CIC Names Djamshidi Executive Director
The Chesapeake Innovation Center’s (CIC) board of directors has appointed Sarah Djamshidi as executive director. She comes to the CIC from the University of Maryland (UM) Technology Advancement Program (TAP), the first technology venture incubator in the state.
Columbia-based W. R. Grace & Co. has announced an agreement in principle that would settle all present and future asbestos-related personal injury claims.

TAP partners with regional entrepreneurs and provides extensive hands-on support to build early-stage technology companies; during her tenure, $20 million was raised for portfolio companies. She also helped in the design, development and implementation of the UM’s first technology spin-out program, MTECH Venture Accelerator.

Djamshidi is also an adjunct professor and lecturer with the A. James Clark School of Engineering and UM’s Honors Program, teaching undergraduate classes in technology entrepreneurship.

Previously, Djamshidi launched a graphic design and communications unit of UM. In this capacity, she directed client projects, set pricing, managed a profit and loss statement and conceptualized creative campaigns for various organizations. Additionally, she has grown and launched businesses and managed a variety of technology organizations.

HCC Wins Award From U.S. Senate
Howard Community College (HCC) has been named the recipient of the prestigious U.S. Senate Productivity Award. The award honors role model organizations for successfully implementing systematic processes for continuous improvement and achieving outstanding results.

Award recipients are evaluated rigorously by an independent board of examiners using the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence, which measures an organization in seven areas: leadership; strategic planning; customer and market focus; measurement, analysis and knowledge management; workforce focus; process management; and results.

HCC employs a multi-step process to select, align, collect and integrate information — including evidence of student learning — to track daily operations and overall organizational performance. The college ranks above its peer group in indicators such as registered nurse licensure, employer training, and satisfaction of students and employees; it also ranks high among its peers with a 50.1% four-year transfer rate.

“Howard Community College has a long history of using outcome measures to improve performance in the classroom,” said Dr. Patrick Huddie, chair of the college’s board of trustees. “The culture of the college says: ‘The quest for excellence is never complete; you always try to improve.’ That is the hallmark of a great institution.”

Grace Announces Settlement of Asbestos Personal Injury Claims

The agreement, reached with the Official Committee of Asbestos Personal Injury Claimants, the Future Claimants Representative and the Official Committee of Equity Security Holders, requires various assets to be paid into a trust to be established under Section 524(g) of the United States Bankruptcy Code.

They include cash in the amount of $250 million; warrants to acquire 10 million shares of Grace common stock at an exercise price of $17 per share, expiring one year from the effective date of a plan of reorganization; rights to proceeds under Grace’s asbestos-related insurance coverage; and other considerations.

Grace Chairman, President and CEO Fred Festa addressed the corporation’s financial concerns. “Also, I want to point out that the Plan of Reorganization will preserve all employee benefits. During the seven years we have been in Chapter 11, our people have nearly doubled Grace’s sales and dramatically improved the core businesses. We look forward to final approval of our Plan of Reorganization when we can once again operate without the constraints of Chapter 11,” he said.

Traxion Therapeutics Receives TEDCO Grant
Traxion Therapeutics, a bwtech@UMBC Incubator company, has received $74,018 in grants from the Maryland Technology Development Corp. (TEDCO), a state source of funding for seed capital and entrepreneurial business assistance. The award, from TEDCO’s Maryland Technology Transfer Fund (MTTF), will help finance the young company’s development of new medications to treat neuropathic pain.
Columbia-based MedStar Health and Rite Aid Corp. have entered into an agreement to launch MedStar PromptCare walk-in health clinics inside select Rite Aid stores. The clinic sites will open this summer at four locations in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C., metropolitan areas.

Currently, Traxion is working with pain researchers at the University of Maryland Dental School to assess the viability of its lead product, TXT-0200. Neuropathic pain afflicts more than 10 million Americans. Sales of prescription drugs for neuropathic pain are increasing at roughly 7% each year.

