Update: All lanes of Clopper Road (MD 117) and Quince Orchard Road (MD 124) have reopened. Expect residual delays.
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On Wednesday morning, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services’ (MCFRS) Swift Water Rescue Team responded to a medical emergency on the trail near the Potomac River’s Angler Boat Ramp, where they found an adult male floating in the water. The man, in critical condition, received medical care before being transported to the VA hospital. (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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OpenTable is a restaurant reservation service and platform that helps diners find restaurants and make reservations. Below you’ll find a list of the most booked restaurants in the area (category is listed as Maryland-DC Suburbs), according to OpenTable’s data:
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On Tuesday, Dennis Hinnant, 30, of Silver Spring, was sentenced to 40 years in prison for the second-degree murder of his wife, Taresha Pendarvis, after turning himself in to police and confessing to the crime in February 2023. (more…)
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Music. Art. Food. Community. The Takoma Park Folk Festival brings it all together for one free, unforgettable day. Discover six stages of live music from around the world, shop an acclaimed juried craft show, enjoy international cuisine, connect with local community organizations, and let the kids explore crafts and activities in the Children's Nook. It's one of the region's most beloved traditions, and a celebration of the creativity, diversity, and welcoming spirit that has long defined Takoma Park.
New this year! Jam at the Crossroads is a place for musicians of all levels to come together and be part of the music.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has recognized Jian Feng Li of Silver Spring as the first state record holder for yellowedge grouper (Caulolatilus microps) in the Atlantic division.
The City of Rockville’s Rocktobierfest celebrates German culture with beer, bands, bratwurst and more from 11am-5pm on September 28th at Rockville Town Center.
Montgomery Village’s Fall Festival will take place this year on October 5 from 11am-2:30pm at North Creek Community Center (20125 Arrowhead Road).
Montgomery County officials, including Executive Marc Elrich and Council President Andrew Friedson, will host an opening ceremony on Monday, September 9 at the Traville Gateway Transit Center in Rockville to celebrate the launch of the new Pink and Lime bus routes.
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District 4 Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) Commander David Smith shared information regarding a traffic stop in the Glenmont area that resulted in two arrests and the recover of multiple firearms.
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On Tuesday, the Bullis school shared the sad news of the community mourning the tragic loss of Coach Ray Butler, a deeply respected member of the school for over a decade. Late last night, Coach Butler passed away peacefully surrounded by family. The community is raising money to support his family in this GoFundMe.