Top 50 Frederick: 2017

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PUBLISHERS Shawn Dewees Joseph Silovich

MANAGING EDITOR Nancy Luse

PRODUCTION MANAGER Matthew Piersall

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Annie Ellis Matthew Piersall Supplement to Frederick Magazine

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Turner Photography Studio

FREDERICK COUNTY OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Helen Propheter, director Heather Gramm, assistant director Sandy Wagerman, business development analyst Britt Swartzlander, administrative specialist for ROOT

ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Linda Dove ldove@fredmag.com Leslie Lillo llillo@fredmag.com Jean Wright jwright@fredmag.com

DISTRIBUTOR Josh Ensor alloutdist@aol.com

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Telephone: 301.662.8171 | FAX: 301.662.8399

www.fredmag.com Letters to the editor: nluse@fredmag.com Top 50 Frederick is an annual publication of Diversions Publications, Inc., 6 N. East Street, Suite 301, Frederick, MD 21701-5601 (ISSN 006-923). Periodicals postage paid at Frederick, MD. Subscriptions to Frederick Magazine, $24.95 per year, which includes the Top 50 Frederick and all other annual guides (available through the business office). Back issues w/in the last 12 mo/$3.95. Prior to 12 mos. ago/$7. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Frederick Magazine, 6 N. East Street, Suite 301, Frederick, MD 21701-5601. Customer inquiries to same address or call 301-662-8171. Distributed through mail subscriptions, home delivery, and sold at newsstands and other locations in Frederick, Upper Montgomery counties, and throughout the Central Maryland region. Advertising rates available on request. Manuscripts, drawings, and other submissions must be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Frederick Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited material. All rights to submissions, including letters and e-mail, will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright purposes and as subject to Frederick Magazine’s unrestricted right to edit and to comment editorially, unless otherwise negotiated with the author. © DIVERSIONS PUBLICATIONS, INC. Printed on 2018. All contents of this publication are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced Recycled Paper in whole or in part for any reason without prior approval of the publisher.

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TABLE OF

16

Contents 8

It All Starts Here Frederick County is home to a number of businesses with their headquarters here.

16 Manufacturers Thrive in Frederick County The county boasts more than 175 manufacturing companies.

26 Forward Frederick County

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The Frederick County Office of Economic Development presents its 2017 annual report.

34 Making History A group of local businesses can point to a long tradition of providing jobs.

44 Profiles of Top 50 Frederick These are the companies that have the largest potential to contribute to the county’s vibrant economy.

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68 Tasty Frederick From dairy products to bagels, beer to chicken sandwiches, Frederick County businesses keep people happy.

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quarters in Frederick employing more than 350 staff locally and 4,500 across the country in more than 150 stores in 24 states. “We are very grateful for all of the loyal customers and the communities that have shopped with us over the years,” says Renier Fee, Music & Arts marketing director. “Sixty-five years is a pretty amazing milestone and not a lot of companies make it that far so it is pretty exciting and we are still growing.” The arts-based chain is just one of several large companies to have its home base here, a place where having business contacts nationally and even internationally is quite common. No doubt if ever there’s a colony on the moon, a Frederick County business will be part of it. The Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA) has had its corporate headquarters on Aviation Way at the Frederick Municipal Airport since 1983. Access to the aviation facility is one of the main reasons the group moved to Frederick from outside of Washington, D.C., nearly 35 years ago. “Frederick is the second busiest airport in Maryland,” says Mark Baker, AOPA's president and CEO. “Nearly 100,000 flight operations a year go on there. It is a very vibrant airport.”

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The Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA) has had its corporate headquarters on Aviation Way at the Frederick Municipal Airport since 1983.

Baker also cites Frederick as a great community for their more than 200 employees to live and work. Founded in 1939, the AOPA has more than 300,000 members and hosts events locally such as Wings ‘n Wheels where folks can see a variety of unique aircraft and kids’ movie nights in the summer dedicated to cinema featuring planes. AOPA has a number of local growth plans including moving its Wichita, Kansas, insurance operations to

Frederick. The switch began in September and will end in the spring. They are also renovating a local building they own to serve as a worldwide destination for flight training and high school education in aviation. Beckley’s Camping Center, located at 11109 Angleberger Road, Thurmont is another company with a strong presence outside of Frederick County. For the past 15 years they have been the top RV dealer in the state of

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(Right) Beckley’s Camping Center has stock covering nearly 30 acres, with $50 million in annual sales. (Below) Carey International, a chauffeur services and ground transportation logistics management company, has its global headquarters in Frederick.

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Maryland and have won more than 1,000 awards for both sales and achievements and for service excellence. Carey International, a chauffeur services and ground transportation logistics management company, moved its global headquarters to Frederick just over a year ago after more than 20 years in Tenleytown near American University. Founded in 1921 and staffing around 1,000 employees, Carey opened a customer service center in Frederick in 2005 but decided to additionally move their corporate operations to a

new 50,000 square foot facility just over a decade later. “We thought the Frederick area would be rich in talent and there are a lot of really talented people there,� says Jacob Shepich, Carey's director of marketing. “It is a very rich community where our employees can live and work. It's a very family friendly, highly skilled employee bank. You keep employees in that area rather than in a larger city. In D.C. and New York City there is a lot of turnaround and stressors. ...Frederick is a very nice,

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tight-knit community. We have very good retention numbers and recruitment numbers.” When it comes to filling an open position, Shepich says someone on staff usually knows a local individual with the qualifications for the job. “There really is a lot of opportunity to hire quickly and replace quickly or, as we identify the need for a new position, hire into that position. We get a lot of qualified candidates in Frederick. Our interview time is a very short cycle because there is so much talent in the area.” Mainly offering airport transportation, Carey covers primary markets but is now moving into secondary markets. This year alone they have launched services in Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, Orlando and Cincinnati. The company recently launched Embarque 10 & 2, a service that picks you up within 10 minutes and offers the convenience of an on-demand ride share service. Only available in Boston, San Fransisco and Los Angeles, Carey plans to expand to other markets next year. Music & Arts has plans to open more stores across the country next year. They are also looking to grow locally as well. In October, they hosted an onsite job fair to fill about 40 positions. “There are opportunities for everyone of every skill level to come work at Music & Arts,” Fee says.

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The first Music & Arts was located in a small house in Bethesda. Today it operates from its spacious headquarters in Frederick. The company has more than 500 retail and affiliate locations.

“...We want to be one of those pillars of the community. We are growing. It is exciting news and we want to add more talented people to our staff.” When hearing the news in this day and age, most of the business headlines discuss how retailers are downsizing and/or closing stores. “The message about retail out there is really grim,” says company president Steve Zapf. “I think what people would be very surprised about is right here in Frederick we have a company that is

absolutely bucking that trend. We are a high growth retail company but we are doing it with a combination of retail product sales and services. We have figured out a niche in the Internet economy where we are still very relevant. People still want to go to a real store because they want to meet our lesson instructors. They want to take lessons in person. People want to have their instruments repaired. ...People want to rent instruments. We have a very successful retail model that is not only accessible but it is high growth.”

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By Gina Gallucci-White

Manufacturers

Thrive in Frederick County


C

ommercial landscapers work at a high volume cutting grass for multiple clients daily with some properties completed in as little as eight to 10 minutes. This fast, yet professional, turnaround can be attributed to the production of lawn mowers where the operators may sit or stand on them. Gone are the days of landscapers walking behind a push mower clocking in more than 15 to 20 miles by the end of the day.

One company, producing some of the most technologically advanced commercial mowers sold across the country, is the Frederick-based Wright Commercial Products. “We value the place where we are and the people we employ from here,� says Ed Wright, company vice president of sales, marketing and engineering. Wright Commercial Products produces some of the most technologically advanced commercial mowers sold across the country.

Frederick is home to over 175 manufacturing companies employing more than 5,200 people—roughly 6 percent of the county's private sector employment. Folks will find a diverse base of companies including the global, biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, communications and commercial printing RR Donnelley, temperature and humidity management Stulz Air Technology and building products-focused Tamko.


Frederick County Office of Economic Development’s manufacturing business development specialist Jodie Bollinger says the county is attractive to companies because of the right mix of funding programs, a strong, skilled workforce, initiatives to engage future manufacturers spaces to support manufacturing and global connections, plus close proximity to airports and the Port of Baltimore. The office also partner with organizations such as the Frederick County Manufactures Roundtable, the Regional Manufacturing Institute and the Maryland World Class Consortia. “When (companies) look at Frederick, they see the complete package that benefits manufacturers.” On a larger scale, Maryland has just over 3,800 manufacturing businesses which generate more than $20 billion in gross state product and employs more than 103,000 people or approximately 5 percent of the total workforce.

Close proximity to airports and the Port of Baltimore is one of the factors that help in the promotion of manufactures in Frederick County.

