So. Md. Business News Briefs


Lacey Cochran Named Vice President, Senior Lender for Community Bank of the Chesapeake

Lacey CochranWALDORF, Md.—Community Bank of the Chesapeake is pleased to announce that Lacey Cochran has been promoted to Vice President, Senior Lender for Calvert County. In her new role, Ms. Cochran will be responsible for leading the Calvert County lending team and continuing to grow the Bank's commercial portfolio in the region.

"Since joining the bank, Lacey has been an essential part of our lending team," said Greg Cockerham, Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer of Community Bank of the Chesapeake. "She has proven her leadership skills and extensive knowledge of the financial industry time and time again. I am confident that in her capable hands, the Calvert County market will continue to flourish."

Ms. Cochran has been with Community Bank for over six years, during which time she has been extremely successful in commercial loan production and has assisted in the development of the Calvert County market through networking. In addition to holding a bachelor's degree from Towson University, Ms. Cochran graduated from Maryland Banking School in 2013 and has attended Regulation B training conducted by Thomas Compliance Associates. Ms. Cochran is an active member of the Calvert County Chamber of Commerce.

Headquartered in Waldorf, Maryland, Community Bank of the Chesapeake is a full-service commercial bank, with assets over $1 billion. Community Bank has served the communities from Southern Maryland to Fredericksburg, Virginia for over 65 years, making it the oldest independent community bank headquartered in this region. Through its 11 banking centers and three dedicated commercial lending centers, Community Bank of the Chesapeake offers a broad range of financial products and services to individuals and businesses. Community Bank of the Chesapeake is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Community Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: TCFC). More information about Community Bank of the Chesapeake can be found at www.cbtc.com.

Dollar General Celebrates Grand Opening of New Store in Ridge

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. –– Dollar General will celebrate the opening of its new location at 13270 Point Lookout Road in Ridge this Saturday, July 5 at 8 a.m. with free prizes and special deals.

Additionally, the first 50 adult shoppers at the store will receive a $10 Dollar General gift card and the first 200 shoppers will receive a Dollar General tote bag, among other giveaways.

“Dollar General is committed to delivering a pleasant shopping experience that includes a convenient location, a wide assortment of merchandise and great prices on quality products,” said Dan Nieser, Dollar General’s senior vice president of real estate and store development. “We hope our Ridge customers will enjoy shopping at Dollar General’s new location.”

Traditional Dollar General stores employ approximately six to 10 people, depending on the need. Anyone interested in joining the Dollar General team may visit the Career section at www.dollargeneral.com.

2014 Buy Local Challenge – Take Eating Local to the EXTREME!

HUGHESVILLE, Md.—The annual Buy Local Challenge (BLC) asks everyone to eat something from a local farm every day during Buy Local Week, July 19 – 27, 2014. Maryland residents are encouraged to buy from farms, farm stands, farmers’ markets, wineries, groceries and markets that offer local farm products, or dine at restaurants that serve local farm food and wine.

Created by the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (SMADC) and jointly promoted with the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA), the statewide BLC initiative highlights the environmental, health and economic benefits farms provide and has resulted in healthier food choices at hospitals, increased support for local farmers and the local economy, and healthier communities.

This year, SMADC and MDA have teamed up to offer the “Take the Challenge to the EXTREME" photo competition, a fun component of the BLC. “It’s easy!” said Christine Bergmark, executive director of SMADC. “Take the official Buy Local Challenge pledge. Then post your photos on the BLC Facebook page (by July 28) showing us how you took the Challenge to the extreme”, explained Bergmark. “We are challenging everyone to serve local farm foods not just once a day, but at every meal, or to find some other creative way of going beyond the basic challenge.” The winning photo entry receives a gift certificate for MDA’s Maryland’s Best Ice Cream Trail, valued at $100, plus a package of goodies.

The BLC has also partnered with the Chesapeake Food Leadership Council to invite food service directors, chefs and managers who purchase food for hospitals, institutions and other businesses to commit to offering at least one local food every day in their cafeterias or on their menus during BLC week. Those that sign up to participate will be recognized for their support in a press release and on a scrolling banner on the BLC website homepage at www.buy-local-challenge.com.

Any individual, organization or business participating in the BLC is encouraged to download free resource materials including official BLC logos, fliers, generic press releases to promote the event, and to use the BLC twitter hashtag #buylocalchallenge to tweet the latest BLC happenings around the state. For details visit the BLC website, www.buy-local-challenge.com.

6 Companies Earn Leading Edge Titles

LA PLATA, Md.—Six businesses and executives were showcased for being on the Leading Edge during the 14th annual Leading Edge Awards ceremony, June 11. “The annual event celebrates forward-thinking individuals and businesses that spur economic growth with efforts and decisions that make real impacts,” said Dr. Daniel Mosser, vice president of the College of Southern Maryland’s Division of Continuing Education and Workforce Development.

