This past summer we shared that two Maryland restaurants (the top two) were included in a list of the “Best Crab Cakes in the U.S.” by Food & Wine magazine. Our staff tried both, as well as a few that readers recommended, and made our decision for The MoCoShow’s favorite crabcake (photos below).
37-year-old Michelle Gogan of Burtonsville tragically was hit and killed by a driver in the parking lot of the Giant Food store located on the 15600 block of Old Columbia Pike in Burtonsville (Burtonsville Town Town Square) on Thursday. The community is raising funds toward funeral and burial expenses, memorial services, and other costs associated with celebrating Michelle’s life.
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?”
The Montgomery County Commission for Women will host its 45th Annual Women’s Legislative Briefing on Saturday, Jan. 25, at The Universities at Shady Grove, featuring the theme “EMPOW(HER): Breaking Barriers to Success,” with keynote panels, breakout sessions, and workshops aimed at empowering women and girls, fostering gender equality, and inspiring leadership. (more…)
Below is a list of restaurants and businesses that will be coming soon to Gaithersburg, MD. (more…)
At The Head Spa by Bare, we believe that true beauty begins with a healthy scalp, its your unique wellness experience for the mind and body. Relax with aromatherapy and gentle massages while healing your scalp.
Head Spa Facial rituals are a unique and luxurious experience that focuses on relaxing and revitalizing the scalp and hair. These rituals combine traditional Japanese techniques with modern spa treatments to provide a holistic approach to wellness.
The Triumph Trek at the Rio is the ultimate celebration of strength, recovery and hope — and everyone is invited.
On Sunday, September 20, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Adventist HealthCare Rehabilitation and Adventist HealthCare Home Care Services will gather at Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg for an untimed walk-or-wheel around the accessible lakeside path. This is not a race. Scooters, wheelchairs, walkers, strollers and every pace are welcome, and no one finishes last.
The Washington Commanders announced that they have waived 2022 second round draft pick Phidarian Mathis.
Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown and a coalition of 20 attorneys general have urged the Supreme Court to uphold Louisiana’s Voting Rights Act-compliant congressional map, defending states’ authority to address voting inequalities through redistricting.
Beginning in the new year, drivers in D.C. will be prohibited from making right turns on red unless a sign indicating permission has been installed by the District Department of Transportation. The change will take place at approximately half of DC’s 1,600 intersections and
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a house fire on Maple Leaf Drive in Montgomery Village on Friday, December 27. (more…)
The Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) responded to a shooting on Friday, December 27, around 9:45pm near the Randolph Crossing Shopping Center and Unique Thrift on Viers Mill Rd.
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a collision with vehicle rollover at New Hampshire Ave and Haviland Mill Rd just east of Brookeville in Brinklow.
Back in September we let you know that L&L Hawaiian Barbecue will open its first Maryland location right here in Montgomery County at 785 Rockville Pike, Suite G, in the Ritchie Center (Rockville). The restaurant is now in its soft opening phase with a ‘first look’ video below.