Innovation : Innovation + Job News

Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) has committed $300,000 to support a new active-learning initiative at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) that draws on the latest technology and education research to help students succeed in critical introductory mathematics and science classes.

Creating an environment that engages and supports students as they begin studying these subjects is part of UMBC's College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences (CNMS) Active Science Teaching and Learning Environment (CASTLE) effort to increase the number of students majoring in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). More graduates are needed in these areas to help the U.S. maintain economic strength and an innovative edge.

"In this age of increasing global competition, it is essential that we support the students who will move our country forward in science and technology," says Larry Cox, SAIC senior vice president and business unit general manager. "This commitment to UMBC is an investment in both the number and quality of future scientists and engineers who will be available to work at companies like SAIC."

This collaboration builds on UMBC and SAIC's existing relationship, including SAIC's participation on UMBC advisory boards and the 2010-11 Visionaries in Information Technology Forum. UMBC students are active participants in SAIC's summer internship program.

"We are delighted to collaborate with SAIC to explore innovative ways to help our students excel in introductory math and science courses," says UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski. "As a leader in technology, SAIC is demonstrating a commitment to preparing more students for careers in these critical fields."

Source: University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Writer: Walaika Haskins

WebAdvantage.net, an Internet marketing and advertising agency based in Havre de Grace, has launched its new Social Media Roadmap product. The consulting service is designed to assist brand owners interested in creating effective social media strategies.

The Social Media Roadmap utilizes the organization's marketing goals to identify the best social media channels, tactics, and strategies for engaging the target audience, while providing built-in metrics for tracking, measuring, and analyzing the results. The service expands WebAdvantage.net's suite of Social Media Marketing services including Social Media Optimization and Blog Support used by Baltimore-area clients like K'NEX, Visit Baltimore, and Freedom Federal Credit Union.

"Our agency has been providing social media services to clients long before 'social media' was defined. Our new service addresses the growing market need for business guidance and best practices in creating and executing social media strategies," says Hollis Thomases, president of WebAdvantage.net.

Source: WebAdvantage.net
Writer: Walaika Haskins

The University of Maryland, College Park officially launched the new Maryland Cybersecurity Center (MC2) last week.

MC2 will promote education, research, and technology development in the emerging field of cybersecurity in partnership with government agencies and industry. The new center will adopt a "more than tech," interdisciplinary approach, capitalizing on College Park's close proximity to Washington, D.C. and key government agencies engaged in cybersecurity.

MC2 will bring together experts from engineering and computer science with colleagues from across the College Park campus in fields such as information sciences, business, public policy, social sciences, and economic policy to develop innovative new solutions to cybersecurity.

With the initiative, the university aims to stimulate public-private partnerships and address national vulnerabilities, including those facing industry. The idea is to help "connect the dots" in the region's burgeoning federal and private cyber sector.

"The nation's information systems have outgrown our ability to assure their security, and no one institution or sector can undertake a task of this magnitude alone," says Nariman Farvardin, interim president of the University of Maryland, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. "As one of the nation's top research universities, and with our strategic location, we are perfectly positioned to provide the education, expertise and collaboration that will help advance national and regional cybersecurity efforts."

Source: University of Maryland, College Park
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Citing its strong public commitments to and major achievements in reducing medical errors, and other innovations in patient safety and quality, The University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) has been named a "Leapfrog Top Hospital of the Decade" by The Leapfrog Group. Virginia Mason Medical Center (VMMC) in Seattle also received the award. The awards were presented on November 30th at a Washington, DC ceremony marking Leapfrog's 10-year anniversary.

According to Leapfrog, the two hospitals are among 1200 leading institutions that voluntarily participate in the annual Leapfrog Hospital Survey. UMMC and VMMC are the only two hospitals in America to consistently perform in the top ranks of survey responders since Leapfrog began its Top Hospitals awards program in 2006.

The Leapfrog Group is a coalition of public and private purchasers of employee health benefits founded a decade ago to work for improvements in health care safety, quality, and affordability. Initially organized by the Business Roundtable, it is now an independent, national not-for-profit organization working with a broad range of partners, including hospitals and insurers. The annual survey is the only voluntary effort of its kind. Leapfrog officials say they plan to expand their efforts in the months ahead to work with consumer groups.

