The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) has released the transportation-related holiday schedule changes for the observance of Veterans Day, Monday, Nov. 11: (more…)
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded Friday morning to a report of a goose stuck in a tree on Citadel Ave off Old Georgetown Rd. in North Bethesda. (more…)
Talent is one of the most important factors influencing where companies choose to invest, expand, and grow. As competition for skilled workers intensifies, employers are embracing a broader talent strategy: one that leverages partnerships. Last week, almost 120 business leaders, elected officials, and members of Montgomery County’s business community attended the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation’s (MCEDC) panel, “The Talent Advantage: A Growth Strategy for Companies in Montgomery County, Maryland,” to hear how local businesses are capitalizing on the County’s world-class academic institutions, innovation ecosystem, quality of life, and economic development resources to attract and retain top talent.
Moderated by Dr. Anne Khademian, Executive Director at The Universities at Shady Grove (USG), the panel included executives from businesses and institutions across industries, including Lockheed Martin, TrilliumBIO, Thales Defense & Security, Johns Hopkins, Montgomery College, and AstraZeneca, who discussed their companies’ strategies for developing their workforce.
Talent as a Business Strategy
For companies competing in highly specialized industries like the defense industry, access to talent directly influences where they choose to locate and grow. For Lockheed Martin, which employs nearly 1,000 people in Montgomery County, talent is one of the primary reasons the company chose to be headquartered here.
“Talent is in the top one or two reasons why we are in the County,” said Todd Cohen, Senior Lead of Strategic Workforce Development, Lockheed Martin.
According to Cohen, Lockheed Martin begins working with partners to develop their talent pipeline well before students enter the workforce, including partnering with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) on programs such as coding challenges. Lockheed Martin also maintains close relationships with local higher education institutions, including the Universities at Shady Grove (USG).
That local talent pipeline is also an important factor for AstraZeneca, which employs more than 5,000 employees and contractors in Montgomery County. According to Tiffany Lukis, Director of STEM and Community Engagement at AstraZeneca, the company often taps into its alumni base from Montgomery College (ranked #26 nationally among community colleges) and USG (which offers nine different public universities onto one campus), and other local institutions to fill highly technical roles.
Local Companies Are Developing Talent and Not Just Finding It
According to the panelists, investing in existing employees is just as important as recruiting new ones.
At Suburban Hospital, workforce development is closely tied to talent retention. The hospital partners with local educational institutions to provide employees with opportunities to gain new skills and advance their careers. Programs include a Certified Nursing Assistant program through Montgomery College and English as a Second Language classes.
“A huge part of our talent strategy is to prioritize holding on to our top tier talent,” said Corey Lewson, MSW, Program Manager, Workforce Development, John Hopkins Medicine.
For smaller companies, developing talent internally can be especially valuable. Lane Edwards, Vice President of Operations, TrilliumBIO, a biomarker discovery company with fewer than 20 employees based in Rockville, described the challenge of balancing the need for highly specialized expertise with the realities of building a team at an early-stage company.
“When it comes to hiring, we have to be very strategic,” Lane said. “Do we have someone who has the expertise or someone that we can build on?”
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Jerk N Jive Caribbean Kitchen has announced that it will close its doors after seven years in Frederick, the restaurant announced on social media.
The Maryland Attorney General’s Office is urging victims of racist text messages targeting Black residents to report the incidents for investigation and support, stating such hate has no place in the state. (more…)
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BETHESDA, YOUR SATURDAY MORNING PLANS JUST GOT MORE CREATIVE.
Join Craft Cart at Coffee Republic on Saturday, September 26, from 11:00 AM–1:00 PM for a beginner-friendly faux stained glass experience filled with creativity, coffee and connection.
MCPS is organizing a series of listening sessions to discuss the Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2026. Join MCPS leadership to examine the allocation of funds within the school system, discover upcoming changes, and provide your feedback.
According to District 3 Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) Commander Jason Cokinos, officers seized a ghost gun with an extended magazine and illegal drugs during a traffic stop on New Hampshire Ave in Silver Spring, leading to the arrest and processing of the suspect involved. (more…)
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Results of first round Maryland high school football playoff games (MCPS games) can be seen below. Scores will be updated as we receive them (an F will signify the score is final):
The Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) responded to a shooting around 5pm on Thursday, November 7, near the intersection of Spiceberry Circle and Spiceberry Place in Flower Hill/Redland. (more…)
Last week we let you know that Trader Joe’s is set to open at 225 N. Washington St. in Rockville Town Square, taking over the former Dawson’s Market space, which closed this past summer after twelve years. The location is now officially coming soon, as it has been added to the Trader Joe’s website.
Montgomery Parks expands pickleball opportunities with the creation of six more dedicated pickleball courts at East Norbeck Local Park. A ribbon-cutting celebration will be held on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, 6–8 p.m., to highlight the new courts and welcome night-time play under the lights. (more…)
MCPS has sent a message to the community regarding text messages containing racist threats that were sent across the country, including MCPS students. The message can be seen in full below: