special employee engagement programs. Applicants are encouraged to coordinate with their Human Resources Manager or other leadership staff to ensure the application has all of the relevant and up-to-date requested data included in the nomination. Only one nomination form per company is needed.

Winners and honorable mentions are awarded in the following primary categories: Small Employer (1-10 employees), Medium Employer (11-50 employees), Large Employer (51-200 employees), and Major Employer (200+ employees). Based on applications, the nomination committee may also give special awards to recognize companies for outstanding or unique programs. Past special awards have included “Best Entrepreneurial Opportunity,” “Most Creative Workplace Environment,” and “Unsung Hero in the Workplace.”  This year, the nomination committee will give special recognition to companies that have outstanding health and wellness opportunities and policies for employees.

About Frederick County Best Places to Work
The Frederick County Best Places to Work Awards campaign is in its 14th year and is a county-wide program to increase quality of life opportunities for Frederick County employees. Best Places to Work Awards is a partnership between Frederick County Workforce Services, The City of Frederick Department of Economic Development, Frederick County Office of Economic Development, and the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce.

To nominate a company for the 2016 Frederick County Best Places to Work Awards, visit http://bit.ly/bestplacesfred2016.

For more information and updates on Frederick County Best Places to Work Awards, visit https://www.facebook.com/FrederickCountyBPTW.

McClintock Distilling Selected to Participate in Congressional Reception

America's Small Business Development Center (SBDC) will host the America's SBDC Client Showcase & Reception on Capitol Hill on February 1, 2016 and selected to participate in this year's event is Frederick's own McClintock Distilling. The company is among just eleven invited SBDC clients nationwide.

McClintock Distilling, slated to open in Downtown Frederick this year, is a craft distillery producing gin, white whiskey, rye whiskey and bourbon. They are a sustainable distillery that is wind-powered, designed on a closed loop system and recycles all grains. All products are certified USDA organic, additive free and hand inspected by their head distiller. The new distillery will feature an expansive tasting room and production area. The 5,000 square foot building will also be available for booking events and receptions.

The goal of the America's SBDC Client Showcase & Reception is to demonstrate the successes of state and regional Small Business Development Center Networks. The Western Maryland SBDC and the Frederick Office helped their business dream become a reality by providing training and financial models to help secure a business loan. They also attended seminars hosted by SBDC and received training on marketing, sales, building a business plan and fundamentals of building a business.

The mission of America’s nationwide network of SBDCs is to help new entrepreneurs realize the dream of business ownership, and to assist existing businesses to remain competitive in the complex marketplace of an ever-changing global economy.

SBDC assists existing and prospective business owners in three basic ways:

• Training - Regular SmartStart seminars, as well as periodic special-interest programs, and participation in educational programs presented by other business support agencies and non-profits.
• Counseling - Free one-on-one counseling on a variety of business topics.
• Maximization of Resources - Providing information about and access to specialize assistance and resources from other local business support providers.

Since FY2011, the Frederick office of the SBDC has helped 46 businesses start-up and has helped create 192 jobs. Counseling over 514 clients from FY2011-FY2015. The Frederick office is the busiest SBDC in the Western Maryland region. Visit the website to learn more.

GROW: Volume 9

This series is part of a monthly blog series about Frederick County businesses that grow and expand. It is a snapshot of Frederick County business success stories. Check back each month for more businesses that grow in Frederick County or read volumes 1-8.

National Cancer Institute (NCI) at Frederick

The NCI at Frederick is a community of more than 2,800 government and contractor-employed staff who work at several cancer research facilities including the 68-acre campus at Fort Detrick, the Advanced Technology Research Facility, the Vaccine Pilot Project and others.

The Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research was established as the Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center in 1972 when about 70 acres and 67 buildings of the U.S. Army were transferred to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which includes the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Since then, the NCI at Frederick has become an internationally recognized center of scientific excellence. This has been the result of the coordinated efforts of Government scientists and NCI-Frederick contractors working to achieve rapid progress in the race to cure cancer and AIDS.

In 1975, the National Science Foundation notified DHHS that NCI-Frederick met criteria for and was designated as a Federally Funded Research and Development Center. The Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research (FNLCR) is operated by Leidos Biomedical Research, for the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at Frederick, for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The Frederick National Lab has a staff of 1,850 who are employed by Leidos.

The Advanced Technology Research Facility (ATRF) is a new, 330,000 square foot translational R&D facility located in Frederick, MD, consisting of advanced technology laboratories, biopharmaceutical development, and production facilities. The facility is designed to foster co-located partnership projects, with dedicated laboratory and “think tank” space for collaborative work with partners across a continuum of translational R&D technologies and platforms.

AGV Sports Group

AGV Sports Group was founded in Frederick in 1978 where they began designing and developing safety apparel for motorcycle road racing and sport use. In 1985, AGV licensed AGV Sport to make their own apparel and other products including leather gloves, suits, jackets, boots, and textile garments. AGV Sport products have consistently won best in class awards from numerous motorcycle publications around the world. AVG has grown to 10 employees since 1985 and has an annual revenue over a $1.5 million.

McCutcheon Apple Products

McCutcheon Apple Products was founded in 1938 by William O. McCutcheon, his son Robert J. McCutcheon and Robert’s wife Helen. Together, they purchased an apple press for $25 and acquired a small corner of property in downtown Frederick. They began custom pressing apples for local farmers. As the years went on, they began to make apple butter and apple cider under their own label. In the 1950’s they expanded with the construction of modern buildings to house their operations.

In 2007, McCutcheon's announced plans to expand with a 34,000 SF addition to house demonstration, new retail and other entertainment.  Once the final phase of the Carroll Creek expansion is completed, the expansion would also include a water wheel and five-story observation tower.

Today, they produce and sell preserves, jellies, fruit butters, ciders, BBQ sauce, and much more manufactured from their current 75,000 SF facility. The products can be purchased in their factory store, at farmers markets across the country, and online worldwide. McCutcheon Apple Products has 25 employees and is still a family business, operated by the fourth generation of the McCutcheon family.

Annual Business Reception Honors Business Leaders and Highlights Year of Positive Growth

Five innovative businesses were honored for their emerging technologies at the Frederick County Office of Economic Development's (OED) Annual Business Reception in front of over 200 guests this evening at Dutch's Daughter. The Office hosts the business reception each year as a way to business leaders and to thank partner agencies for the year's accomplishments.

OED Director Helen Propheter said, "Great things get accomplished with great companies who have bold, new ideas" and for them, they were honored. The 2015 Frederick County Business Leaders are:

• Patriot Technologies, named one of the world's Hottest CyberSecurity Companies by CyberSecurity 500.

• RoosterBio, Inc, a stem cell manufacturing company and product of Frederick's biotech incubator Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc (FITCI). 

• Welocalize, recognized for the 11th consecutive year as a Fastest Growing Company by Inc. 5000.

• American Association for Laboratory Accrediation (A2LA), the only independent, non-profit, internationally-recognized lab accreditation body in the U.S. and headquartered in Frederick.

• GlamourView Farm who blends agriculture and technology in new ways with robotics.

From L to R: Helen Propheter, Director, Frederick County Office of Economic Development; Jan H. Gardner, County Executive, Frederick County Government; Gene Iager, Owner, GlamourView Farm; Roxanne Robinson, VP & COO, American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA); Steve Keefe, President, Patriot Technologies, Inc; Jon Rowley, Chief Executive & Technology Officer, RoosterBio, Inc; Bud Otis, Council President, Frederick County Government. Not pictured: Smith Yewell, President & CEO, Welocalize.

Reflecting on 2015 as a year of positive growth for the department with a new name change and the move to 118 N. Market Street to create the new Downtown Innovation Center, Director Helen Propheter said, "The momentum is happening locally but also at the national level," pointing to a list national accolades received by Frederick County. She said new programs, business incentives and positive economic indicators were highlighted as evidence of a strong, local economy. Job growth in Frederick County has increased by seven percent and unemployment is down 2% since 2011. "Ninety percent of companies we visited this year said they expect business in 2016 to continue to improve. That's evidence of a growing economy," said Ms. Propheter.

There are several new projects on the horizon for 2016 including a Small Business Loan Guarantee, Small Business Tax Credit and expanded and revitalized agribusiness programs for the Frederick County Office of Economic Development. To view the video of award winners and the evening's presentation, please click here. To view more photos from the event, check out the photo gallery on OED's Facebook page. Videos are also available on OED's Youtube Channel.

The 2015 Frederick County Annual Business Reception was sponsored by Gold Sponsors: CorpOHS and Miles & Stockbridge. Silver Sponsors were Frederick County Bank, Sandy Spring Bank and Swift Systems. Bronze Sponsor was FCG TV. 

Grow: Volume 8

This series is part of a monthly blog series about Frederick County businesses that grow and expand. It is a snapshot of Frederick County business success stories. Check back each month for more businesses that grow in Frederick County or read volumes 1-7.

ShieldCo
ShieldCo is a veteran-owned design company on East St in Frederick, which creates 3D, custom metal signs and décor. Brothers, Neil and Luke Markey, founded ShieldCo in December of 2013. They began producing military insignia, custom products, and corporate logos. They soon shifted their focus to breaking into the college merchandising market. ShiedCo attained NCAA licensing approval at a few schools in the summer of 2014 and began selling the products on their website. They also scored a deal with Barnes & Noble, and sold signs in a few retail outlets. ShieldCo shifted their focus to almost exclusively to business signage and corporate logos due to the high demand. 

Their website, Adwords, an Etsy store, and local events have all helped grow their brand recognition; however, the quality of their designs accounts for much of the business' growth to date. They currently have 4 employees and a portion of their profits are donated to The Pointe du Hoc Foundation, a 501(c)3 that supports U.S. Army Rangers and their families.

Canapes Catering
In 1989 a client approached M.L. Carroll to cater an event. With that request came the creation of Canapés, Inc. In the beginning, M.L. rented a church kitchen to prepare for her events. Canapés grew in such popularity, moreover, that in less than a year they leased a space on South Market Street in downtown Frederick which they called home for 15 years.

For several years, many venues approached M.L. Carroll and Canapés to become their exclusive caterer but it was ThorpeWood, a non-profit organization and facility in Thurmont, who finally won out. In November 2007, Canapés made the move. In 2013, Canapes moved to a larger space on Highland Street where owner M.L. says she’ll never leave Frederick again. With a staff of 15 full-time people and 35 part-time people, she has recently added a café onsite to serve employers nearby.

Since Canapés inception in 1989, the company has been featured numerous times in The Frederick News Post and Frederick Magazine. Canapés is also an award-winning caterer, having won several awards at such events as An Evening on the Riviera and Chocolate Gala. She was recently a competitor on Bravo’s Top Chef.

Legal & General America
In 2009, Banner Life Insurance Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Legal & General Group announced their plans to move 400 employees and their corporate headquarters from Rockville to Urbana Corporate Center. 

A $33 million dollar project occupying 115,000 square feet in a build-to-suit project by Natelli Communities, Banner Life said the move to Urbana was the right choice for the future of their company and for the benefit of their employees. The project broke ground in 2010 and completed in 2011.

Banner Life was chartered in 1949 as Government Employees Life Insurance Company (GELICO) and was acquired by Legal & General Group in 1981 with a formal name change in 1983. In 2011, the company consolidated their marketing identities into a single brand, Legal & General America. 

The company's life insurance products are sold through independent life brokerage agencies in 48 states and the District of Columbia. Today, Legal & General Group is the 7th largest insurance company in the world with 10 million worldwide customers.

Business Appreciation Week Wrap-Up

Business Appreciation Week: Day 4

Day 4 of Frederick County Business Appreciation Week takes us all over the County to Middletown, Walkersville, Woodsboro, New Market, and Mount Airy.

Be sure to check out our Facebook and Twitter pages for photos of the businesses we are visiting today and guess where we are. You can also follow #BAW2015. All correct guesses are entered in a drawing on Friday to win a Fitbit!

Thursday's Scheduled Visits:

• Rhosymerdre Design
• Catoctin Construction
• Mountain Spirit Yoga
• Gude Brothers Greenhouses
• Orchid Cellar Meadery + Winery
• JSB Woodworking
• Trout's Market
• Southern States - Woodsboro
• Barrick Garden Center
• Abloom, Ltd
• Walkersville Feed Company
• Clara L. Winch, CPA LLC
• Cruise Planners
• Express Marketing Design & Runkles Service
• Santa Fe Trading Company
• Happilo
• Fleshman's Antiques
• Polymer Clay Express at the ArtWay
• Twin Ridge Auto and Light Truck Services, Inc
• Building Energy Diagnostics & Retrofits
• Gaver Farm
• Loew Vineyards

#BAW2015 Fact

Small businesses significantly impact Frederick County's economy. Maryland defines a small business as one that does not employ more than 50 people. 98% of Frederick County's businesses meet the definition of a small business. The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) of Frederick County is the busiest in the Western Maryland region, last year assisting in the direct start-up of 13 new businesses and 70 new jobs. 

Business Appreciation Week: Day 3

Day 3 of Frederick County Business Appreciation Week is our busiest day of the week. Our visits will take us to Downtown Frederick as well as businesses in the Frederick 21701 zip code. The majority of the County's business base is located right here, in the County Seat and Center of Commerce.

Be sure to check out our Facebook and Twitter pages for photos of the businesses we are visiting today and guess where we are. You can also follow #BAW2015. All correct guesses are entered in a drawing on Friday to win a Fitbit!

Wednesday's Scheduled Visits:

• United Way of Frederick County
• L.P. Calomeris Realty, LLC
• State Farm Agent, Darius Mark
• Custom Imprints
• Industrial Home
• Someone With Group, LLC
• Canapes Catering
• ALTEK Information Technology, Inc
• Talon Construction, Inc
• Tenth Ward Distilling Company
• The Little Pottery Shop
• A Girl's Best Friend
• Welcome Home Realty Group
• Digital Age Solution, LLC
• Elliott CPA, LLC
• Elliott Marketing Solutions, LLC
• Weinberg Center for the Arts
• Shala Wellness Center
• The Shala Yoga and Pilates Studio
• Mosaic Power
• Moore Wealth, Inc
• Regent Education
• Hunting Creek Outfitters
• Frederick County Bank
• Whidden Willow
• Time Bomb Tattoos & Curiosities
• VINI Culture wine bar and cafe
• Chic to Chic
• White Lion Social
• Sass Magazine
• The Knot House
• The Potter's Guild of Frederick
• Frederick Brick Works
• North Market Pop Shop
• The Piedmont Group
• Integrity Consulting
• McClintock Distilling
• Natural Artistry Photography
• Found Souls Studio

#BAW2015 Fact

Frederick’s historic 50-block Downtown offers thriving restaurants, independent shops, and a vibrant arts and entertainment scene with more than 150 one-of-a-kind specialty shops and more than 50 eateries. Over 3,000 employees work in the Main Street area at nearly 700 businesses or organizations. Downtown Frederick was recognized as one of the Top 10 Downtowns in America by Livability.com, Top 8 Small Town Comebacks by CNN and one of the Top 25 Small Cities for Art by American Style Magazine, and several more notable accolades. 

Business Appreciation Week: Day 2

Today our travels take us to the greater Brunswick area and the Frederick area in the zip code of 21703. It's the 15th Annual Frederick County Business Appreciation Week where 62 ambassadors will visit over 100 companies all week long.  

Be sure to check out our Facebook and Twitter pages for photos of the businesses we are visiting today and guess where we are. You can also follow #BAW2015. All correct guesses are entered in a drawing on Friday to win a Fitbit!  The visits planned for Tuesday are as follows:

• The Public Spectacle
• Coach's
• Gotcha Covered
• Benjamin Weiser, DDS
• Donna's House of Hair
• King's Pizza
• Canam Group, Inc
• American Computer Development, Inc
• MacRo, Ltd
• NYMEO
• Hometown Harvest
• BridgePath Scientific
• Matan Companies
• Homewood Suites by Hilton Frederick
• RE/MAX Results
• Papa Murphy's Take and Bake Pizza

#BAW2015 Fact

Each year, we collect data on how many companies we visit say they plan to expand or hire additional staff. Last year's results were impressive!

Patriot Technologies Named One of the World's Hottest Cybersecurity Companies

Patriot Technologies, headquartered in Frederick, MD, was named by Cybersercurity Ventures as one of the world's Hottest Cybersecurity Companies for 2015. The Cybersecurity 500 is a global compilation of leading companies who provide cybersecurity solutions and services. Patriot Technologies was one of 14 Maryland companies who made the list.

Patriot Technologies offers the ability to integrate multiple platforms to provide a holistic approach to Mobile Device Security Management. They bring their clients mobile device visibility, awareness, compliance, authentication & authorization, mobile application security, and continuous monitoring, and can assist in establishing mobile policy and security architectures.

The selection criteria for the Cybersecurity 500 is subjective and includes some or all of the following when evaluating each company:

• Cybersecurity Sector (market category)
• Problem(s) Solved
• Customer Base
• Feedback from CISOs and Decision Makers
• Feedback from IT Security Evaluators & Recommenders
• Feedback from VARs, SIs and Consultants
• VC Funding
• Company Growth
• Published Product Reviews
• Demos and Presentations at Conferences
• Corporate Marketing and Branding
• Media Coverage
• Notable Implementations
• Founder and Management Pedigree
• Interviews with Senior Management

About Maryland's Cybersecurity Industry

Maryland is home of the U.S. Cyber Command, and at the epicenter of Cybersecurity with 12 major military installations, 50 Federal agencies, Defense Information Systems Agency, National Security Agency, NIST and the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence. The state of Maryland offers Cybersecurity companies industry specific incentives such as the Cybersecurity Tax Credit, Cybersecurity Funds through the Maryland Venture Fund as well as a Tax Credit for Employer Security Clearances Costs.

The Cybersecurity industry worldwide is growing from $77 billion in 2015 to $170+ billion in 2020, according to consolidated estimates by IT research firms and analysts cited in the Cybersecurity Market Report, published quarterly by Cybersecurity Ventures.  

GROW: Volume 6

This series is part of a monthly blog series about Frederick County businesses that grow and expand. It is a snapshot of Frederick County business success stories. Check back each month for more businesses that grow in Frederick County or read Volumes 1, 2 ,3, 4 and 5.

Akonni Biosystems
With just two employees, Akonni Biosystems, a molecular diagnostics firm that develops, manufactures and markets genetic testing devices, was one of the first clients at the Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc (FITCI) when it opened in 2005. 

In one year, Akonni had grown to six employees and graduated from FITCI in 2007. During this time, they added eight more employees and moved to a 20,000 square foot space on Sagner Ave. From 2007-2008, they doubled their staff to 28 and from 2009-2010, they doubled again to 50 employees.  In 2011, Akonni entered into a licensing agreement  with the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases to aid in fighting potential bioweapons. Around 2011-2012, markets became volatile and Akonni took this time to reorganize and change their business plan, capitalizing on grant funding with less staff. In 2013, Akonni received a $30 million dollar grant for five years. Now with a staff of 20 employees, and seven patents to their name, restructuring has positioned them for a better future.

ALTEK Information Technology
ALTEK’s Founder and President Anne Lipman started ALTEK from her Frederick, MD home in 2004.  An IT staffing and project support company with a niche in health information technology, ALTEK grew quickly and planted its headquarters at Frederick’s Glass Factory in 2006.  In 2012, the company established a second location in Chicago, IL to better serve clients in the Midwest.

In 2014, the company was recognized by Inc Magazine’s 5,000 Fastest Growing Companies in America, coming in at number 2,627.  Reporting at 3-year growth rate of 143%, ALTEK generated $26.2M in revenue in 2013.  Today with 14 employees in Frederick, two in Chicago and 130 consultants and contractors working in the field for ALTEK, the company is continuing to expand and thrive in Frederick.

AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association)
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is a nonprofit individual membership association. AOPA was founded in 1939 with the mission to make general aviation flying safer, more affordable, and more fun. Today, AOPA is the world’s largest and most influential general aviation association. AOPA employs a staff of approximately 240 and is headquartered convenient to the Frederick Municipal Airport. The staff includes experts on virtually every aviation subject imaginable. Approximately forty percent of AOPA’s staff are pilots.

In 1983, AOPA moved from Bethesda, MD to Frederick and at the time, had 263,000 members. By 2010 more than 400,000 individuals were AOPA members. Whether a pilot, aircraft owner or an aviation enthusiast, AOPA has the resources needed to keep skills sharp, stay informed and remain connected with the aviation community.  AOPA provides member services that range from advocacy at the federal, state, and local levels, to flight planning products and opportunities.

GROW: Volume 5

This series is part of a blog series about Frederick County businesses that grow and expand. It is a snapshot of Frederick County business success stories. Check back each month for more businesses that grow in Frederick County or read Volumes 1, 2 ,3 and 4.

Talon Construction
Talon Construction specializes in residential construction services (new homes, additions and major renovations) and has been in Frederick since 2002 when they began with just 7 employees. The three owners all had construction and contracting businesses prior to that in Frederick for well over 2 decades. In 2 years, they doubled their revenue and in 2007, Inc Magazine ranked Talon Construction #1004 on the 5,000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in the U.S.

When the construction market slowed down in subsequent years, Talon Construction continued to focus on quality and ethics winning Frederick County Builder Association Awards of Excellence,  Chamber of Commerce Awards and Mid-Maryland Chapter, National Association of the Remodeling Industry awards. In 2008, Talon Construction employed 10 people and had gross revenues of $2.5 million. Today they employ 17 people and are featured as an Angie’s List A rated company.

Talon Construction has won Frederick Magazine’s Best of Frederick for Home Improvement and Remodeling for 8 years in a row.

Welocalize 

Welocalize is a multinational company headquartered in provides language localization services that began in 1995 with 12 employees in Frederick. Welocalize now has over 600 employees worldwide and 13 global offices in the US, UK, Germany, Ireland, Japan, and China.

The firm has been awarded Inc. Magazine's Inc. 500/5000 Award 10 years in a row (2005–2014), Deloitte and Touche's Technology Maryland Fast 50 award eight years in a row (2001–2008),  Deloitte and Touche's Technology National Fast 500 Award four years in a row (2006–2009).

