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February 5, 2023

The Talbot Spy

The nonprofit e-newspaper for the Talbot County Community

Commerce

Let’s Talk Business Speaker Series Begins Feb. 6

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Dan North

The Talbot County Economic Development and Tourism office in partnership with the Talbot County Free Library in Easton is hosting a three-part spring speaker series beginning on Monday, February 6 at 6 p.m. The series continues March 6 and April 3, and is free and open to the public, with limited seating available.

“Talbot County is home to many people who are considered experts in their industries,” says Cassandra Vanhooser, director of Talbot County Economic Development and Tourism. “We have created a guest speaker series to showcase this homegrown talent and to connect these resources with our business and community leaders.”

On Monday, February 6, St. Michaels native Dan North, Allianz Trade Chief Economist for North America, will share 2023’s outlook. Allianz Trade is the world’s oldest and largest credit insurance company, where North has spent the last 27 years using macroeconomic and quantitative analysis to help manage Allianz Trade’s risk portfolio of more than $250 billion in annual trade transactions within the region.

Dan North has been with Allianz Trade North America since 1996, using macroeconomic analysis to help manage Euler’s risk portfolio of more than $150 billion in annual U.S. trade transactions. He has appeared on CNBC, Fox Business News, and Bloomberg Radio and Television. He has been quoted by Business Week, the Financial Times, NBC, the BBC, the New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal. After having predicted the 2008/2009 recession and its implications accurately, he was ranked 4th on Bloomberg’s list of the 65 top economic forecasters in 2010.Mr. North holds an MBA from the Wharton School of Business.

On Monday, March 6, University of Maryland Shore Regional Health President and CEO Ken Kozel, MBA, FACHE, will speak about proposed plans for a new regional medical center at a site near the Talbot County Community Center. Kozel will provide information and updates regarding the proposed project specifications, planned core programs and specialty centers, project timeline, and more.

Ken Kozel

Kozel has served as UM Shore Regional Health President and CEO since 2011 and is recognized as a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. He is a proven leader with an extensive background in building and managing collaborative teams, overseeing multiple clinical and non-clinical divisions and departments, and achieving strategic objectives. Kozel was recently named to The Daily Record’s Power 100 List featuring the state’s top business leaders.

On Monday, April 3 at 6 p.m., former Perdue Agribusiness President for Perdue Farms and Grain Marketing Consultant Dick Willey will speak about how the war in the Ukraine is affecting grain markets and business outcomes.

Dick Willey

Willey led Perdue’s agricultural commodities businesses in growing from primarily supplying the internal needs of Perdue’s poultry feed mills to a multi-faceted business ranking among the top 10 U.S. grain companies. He has served on the National Oilseed Processors Association Board of Directors, the National Grain and Feed Association’s Strategic Direction Committee, and the Grain Elevator and Processing Society Grain Company Executive Advisory Council.

For those unable to attend, the “Let’s Talk Business” speaker series will be videotaped and shared on Talbot County Economic Development and Tourism’s YouTube channel.

The Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism’s mission is to enhance and promote a business-friendly environment for current and prospective enterprises and to advocate for policies that support and strengthen the economic vitality of Talbot County. The department’s vision for Talbot County is built on the principles of strong communities, empowered businesses, and innovative solutions.

Business owners and managers are encouraged to attend all sessions of the speaker series and to subscribe to the Department of Economic Development and Tourism’s Talbot Works newsletter and breaking news at www.talbotworks.org. The department can also be reached at 410-770-8058 or by visiting their office at 11. S. Harrison Street, Easton, Md.

FY24 Maryland Heritage Area Authority Grant Round Now Open

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Do you have a heritage tourism related project in mind for your organization?

Perhaps you are planning to restore a historic building, create a new museum exhibit, build a visitor center, develop a walking tour mobile application, or undertake some other project that showcases Maryland’s unique historical, cultural, or natural resources.  Will the project take place in a certified heritage area?

With over $5 million in grant funds available, a Maryland Heritage Areas project grant may be the funding source for you!