Leapfrog Group Board Chair David Knowlton, president of the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute, describes the efforts of the two hospitals as "extraordinary in every sense of the word."

"The new era of health care reform in our nation is going to require providers, insurers, employers and others to work together as never before to improve the quality and efficiency of care," Knowlton says. "Hospitals such as The University of Maryland Medical Center and Virginia Mason Medical Center chose to blaze that trail long ago by committing themselves to change, accountability and transparency. They have done the work that others must now undertake."

According to Leapfrog CEO Leah Binder, the kind of top notch performances achieved in Baltimore and Seattle are tributes not only to employers and health care purchasers who championed Leapfrog, but to the Boards of Trustees and management teams at these hospitals, and to every physician, nurse and employee working every day on the frontlines of care. Binder noted, "These hospitals are role models: they don't compromise on patient care and they never relax their determination to do better and better every year. They are courageous enough to be transparent throughout the process." Leapfrog publishes its hospital results by hospital at www.leapfroggroup.org.

Source: The Leapfrog Group
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Barb Clapp Advertising & Marketing has received the Greater Baltimore Committee's 2010 Bridging the Gap Award. The program acknowledges and pays tribute to minority-owned and women-owned firms for achievement and those who support minority business development. The agency topped the successful minority and women-owned firms category.

"It is a great honor to receive the 2010 Bridging the Gap Award," says Barb Clapp, the agency's president. "As a female business owner, I feel it is critical that we recognize the contributions of women in business. My company is powered by strong, smart women. The award proves that the mentoring of women brings great rewards."

Barb Clapp Advertising & Marketing is a full-service marketing agency, whose expertise spans advertising media planning and buying, brand development, public relations, event planning, web development, market research, marketing strategy and product launch, as well as creative development. BCAM is customer service driven and tailors individual programs to meet the needs of clients. Customers consist of local, regional and large national brands in sectors including automotive, hospitality, non-profit, healthcare, environment, education, and retail.

Source: Barb Clapp Advertising & Marketing
Writer: Walaika Haskins

There's a new player in the popular daily deals game. Maryland-based Chewpons joins sites including Groupon and LivingSocial to bring residents in Baltimore City and surrounding counties discounted offers on food and drink from area businesses. 

Consumers who register thier e-mail address and zip code will receive "Daily Discounted Deals" ranging between 50 and 90 percent off in their email inbox.The Chewpons for featured businesses will be available for a period of 24 to 72 hours. The deals will expire six months to one year from the date of purchase. Chewpons do not require a certain number of participants and will not include an added service charge. 

A portion of the proceeds for each Chewpon purchase will go to support the charity of choice of that day's featured business highlighted in the site's "Daily Deal Donation" box on the homepage. If a business does not have a desired charity, then they may choose to give the proceeds to The Maryland Food Bank, Chewpons' primary charitable recipient.

Chewpons also rewards referrals with their unique "Chewbucks" program, which rewards existing users with discounts for recommending new ones.

Source: Chewpons
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Fiberlight, a provider of fiber optic networks, has officially kicked off its latest project, a new $20 million, 104-mile network that will provide local businesses access to a secure, high-speed broadband network and a telecommunications infrastructure stretching into D.C. and Virginia. The new network will extend from downtown Baltimore to the communities of Laurel, Columbia, Elkridge, and Greenbelt and will connect to FiberLight's 299-mile Virginia and D.C. networks.

FiberLight President and COO Kevin Coyne, a Baltimore native, says Baltimore was selected because it is a hub for innovation. He wanted to show his support of his hometown by building a high capacity, 100 percent underground fiber optic network to serve as a high tech bridge to other cities and data centers in the region.

"We selected Baltimore as a primary market to invest our capital dollars, including more than $1 million in conduit, as a way to provide greater economic opportunity for all citizens and businesses in the Greater Baltimore region," Coyne continues. "In today's economy, cities must position themselves as being forward thinking, innovative and technology rich in order to secure new economic opportunities. FiberLight's high fiber count network future proofs Baltimore and its surrounding communities and offers secure connectivity to Washington, Virginia and beyond while reducing the overall cost of broadband solutions through a choice of providers for service delivery."

Source: FiberLight
Writer: Walaika Haskins

The Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED) will host the state's first Contract Connections, a federal industry day. The event, to be held on Monday, December 13 from 7:30 am to 4 pm at the Food and  Drug Administration building in Silver Spring, is an opportunity for Maryland businesses to connect with government agencies.

The event wiil feature National institutes of Health (NIH), NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Social Security Administration, and other federal agencies, as well as the Naval Air Systems Command, Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), and other military commands. Participating companies will be able to learn about contracting and subcontracting opportunities; and gain valuable insight into the procurement process. One-on-one "matchmaking" sessions will allow businesses to present their statements of capabilities to federal agencies.

"The federal facilities and military commands in our state are an important economic engine for Maryland," says DBED Secretary Christian S. Johansson. "Contract Connections is part of Governor Martin O'Malley's comprehensive effort to support and leverage the vast potential of these facilities and to connect Maryland companies with federal contracting opportunities to create jobs for Marylanders."

Maryland is home to more than 50 federal facilities which contribute an estimated $16 billion to the state's economy. For the year ending September 30, 2010, federal agencies contracted $34 billion with Maryland companies. In addition, Maryland's military installations have an economic impact of $36 billion and purchase nearly $7 billion in goods and services from Maryland companies.

To further assist businesses seeking work with government agencies, DBED recently launched a B2G website which includes a "how to" guide and other resources for businesses interested in applying for federal contracts.

Guest speakers at Contract Connections include Walter Havenstein, CEO of SAIC, who will deliver the keynote address, and Russell J. Abbott, FDA Deputy Commissioner, who will offer opening remarks.

Registration is $55 and includes breakfast, lunch and materials. For additional information, visit Contract Connections.

Source: Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development
Writer: Walaika Haskins

An acclaimed comedian and mother of three will take young women from Park Heights on a journey through time to study their rich African and Native American ancestry and heritage. An attorney will work to protect low-income residents who have been victims of creditor abuse by providing training, assistance and co-counseling services to other attorneys who take on the victims' cases. A woman who learned to love skateboarding as an adult will mentor young Baltimore skateboarders and teach them leadership and self-advocacy skills, as they work to get a skate park built in the city. And a recent Johns Hopkins graduate will pair graduate psychology students with youth charged as adults to connect them with mental health, case management and rehabilitation help while they await trial.

These are just four of the seven people whom the Open Society Institute-Baltimore selected to be 2010 Baltimore Community Fellows, as the program celebrates its 13th year of supporting social entrepreneurs and innovators to achieve their dreams to improve the city.

Each of this year's fellows will receive $48,750 to work full-time for 18 months, implementing creative strategies to assist and revitalize underserved communities in Baltimore. This year's new class brings the total number of Baltimore Community Fellows to 117 � most of whom still are actively working in the city, continuing to bring their energy and ideas to effect social change.

"Our new Community Fellows are dynamic and committed social activists, each with an innovative vision for bringing opportunity and greater justice to Baltimore's neighborhoods so that all residents can participate fully in community life," says OSI-Baltimore Director Diana Morris. "With this 13th class, we are proud to add to our corps of talented Baltimore Community Fellows. Working across issues and neighborhoods, these Fellows are bringing hope, new approaches, resources and advocacy skills to residents throughout the city, mobilizing them to take action to meet their own needs and to revitalize Baltimore communities."

Source: Open Society Institute Baltimore
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Based on input from Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) teachers across Maryland and initial funding from AT&T, the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education (MBRT) announced plans last week to build the STEMnet Teachers Hub. The network will be a one-stop-shop for STEM teachers to find the resources, support, and professional connections they need to strengthen STEM teaching and learning statewide.

Phase One of the online tool, a joint project with the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), will launch during the 2010-11 school year. The STEMnet Teachers Hub will feature three components identified by teachers as "most needed and favored," including a Resource Clearinghouse through which teachers will have online access to STEM curriculum, lesson plans, webinars, tutorials, classroom-ready experiments, and professional development; a System-Wide STEM Connections portal that will enable teachers to link with STEM educators across Maryland at all levels and with private-sector STEM professionals to share knowledge and resources; and the Specialists in the Classroom compenent that will offer teachers a roster of STEM practitioners from federal agencies, industry, and higher education who are available to visit their classrooms, augment curriculum-based learning, and inform and inspire students about real-world STEM work.

"Strengthening Maryland's STEM advantage means giving teachers all of the support they need to provide students with strong STEM knowledge and skills," says MBRT Executive Director June Streckfus. "It's a place where teachers can make connections and access resources. We think that as a result of that innovation will really flourish."

Plans for the network included in the state's "Race to the Top" application for federal education funding, received high marks, says Strecfus. A major contribution from AT&T as well as support from Citi, Northrop Grumman, IBM, and MSDE have made the creation of the network possible.

According to Streckfus, the concept for STEMnet originated with Gov. Martin O'Malley's STEM Task Force. In 2009, the Task Force offered seven recommendations for securing Maryland's future as a global leader in STEM-based education, research, and economic development. The final recommendation was to "create Maryland's STEM Innovation Network to make STEM resources available to all."

As a first step in making that network a reality, MBRT made creating a support hub for teachers its first priority. MBRT conducted focus groups and an online survey in spring 2010 to gain detailed input from STEM teachers throughout the state.

Based on the results of that market research, MBRT identified and then ranked 11 proposed initiatives to reflect the explicitly stated needs of Maryland STEM teachers. Phase One of STEMnet includes implementation of the three initiatives teachers identified as most important. "These initiatives represent the core imperative driving the first stage of Maryland's statewide STEM Innovation Network, the STEMnet Teachers Hub," says Streckfus.

Additional initiatives recommended by STEM teachers will be phased in over the next few years with support from stakeholders throughout Maryland whose shared interest in advancing STEM teaching and achievement will transform the state's ability to compete successfully on the international stage.

"We're starting with teachers, but it will support students and parents. Eventually, [one idea] is for it to support research in STEM across the state and to encourage people to enter that field. So we're looking at a major electronic system that will really promote STEM education in Maryland," she says.

Source: June Streckfus, MBRT
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Homeowners looking for a little professional advice about their remodeling projects can now turn to a new resource. Tidewater Remodeling & Construction has launched a new website it hopes will serve as an information portal for Baltimore County area homeowners and businesses. The site features articles on a wealth of remodeling topics from the basic to the advanced, with new articles added several days a week. The site will also offer users an online monthly newsletter of remodeling tips.

Future plans include educational guides on selecting a remodeling contractor and professional advice from experts in the field.

"Our main objective is to be the number one remodeling resource guide for assisting everyone in the Baltimore County area with their remodeling needs. The depth of knowledge and resources on the site is simple, concise, and offers every homeowner some information about their home," says Bob DeGraw, owner.

Source: Tidewater Remodeling & Construction
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Baltimore-based JoS. A. Bank Clothiers, Inc. opened its 500th store last Friday in the Franklin Tower at 14th and I Streets in the East End of Washington, D.C.

The company, which first opened its doors in 1905, has opened over 200 stores in the past five years and says it expects to open another 100 to 175 stores in the future as part of its long-term plan to grow the chain to approximately 600 full-line stores and 50 to 75 factory stores in the United States. To date, JoS. A. Bank has opened 30 stores (25 full-line, 4 factory and 1 franchise) in fiscal year 2010 and expects to open approximately 36 stores for the entire year.

"We are pleased that the Company has been able to continue to grow the business through store openings," says R. Neal Black, CEO. "Achieving the 500 store level represents a significant milestone for the Company. Over the past 5 years, in addition to opening 200 new stores, the Company has increased net income every year, eliminated all of its debt, accumulated a cash and short-term investment position of approximately $190 million and created approximately 2,000 jobs in the United States," continued Mr. Black.