In 2014, they reported 3 year growth at 96% and revenue of $118.3 million. In 2010, their revenue was $60.3 million. From 2010-2013, Welocalize added 190 jobs all over the world.

In 2015, Welocalize was presented with the World Trade Center Institute’s 2015 Maryland International Business Leadership Award by Governor Hogan.

Woodsboro Bank
In 1899, the Woodsboro Savings Bank was chartered and a three-story commercial building was erected on North Main Street. It was fitted with the latest technology at the time, including innovative fire and burglar-proof vaults.

In 1984, the bank constructed a two-story annex at the rear of the building, and, in 1989, a one-story addition was added with a drive-up window. In 1999, a W. Patrick St location opened and in 2001, another location opened on Guilford Dr. In 2006, the bank bought a 2,800-square-foot location on Carroll Creek Way which houses the bank’s commercial and credit departments. The bank also expanded to branches in Thurmont in 2008 and Frederick.

Now with seven locations and 65 employees, Woodsboro Bank has assets in excess of $240 million and total capital of $19 million. As of March 31, 2015, Bankrate.com states Woodsboro Bank exhibits a sound condition, characterized by lower than normal overall, sustainable profitability, a very high measure of asset quality, below standard capitalization and seemingly ample liquidity.

Engage, Inc
Originally launched as Cashbox, a lockbox company in 2000 with just a few employees and a single client, the company was renamed Engage in 2009 to reflect the company’s growing database marketing, production, and consulting practice.

For much of the past decade, Engage has been listed by Inc. Magazine as one of Washington, D.C.’s “top 100 companies” the nation’s “top 5000 companies,” and formerly as one of the “fastest growing companies” in its early years. With a staff of over 85 employees, Engage specializes in fundraising for nonprofit organizations through direct mail and is headquartered on Highland St, Frederick. In 2012, the company reported sales of $8.4 million and a three-year growth of 292%.

Best Places to Work in Frederick County Honored

The best places to work in Frederick County were honored this evening in front of a standing room only crowd at the Delaplaine Visual Arts & Education Center.

The Best Places to Work Campaign is a partnership of the Frederick County Office of Economic Development, City of Frederick Department of Economic Development, Frederick County Chamber of Commerce and Frederick County Workforce Services. Now in its 13 year, the survey opens up every spring to all Frederick County businesses and employees and winners are selected based on employment size, median salary, voluntary turnover rate, benefits, leave options, charitable contributions, professional growth opportunities, diversity and sustainability practices.

Taking home the major category awards were:

Small Employer (1-10 employees)

Winner - Antietam Technologies

Honorable Mention - United Way of Frederick County

Medium Employer (11-50 employees)

Winner - NASW Assurance Services (ASI)

Honorable Mention - Go Ape

Large Employer (51-200 employees)

Winner - Nymeo

Honorable Mention - U.S. Silica

Major Employer ( 200+ employees)

Winner - AstraZeneca

Honorable Mention - Plamondon Companies

From L to R: City of Frederick Mayor Randy McClement, Tony Benedetto - NASW Assurance Services (ASI), Michelle Michael - AstraZeneca/MedImmune, Victoria Johnston - Nymeo, Richard Fouke - Antietam Technologies, Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner

In addition to category award winners, six businesses were recognized with the “Unsung Hero in the Workplace” award. This award recognizes owners or presidents of companies who go above and beyond to connect with their employees. The 2015 Unsung Heroes in the Workplace are:

• Business Management Company, Inc. - Brett Hess
• Regent Education - Randy Jones
• SoldierFit - Danny Farrar and Dave Posin
• Clagett Enterprises - Galen Clagett
• Essential Systems Solutions - Michael Tash and Jason Thompson
•  Olde Towne Title - Peach Lapkoff

From L to R: City of Frederick Mayor Randy McClement, Danny Farrar - Soldierfit, Michael Tash - Essential Systems Solutions, Inc, Peach Lapkoff - Olde Towne Title, Galen Clagett - Clagett Enterprises, Brett Hess - Business Management Company, Inc, Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner. Not pictured: Randy Jones - Regent Education.

Two surprise awards were given out this year for "Best Entrepreneurial Opportunity" and "Most Creative Workplace Environment". Winning the "Best Entrepreneurial Opportunity" this year was Edward Jones with 10 locations throughout Frederick County. The "Most Creative Workplace Environment" Award went to CAS Engineering.

From L to R: City of Frederick Mayor Randy McClement, Jay Wandalowski - Edward Jones Investments, Linda Hobbs - Edward Jones Investments, Curt Schreffler - CAS Engineering, Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner

Helen Propheter, Director of the Frederick County Office of Economic Development said, "These companies join an elite group of businesses committed to retaining exceptional employees and their success. We are proud of the 2015 Best Places to Work recipients and proud that they chose Frederick County as their place to call home."

To view additional photographs from the evening's event, please click here.

GROW: Volume 4

This series is part of a blog series about Frederick County businesses that grow and expand. It is a snapshot of Frederick County business success stories. Check back each month for more businesses that grow in Frederick County or read Volumes 1, 2 and 3.

Grove Resource Solutions, Inc (GRSi)
GSRi has more than 200 employees around the globe working on projects, many with the highest national security clearances available. Housed in a former garage at founder Deborah Grove’s Frederick home, the company’s moved its 15 person headquarters to Westview Drive in 2011. THE FBI, NIH and Walter Reed are just a few of their clients.

In 2005, company's revenues were less than $8 million. In 2010, they achieved record revenues with well over 100% growth of the company in the prior 3 years.  That has grown to around $20 million today. Their staff retention is 95 percent, virtually unheard of in many government contracting firms.