Recognized this year are Marrick Properties as Calvert County Business of the Year; SmartSite, LLC as Charles County Technology Company of the Year; Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa as CSM Partnership in Education; Lockheed Martin as The Patuxent Partnership Member Firm of the Year; MESMO Inc. as Small Business of the Year; and Austin J. “Joe” Slater Jr., CEO and president of SMECO, as CEO of the Year for Southern Maryland.

Involved in corporate philanthropy since its founding in 1984, Marrick Properties has supported Calvert Hospice Festival of Trees as well as established a $100,000 endowment at CSM and supported numerous projects at the college including CSM Foundation’s Golf Classic for 14 years. As one of Southern Maryland’s premier home builders and commercial builders, Marrick Properties has deep roots and their local pride runs equally strong and true. Since 1984, their goal has remained unchanged—to have every one of their homeowners and business customers share that same level of pride in their own homes, workplaces and communities. For more on Marrick Properties, visit http://youtu.be/EjBqCOtYdmc.

SmartSite, LLC’s founders Frank Duduk and Patrick Hobbs started their company in November 2008 with a commitment to a “Triple Bottom Line” – that is, an equal focus on people, planet and profit. Through innovative use of technology, the partners have stayed true to that principle, building their land development business while paying close attention to the social and environmental impacts along with the financial outcomes of their operation. Duduk says they designed SmartSite to be a transformative new industry prototype model of collaboration, technology and life cycle idealism – one that increases efficiency across all operations, reduces risk and saves money. For more on SmartSite, LLC, visit http://youtu.be/KBIBIwEht7w.

Lockheed Martin, a global security and aerospace company engaged in research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services, employs 500 people in Southern Maryland, primarily working on the Joint Strike Fighter program. Lockheed Martin also embraces the communities it calls home, with a culture of community service that spans from charity projects that help make the lives of Wounded Warriors a bit more fulfilling to programs that will strengthen student interest in STEM, such as “Engineers in the Classroom,” STEM Group tours of the F-35 Integrated Test Facility, NAS Patuxent River, and supporting STEM-ING to inspire females to pursue STEM careers. For more on Lockheed Martin, visit http://youtu.be/Ok-pTwCNad8.

Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa is a true champion of education and demonstrates their commitment to the community and the local workforce by investing in CSM. This organization exemplifies the concept of “partnership” through its use of CSM’s education resources and support of the CSM Foundation. They choose to train their employees through programs offered through CSM’s Corporate Center. They give back to the community through generous donations to the CSM Foundation in support of scholarships and the college’s four newest Division I athletic programs (men’s and women’s lacrosse and cross country). For more on Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa, visit http://youtu.be/fLHPABki1Yk.

MESMO Inc. is an SBA 8(a) certified, Center for Veteran Enterprise verified Service-Disabled Veteran Business government contractor with an international-export focus on Africa and the Middle East providing defense and development capacity building, logistics, language translation services and consulting support services. In 2013, MESMO significantly utilized SBTDC’s business and international consulting assistance as well as its Procurement Technical Assistance Program to improve MESMO’s capabilities. This has led to recent contract awards by the U.S. Navy (Seaport-e) and Department of Homeland Security (Logistics) as well as its progress in growing business opportunities internationally. For more on MESMO, visit http://youtu.be/-jKZU4dacK0.

During Slater’s tenure as president and CEO since 2002, SMECO has been awarded the JD Power Award for excellence for six consecutive years. Under his leadership, SMECO has invested millions to install an outage management system, built an Engineering and Operations Center in Hughesville, and led the way in renewable energy investment, including opening a 5.5 megawatt solar farm in Hughesville with a second slated for Waldorf this year. He and his wife, Carmen, are foster parents and actively support Southern Maryland. As an alumnus, he cares deeply about CSM, serving as a trustee and now as a member of CSM's Foundation. A founder of the Southern Maryland Navy Alliance, he is also former chair of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce and an inductee of its Business Hall of Fame. For more on Slater, visit http://youtu.be/nKkoUvghWUs.

The Leading Edge Awards are presented annually in partnership with the Calvert County Department of Economic Development, Charles County Technology Council, the Corporate Center at CSM, the CSM Foundation, The Patuxent Partnership and the Small Business Technology and Development Center (SBTDC).

Platinum sponsors for this year’s LEA include CSM, Greater Waldorf Jaycees, Marrick Homes, SmartSite LLC and Southern Maryland Newspapers.

For photos from the event, visit http://csmphoto.zenfolio.com/14lea. For information on Leading Edge Awards, visit http://www.corporatecenter.csmd.edu/LEA/2014.html.

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