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175

Manufacturing Companies in Frederick


Contribute to Maryland’s

Wright Commercial Products initially began more than 35 years ago as a landscaping company by Ed Wright's father Bill. Having to cut more than 500 yards a week, Bill Wright began searching for innovations to save time but keep quality high. The manufacturing portion of the business began when he created the Grass Gobbler, an aerodynamic continuously welded, tubing frame grass catcher. The company also created the Velke Sulky, a stand on device for walk behind commercial mowers and the Stander Mower where landscapers are positioned while operating the machine.

$20bil. Gross State Product

And Employ More Than

5,200 People

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The manufacturing portion of Wright Commercial Products began when [bill wright] created the Grass Gobbler, an aerodynamic continuously welded, tubing frame grass catcher.

“We value the place where we are and the people we employ from here,� says Ed Wright, vice president of sales, marketing and engineering at Wright Commercial Products.

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Ed Wright “When (landscapers) show up (to a property), every second is extremely important to them,” Wright says. “Our equipment is very easy to use. It is very easy to get on and off (a flatbed truck). It is very high performance. It is lightweight. ...In a market where there are a lot of competitors, you have to differentiate yourself with doing new and different things that increase your value to our users.” Founded 60 years ago, API Technologies has been in Frederick for more than 20 years. “Almost all of our employees enjoy living in or near Frederick or surrounding

communities,” says Kurt Brown, API Weinschel site manager. The technical businessto-business company specializes in microwave components called attenuators used in communications and years test and measurement Since Wright applications. “They Commercial are popular because Products Began we provide our customers with quality attenuators and the type of attenuators that they require for their applications,” Brown says.

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‘’Small manufacturers can make curated products for each individual customer order, making them unique.’’ —Ed Wright

From a manufacturing standpoint, the company may be considered low-tech. “We rely extensively on hand assembled products assisted by specialized tooling and fixtures,” he says. “The equipment we use to test our products is usually state of the art.”

“Humans are so obsessed with things and manufacturing is required to make things. As long as the population of humans continues to grow, manufacturing will grow,” says Ed Wright of Wright Commercial Products.

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Roughly 6 percent of Frederick County’s private sector employment comes from the more than 175 manufacturing companies located here.

Some economists say that certain manufacturing is dead while politicians promise to bring it back. Local companies say manufacturing continues to thrive in this area. “Some people say it is dying because they look at the giant manufacturers and they are having a harder time but who is thriving is smaller manufacturers,” Wright says.

“As automation increases and things like rapid prototyping, computer controlled manufacturing processes are very, very flexible so small manufacturers can get into business much more readily without the huge costs of tooling like injection molding or blow molding or stamping presses or any of those kinds of things. Small manufacturers can make curated products for each individual customer order, making them unique.” Wright says this aspect of manufacturing is thriving. “Humans are so obsessed with things and manufacturing is required to make things,” Brown says. “As long as the population of humans continues to grow, manufacturing will grow. Where manufacturing will or should grow is the crystal ball issue.”

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Start. Expand. Locate. The Office of Economic Development is the catalyst for commercial growth. OED’s mission is to increase the overall economic health of Frederick County through attracting new businesses in our targeted industries and helping existing businesses be more successful.

FORWARD »

Frederick County 2017 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ANNUAL REPORT


DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

Helen Propheter Director, Frederick County Office of Economic Development

The Office of Economic Development (OED) has been a part of so many successes in 2017. Our annual report is full of highlights from this past year. As OED works to bring new businesses into the county, we also assist our current businesses with their expansions. New business industry engagements include the FRED (Frederick Real Estate Dealmakers) Awards, the Frederick County Technology Showcase, the Minority Business Leadership program and the Frederick Top 50 business publication. Certainly our strength in partnerships has made our Economic and Workforce Development Division a leader in the state and recognized in the region. Our purposeful partnering and co-locating of economic and workforce development has positioned these departments for success. ROOT (our business innovation center) and the Monroe Center (a workforce and training center) create innovative collaborations for companies to start, grow and expand. We’ve set the groundwork for exciting new business-driven initiatives in 2018 and moving forward. Given the theme of this year’s annual report, Forward Frederick, we are quickly moving forward with 2018 initiatives. I hope you’ll take time to review our annual report as the forward progress our county is making is worth celebrating. To keep up-to-date on the latest developments, follow us on social media. Finally, thank you to all of the passionate businesses and economic development partners whose impact and commitment heightens the economic vitality of Frederick County.

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2017 Success Stories EMMES Corporation Large Business When Emmes Corporation, a clinical research organization, decided to expand their Maryland operations with a new Frederick facility, timing was critical. Thanks to OED’s Fast Track Permitting process, Emmes moved from a pre-submittal meeting to permits-in-hand in just six days. According to Clay Edwards, Emmes’ Facility Manager, “…the fast track process works. Thank you all for doing this so quickly.”