GRSi is has additional locations in SC and most recently in 2014, opened an office in VA.  Their record success obtaining contracts and resulting operation's growth has led to the Charleston, SC office needing more space and they moved to an expanded location in April 2015.

Inc. magazine ranked GRSi on its annual Inc. 500|5000, an exclusive ranking of the nation's fastest-growing private companies.  GRSi was ranked #42 in growth for 2012 and the 38th fastest growing private engineering company in the country.  In 2012 they were awarded the Gov’t Contracting Company of the Year by the Tech Council of MD.  David Affeldt, President and CEO said, “As each year is built on the previous one, 2015 is looking bright and strong.”

South Mountain Creamery
After decades of struggles in dairy farming, Randy and Karen Sowers built Maryland’s first on the farm milk processing plant in 2001 at what is now known as South Mountain Creamery. The first home deliveries began in 2001 with only 13 customers and they delivered milk out of their Ford Explorer.

By 2004, they had grown to 1,000 customers all within a 50-mile radius of the farm.  In 2007, South Mountain Creamery was featured in the New York Times and the Washington Post and had 7 milk trucks with 2,200 customers. They remodeled their facility that year and were proud to install new American-made equipment. By 2009, they expanded deliveries into Falls Church and Baltimore, had over 3,000 customers and added ice cream deliveries to their menu. In 2011, they expanded again into the Anne Arundel County and Annapolis markets and jumped to 7,000 customers. In 2013, Animal Planet television installed 11 cameras at the Creamery to feature live streaming video online of their chicks and calves with 100,000 people tuning in to see the project launch.

Today, South Mountain Creamery has 83 employees with 20 delivery trucks and over 8,500 customers. They host 2 large successful events annually which draw thousands of people to the Middletown area.

Southern Research Institute
Southern Research, a 501(c)3 medical research firm of scientists and engineers, is based in Birmingham, Ala., and has at six labs and offices across the country with 453 employees company-wide.

In July 2015, they landed a seven-year contract with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease with a ground-breaking federal grant worth up to $22 million which will allow researchers to develop assays, or tests, that can identify HIV that remains in the body after anti-HIV drugs. The Frederick lab, has a 24-year history in HIV drug discovery, employs 55 people, and will lead the work on the HIV contract that could develop the cure for HIV, addressing a key barrier towards eradicating HIV.

Southern Research has been around since 1941. They opened up their Frederick doors in 1992. The company states they do not often have positions available because they carefully plan for fluctuations and they have an very low turnover rate.

GROW: Volume 3

This series is part of a blog series about Frederick County businesses that grow and expand. It is a snapshot of Frederick County business success stories. Check back each month for more businesses that grow in Frederick County or read Volume 1 and Volume 2.

Regent Education
Regent Education, which is now in the Firehouse Financial Center on West Church Street, will move its 85 employees to 26,000 SF at Union Mills along Carroll Creek early next year and expects to have a total of 130 employees as the company grows.

Regent traces its beginnings to the founding of Computing Options, a student information system provider, in 1984. In 2006, a team of entrepreneurs incorporated Regent to acquire Computing Options as a platform for a financial aid management system and moved in to the Spite House on Church Street. In 2013, the company recorded record growth and in 2014, they added 20 new FT positions.

Today, they are the leading provider of financial aid management and enrollment optimization software solutions for higher education institutions. Regent 8, the eighth version of Regent's financial aid management system is the only one of its kind and their Regent SNAP enables schools to provide estimated awards to prospective students in 15 minutes or less, a process that normally takes days or weeks. The company estimates that over 1 million students use this software.

The Plamondon Companies

The Plamondons have a long history with Roy Rogers dating back to 1968 when Peter Plamondon, Sr. helped create the chain while working for Marriott.   He later became a Roy Rogers franchisee opening his first restaurant in Frederick, MD in 1980.  Plamondon's sons, Jim and Peter, have owned and operated the business since 1998 and bought the franchise rights to the brand in 2002.  Today the company owns 20 corporate and oversees 40 franchise restaurants in the Mid-Atlantic region.  The company is seeking franchisees to continue Roy Rogers expansion throughout the northeast region.

In 1996, the Plamondons entered the hotel business and formed Plamondon Hospitality Partners.  Today, the Plamondon Companies own and operate 6 Marriott branded hotels (Fairfield Inn, Courtyard Inn, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, and SpringHill Suites) in Frederick. They are the largest hotelier in Frederick County. They are currently in a growth mode with three hotels under construction, a Home2Suites by Hilton in Groveton, GA and a Fairfield Inn & Suites and TownPlace Suites in Altoona, PA all scheduled to open early 2016. They have been selected as the developer for the Downtown Hotel & Conference Center project.

The Plamondon Companies celebrate 35 years in 2015 with 400 FT employees and 600 PT employees and in 2014, they hired 300 people. Their turnover rate for their industry is well below that national average.

Mid-Maryland Muscoskeletal Institute (MMI)
When Drs Nisenfeld and Chilton began the practice in 1986, they had just five employees. Today, there are a dozen partners and 120 employees.

The Mid-Maryland Musculoskeletal Institute offers a full range of services for bone, muscle and joint problems. Growth of the practice required several moves over the years, and eventually the construction of their own 15,000 square foot facility in 2005 on Thomas Johnson Dr. At this time, the MMI division encompasses that main facility and three additional offices on the same block in Frederick, as well as offices in Hagerstown and Urbana.  In 2009, the Urbana office opened and in just 4 years, they doubled their space and expanded services. In conjunction with the Kids First Swim School located in the FSK Mall, MMI now offers Aquatic Exercise Classes. This marks the first endeavor of its kind for the orthopaedic practice as it joins forces with a local sport facility to offer a fast growing and popular exercise option. The practice also provides support for the Keys baseball team, Hood College as well as many local high schools.