MedStar, Rite Aid Announce an Agreement to Launch Health Clinics

Under the agreement, MedStar Health will provide clinical oversight and ensure access to necessary follow-up specialty and acute medical services for the clinics. This partnership will provide patients with convenient, high-quality medical care, without an appointment, that is integrated with MedStar Health-affiliated physicians and hospitals.

MedStar PromptCare physicians will be credentialed by and have admitting privileges to MedStar Health’s hospitals, including Georgetown University Hospital and Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C.; Montgomery General Hospital; and Franklin Square Hospital Center, Good Samaritan Hospital, Harbor Hospital and Union Memorial Hospital, which are all located in Baltimore. Patients will be able to pay with cash, credit card or, for most major health insurance plans, their insurance co-pay.

Ulman Pleased With Unanimous, Bi-Partisan Support for Healthy Howard Bill
Howard County Executive Ken Ulman has announced that House Bill 872, cross-filed as Senate Bill 852, which created a regulatory framework for the establishment and operation of a public/private health care program, was passed unanimously by both the Maryland Senate and the House of Delegates.

The legislation, sponsored by Howard County Delegate Shane Pendergrass and Sen. Ed Kasemeyer, allows Howard County Government to work with Healthy Howard Inc., a nonprofit, to bring affordable access to health care to as many as 2,000 uninsured residents in its first year of service.

This bill establishes what a “public private health care program” is: a program operated and established by a nonprofit corporation that is certified by the Maryland Insurance Commissioner and has entered into a written agreement with each county in which the program has proposed to operate, and provides or arranges for health care services for participants for a fee.

The Healthy Howard Plan will offer primary care services, deeply discounted prescription drugs, in- and out-patient hospital care, and specialty care services. To qualify, Howard County residents must make 300% of the poverty level or below, have been uninsured for one year and have legally resided in the county for one year. The enrollment goal for the first year of the program is 2,000 participants.

Constellation Energy Named to the BusinessWeek 50 Ranking of Top Performing Companies
Constellation Energy has been named to the BusinessWeek 50 annual ranking of the best performing companies for the second consecutive year. Constellation Energy is ranked No. 39 on the list, which can be found in the April 7 issue of BusinessWeek magazine.

The list is composed of the “overachievers” from each of the 10 sectors that make up the Standard & Poor’s 500 and ranks the companies through a proprietary screening process, with an emphasis on return on investment and sales growth over the past three years. In 2007, Constellation Energy generated $21.2 billion in revenues and grew adjusted earnings by 27%.

According to BusinessWeek, management vision that spurns conventional wisdom is one trait that many companies on the list had in common. Based on a three-year measurement period, BusinessWeek also indicated that the Class of 2008 is among the most global groups of companies since it first published its rankings in 1997.

Maryland, Seven Other States Split AEP Settlement Funds
Attorney General Doug Gansler has announced that Maryland and seven other states will divide $24 million to be used for energy efficiency and air pollution reduction projects as a result of a federal Clean Air Act settlement with American Electric Power (AEP), the nation’s largest power company.

Each state will establish a process for determining how its share of the project money will be distributed. Potential projects include supporting the construction of “green” buildings, installing solar and other renewable energy systems, purchasing pollution control technologies, and investing in energy efficiency and conservation programs.

In October 2007, a coalition of states and environmental groups, led by New York, and the federal government reached a settlement with AEP over Clean Air Act violations. As a part of the settlement, AEP is required to pay the eight states a total of $24 million over the next five years to fund energy efficiency and air pollution reduction projects.

The states have agreed to allocate the funds in the following manner: Connecticut ($1.8 million), Maryland ($1.2 million), Massachusetts ($3.1 million), New Hampshire ($1.2 million), New Jersey ($4.2 million), New York ($9.5 million), Rhode Island ($1.2 million) and Vermont ($1.8 million).

Grace to Retain Medical Program for Montana Town
W.R. Grace & Co. plans to retain the medical program it established in 2000 to assist local residents with medical needs resulting from their exposure to asbestos from the former Grace mine located near the town of Libby, Mont.

“In talking to people in Montana last night, there seemed to be confusion about our medical program,” said William Corcoran, Grace vice president. “When we saw some of the comments in the press today, we were surprised. We have made it clear for many years that we intend to sustain the health care program when we emerge from Chapter 11 just as we did when we went into bankruptcy.”

The Libby Medical Program has been in effect since 2000. More than 800 people are currently enrolled in it and receive health care and prescription drug coverage. Since 2000, Grace has spent more than $14 million on the program.

In addition, Grace is making an additional annual contribution of $250,000 to St. John’s Lutheran Hospital in Libby. Since 2000, Grace has donated more than $2 million to St. John’s to support its work on this important issue.

RLTV’s Web Site Named Among 10 Best for Boomers by PC Magazine.com
Retirement Living TV (RLTV), the first cable network created for people age 55 and older, has announced that its web site, www.rl.tv, has been named among the 10 best sites for boomers by PCMagazine.com, along with other sites like www.aarp.org, www.boomertowne.org and www.IRememberJFK.com.

The site was selected because of its expansive collection of health information and tips, discussion boards and an extensive video library. According to eMarketer.com, the number of American boomers who use the Internet at least once a month will grow by more than 4 million, rising from 59.4 million in 2007 to 63.7 million in 2011.

“It is a common misconception and blatant stereotype that boomers and seniors don’t embrace technology,” said Michael Balabon, vice president of new media for RLTV. “There are 78 million baby boomers in the U.S. and they are poised to reap the benefits that the knowledge and usage of technology offers.”

Martek Announces Final Judgment and Order of Dismissal in Class Action
Martek Biosciences Corp., of Columbia, has announced that the United States District Court for the District of Maryland has entered a Final Judgment and Order of Dismissal approving the settlement of the consolidated class action brought on behalf of certain purchasers of Martek common stock.

That class action was brought under the federal securities laws and arose out of allegations, among other things, of violations of Section 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The settlement of the class action calls for a cash payment of $6 million into a settlement fund, all of which has been paid by the company’s insurer.

Commission on Disability Issues Seeks Nominees for Annual Awards
The Howard County Commission on Disability Issues has announced that nomination forms are now available for its 2008 awards program. Awards are given annually to recognize outstanding efforts in advancing full participation in community life for all citizens, promoting both the spirit and intent of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and achieving independence through pursuing personal goals while living with a disability.

The categories for nominations include: Employer; Service Provider; Access — Universal Design; Access — Community; Individual Achievement — Adult; Individual Achievement — Youth; and Educator. The deadline for nominations is Thursday, July 31.

Nominees may be a business, a corporation, a building or any place of public accommodation, an individual or agency providing exceptional services, or an individual who has positively influenced others with disabilities. They must live, work or provide services in Howard County.

For details about the award categories or to download a nomination form, call 410-313-6402 or visit Howard County government’s web site and the Disability Services page at http://www.howardcountymd.gov/DS/. Winners will be recognized at the annual celebration on Thursday, Oct. 2, at 6:30 p.m. in the Banneker Room of the George Howard Building.

Electronic Recycling Event Set for Earth Day, April 22
Area residents and businesses are invited to a free Earth Day event to drop off their used electronic items for recycling on Tuesday, April 22, on Dobbin Road (in the MVA Express parking lot) in Columbia between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Any computers that are still workable will have the memory wiped and will be restored for distribution to worthy causes. Computers and other electronic equipment can contain lead, mercury, cadmium and other toxic materials, while some electronics may also contain valuable metals such as gold, silver and palladium. Contact event sponsor Cindi Arnold with questions at 410-715-3284 or cindi@thegreenrea