Important Dates

Intent to Apply Deadline – Jan. 2023

Application Deadline – March 6, 2023

Grants Awarded      – July 2023

MHAA Grant Program Basics

MHAA provides dollar-for-dollar matching grants for capital and non-capital projects located within Maryland’s 13 certified heritage areas.  Non-profit organizations, local jurisdictions, state agencies, and federal agencies are all eligible to apply.

Non-capital MHAA grants are awarded for up to $50,000 per project, while capital MHAA grants are awarded for up to $100,000 per project.

Match Policy

Applicants may propose any combination of cash and in-kind match.  This means a project might be matched entirely by volunteer time spent on the project if that makes sense for the application budget.  Read more about this and the entire application process in MHAA’s FY 2024 Guidelines

Webinars and Virtual “Office Hours”

Learn more about the opportunity by attending a live webinar, watching a recording of a webinar, or calling into MHAA staff’s virtual “office hours” to talk with about your project!

Want to learn more?  Watch the virtual webinar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMcC84ixKDw

Click here to register for the workshops, to find the links to the Question and Answer Sessions, and access application documents.

https://mht.maryland.gov/heritageareas_partners.shtml.

Virtual Q&A Sessions

Mon, Jan 23 | 3-4 PM | via Google Meet or dial: +1 574-621-3704 PIN: 103 590 765#

Tue, Jan 31 | 10-11 AM | via Google Meet or dial: +1 929-299-3166 PIN: 257 026 949#

Fri, Feb 10 | 12-1 PM | via Google Meet or dial: +1 862-259-5973 PIN: 521 719 217#

Questions?

For more information about the application process, please refer to the webinars and to MHAA’s FY 2023 Guidelines.  These guidelines are updated each year to reflect policy changes.

Ken Kozel Named To The Daily Record’s “2022-2023 Power 100” List

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Ken Kozel, President and CEO of UM Shore Regional Health

Ken Kozel, MBA, FACHE, President and CEO of University of Maryland Shore Regional Health, has been included in The Daily Record’s 2022-2023 Power 100, a list of 100 men and women selected on the basis of their impact in shaping businesses, governments, nonprofits, law firms and other key institutions in Maryland. The 2022-23 list marks the second year that The Daily Record, a news outlet covering business, legal and government affairs in Maryland, has identified and recognized the top 100 people who play “an outsized role in the culture, lifestyle, civic conversation and economic fortunes in Maryland.”

The Power 100 list includes a summary of each individual’s role and accomplishments, along with a brief interview. Noting that he has been at the helm of UM Shore Regional Health since 2011, Kozel’s summary describes him as a “proven leader with an extensive background in building and managing collaborative teams, overseeing multiple clinical and non-clinical divisions and departments, and achieving strategic objectives.”

“On behalf of Shore Regional Health’s Board of Directors, I am so pleased to congratulate Ken Kozel on this well-deserved recognition,” said David Milligan, UM SRH Board Chair. “Under Ken’s leadership in the past decade-plus, our health care system has made phenomenal progress throughout our five-county region. We’ve dramatically expanded access to care by building several new facilities, including our medical pavilions in Cambridge, Denton, Easton and Queenstown; our freestanding emergency centers in Cambridge and Queenstown; the Clark Comprehensive Breast Center in Easton and Leh Women’s Center in Chestertown; and our urgent care centers in Denton, Easton and Kent Island. Additionally, we have established 22 Shore Medical Group practices employing more than 100 providers seeing patients throughout the region, and also achieved significant upgrades in our medical technology while strengthening our affiliation with University of Maryland Medical System to ensure that patients who need advanced, specialized treatment have access to world-class care. And now, we are moving forward with plans for a regional medical center, which Ken has shepherded since his early days with us.”

Kozel’s Power 100 summary quotes Kozel on the subject of mentors who assisted his career development and lessons he learned along the way. Citing the importance of building and maintaining relationships, he said, “So much about health care revolves around change. In order to effectively adapt, manage, anticipate and define change, you need to understand the subject matter, listen to your community, and work collaboratively with colleagues and partners to navigate change successfully.” Kozel also expressed his gratitude to his parents, who both worked in health care, and to CEOs, board chairs, physicians and other leaders who shared expertise and encouragement that supported his professional journey.

Mohan Suntha, MD, MBA, President and CEO of the University of Maryland Medical System, was also selected to the Daily Record’s Power 100 list.