An additional 40,000 square feet is anticipated with the construction of an additional facility in Frederick, planned to break ground within the next 2 years.

U.S. Silica

In December 2010, U.S. Silica's Corporate Headquarters moved from its previous location in Berkeley Springs, WV to Frederick. The company stated they moved to Frederick in order to be able to attract new and different talent to operate as a public company.  U.S. Silica, which specializes in glass sand and related products, has 22 locations including Shanghai, China and operates 9 industrial sand production plants and seven oil and gas sand production plants.

In 2013, they had  total revenue of $546 million in 2013, compared with $441.9 million in 2012. In October 2014, Forbes named U.S. Silica Holdings as the best small business of 2014. The honor was based on sales, earnings, equity and stock market performance over the past 12 months and past five years.

The company currently has 102 employees in Frederick and more than 1,000 total in its plants around the U.S. and China. In 2013, they hired 23 employees in Frederick and a total of 148 for all locations. In 2015, they stated they are undergoing unprecedented growth with 253 new hires last year, 32 in Frederick.

The company dates to the late 1800s, when Henry Harrison Hunter mined silica sand in Berkeley Springs and entered a sample in the Chicago World's Fair, winning a blue ribbon and medal of excellence for its quality.

Geo-Technology Associates (GTA)

GTA is celebrating their 30^th year in business with 16 offices in the mid-Atlantic region and Carolinas with geotechnical and environmental consulting. Their 285 employees are engineers, geologists, scientists, technicians, and support personnel. They opened their Frederick location in 1995.

In 2014, Geo-Technology Associates (GTA) doubled their manpower and space in Frederick County. Their rapid growth started early 2014 when they had just 8 employees and they now have 16 employees with two more positions available. GTA went from 1,600 square feet to 3,000 square feet when they moved in October 2014. Their previous location on Industry Ln was unfinished industrial space and at their new location on Pegasus Ct, they have additional finished laboratory space.

Current projects that the Frederick office is working on include: Landsdale, a 1100 planned unit development; Clarksburg Village, and several other projects including Linton Farms, and Manors at Ballenger Creek.

GROW: Volume 1

This series is part of a new blog series about Frederick County businesses that grow and expand. It is a snapshot of Frederick County business success stories. Check back each month for more businesses that grow in Frederick County.

Costco Distribution Center 
Costco Distribution Center in New Market announced a 600K SF expansion last year, tripling their current size and  adding 200 new employees.  The warehouse distribution center currently employs 400 people. Initially when Costco announced their plans to come to Frederick in 2007, they planned for 300 jobs and a 525K SF building. The average salary of the distribution center in 2007 was 42,000, well above the state and local average at the time. They have a promote from within training program that allows employees with little skills to earn higher than average wages through length of time employed and skill sets learned.

Stulz Air Technology Systems, Inc
In 2008, Stulz Air Technology had 280 employees. The company hired about 80 employees at the end of 2010, bringing its staff to more than 385, and expanded to 37,000 additional square feet. In 2014, announced a $5 million expansion. Stulz Air bought a 41,000-square-foot building adjacent to its existing 140,000-square-foot building and plans to hire 25 permanent new employees. “The combination of physical expansion, emphasis on employee training and innovative products has helped Stulz to grow its market share more easily than the competition”, said  Thorsten Weiss, the company's chief financial officer.

Flying Dog Brewery

After acquiring Frederick Brewing Co. (which produced Wild Goose Beers) in 2006 for about $1.8 million, Aspen, Colorado’s Flying Dog Brewery said the sale was expected to add 8 jobs initially to the existing 20 employee operation and had the potential to add 70 new jobs. In 2012, they purchased new equipment that increased their production capacity by 15%.  In 2014, Flying Dog bought the 46,000 SF building they had been occupying for a decade on Wedgewood Blvd. In 2015, they announced an expansion just over the MD line into Lucketts, VA with a new, smaller brewery under a different name and with a different focus. They now employ 100 people in Frederick. 

Since beginning operations in Frederick in 2006, the local brewery has made a name for itself in the craft beer industry, including being named the Mid-Size Craft Brewery of the Year at the 2009 Great American Beer Festival, and its American Pale Ale received a No. 1 ranking in the U.S. by The New York Times.

Lonza

In 2009, Lonza Bioscience in Walkersville employed 400 people and announced an expansion of their facility adding 44,000 SF and 80 new jobs with a $26 million dollar capital investment. Today, they employ 524.  The Biggs Ford Road site was initially opened as BioWhittaker, but was later acquired by Cambrex. Lonza acquired Cambrex's division in 2007. The facility provides approximately 3000 products and services to the biotechnology, clinical, pharmaceutical and research communities. One of the key ingredients for the diagnostic kits made at the Walkersville facility is blood from horseshoe crabs. Each spring, a crew travels to the shore to gather small amounts of blood from the crabs. The diagnostic kits test for pyrogens, a naturally occurring bacterium that can cause shock, fever and even death in patients if not screened out of products.  Lonza, based in Basel, Switzerland, is one of the world's largest suppliers to the pharmaceutical, health care and life sciences industries.

U.S. Veteran's Administration Center for Acquisition Innovation

In 2008, the Veteran’s Administration named Frederick as their new location for their VA Center for Acquisition Innovation. Initially they brought 150 jobs but today employ 207 people in 40,500 SF where Wells Fargo used to be on New Horizon Way before they built their new facility.  They initially looked at Fredericksburg, VA, St. Louis and Pittsburgh before deciding on Frederick. This facility trains VA employees in purchasing in a 3-year program before they are sent to VA offices all over the Country.

