Last year, Tyson’s Corner Center (1961 Chain Bridge Rd., Tysons, VA) in nearby Northern Virginia added a “twist” to your shopping experience by allowing customers to sip on their favorite alcoholic beverage while strolling throughout the mall. We stopped by for some holiday shopping and spoke with participating restaurants and customers about how it’s going.
On Thursday, December 12, Montgomery County 6D officers arrested an individual for possession of a controlled substance and a loaded handgun after finding them passed out behind the wheel at Christopher Ave and Montgomery Village Ave. (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?”
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will hold a virtual public hearing on Jan. 22 to discuss a petition to abandon a public right of way on Hyannis Drive in Silver Spring, with residents invited to provide comments and testimony. (more…)
Montgomery County Health is emphasizing the importance of recognizing and addressing postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis, urging new parents and their loved ones to seek help from healthcare providers and utilize resources like the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline and local crisis services.
When I moved back to Northern Virginia after several years in New York, most of my old friends had moved away. I found myself rebuilding a social circle from scratch.
I had plenty of people I could connect with online, but that wasn’t translating into anyone to grab a beer with after work, play trivia with, or text when I wanted to get out of the house. Making new friends as an adult required far more deliberate effort than I remembered.
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!
On Thursday, Governor Wes Moore announced $13.1 million in ENOUGH initiative grants, including awards to Montgomery County organizations CHEER and Identity, Inc., to address child poverty through community-driven strategies in Maryland. (more…)
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Serviced (MCFRS) responded to a single-vehicle collison at Girard St and Larkspur Way in Gaithersburg at approximately 1:58am on Friday, December 13.
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a vehicle crash into Johnson Fitness & Wellness on Nebel St. in Rockville at 7:25 PM on Thursday, December 12. (more…)
A Gaithersburg woman is $30,000 richer after playing Keno at a Shell gas station in Laurel. Full story below courtesy MD Lottery:
Did you know that there’s a Tottenham Hotspur supporters club located right here in Montgomery County? We stopped by a recent watch party held at Saints Row Brewery in Olde Towne Gaithersburg and were able to witness an incredible display of support with dozens of fans rooting on their team’s every move.
Councilmember At-Large Gabe Albornoz released the following statement on Thursday, December 12, regarding an incident where a racial slur was found written on a student’s desk at Wootton High School in Rockville. (more…)
Montgomery County Recreation’s free RecFit passes for residents will continue through 2025, providing access to fitness rooms, game rooms, and drop-in activities at recreation centers, while non-residents can purchase passes at set rates. (more…)