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January 28, 2021

The Talbot Spy

The nonprofit e-newspaper for the Talbot County Community

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Commerce Commerce Homepage

Qlarant Names Stuart Harlow as Chief Financial Officer

January 22, 2021 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Qlarant CEO Dr. Ron Forsythe, Jr. announced the addition of Mr. Stuart “Stu” Harlow to the management team. Mr. Harlow will assume the position of Chief Financial Officer of the company beginning January 19, 2021. Qlarant is a national leader in quality improvement, program integrity, and technology solutions. Since 1973, Qlarant has been improving the performance of some of the nation’s most important programs.

Stuart “Stu” Harlow

“We are pleased to have Stu join us,” said Dr. Forsythe. “He brings to us a proven track record in strategic planning, plus extensive experience in many aspects of financial operations, communications, and leadership.

Mr. Harlow has extensive experience in both domestic and international operations along with a holistic understanding of business and finance in the information, technology, engineering, and manufacturing sectors. Prior to joining Qlarant, he was the Senior Director of Finance for BAE Systems, Ship Repair Business, reporting to the CFO of BAE Systems Inc. Mr. Harlow worked as part of a team of 60 finance and accounting professionals transitioning from a legacy cost-plus business to a competitive firm fixed-price across four Navy homeport locations. Before that, Mr. Harlow was the Senior Director, Independent Cost Evaluation for BAE and was accountable for identifying key risks to the $10 billion portfolio.  He was also responsible for reviewing new business results across three sectors.

“Stu has served in progressively more responsible financial roles at BAE Systems over the past 16-plus years,” added Dr. Forsythe. “Prior to that he honed his skills with Lockheed Martin for nine years in several different finance positions.”

“I like to think that I have a proven record of accomplishment for seeing the big picture and acting as a catalyst for change.  It’s important to balance the requirements needed to deliver the expected results for the short term, while keeping a sharp focus on the future,” said Harlow.

“I like to think about strategy when developing a business plan,” continues Mr. Harlow “When I think about Qlarant, I think about federal and state sectors and the potential for developing technology products matched with the company’s extensive expertise. Right now there are multiple areas where Qlarant can grow in this space. A strong strategic filter with a tactical game plan for handling growth presents a great opportunity.” Harlow has demonstrated the ability to create business strategies—enabling growth and shareholder returns in a global, multisite business environment. He has been responsible for creating new business strategies in Army, Navy, Marine, Air force, commercial, and international markets.

“I have always worked for organizations with a purpose or mission which helps others,” said Harlow. “I am excited to join the team and work with the various business sectors, senior staff, and contributors to the business. I hope to continue building upon the reputation the company has built over almost 50 years and expand the portfolio to shape the Qlarant of the future.”

Mr. Harlow earned a Masters of Business Administration from New Hampshire College, New Hampshire and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Information Systems from Radford University, Virginia. He also served as a commissioned officer in the Virginia Army National Guard.

Filed Under: Commerce Homepage

An Angel in Easton: Washingtonian Magazine Looks at the Prager Phenomenon

January 15, 2021 by The Spy Leave a Comment

Perhaps one of the best gifts to a community is when an outside news source can bring a new perspective on sometimes controversial issues or trends taking place.

One of those trends taking place in every Spy market on the Mid-Shore is the appearance of “angels” in these small towns with not only a vision to rescue its struggling downtowns but access to capital to implement those plans.

To many residents in these communities, there is a sense of gratitude that their town is worthy of such remarkable investments. On the other hand, as Easton knows well, some challenges come with these engaged, strong-willed stakeholders who don’t hesitate to use their legitimate say on issues impacting a town’s look and culture.

The Washingtonian in its January issue provides a unique take on Easton’s number one fan and benefactor, Paul Prager, and his Talbot County hospitality projects.

Read the full article here.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Commerce Homepage

Talbot Merchant Gift Card Case Study: Sprout

December 22, 2020 by Spy Agent 8 -- 00 Section

What better way to support local small businesses than with gift cards?

That’s what Emily and Ryan Groll thought the other day. Rather than giving money or gifts to the Sprout staff for the holidays, they decided that their business, Sprout, would purchase thousands of dollars worth of gift cards from local businesses in the hospitality sector in Talbot County. And those cards would be given away as part of a Sprout staff Zoom auction.

Ryan notes that “a little Jeopardy mixed in and an exciting ‘seek and show’ for additional prizes” is perfect in having fun and supporting the hard-hit community businesses all the same time.

What is your business doing this year to help with COVID support? Let us know, and we’ll share on the Talbot and our Facebook page. Send your story to talbot@spycommunitymedia.org.

Gift cards can be purchased here.

 

Filed Under: Commerce Homepage

Lickety-split: Easton Utilities Increases Internet Speeds at No Charge

December 18, 2020 by Spy Desk

Easton Velocity, a service of Easton Utilities, recently completed the system-wide upgrade to enhance the infrastructure that delivers high-speed internet and cable television. The most notable result of this undertaking is the recent speed increase at no additional cost, which was automatically delivered to all internet customers during a testing period in early December.

“The constantly growing demand for bandwidth, speed and seamless connectivity continues to increase and we are proud the enhanced system will meet the needs of our customers,” stated Ted L. Book, Director of Easton Velocity.

In addition to the technical benefits the upgrade delivers, the extensive fiber optic network enables the option to provide gigabit capacity to any interested customer. More importantly, Easton Velocity has elected to increase internet speeds for all customers at no additional cost.

 

The upgrades are automatic; however, those wishing to change to a new tier will need to contact Customer Service at 410-822-6110.

“Offering enhanced speeds without changing the pricing structure is a reflection of our commitment to our customers,” added Book. “There is a wide range of needs amongst customers depending on lifestyle, now more than ever with remote working or virtual learning, as well as the number of people/devices in the home.”

 

The $12 million upgrade provides improved reliability across the entire system along with the ability to offer increased speeds, now including Gigabit. Construction for this project began in September 2018 and stayed on schedule following the initial estimate of a two-year span for completion. “Our crews’ commitment to the success of this project combined with how amicable our customers are, made for an ideal outcome,” said Book.

Easton Velocity, a service of Easton Utilities, is committed to keeping our community connected and current with a variety of service offerings designed to meet the needs of both residential and commercial customers. Easton Utilities is a community-owned, not-for-profit utility and telecommunications company operating the Electric, Natural Gas, Water, Wastewater, Cable Television, and Internet services for the Town of Easton and portions of the surrounding area. Please visit www.eastonvelocity.com or call 410-822-6110 to learn more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Commerce Homepage

Chesapeake Bank & Trust Welcomes New CEO Bob Altieri

December 12, 2020 by Spy Desk

Bob Altieri

Tot Strong, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Chesapeake Bank & Trust Company, today announced that the Company has hired Bob Altieri as President and CEO of both the Bank and its holding company, Chesapeake Bancorp. He will replace Glenn L. Wilson, who is retiring after serving the Bank for nearly 6 years as President and CEO.

“We are pleased to welcome Bob to our organization,” said Mr. Strong. “His experience with and enthusiasm for Maryland community banking makes him an excellent fit for Chesapeake. We are looking forward to introducing him to our clients and community.” Mr. Altieri will officially join the Bank on December 14, 2020.

Mr. Altieri obtained his B.A. in Finance from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and shortly thereafter entered the banking industry. He spent over two decades of his early career at Carrollton Bank in Baltimore, Maryland, initially as Senior Vice President of Lending, where he was tasked with building the commercial lending department. Mr. Altieri was then promoted to President and CEO of Carrollton Bancorp and Carrollton Bank, a $370 million publicly traded community bank with eleven locations across the Baltimore metropolitan area. After successfully implementing several strategic initiatives during his 13 years as President and CEO at Carrollton, he joined Howard Bank as Executive Vice President and President of Mortgage Division in May 2013, where he built a mortgage division to support the rapid growth of the Bank.

Mr. Altieri commented: “I want to congratulate Glenn for his work and dedication over the past 6 years and wish him well in retirement. I am humbled to be selected to continue the storied history of CB&T and look forward to working with our excellent staff and Board to carry on providing the community of Chestertown and Kent County with the best banking products and services available in the marketplace.”

About Chesapeake Bank and Trust

Chesapeake Bank and Trust is a full-service community bank, locally-owned and directed by area business and community leaders. The Bank is committed to providing area residents and business owners a broad range of financial products and an unparalleled level of individual service. Chesapeake Bank and Trust’s main branch is located at 245 High Street, Chestertown, Maryland 21620.

For more information, contact Chesapeake Bank and Trust at 410-778-1600, or e-mail Bob Altieri directly at baltieri@chesapeaketrust.com.

Filed Under: Commerce Homepage Tagged With: commerce, local news

Last Chance to Apply as Talbot County Allocates More Funds for CARES Grants

December 5, 2020 by Spy Desk

Those businesses and nonprofit organizations that have not already received a grant of up to $10,000 from the Talbot CARES Emergency Relief Small Business Grant program have one last chance to apply.

“Talbot County has reinvested more than $1.1 million of its CARES funding into the business community,” Cassandra Vanhooser, director of the Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism, said in a statement. “With the files we currently have under review, we are on track to distribute the entire $1.2 million allocated for small businesses by the first week of December.”

By law, funds from the CARES Act must be distributed by Dec. 31. Unused funds must be returned to the State of Maryland.

When county officials recently tallied receipts, they realized that not all of the money would be spent by the deadline. Vanhooser advocated for some of the money to be transferred into the grant program for small businesses.

Additional Grant Funding Available

“I get calls almost every day from business owners asking for assistance, and I was having to tell people that our money had been distributed,” Vanhooser said. “Thankfully, we were fortunate enough to receive an additional $250,000 of the money the county received from the CARES Act.”

Any business or nonprofit with less than 50 employees that hasn’t yet received a grant and can show a 25% loss of revenue caused by COVID-19 is eligible to apply. But the clock is ticking.

If you are planning to apply, you must act quickly. The department began accepting new submissions online Nov. 30. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until 5 p.m. Dec. 11. Every file is dated and time stamped and will be considered in the order received.

The requirements are fairly straightforward, Vanhooser said. But it is absolutely essential that anyone who plans to apply have complete financial documents ready before they apply.

Application Requirements

Businesses must be in good standing with the State of Maryland, and they must not owe any taxes. In addition, businesses must submit the following:

• a completed application;

• comparative monthly profit and loss statement for 2019 and 2020;

• most recent business tax returns; and

• a signed W-9 IRS Form

Grant recipients may use the money to offset business losses caused by the pandemic. Qualifying expenditures include rent or mortgage payments, utilities, inventory, personal protective equipment, enhanced cleaning protocols, and upgrades designed to limit person-to-person contact. Each business that receives a grant must also submit a final report detailing how it spent the funds.

“This money has an expiration date,” County Council President Corey Pack said in a statement. “Talbot County has until Dec. 30 to disperse the remainder of the CARES funding. We encourage any business that still needs assistance and has not yet applied to get their application in as soon as possible.”

The Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism and the Talbot County Finance Office together are administering the program. An online application form can be found at TalbotWorks.org, along with information about other business resources. For more information, call 410-770-8000.

Filed Under: Commerce Homepage, COVID-19 Tagged With: businesses, CARES Act, coronavirus, Covid-19, grants, small business, Talbot County

Mid-Shore Commerce: David LaMotte on a Lifetime Career at LaMotte Chemical

December 2, 2020 by Dave Wheelan

The Spy “Exit Interview” series is part journalism and part oral history. Over the last eleven years, the Chestertown Spy has interviewed dozen of local leaders at the moment of their retirement to reflect on their work and some of the challenges they have faced in their professional careers and the nonprofit organizations they have helped as trustees.

David H. LaMotte is our subject for this installment. We asked David to reflect on his lifetime career at LaMotte Chemical and how this modest family business started by his grandfather, had relocated from Baltimore in 1956. Under his guidance as president, he grew into a mature, growing company with over 200 employees.

A few months ago, a significant end of an era in Chestertown commerce went mostly unnoticed for most of the community. After a lifetime working at LaMotte Chemical, David LaMotte discreetly stepped down as president of the Kent County-based chemical testing company, which he had led after Arthur H. Thomas Company purchased the business, in 1986.

In his Spy interview, David reflects on how this family enterprise grew, decided to sell the company, and the excitement of leading a team to expand their products and services on an international scale, all from their modest headquarters at the corner of Washington Street and Morgnec Road.

This video is approximately ten minutes in length. 

 

Filed Under: Commerce Homepage

Commerce and COVID: A Chat with the Dorchester Chamber’s Bill Christopher

November 30, 2020 by Dave Wheelan

For the record, the Dorchester Chamber of Commerce’s Bill Christopher considers himself a “return here.” After born and raised in Cambridge, Bill left town to attend Swathmore College in Vermont and then thirty-five years as a healthcare executive.

It was never his intention to be away for so long. Still, after he and his wife decided to move back to Dorchester in 2015, he found that his years off the Shore gave him a unique perspective on how things have changed, mostly for the better in his opinion, in his native Cambridge.

In fact, by the end of 2019, Dorchester was “cooking with gas” economically. Businesses were thriving, tourism was up, and downtown Cambridge was reaping the benefits of new entrepreneurs opening up unique stores and restaurateurs. It all looked like everything was heading in the right direction until a world pandemic came along.

The COVID crisis is clearly not over, and Dorchester County, like the rest of the country, will need to endure its severe health and economic consequences for at least four to six months longer. Still, as Bill noted in his Spy interview a few weeks ago, things are looking pretty good. While none has been spared, and there remains a lot of financial pain in downtown Cambridge, and throughout the county, there remains a momentum in the region that has withstood this severe blow.

And that is a reason he sees the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel now and five years down the road.

This video is approximately six minutes in length. For more information about the Dorchester Chamber of Commerce, please go here.

Filed Under: Commerce Homepage

Giving Back to First Responders

November 28, 2020 by Spy Desk

Eastern Shore Title Bookkeeping and Operations Manager Pam Sard, front, presents gift certificates for free breakfast sandwiches at Breakfast at Easton to Talbot County’s first responders, as represented in the back, from left: Easton Volunteer Fire Department Chief Sonny Jones; Talbot County Emergency Services Acting Captain Matt Wilkins; Talbot County Emergency Services Deputy Director Brian LaCates; Easton Police Department Chief David A. Spencer; Easton Police Department Corporal Allen Orrison; and Easton Police Department Patrolman Andy Bauer.

Monnen Technology, Edward Jones Investments Financial Advisor Amanda David, Eastern Shore Title Company, Lane Engineering, Weaver, Mavity, Short Associates, and Phil Lasker have recently joined Breakfast in Easton owner and Chef Stephen Mangasarian to honor Talbot County’s first responders. All businesses are local to Talbot County, with Lasker supporting the outreach in honor of his son P J Lasker.

The groups were able to provide breakfast sandwiches to first responders, who were able to call in their orders for take-out to maintain social distancing.

Volunteers and officers from Easton Police Department, Easton VFD, Talbot County Sheriff’s Office, Talbot County EMT, and Maryland State Police/Easton Barracks were provided coupons for free breakfast sandwiches as a token of appreciation from the businesses for their dedication to public safety, especially in times of our greatest need.

“We wanted to be sure their efforts and sacrifices do not go unnoticed,” said Monnen Technology President Eric Monnen, who brainstormed the idea to give back to Talbot County’s first responders while meeting with other business leaders in October.

“Every person we spoke to about this idea immediately asked how they could participate,” said Weaver, Mavity, Short Associates Partner David Short. “We’re grateful for our first responders and wanted them to know how much we appreciate and value their service.”

“We’re especially grateful for their services during this season of giving,” said Eastern Shore Title Company Bookkeeping and Operations Manager Pam Sard. “It’s nice to give back in a meaningful way, and within COVID safety protocols.”

Other businesses and individuals wishing to purchase breakfast gift certificates from Breakfast in Easton can reach out Eric Monnen at his Easton office by calling 410-770-8885.

Filed Under: Commerce Homepage

SCORE of the Mid-Shore Profiles: Ed French

October 21, 2020 by The Spy

While the volunteer organization, SCORE, has been around since 1964, carrying on its mission is to foster vibrant small business communities through mentoring and education. Even today, it remains one of the best-kept secrets in starting and growing businesses.

While not intentional, SCORE, with its hundreds of highly successful former business executives and entrepreneurs as volunteer consultants, has always been remarkably humble in talking about their amazing track record in helping thousands of new companies prosper.

That traditional culture of modesty, however, is slowly changing for the organization. With growing awareness of the number of underserved future business owners and the sad reality of a high percentage of failures, SCORE is now more eager than ever to share its success stories and its volunteer mentors’ outstanding qualifications.

One example is Ed French, who now calls the small town of Secretary in Dorchester County his home base.

With a lifetime history of creating numerous start-ups, business expansions, and operations, including partnerships, not-for-profit, and investor-owned companies, Ed decided to commit his volunteer work to help mentor new businesses.

Exceedingly well qualified, including managing businesses with 24,00o employees and over $3 billion in net revenue, French could easily command thousands of dollars a day as a paid consultant.

Instead, he decided to become the volunteer assistant director of SCORE on the Eastern Shore, taking on pro bono clients ranging from small nonprofits on the Mid-Shore to from throughout U.S. and Australia, China, Egypt, Kurdistan, Spain, and the UAE.

The Spy spent some time with Ed via Zoom last week to talk about his passion for his work and his observations about the challenges facing new entrepreneurs.

This video is approximately six minutes in length. For more information about SCORE of the Mid-Shore please go here.

Filed Under: Commerce Homepage, SCORE

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