About University of Maryland Shore Regional Health

As part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. UM Shore Regional Health’s team of more than 2,000 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is an academic private health system, focused on delivering compassionate, high quality care and putting discovery and innovation into practice at the bedside. Partnering with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore who educate the state’s future health care professionals, UMMS is an integrated network of care, delivering 25 percent of all hospital care in urban, suburban and rural communities across the state of Maryland. UMMS puts academic medicine within reach through primary and specialty care delivered at 11 hospitals, including the flagship University of Maryland Medical Center, the System’s anchor institution in downtown Baltimore, as well as through a network of University of Maryland Urgent Care centers and more than 150 other locations in 13 counties. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

Talbot County Business Resource Fair Scheduled for Jan. 21 in Easton

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Small business owners and entrepreneurs are encouraged to attend the Talbot County Business Resource Fair on Saturday, January 21 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Building African American Minds Athletic Center in Easton.

Participants at the free event will gain important knowledge and resources to help facilitate business start-ups and expansion. The featured speaker will be the Small Business Development Center’s Rich Loeffler with “How to Finance Your Small Business,” with registration beginning at 10 a.m.

The Resource Fair is presented by the Talbot County Department of Economic Development, and Tourism, Building African American Minds (BAAM), Talbot Mentors, Chesapeake Multicultural Resource Center, JACK Construction, and Naima Ventures, LLC.

Resource partners include the Small Business Development Center, Eastern Shore Entrepreneurship Center, Maryland Capital Enterprises, Talbot County Chamber of Commerce, TEDCO, and local banks and accounting firms.

“Being connected to resources helps businesses succeed, and we’re here to be the conduit for building these connections with local business owners and leaders,” said Talbot County Economic Development and Tourism Director Cassandra Vanhooser. “Participants will come away from this event knowing more about the programs and resources available to start and grow a business in Talbot County, including financing options for small businesses.”

Building African American Minds is helping host the event with the hope that minority business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs will feel welcome to attend and access the information.

“We’re grateful for the opportunity to host this event with so many of our partners,” said BAAM Executive Director Dina Daly. “Together we are providing business resources that are accessible to any individuals who want to start a business in Talbot County, including minority businesses.”

The Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism’s mission is to enhance and promote a business-friendly environment for current and prospective enterprises and to advocate for policies that support and strengthen the economic vitality of Talbot County. The department’s vision for Talbot County is built on the principles of strong communities, empowered businesses, and innovative solutions.

Business owners and managers are encouraged to receive the department’s Talbot Works newsletter and breaking business news by subscribing at www.talbotworks.org. The department can also be reached at 410-770-8058 or by visiting their office at 11. S. Harrison Street, Easton, Md.

Easton EDC Acquires Discover Easton Brand

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The Easton Economic Corporation announces its acquisition of the Discover Easton brand for marketing and promotional purposes. Discover Easton website, social media, and other assets will be used to promote businesses, events, and community engagement opportunities in the town of Easton, MD.

“This iconic, simple brand symbolizes Easton’s growth in a strong and powerful way,” remarked Holly DeKarske, Executive Director of Easton EDC. We are proud to represent the businesses and people in the greater Easton, MD area and look forward to working with all of our partners to socialize the logo and re-introduce our tourism brand to the greater region.”

Discover Easton’s assets include a highly recognizable logo, name, and strong association with the dynamic and growing small town in Talbot County, MD. Easton EDC has discontinued use of the Easton Downtown logo, website,  and the social media channels will be retired on January 31, 2023.

About Easton EDC: The Easton Economic Development Corporation was launched in 2013 to drive economic vitality, smart redevelopment, and business creation in the historic Town of Easton, Maryland to foster a healthy quality of life for all generations. The EEDC works to catalyze Greater Easton’s continued prosperity as a diverse and healthy “smart town,” leading innovation where the land and water meet.

Mid-Shore Pro Bono’s Easton Office Expands, Relocates

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Mid-Shore Pro Bono’s Easton office moved to a larger location on December 22, 2022. The new offices are located at 499 Idlewild Ave. and accommodate expanded free legal services for housing and family law. Mid-Shore Pro Bono had operated out of its 8 South West Street location for 10 years.

