According to the National Weather Service (NWS), an active weather pattern next few days brings several rounds of thunderstorms to the area. The threat for strong to severe storms is marginal for today (Sunday) and Monday, then becomes higher for Tuesday.
Char’d, which currently operates a food truck at 8600 Zetts Ave in Gaithersburg, has announced it will open its first brick and mortar location at Tyson’s Galleria in Tyson’s Corner, […]
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?”
For over a year, former Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder’s Potomac home was the highest priced home for sale in Montgomery County. Earlier this month, it came off the market after it was announced that Snyder donated it to the American Cancer Society, and a new home now takes the crown- 9305 Inglewood Ct. in Potomac.
Wilson “Lee” Faris, Jr., (also known as “Poppy”), 77, passed away on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 after a two-year battle with ALS. Many may know Faris as “The Voice of the Cougars” where he spent more than two decades as the announcer of every home game of the Quince Orchard High School football team.
Olney, MD Art Gallery and Studio to present a Pop-Culture themed group Art Exhibit and Artists’ Alley event.
Highly Animated is a 2-month long celebration of the vibrant world of fan art. From classic JRPG nostalgia, to the latest anime obsessions, to amazing original characters, this exhibition will highlight the passion, creativity and talent within fan communities.
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a call for a fire at a home on Market St E in Gaithersburg’s Lakelands neighborhood at approximately 12:45pm Saturday afternoon.
Friends of White Oak is hosting a “Reimagining White Oak: A Community Open House” event on Wednesday, April 17th from 6:30pm-8:30pm at the White Oak Community Recreation Center.
John Carlson is expected to play in his 1,000th career game tonight against Boston. According to the Washington Capitals, Carlson will become the first defenseman and third player in franchise history to play 1,000 games with the Capitals, joining teammates Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. Carlson is also a Montgomery County resident and his wife, Gina, is a MoCo native.
Montgomery College has announced that Rebecca Portis, professor in MC’s English and Reading Department, has received a Fulbright-Hays award and will be participating in a four-week learning trip to South Africa this summer.
The 33rd Annual Rockville Science Day on Sunday, April 21, will continue its tradition of mixing the forefront of scientific advancements and historical looks on scientific developments. The free event, […]