On Wednesday, Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced the appointment of Tabatha Robinson as director of the Maryland Cannabis Administration. Robinson is currently acting chief equity officer for the New York State Office of Cannabis Management and will begin her new role in Maryland on February 19. (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?”
A traffic stop near the White Oak Shopping Center led to an arrest and seizure of a loaded firearm. (more…)
Charm City Run has closed its Gaithersburg location (225 Kentlands Blvd) permanently after two and a half years. The store opened in the former Fleet Feet space in June 2022 (Fleet Feet has since reopened in a different Kentlands location).
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.
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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 Montgomery County Police Department announced the arrest of 32-year-old Kofi Aidoo of Silver Spring on firearms-related charges, including prohibited possession of a firearm, after recovering a stolen handgun near Glenmont United Methodist Church. In response to inquiries about the law enforcement presence, police confirmed that the activity was solely related to the criminal investigation and had no connection to immigration status or enforcement.
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Jean-Pierre Velasco, 21, of Silver Spring, pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Circuit Court to two counts of manslaughter by motor vehicle for a 2023 crash in Rockville that killed two 19-year-olds, with sentencing set for April 7, 2025 (more…)
Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week Winter 2025, presented by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), returns to celebrate the region’s vibrant culinary scene January 27 – February 2, 2025.
McDonald’s in the Westfield Wheaton mall food court (11160 Veirs Mill Rd.) has permanently closed and will be replaced by fast-food rival Burger King. (more…)
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Nestled just outside Washington, D.C., downtown Silver Spring, MD has earned the title of the state’s coffee capital, thanks to its impressive array of coffee shops that cater to every taste and preference. With a vibrant mix of local roasters, cozy cafes, and specialty chains, the city offers a unique coffee culture that reflects its diverse community (video below).
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown issued the following statement on Tuesday, January 21: (more…)
Carmen’s Italian Ice is bringing back its annual “Pay the Price of the Weather” promotion at its Rockville location (1115 Nelson St) and Kensington location (10309 Kensington Parkway) on Thursday, January 23, and Friday, January 24. (more…)