The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck, a traveling food truck selling Hello Kitty-themed treats, will make a stop at two stops in the DMV in the next two weeks– the first in Arlington on 8/3 followed by Bethesda on 8/10.
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?”
Smoothie King has signed on to open a new location at 20630 Seneca Meadows Parkway at the Shops at Seneca Meadows development (where Wegmans is located) in Germantown. Smoothie King will be taking over part of the space that was previously home to DaMarco The Italian Place with F45 Training occupying the other portion of the space.
According to the Montgomery County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, “Montgomery County has activated a Hyperthermia Alert for extreme heat from 11 am to 8 pm Thurs, 8/1. Expect the heat index to be above 95º F. Stay hydrated. Take precautions to protect yourself & pets from heat-related illnesses.”
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.
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We ❤️ Teachers 5K celebrates educators through movement. On race day, runners and walkers across the country will participate in host city races, school celebrations, and virtual events — all in support of teachers and educator wellness. We'll be in beautiful Wheaton Regional Park, Join Us!
Walk it. Run it. Move for the teacher who moved you.
On Sunday, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) announced it was investigating a fatal carjacking incident that occurred in Sterling, Virginia. The victim and vehicle owner, Melody Waldecker, 54, of Silver Spring, was struck by the vehicle as the suspect fled the scene and was pronounced dead. The suspect has been arrested. A GoFundMe has recently been set up to help Waldecker’s family.
UPDATE: All lanes now open
Montgomery County Police has shared via social media that a collision has Bethesda Ave. between Woodmont and Wisconsin Aves shut down. Pepco is on scene repairing damage to a utility box.
Chief Antonio DeVaul from the Takoma Park Police Department announces the arrest of Cristino Benetiz, 35, of Silver Spring, Maryland, for 1st Degree Assault.
Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 6th District Investigative Section continue to ask for the public’s assistance in locating Enrri Adil Cruz Barahona, a missing 51-year-old.
Master plan focusing on the county’s life sciences industry hub in the heart of the I-270 Corridor receives County Council approval.
The Montgomery County Council on July 30 voted to approve the Great Seneca Plan: Connecting Life and Science, a master plan developed by the Montgomery County Planning Department. The plan focuses on strengthening the economic competitiveness of the Life Sciences Center, a thriving hub that is host to a diverse population and leading life sciences, medical, and educational institutions and organizations along the I-270 Corridor. Key recommendations can be seen below.
The Germantown National Night Out will be held on Tuesday, August 6, from 6-8pm at Montgomery College (20200 Observation Dr) in Germantown.
Authentic African Restaurant, a new restaurant that features cuisine from various parts of the continent of Africa with a focus on cuisine from Ghana, opened last month at 13075 Wisteria Dr in Germantown Plaza. Our very own “Mr. MoCo” Alex Tsironis stopped in to support the restaurant. Below you’ll see a video of the experience followed by photos of a few dishes: