June 24, 2008


IMAX Almost Ready at The Mall in Columbia
An IMAX theater will be operating at The Mall in Columbia by July 11, according to theater and mall managers. Construction began this week and is moving rapidly since AMC is converting an existing theater. The addition is part of a national joint-venture agreement between IMAX and AMC to install 100 IMAX digital projection systems at AMC locations in 33 major U.S. markets.
 
The AMC-IMAX agreement was made as U.S. box office sales reached $9.63 billion in 2007 after a 5.4% gain, according to the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). The average price of a movie ticket in the U.S. rose to $6.88, a 5% increase over 2006. “Going to a movie is still a very economical choice, even in this tight economy,” said MPAA spokesperson Angela Martinez.


St. John Fined in Civil Settlement Over Campaign Funds
Ed St. John, owner of Baltimore-based St. John Properties, has agreed to pay $55,000 in civil fines for making campaign contributions in excess of statutory limitations through third parties who were reimbursed for those contributions. The contributions were made during the summer and fall of 2006 by company vice presidents who were reimbursed through annual bonuses paid in February 2007.

According to the Maryland State Prosecutor’s Office, St. John will contribute an additional $55,000 to College Bound, a nonprofit organization that assists underprivileged children in Baltimore with college expenses. He has also agreed to disclose all of the contributions made by any of the St. John affiliated limited liability companies, 18 of which were formed between May 2005 and November 2005; public records did not associate these LLCs with St. John Properties.

State Prosecutor Robert Rohrbaugh acknowledged that the total contributions did not exceed amounts permitted by Maryland law. Nevertheless, he said, “the use of third parties … to disguise the true source of the contributions certainly violates the spirit of Maryland’s law, if not the letter of the law.”

A statement released by St. John’s attorney, William Murphy, indicates that St. John and his senior executives repaid the bonus amounts related to campaign activities when St. John became aware that reimbursements might be construed as violations of the Election Law.

“Mr. St. John and the companies have maintained detailed records of their campaign contributions, and have endeavored at all times to follow the complex requirements of the Maryland Election Law,” Murphy wrote. “[This] civil settlement reflects the ongoing commitment of Mr. St. John and the companies to comply with the law.”

Maryland Ranks Second in Tech and Science, Says Milken Institute
Maryland ranks second, after Massachusetts, in the Milken Institute’s “2008 State Technology and Science Index,” followed by Maryland, Colorado, California and Washington State.

Maryland moved up from fourth in 2004 in this year’s ranking, thanks to strong positions across the many indicators used by the institute. In particular, the report cited an improvement in the ability to attract business into the state and new projects that link research institutions with industry to produce the most advanced products.

Massachusetts, which just passed a $1 billion life sciences bill to invest in high tech infrastructure and research and development during the next 10 years, is in the best position of any state to achieve high-quality economic growth thanks to its vast array of technology and science assets, the study showed.

According to the report, regional competition for technology industries has increased since the last release of the index in 2004. Not only are states vying with each other for human capital and resources, but countries like China and India are increasing the competition on a global level.

“States that have a vision and a plan for building and retaining high-wage jobs and viable industries are finding ways to invest in their science and technology assets,” said Ross DeVol, director of regional economics at the Milken Institute and lead author of the study. “The changes in this year’s Index give a good measure of who is ahead in the increasing competition for scarce human capital and other resources needed for a successful industry.”

Enterprise Completes $36M Refinance for Affordable Housing Renovations
Enterprise Homes has completed a complex refinancing program for two of its affordable rental properties, Stevens Forest Apartments in Howard County and Cherrydale Apartments in Baltimore, which will undergo renovations as a result of the $36 million deal.

For the Stevens Forest Apartments in Columbia, the refinancing will support substantial rehabilitation of the 106 affordable rental units, including updates to mechanical systems and to kitchens and baths. Environmentally friendly features such as water conservation plumbing fixtures, Energy Star appliances, energy saving light fixtures and “green label” carpeting are key components of the project.

Financing for Stevens Forest came from the M&T Bank Affordable Housing Fund, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, Enterprise Green Communities and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Both developments will meet the Green Communities criteria and therefore provide cost efficiencies for the residents, as well as sustainable design.

“Preserving affordable housing is a vital component of Enterprise’s mission and the renovations to these developments ensure that [the involved families] will continue to have access to safe and affordable housing,” said Christine Madigan, senior vice president of Enterprise Homes.

Sourcefire Names Burris New CEO
Columbia-based Sourcefire, which creates software for the Enterprise Threat Management market, has elected John Burris as the company’s new CEO, effective July 14.

Burris, a member of the Sourcefire board since March 2008, currently serves as head of worldwide sales and services at Citrix Systems. Upon the completion of the transition, Burris will succeed Wayne Jackson as CEO and remain a member of Sourcefire’s board.

Mikulski, Cardin Announce Nearly $1M Grant for UMBC
Sens. Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin have announced that the National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded a $987,000 grant to UMBC for the Bridge to the Doctorate Program.

The funding will provide research and mentoring support to 12 students from underrepresented minority populations as they work towards doctoral degrees in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The students will each receive a $30,000 scholarship during a two-year span to study at UMBC’s partner institution, University of Maryland, College Park.

“The Bridge to the Doctorate program is a collaborative effort that will increase the number of minorities completing doctoral degrees in STEM education,” said Cardin. “The selection of the [University System of Maryland] by the NSF for this program is an investment in our nation’s future and a new opportunity for minority students to achieve their potential in scientific research.”

The program will boost the participation of African-Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans and Pacific Islanders in the STEM pipeline, U.S. workforce and abroad. A rigorous evaluation of the program will also add to the body of literature in the recruitment and retention of underrepresented minority students in STEM fields.

TEDCO Awards $400,000 From the University Technology Development Fund
The Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) has awarded eight university researchers in the state $400,000 total through its University Technology Development Fund (UTDF), including three from the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP) and one from UMBC.

The awardees at UMCP are Marcus Dagenais, professor of electrical and computer engineering, who received $50,000 to optimize an inexpensive laser that will improve optical fiber in home Internet connections; Douglas English, assistant professor in the department of chemistry and biochemistry, who received $50,000 to develop catanionic surfactant vesicles as transfection agents for small interfering RNA (siRNA); and Norman Wereley, professor of aerospace engineering, who received $50,000 to build a power harvesting magnetorheological vibration damper that will save energy.

At UMBC, Liang Zhu, associate professor in the department of mechanical engineering, received $50,000 to develop a cooling device to minimize ischemic brain injury due to loss of oxygen during open heart and neck surgical procedures.

The aim of the UTDF program is to help researchers develop and assess the viability of new technological inventions, test prototypes and optimize principle research designs. Since the program’s inception in 2001, 86 research projects have been funded with UTDF grants. To date, 71 of these projects have been completed and 30 have been licensed to private companies, 23 of which are located in Maryland.

Gansler Announces Sixth Conviction in Corruption Investigation at UMBC
 Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler has announced that a sixth individual has been convicted in the corruption investigation involving construction projects at UMBC.

Christopher J. Keehner, 39, of Oak Farm Court in Lutherville, was convicted in Baltimore County Circuit Court of conspiracy to steal $24,000 from UMBC. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 17.

Keehner, the president of D.S. Pipe & Supply Co. in Baltimore, pled guilty before the Hon. John Turnbull, II, for his role in the conspiracy to steal money in connection with a construction project at UMBC. Keehner engaged in an overbilling scheme and used the proceeds from the scheme to pay for personal benefits for himself, the temperature controls contractor, and George Alinsod, the UMBC construction manager who, according to Keehner, devised the overbilling plan.

The benefits shared by the conspirators included an all-expenses-paid golf vacation to Ireland, a four-day vacation at a resort in Atlantic City, N.J., trips to Las Vegas and cash.


BWFA Recognized in Fortune Feature
Baltimore-Washington Financial Advisors (BWFA) of Columbia was featured nationally in Fortune magazine’s special June issue on retirement. The publication profiled Mark Stinson, BWFA’s director of financial planning, as he led a local family through its financial portfolio and made suggestions on how to better diversify the portfolio and reduce its risk.

“To represent BWFA for this feature was a fun and unique experience,” said Stinson. “For a popular national publication like Fortune to select our firm speaks volumes about the work all of us put in for our clients here in our community. Little did I know that it would take six hours and 2,000 photos to get eight good pictures.”

DocPoint, Clearview Help Companies Benefit From Microsoft SharePoint
DocPoint Solutions, a new subsidiary of Fulton-based Quality Associates Inc., has entered into an agreement with Clearview Software, a provider of enterprise content management (ECM) solutions for Microsoft SharePoint.

Under the terms of the deal, DocPoint Solutions became the newest member of the Clearview Authorized Partner Network. The agreement gives DocPoint Solutions the ability to sell, implement and support the Clearview ECM Suite, a proven software platform used by organizations across the U.S. to maximize the full value and potential of SharePoint.

Impulse Monitoring and Emory-Adventist Hospital Sign IONM Services Agreement
Columbia-based Impulse Monitoring Inc. (IMI), a leading provider of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) services to hospitals, has signed a two-year exclusive agreement with Emory-Adventist Hospital in Smyrna, Ga.

IMI will provide Emory-Adventist with comprehensive IONM services including IMI-qualified neurophysiologists and real-time professional oversight by an experienced physician. IONM assesses neurological function involving the brain, spinal cord and related nerve structures during surgery. Use of IONM facilitates the surgical process and can reduce surgical risk by providing alerts to surgeons of potential harm to spinal cord or neural structure.

Support Hospice; (If You’re Lucky) Win a Car
Only at this year’s Taste & Auction of Howard County will participants have a chance to win one of three of 2008’s most popular vehicles: the Escape Hybrid, the Mustang Convertible or the limited edition Bullitt.

For only $25 per chance (or five for $100), raffle ticket buyers will help support Howard County programs of Gilchrist Hospice Care (formerly Hospice of Baltimore and Howard County) while having a chance to win a car.

The event runs from 5 to 9 p.m. at Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City on Oct. 19, where more than 20 of the county’s finest restaurants and caterers will show off their individual specialties. In addition, there will be extensive live and silent auctions. This year’s event, “Step Right Up for Hospice.” will feature a carnival theme.

All proceeds from raffle and event ticket sales will go to hospice-related services provided in Howard County by Gilchrist Hospice Care. Event tickets are $75 in advance or $85 at the door and can be purchased by calling 410-730-5072 or online at www.gilchristhospice.org.

Fourth of July Festivities Set for Lakefront
Howard County’s annual July 4th Festival and fireworks display will be held on Friday, July 4, beginning at 5 p.m. at the Columbia Lakefront in Town Center (the rain date for the fireworks only is Sunday, July 6).

“Earlier this year when the Kiwanis Club of Columbia announced it would be unable to sponsor the 4th of July celebration and fireworks, I promised the county would make sure the ‘show would go on,’” said County Executive Ken Ulman. “I want to thank the Kiwanis Club members and all of the volunteers who have spent so many years hosting Howard County’s 4th of July celebration.

“We’re quickly discovering just how much work it took and how many hours this volunteer organization put in to make the 4th of July celebration such a success,” said Ulman. “I want to thank Gary Arthur and the Department of Recreation & Parks’ staff for taking on this extra responsibility, all the other county agencies and the Columbia Association who are pitching in to help us get the job done this year.”

Go to 1700 AM on your radio dial for up-to-date traffic and parking information. To view the entire schedule, visit www.howardcountymd.gov. For more information, call Ella Carter at 410-313-1671.