The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will adjust schedules for 27 Ride On bus routes starting January 12, 2025, to improve efficiency and reliability, with updated schedules available online and in print. (more…)
The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) encouraging residents to reduce, reuse, and recycle during the holiday season to minimize waste, which typically increases by 25% between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, and offers tips for sustainable practices and proper tree recycling. (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?”
Chef Ngee Kitchen Jollof Rice Drive Thru is coming soon to 18523 N. Frederick Ave. in the Gaithersburg S.C. shopping center. (more…)
Javier Reyes, 22, of Silver Spring, was found guilty of second-degree felony murder and handgun use in the death of Walter Woods during a drug deal in March 2023 and faces up to 60 years in prison at his February 2025 sentencing. (more…)
We’ve Got the Ticket to Every Sunday Showdown! 🏈🔥
Catch every live out-of-market Sunday game with NFL Sunday Ticket this football season at Lucky Strike Rockville!
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Come enjoy the day at our annual Washington Grove Arts and Craft Festival in a beautiful outdoor setting. This festival highlights local artisans including wood creations, pottery, visual art, household products and so much more. We also have food trucks from El Parente Tacos, El Jeffe Wood-fired pizzas, Bruster’s Ice Cream and beverages from Saints Row Brewery. Bring the whole family because we have a kids activity area too. Pets on a leash are welcome too!
The Container Store, a leading retailer of organizing solutions, custom spaces, and in-home services, announced it has filed for voluntary protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas on December 22, 2024. The company has two locations in Montgomery County– Gaithersburg and Rockville.
In coordination with Montgomery County and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro), the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the State Highway Administration (SHA) have agreed to make almost seven miles of bus-only lanes on MD 97 (Georgia Avenue) between Silver Spring and Glenmont permanent.
The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA)is urging motorists to curtail non-essential travel on Tuesday morning due to potential icy conditions until temperatures warm.
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A Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) officer at the Rockville Station arrested a suspect for fare evasion and assault after the suspect threatened and pushed the officer. (more…)
Tuan Vo is the proud owner of Phowheels, a unique Vietnamese culinary venture. Raised in Montgomery County, he attended White Oak Middle School and Springbrook High School, and currently resides in Burtonsville. Construction has now begun on the DMV’s first drive-thru Vietnamese restaurant at Burtonsville Crossing (it will also feature the option to dine-in).
The Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) announced the passing of K9 Monte, an 8 ½-year-old Belgian Malinois/German Shepherd mix, who served in patrol and narcotics detection for six years. (more…)