The Easton expansion comes in part due to the new tenant counsel legal services recently announced by Mid-Shore Pro Bono as part of Maryland’s new Access to Tenant Counsel law passed in 2021. Tenant counsel services are part of Mid-Shore Pro Bono’s housing justice program and include access to in-court representation for MSPB clients.

“This move follows our Salisbury office’s relocation and is another step in providing greater access to free legal help for people who otherwise wouldn’t have representation,” says Mid-Shore Pro Bono Executive Director Meredith Lathbury-Girard, Esq. “While we’ll miss the convenience of our West Street office’s in-town location, we are excited about our new space, especially its greater accessibility for all of our clients, staff, and volunteers.”

Photo: Mid-Shore Pro Bono staff members at the nonprofit’s newly expanded Easton location at 499 Idlewild Ave. From left: Legal Director Laura L. Chafey, Esq., Housing Case Manager Julia Jester, Administrative Director Cheryl Lee, Community Outreach and Communications Coordinator Edith Ramirez, and Staff Attorney Geoffrey Cook, Esq. 

Mid Shore Pro Bono Legal Director Laura Chafey, Esq., notes that “the number of clients contacting MSPB for legal help in the Mid Shore has increased over the last year. MSPB is expanding our space and our services to help meet the civil legal needs of individuals across our entire service area, including Talbot, Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties.”

Staff and attorney volunteers of Mid-Shore Pro Bono’s Easton location address civil legal matters including tenant counsel, family law matters such as divorce and custody, preparation of wills, financial power of attorney, advance medical directives, consumer debt and bankruptcy, and foreclosure.

Mid-Shore Pro Bono delivers a mission of helping Maryland’s Eastern Shore residents obtain access to legal representation through the support of donor and grant funding, with offices in Easton and Salisbury. New clients need to complete an intake form at www.midshoreprobono.org, or call the office at 410-690-8128.

Abbott Appointed to Bay Restoration Fund Advisory Committee

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Douglas R. Abbott

Governor Larry Hogan appointed Douglas R. Abbott to serve on the Bay Restoration Fund Advisory Committee for a four-year term. Abbott currently oversees the Water, Wastewater, and Engineering Departments for Easton Utilities and has over 40 years of experience in the industry. “I am honored to join this committee and look forward to serving the State of Maryland in this capacity,” stated Abbott.

Established in 2004, the Bay Restoration Fund provides funding for various environmental expenses including the costs of sewage disposal systems, Bay restoration fees, and upgraded technology at wastewater treatment facilities. To meet the financing needs of the Fund, the nineteen-member Committee annually recommends whether the assessed restoration fees are adequate for meeting Fund expenses in the following fiscal year. In addition, the Committee analyzes the cost of nutrient removal from wastewater treatment facilities; advises the Department of the Environment on components of an education, outreach, and upgrade program; and advises the Secretary of the Environment on the adoption of regulations.

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. Visit eastonutilities.com for more information.

Qlarant Celebrates 50 Years of Service in 2023

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Qlarant, Inc. is celebrating 50 years of service in 2023. The Easton, Maryland based company is a national leader in quality improvement, program integrity, and technology solutions for some of the nation’s most important health care programs.

Formed by a group of doctors in Wicomico County in 1973, the company was created in response to the federal government’s creation of Professional Standards Review Organizations to control exploding Medicare hospital costs through Utilization Review. The area program covered the Maryland counties on the Delmarva Peninsula, and established headquarters in Easton, Maryland as a central location. Today, Qlarant has offices across the country and employs over 500 associates.

Dr. Ron Forsythe, Jr.

“Our longevity is a testament to the dedication, creativity, and innovative spirit of our people,” said Dr. Ron Forsythe, Jr., CEO.

After 50 years of growth, the company now maintains federal and state contracts and provides service throughout the United States and its territories. The original, single line of service has expanded to cover quality improvement programs; investigation of fraud, waste, and abuse; oversight of programs serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and aging; and technology solutions combining artificial and human intelligence that improve processes and reduce risk. Along the way, the organization formed the Qlarant Foundation, which now provides an average of $350,000 annually in grants to organizations dedicated to improving the lives of underserved populations in Maryland and the District of Columbia.

Qlarant continues to respond to the ever changing environment by developing cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions designed to create efficiency and improve processes. More recently, the company formed Qlarant Capital to support the development of emerging companies and entrepreneurs.

Qlarant will celebrate the 50th anniversary throughout the year, marking its incorporation in April. A special logo highlights the anniversary and the company’s efforts as having the best people, providing the best solutions, and yielding the best results.

To learn more about Qlarant, visit www.qlarant.com

Applications Open for Food & Farm Accelerator Program: $20,000 in Cash Grants, 40 Businesses Statewide

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Applications are now open for Spring 2023 Cureate Courses, a free 10-week small business accelerator program for consumer packaged goods, beverages, and baked goods businesses.

Two businesses will have the chance to win a $5,000 cash prize. Businesses must be based in Anne Arundel County, Harford County & the Eastern Shore. A simple online application is open now: http://cureate.co/courses-md. Applications must be received by January 18.

In Spring 2023, the program focus will shift to small to mid-size specialty crop and grain farmers, prepared foods and catering businesses. Businesses based on the Eastern Shore, Harford County, Anne Arundel County and farms across Maryland will be eligible in the second session. As before, a $5,000 cash grant will be awarded to two businesses.

Cureate Courses is made possible by visionary leadership at the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), Baltimore Community Lending, and Cureate. The vision: to build a more resilient, local, diverse supplier network of food & beverage businesses throughout the state of Maryland, generating economic impact in every community. This innovative yearlong program is executed by Cureate, with the support of and in collaboration with Baltimore Community Lending, through a grant from the University of Maryland Medical System, funder of the program.

“We are excited to support the efforts of Cureate and Baltimore Community Lending as they launch this initiative focused on supporting small business entrepreneurs who are focused on building local food eco-systems in some of our most food and income insecure communities,” said Mohan Suntha, MD, MBA, President and Chief Executive Officer of UMMS. “A goal of our grant-making efforts is to directly support positive outcomes for individuals beyond the physical walls of our hospitals and serve as an engine to help drive economic and societal change in Maryland’s communities in which we are privileged to serve.”

“Baltimore Community Lending is pleased to support the development of startup and emerging entrepreneurs through this partnership. We look forward to being part of their journey as they gain the skills and connections to make their businesses more sustainable,” said Watchen Harris Bruce, President & CEO of Baltimore Community Lending.

Cureate Courses programming and leadership derives from Cureate. Cureate is a for profit, woman-owned small business building an empowered food & beverage supply to meet a changing consumer demand. Through small business development, food systems strategy, and local procurement programs, Cureate helps build interconnected, economically-vibrant communities. Visit www.cureate.co to learn more and bring Cureate to your neighborhood.

Town of Easton Hires Greg Mueller as Communications & PR Specialist

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Greg Mueller

The Town of Easton is excited to announce the appointment of Greg Mueller as Communications & Public Relations Specialist. Mueller will be the first to hold this role for the Town of Easton. The new position was designed to oversee Easton’s internal and external communications, social media management, and website development.

Easton’s Mayor Bob Willey remarked, “Easton is experiencing a time of extraordinary growth and dynamic interaction between our new businesses, state and local officials, community leaders, and citizens is critical. With Mueller leading our media and outreach strategy we will be more efficient in communicating our town’s activities to all stakeholders.”

Greg Mueller comes from APG Media of Chesapeake in Easton where he served as a Marketing Manager, Video Producer, and Visual Editor. Mueller led numerous initiatives for APG including the creation of Shore Magazine.

Mueller stated “Growing up in Easton, I have always known it was a special place, and I am excited to be able to give back. I look forward to being able to promote all of the hard work and progress this great town will make.” Mueller is a graduate of Saint Peter and Paul High School and Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama where he played Men’s Soccer and acquired a Bachelor’s Degree in Electronic Media.

To connect with the town of Easton, email Greg Mueller, gmueller@eastonmd.gov.

About Easton, MD: formally recognized in 1710 by the Province of Maryland, Easton is the county seat of Talbot County. Encompassing over 11 square miles including almost two dozen public parks and open spaces, the town has a growing population of over 17,000 residents. For more information please visit: eastonmd.gov.