Canam Steel

Point of Rocks steel joist manufacturer Canam Steel expanded in 1999 with an $8M capital investment and 80 new jobs. Canam suffered when commercial construction declined in 2007. Yet, finding a new niche in bridgework in 2008 and 2009 allowed the company to add 100 jobs to the plant after layoffs. Now, Canam managers say they have the flexibility to respond to the market cycles that hit at different markets at different times. In 2011, Canam expanded with a $5M investment and 25,000 additional SF. They now employ 300 people.

Over 220 Business Leaders, Elected Officials and Partners Attend Frederick County’s Annual Business Reception

Frederick, MD – December 10, 2014 - The Frederick County Business Development and Retention Department (BDRD) held their Annual Business Reception at Dutch’s Daughter restaurant last night. More than 220 Frederick County business representatives, elected officials and partner organizations attended this year’s event.  A brief awards ceremony was held to honor Frederick County businesses.

According to Helen Propheter, BDRD Manager, “This event is a great opportunity for us to say thank you to our business community and honor those businesses that have located, expanded and created jobs for our citizens.”  The top 15 businesses from the attendee list were chosen for a Business Leader Award in the categories of new locations, business expansions and job growth.

The 2014 Business Leader Award for New Locations went to the following businesses:
1. ProList – moved from Montgomery County to Frederick off Rt. 85 into a 40,000sf facility and employs 70 people.
2. Vivint Solar – moved into a 16,000sf facility on Wedgewood Blvd and employs 60 employees.
3. MAXIMUS Federal Services, Inc. –expanded to the Frederick area to Presidents Court into a 25,000sf facility and employs 150 people
4. Go Ape – moved in March, 2014 into the Glass Factory and established their USA Headquarters.  They moved into 2,600 sf and employ 16 people in the Frederick office.
5. CarMax – expanded into the Frederick region off Rt 355 on 12 acres, with a 45,000sf showroom and employ 145 people.
The 2014 Business Leader Award for Business Expansions---those existing business who have expanded in Frederick County went to:
6. Wright Manufacturing, Inc – They expanded 22,000sf in response to greater demand of their own brand.  They now have 180 employed at their facility
7. STULZ Air Technology Systems, Inc – expanded 41,000sf and moved their metal and paint shop to accommodate their growth.  They employ 429 people at their site.
8. Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc- Frederick’s business and technology incubator has 24 companies; created 268 direct jobs with $16.6 million in annual payroll.   FITCI companies occupy 76,500sf in Frederick County.
9. Rice Tire - expanded 18,000sf at their North East Street facility.  They employ 40 people.
10. Lonza Walkersville, Inc. – expanded 44,000sf at their facility and employ currently 524 people

The 2014 Business Leader awards for Job Creation—those companies who have created jobs for Frederick County’s citizens, went to:
11. Plamondon Companies – Plamondon increased their workforce by 300 people
12. AstraZeneca – hired 245 people and they also expanded at their current facility by 6,500sf
13. Shepherd’s Staff In-home Care – expanded their workforce and hired 31 people
14. Hilton Garden Inn – Hilton Garden, Frederick expanded their workforce by 30 people
15. BNBI – Battelle National Biodefense Institute increased their workforce by 30 people

This year’s event was possible through our partnership with our sponsors.  Support was provided by Corporate Occupational Health Solutions, LLC, Miles & Stockbridge P.C, Frederick County Bank, Sandy Spring Bank, Swift Systems, Inc. and The Columbia Bank.

To view the gallery of photos from the event, please click here.

AstraZeneca Announces Plans to Expand its Frederick, Maryland Biologics Manufacturing Center

Media Inquiries

Alisha Martin, +1 302 885 2677, Alisha.martin@astrazeneca.com (US)

$200+ Million Investment to Support Company’s Maturing Biologics Pipeline

Frederick, Md., November 21, 2014 — AstraZeneca today announced plans to expand its biologics manufacturing center in Frederick, Md.  The more than $200 million project will increase production capacity at the facility to support AstraZeneca’s maturing pipeline, and will help position the company to keep pace with a growing demand for the development and use of biologics, which currently represent nearly 50% of AstraZeneca’s overall pipeline.

“Biologics are an important part of AstraZeneca’s overall capabilities, in addition to our strengths in small molecules and protein engineering,” said Andrew D. Skibo, regional vice president of biologics supply for AstraZeneca. “Our global biologics research and development arm, MedImmune, has a robust pipeline of more than 120 biologics, including more than 30 in clinical development.  The expansion of our Frederick facility will support the progression of drug candidates across our core therapeutic areas, ultimately aiding us in our efforts to make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients through scientific leadership and innovative new treatments.”

AstraZeneca’s Frederick biologics manufacturing center is an FDA licensed, large-scale cell culture production facility, with hundreds of thousands of square feet of administrative, production, warehouse, laboratory and utility space.  The expansion project, which is anticipated to begin in December and expected to be complete in mid-2017, will add approximately 40,000 additional square feet of manufacturing, laboratory and administrative space.  The expansion is also expected to bring a total of 300 new jobs to the site. 

“We’re very pleased by AstraZeneca’s demonstrable commitment to our local workforce and to our growing biotech community,” said Frederick City Mayor Randy McClement. “This expansion will help bring even more high-caliber life science jobs and career opportunities to Frederick and the surrounding region.” 

AstraZeneca’s Frederick manufacturing center is the largest biologics manufacturing facility within the company’s global network and portfolio of assets, and a worldwide industry leader in cell culture manufacturing.  The site currently produces a pediatric medication, as well as other investigational biologic products. 

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of cardiovascular, metabolic, respiratory, inflammation, autoimmune, oncology, infection and neuroscience diseases. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. For more information please visit www.astrazeneca-us.com.