Source: JoS. A. Banks Clothiers
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Warschawski, a Baltimore-based full service branding, marketing, public relations, advertising, and interactive agency is stretching its reach with the acquisition of Boston-based marketing communications agency Louder Than Words (LTW). The purchase, which was effective November 1, will bring LTW president, Rich Polt, who served as vice president of Warschawski in the late 1990s, back to Baltimore as the firm's senior vice president.

Tricia McKenna, vice president of LTW, will remain in Boston to lead Warschawski's New England office, continuing to oversee and manage LTW accounts and ensure a successful transition for all clients to Warschawski.

"We have been fortunate to build a very strong name and reputation nationally for our integrated and brand centric marketing communications work. We were just named the "Small Agency of the Year" for the U.S. for the fourth time in five years. With that kind of momentum, we felt it was time to expand our geographic footprint and explore opportunities in another major market. The high caliber leadership at Louder Than Words, their specific experience and expertise, their client mix, and the Boston market all made tremendous strategic sense for us," says David Warschawski, founder and CEO.

The Boston market will provide a new geographic platform for growth, according to Warschawski. "We also are optimistic that the expertise that Louder Than Words brings to Warschawski in working with both hi-tech clients and socially responsible clients will be a boon to our current clients and of interest to perspective new clients."

"As Louder Than Words focused more on PR and marketing and did not previously offer in house creative services, this enables us to offer their clients creative services all under one roof (e.g. creative design, web development, interactive design). Since our creative services is based in Baltimore, Boston will work with our creative folks here to team on client assignments they are working on currently and for new clients we win in the Massachusetts area," he continues.

Due to the tremendous breadth and depth of clients handled by the Baltimore office, Warschawski says he expects some crossover between the type of work handled in both office. In some instances clients will benefit from having people in Baltimore and Boston work jointly on an account.

Source: David Warschawski, Warschawski
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Ben Walsh, co-founder of the popular Innovate Baltimore technology-centric networking events, has launched Pure Bang Games, a social gaming development company.

Walsh, a veteran of two local gaming firms, Bethesda Softworks and Big Huge Games, has developed games both personally and professionally for over 15 years. He was responsible for producing multi-million dollar blockbuster console games, including AMF Bowling Pinbusters, Star Trek : Conquest (Winner of IGN's Game of the Month), Age of Empires 3: Asian Dynasties, and WET.

"I'm hoping that Pure Bang will become a catalyst for more gaming companies coming to the city. And as we continue to grow we'll definitely be reinvesting in our neighborhood and the city. I love Baltimore and want to see more creative tech companies get started. If I can help bring more young professionals to the city that is definitely a side benefit of being able to do what I already love -- create video games," Walsh says.

The new gaming firm, based in Highlandtown, will release its first game, My Pet Rock, on the Facebook gaming platform in December. The virtual pet game offers social gamers of all ages fun times as they adopt a pet rock. They can chose from a variety of shapes, then customize the rock's look and its garden home. According to Walsh, players will be able to interact with friends through rock battles or dating their friends' rocks which will eventually lead to a baby rock.

Players will be able to purchase items for their pet rocks using "game money" or more unique items and extra energy for between $.10 and $1.70. A new Halloween pack of costumes has been released enabling players to dress their pet rocks up as Frankenstein or Bride of Frankenstein, etc. Anyone interested in playing the game before it is released should "like" My Pet Rock, and send Walsh an email requesting an invite.

"We want our games to represent our sense of humor and our belief in quality. This is our first game and it will be the best game that we can make. I think a lot of people will enjoy it. They'll smile when they see it. Laugh when they play it. That's definitely success for me, seeing and hearing people enjoying our game," says Walsh.

Pure Bang is also working on a simple arcade game it expects to also release on Facebook by the end of the year. The company will also partner with less-tech savvy individuals who have an idea for a game but no programming experience.

The company is currently hiring for a variety of positions, including engineers, product managers, artists, and marketers.

Source: Ben Walsh, Pure Bang Games
Writer: Walaika Haskins