RoosterBio Medium Business RoosterBio graduated from FITCI, expanding from 4,000 to 14,000 square feet into the Offices at Westivew. The new space was built out for offices, R&D laboratories, stem cell manufacturing and warehouse space that will accommodate future growth. “RoosterBio has been able to flourish in the Frederick biotechnology ecosystem. FITCI gave us the platform to launch our company, prove our business model and secure funding.” —Margot Connor, CEO, RoosterBio

Springfield Manor Winery, Brewery And Distillery Agriculture Business Springfield Manor, a 130acre farm growing corn, grapes, and lavender in Thurmont, became the first trifecta of craft beverages in 2017. In 2012, the owners opened the Winery and Distillery and added a brewery in September 2017. “Frederick County made opening and operating a successful family-run farm/tourism business a reality” —Amie & John St. Angelo, Owners, Springfield Manor Winery, Brewery & Distillery


COUNTY EXECUTIVE’S MESSAGE

Jan H. Gardner Frederick County Executive

Frederick County is a great place to do business! The Office of Economic Development works hard on behalf of our citizens to support the creation of good jobs with livable wages, and to encourage commercial capital expenditure to strengthen our tax base. In the pages that follow, you will find a tremendous story of strength, success and opportunity. In the last two years, Frederick County has added more than 4,000 new jobs across nine different industry sectors. This year, for the first time in history, the number of jobs in the county topped 100,000. Our commercial vacancy rate hit a five-year low at 9%, as compared to 14.4% in 2012. It’s clear that we mean business in Frederick County. These numbers are a testament to our community’s diverse and vibrant economy.

We received the fantastic news that Frederick County’s AAA bond ratings were reaffirmed by all three major bond rating agencies. AAA stable is the highest possible rating a county can receive, and reflects financial analysts’ confidence in the county government’s management, financial health, and growing economy. We also announced plans for ROOT— the business and technology innovation center at 118 N Market Street in downtown Frederick. ROOT is an ecosystem that fosters the creation and expansion of business in Frederick County. I am equally excited for what 2018 will bring. A Growth Opportunity Strategy by the University of Baltimore has laid a strategic path for growing Frederick’s knowledge economy. Working together, we will move Frederick forward in 2018.

What’s Next for Economic Development in 2018? » ROOT will welcome the Frederick Innovative Technology Center (Frederick Innovative Technology Center), with the completion of its new tech incubator space on the ground floor scheduled for Q1 2018.

» The launch of Homegrown Hay Days, a transformation of the Family Festival at the Farm, expanding the event and reaching a broader audience.

» With 4 designated Main Street » OED will execute on the strategies and recommendations of the Growth Opportunity (GO) Strategy, completed by the Jacob France Institute at the University of Baltimore.

communities and another one in the works, Frederick County will lead the state in the implementation of this powerful community and economic development program.

» The Downtown Frederick Hotel & Conference Center will break ground in the fall, leading the way to more than $26m in annual economic impact and more than 280 new jobs.

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top10 E C O N O M I C

D E V E L O P M E N T

RESULTS IN 2017

Minority Business Leaders Program graduates the inaugural class—17 current and future woman and minority business owners participated in the 8-month leadership program designed to inspire, develop and grow minority business leaders.

Frederick County Workforce Services co-locates with FCC at Monroe Center— This aligns the missions of the two organizations to better serve Frederick’s job seekers and employers.

ROOT takes life—Several strategic partners joined the innovation center at 118 N. Market St. including the Frederick Chamber, Hood College’s Martha Church Center for Civic Engagement, the Center for Research and Education in Science and Technology (CREST), and the Maryland Tech Council.

Downtown hotel and conference center moves forward—

Completion of the Growth Opportunity (GO) Strategy—the

the project hit several milestones, including Historic Preservation Commission Level 1 design approval. The project is on track to break ground in fall 2018.

first comprehensive analysis and strategic economic development initiative in more than 15 years to drive targeted efforts for industry attraction, expansion and ecosystem cultivation.

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Positioned Frederick County as a state leader in the craft beverage industry— developed a new brand and logo for the industry, created the How to Start a Winery, Brewery, Distillery Guide, launched a marketing video highlighting Frederick’s craft beverage manufacturers and partnered with The Great Frederick Fair to showcase local craft beverages at the fair.

Advocated for streamlined regulations and new legislation to improve business—modernized land use regulations to support diversification of agriculture, provided input on new solar array legislation and developed a Small Business Tax Credit to expand and create jobs.


Launched Frederick’s Top 50—this new business retention initiative recognizes 50 businesses that make a huge impact on Frederick County and raises awareness of economic development, job creation and new commercial development.

Partnered with NCI and Leidos on the 2017 Technology Showcase—200+ attendees from across the region were introduced to technologies available for commercialization and tech transfer opportunities to fuel innovation.

2017 Selected Company Locations & Expansions:

NEW JOBS

TYPE

ADDITIONAL SQ. FOOTAGE

Navistar Direct Marketing Thermo Fisher Scientific Daly Computers

Location Expansion Location

200 33 200

205,000 192,000 65,000

FMHS-James M. Stockman Cancer Institute

Expansion

92

62,000

Music & Arts Headquarters Microbiology International CSRA EDCO ACDI Emmes Corporation Asbury Communities Rainforest Distribution Above Air Technologies Kensington Glass Art Playground Specialists Schneider Electric Step3, Inc VaLogic, LLC RoosterBio WGS Systems MainSpring, Inc Mama Biscuit’s Gourmet Biscuits Kiosk Group Proposal Software

Expansion Expansion Retention Expansion Retention Location Location Location Expansion Location Expansion Location Retention Expansion Expansion Expansion Location Expansion Expansion Location

20 26 retained 150 retained 80 retained 70 retained 100 120 22 10 126 25 8 30 10 25 5 60 10 5 10

50,000 47,000 35,000 30,000 30,000 26,000 26,400 25,000 25,000 24,000 21,000 20,000 20,000 15,000 14,000 12,000 10,000 7,700 5,500 5,000

Additional Economic Development Wins:

Frederick Real Estate Dealmakers (FRED) Awards—the first Frederick awards program honoring the most successful commercial real estate transactions and the teams who make them happen.

» » » » » » » » » » » » » » »

AmpRx Power Solutions–New Market Boxcar Burgers–Brunswick Blue Dreams USA–Frederick Blue Sources–Frederick Clue IQ–Frederick Criswell Chevrolet–Thurmont CRW One–New Market Dunkin Donuts–Middletown The Common Market Co-op–Frederick Escape This–Frederick Frederick Dance–Frederick Frederick National Health Center Free Zone Fitness Center–New Market Fuge, Inc–Frederick Habitat for Humanity Restore–Frederick

» » » » » » » » » » » » »

HomeCentris Personal Care Krispy Kreme Donuts–Frederick Master’s Specialty Pharmacy–Frederick Midnight Run Brewing–Frederick New Spire Arts–Frederick RockWell Brewery–Frederick Rowland Glass & Art–Thurmont Serendipity Market & More–Frederick Spanish Speaking Community of Maryland–Frederick The Spice & Tea Exchange–Frederick Specialized Pipe Technologies –Frederick Springfield Manor, Winery, Brewery, Distillery–Thurmont Triple Crown Construction–Frederick TOP50

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$11B Frederick County’s Gross Domestic Product

$1.07M

BY THE

Numbers T W O - T H O U S A N D

Frederick County’s Visitor Spending Per Day

S E V E N T E E N

Total Employment •FREDERICK •WASHINGTON METRO •MARYLAND •BALTIMORE METRO •UNITED STATES

AAA Frederick County’s Bond Rating Only 46 U.S. Counties have this rating.

3.1% Frederick County’s Unemployment Rate as of September 2017

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Frederick County experienced strong economic growth across a diverse industry base.

Post-recession (2009-2016) Frederick County is growing more rapidly than Maryland, as well as the Baltimore and Washington metro areas. Strong, long-term growth in professional and technical services has led the area in job growth. Despite a national decline in manufacturing jobs, Frederick County has seen recent recovery in this sector.


Total Commercial Vacancy Rate

Commercial & Industrial Permits Issued 2000

2017 2016

1500

2015

1000

2014

COUNTY •&FREDERICK MUNICIPALITIES •CITY OF FREDERICK

500

2013 0 0.0%

5%

10%

15%

13 20

14 20

15 20

16 20

17 20

1.3M Square Feet

Small Business Growth

The amount of commercial space businesses leased in the last 12 months, compared to the 5-year average of 1M.

12.4% Millennial Population

Source: Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and Maryland Women’s Business Center through 10.1.2017)

The growth of the millenial population is outpacing the growth in Maryland and the Washington MSA.

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2017

ACCOLADES Frederick Real Estate Dealmakers (FRED) Award Winners

FREDERICK BEST PLACES TO WORK Small Employer Category: Thurmont Child Care Center (1-10 employees)

Small–Medium Employer Category: Imquest Biosciences (11-29 employees)

Medium to Large Medium Employer Category: MainSpring (30-50 employees)

Large Employer Category: Dynport Vaccine Company (51-200 employees)

Major Employer Category: Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) DEAL OF THE YEAR Flying Dog Project » MacRo, Ltd, » Steve Chafitz Realty » The City of Frederick BROKER OF THE YEAR Brad Benna » Matan Companies OFFICE BROKERAGE FIRM OF THE YEAR Avison Young for The Offices at Westview

(201+ employees)

FREDERICK COUNTY FUTURE MINORITY BUSINESS LEADERS, CLASS OF 2017 Cely Argueta, Owner, BNG Consulting James Baker, United Way Kevin Brown, Student, Hood College Judy Buchanan, Serenity Natural Health Center Mia Collings, Stylist

Come Grow With Us FREDERICK COUNTY EXECUTIVE Jan H. Gardner

FREDERICK COUNTY COUNCIL Bud Otis, President M.C. Keegan-Ayer, Vice President Tony Chmelik Kirby Delauter Jerry Donald Jessica Fitzwater Billy Shreve

FREDERICK COUNTY OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Helen Propheter Director

Heather Gramm Assistant Director

Katie Albaugh Business Development Specialist, Agriculture

Jodie Bollinger Business Development Specialist, Commercial Real Estate & Manufacturing

Sherman Coleman Business Development Specialist, Minority Business Outreach

Sandy Wagerman

Darline Gibson, Student, Mount Saint Mary’s University Melanie Long, Owner, About Face Training, LLC

Business Development Analyst

MOST CREATIVE DEAL Float Frederick Project » St. John Properties » Claggett Enterprises » Proffitt & Associates Architects

Jay Martinez, Fidelity Direct Mortgage

ROOT Administrative Specialist

MODERN MASTERPIECE AWARD Monocacy Trading Center » Ruppert Properties » Fitzgerald Realty » Archive Design

Marlon Ramirez, Student, Hood College Student and Police Officer

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Rocky Mackintosh » MacRo, Ltd

PERSEVERANCE AWARD BioFactura Project » Tyler-Donegan-Duncan Real Estate » St. John Properties » Proffit & Associates Architects

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Michelle Nusum-Smith, Owner, The Word Woman LLC Sandy Pucciarelli, Owner, Premier Accounting Solutions LLC

Thomas Sligh, Publisher, North Frederick Neighbors Magazine Rafi Soule, Owner, Quaicle Technology and Consulting

Sharon Hipkins Administrative Assistant

Britt Swartzlander

SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER Brandon Mason, Frederick County Consultant & Regional Technology Liaison

MARYLAND WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTER Maria McElhenny Business Counselor/Trainer

Anusha Srivastava, Owner, We PLACE LLC Kenyan Summers, Student, Frederick Community College Li Zhou, Owner, Chinese Immersion School

118 N. Market St., Suite 300 | Frederick, MD 21701 301.600.1058 | www.discoverfrederickmd.com




History Local Companies Continue Tradition of Providing Jobs By Karen Gardner

as

with life’s ebb and flow, employers have come and gone in Frederick County since its founding in 1748. Many of those job providers that stuck around transformed into new businesses, reflective of the changing times. They were joined by others that relocated here after becoming well established elsewhere.

With the expansion of employment opportunities, came the formation of business organizations. Members of the one-time Frederick Board of Trade were present when President Taft created the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 1912. The Frederick Board of Trade then became the first chartered Chamber of Commerce in the United States.

A guiding force in job creation has been that businesses have more often than not found a population ready to fill the jobs that were offered. Additionally, Frederick County’s open spaces were an attraction with employees and employers alike enjoying the peaceful rural lands located a short distance from city and town centers.

In the 1920s, the name was changed to the Frederick Chamber of Commerce. Member-ship was opened to all businesses in the county, and women were allowed to become members. The slogan “If Frederick is worth living in, it is worth working for,” was adopted. Membership soared to 500 people. In 1969 the Chamber became the


Frederick County Chamber of Commerce to reflect its countywide membership. In the late 1950s, the Economic Development Committee formed; it later became the Frederick County Economic and Community Development Commission. Today, that office is known as the Frederick County Office of Economic Development.

FEMA

FEMA Federal Emergency Management System Some of the county’s businesses have experienced decades of progress. One is the National Emergency Training Center, part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, in Emmitsburg. The office opened in 1979, but FEMA’s roots go all the way back to 1803. That’s when a Congressional act provided assistance to a New Hampshire town after a fire. Since then, the federal government has been giving financial and other aid to disaster stricken areas. In 1979, President Carter’s executive order merged separate disaster preparedness and assistance agencies into FEMA.

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That same year, Carter dedicated the former St. Joseph’s College as the FEMA National Emergency Training Center. The Emergency Management Institute began giving classes in 1980. Smiley White, then a program analyst, has been there from the start. He’s still there, working in support services for the admissions office, doing a lot of number crunching. He and a couple of co-workers wrote a booklet about the building’s history, including its role in the Civil War. The Fire Academy joined the NETC in 1983. The NFA and the EMI train more than 14,000 students each year, helping other federal, state and local agencies to deal with or prevent disasters. Emergency training has come a long way in the nearly 40 years that FEMA has been in Emmitsburg. “They looked at over 200 sites,” White says of the original site selection committee. He moved to Thurmont back in 1979 as the NETC was gearing up. “I think it’s a good place to work,” he says. “We’re making a difference in terms of people’s lives.” The training center keeps


emergency workers up to date in their fields, with all its advances and specialty training requirements, and that’s what keeps the students coming back, 47 weeks a year. Customer service is important, White says. “We’re trying to support and help out our emergency responders, so we stay customer service oriented.”

Fort Detrick Fort Detrick is located on the site of the original Frederick airport. Detrick Field honored Maj. Frederick L. Detrick, a native of New Market who served in France during World War I. The first military presence was an encampment on Aug. 10, 1931, two months after Detrick died of a heart attack. In its early days, Detrick Field operated as a Cadet Pilot Training Center until the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941. In January 1942, the last military airplanes left Detrick Field.

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Fort Detrick is unique in that each branch of the U.S. military, as well as five cabinet level agencies are represented at the base. In March 1943, according to Nick Minecci of the Public Affairs Office, Fort Detrick became known as Camp Detrick, taking on its current duties. The U.S Army Biological Warfare Laboratories were established to research biocontainment, decontamination, gaseous sterilization and agent purification. After World War II

ended, Camp Detrick was designated a permanent installation for peacetime biological research and development. In 1956, it was renamed Fort Detrick. In 1972, biological warfare research was outlawed, and the National Cancer Research and Development Center, now the National Cancer Institute-Frederick, was established. In 1972, the U.S. Army Medical Unit became the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, to carry out research under the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command. In 1994, the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command was established as a major subordinate. According to Minecci, all this contributed to Fort Detrick’s position as a center of scientific excellence in the area of public health, and that was further solidified with the formation of the National Interagency Confederation for Biological Research and the National Interagency Biodefence Campus. Fort Detrick gained even more importance in 2008, when it took over the Forest Glen Annex, Silver Spring, as part of the Base Realignment and Closure in 2005. Minecci says Fort Detrick is unique in that each branch of the U.S. military, as well as five cabinet level agencies are represented at the base. In addition, Fort Detrick is Frederick County’s largest employer and contributes more than $500 million to the local economy.

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company is part of a global company with 65,000 employees and $20 billion in revenue. Based in Waltham, Mass., its mission is to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer.

Thermo Fisher

Thermo Fisher Thermo Fisher bought what was Life Technologies and opened its East Coast Training Center in Frederick in 2014. This branch of the life science research

Thermo Fisher began as two companies. The earliest was Fisher Scientific, founded in Pittsburgh in 1902, and originally called Scientific Materials Company. Its aim was to provide lab equipment chemicals, supplies and services used in healthcare, scientific research, safety and education. In 1954, Fisher chemicals were used in developing the polio vaccine. In 1982, Fisher chemicals were used in the space shuttle Columbia. Thermo Electron was founded in 1956 to provide analytical lab products and services, according to company literature. Fisher Scientific, which was bought by Allied Corp. in 1981, merged with Thermo Electron in 2006 to become Thermo Fisher. Frederick is home to the company’s training facility, which helps customers in the Human Identification market in validation processes needed for new instrument, chemistry or software for casework or databank samples. Another function is to demonstrate the utility, feasibility and ease of company products for pharmaceutical manufacturing and processes. A third is to demonstrate product safety in animal health and food safety/environmental arenas.

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FRHS

make it easier for people to get that treatment outside the hospital setting. FRHS has partnered with regional healthcare systems to bring specific specialties to Frederick, including Johns Hopkins for cardiac care and NICU, and MD Anderson for cancer care. The hospital has also become known for its stroke and critical care

Frederick Regional Healthcare System Emma Smith lived in Frederick in the late 19th century. She needed medical care not available locally and decided to bring hospital care to the community, raising $8,000 to build the first part of the hospital, which opened in 1902. If you’ve visited in the past 20 years, you’ve seen the hospital grow considerably in that short time. Entrances have changed locations and departments have moved. But the hospital’s original mission has stayed the same: To serve Frederick residents as the community’s only hospital.

FMH, circa 1902

“The healthcare industry itself has changed remarkably in the last 115 years—new technologies and treatment protocols for everything from childbirth to cancer treatment,” says Cheryl Cioffi, FRHS chief operations officer. FRHS has 18 locations around Frederick County, in part to respond to the changing healthcare needs of the community. Many procedures that once were inpatient are now outpatient care, and the satellite sites

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James M Stockman Cancer Institute


service lines. These options have helped to strengthen Emma Smith’s legacy to bring people the care they need in their community. “We are the only hospital in Frederick County,” Cioffi says. The changing reimbursement model now requires Maryland hospitals to work within a Global Budget Revenue system, which gives a flat fee to treat all patients. “This challenges us to be creative financially as we also transition our focus to population health. “We used to be fee for service,” Cioffi says. “We have shifted from volume to value.” This means FRHS had to become more creative to meet community needs. Hospitals once treated only the sick. In today’s world, however, hospitals are

becoming much more involved with preventive care. In today’s world, hospitals are heavily regulated. “You have to keep pace in order to do that,” Cioffi says. FRHS has managed that and to win awards. Healthgrades named FRHS a Distinguished Hospital— Clinical Excellence in 2016 and 2017. Its new cancer center, the James M Stockman Cancer Institute, combines the newest imaging technology with FRHS’s award winning oncology program. And its community outreach efforts, including Bridges, Community Health Workers and the CARE Clinic help FRHS meet changing community needs.

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FREDERICK’S

Top 50 BUSINESSES FOR 2017

Frederick’s Top 50 for 2017 marks an inaugural list of businesses who have the largest potential to contribute to Frederick County’s vibrant economy. The metrics-driven list was created by the Frederick County Office of Economic Development, with assistance from Hood College, using research from InfoUSA, tax records, CoStar and internal data collection. Then it was analyzed with a weighted scoring system in the following areas: Number of Employees in Frederick County, Annual Property Taxes Paid, Square Footage Occupied in Frederick County, Location Sales Volume and Year Established.

» Aircraft Owners & Pilots

» Equipment Development

» Music & Arts

Association » Aldi Distribution Center » API Technologies Corp. » AstraZeneca/MedImmune » Battelle BNBI » BB&T » Beckley’s Camping Center » Bimbo Bakeries USA » BlueLinx Corporation » Builders FirstSource » Canam Steel » Carey International » Costco Depot » Dairy Maid Dairy » Dept. of Veterans Affairs Acquisition Academy » Dynamic Rugs » Eminent Services Corp. » Engage USA

Co. (EDCO) » Experient (a Maritz Global Events Compnay) » Fannie Mae » FEMA » Fitzgerald Auto Mall » Flying Dog Brewery » FoodPro » Frederick Memorial Healthcare Systems » Homewood at Frederick » Honeywell Intelligrated Systems » Integrace Buckingham’s Choice » Legal & General America » Lonza » Metalfab, Inc. » Miscellaneous Metals » Morgan-Keller Construction

» National Cancer Institute/

NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES

Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc. » NVR, Inc. » The Plamondon Companies » Pleasants Paving » ProList » RR Donnelly » Saputo Dairy Foods USA » Skyworks Solutions/ Trans-Tech, Inc. » STULZ Air Technology Systems, Inc. » Tamko Building Products » Thermo Fisher Scientific » Toys R Us Distribution Center » United Healthcare » Wells Fargo Home Mortgage » Wright Manufacturing

YEAR ESTABLISHED

PHOTO BY C. KURT HOLTER

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AIRCRAFT OWNERS & PILOTS ASSOCIATION 421 Aviation Way | Frederick www.aopa.org

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is the world’s largest and most influential general aviation association with the mission to protect the freedom to fly. They advocate for pilots and aviation enthusiasts to make general aviation flying fun, safe, accessible and affordable. What would surprise people about AOPA? AOPA represents more than 300,000 pilots and aviation enthusiasts from across the United States and around the globe who use their aircraft for personal, charitable and business purposes. AOPA was a key part of the relief efforts for the recent hurricanes in Houston and Florida, flying emergency supplies into areas inaccessible except by small aircraft. The association has been at Frederick Municipal Airport since 1983, which allows AOPA to quickly and effectively utilize general aviation to reach the many other cities and towns where issues arise.

200 EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED 1939

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Aldi Distribution center 8751 Gas House Pike | Frederick | www.aldi.us

Aldi is a grocery retailer that brings quality products at everyday low prices to their customers. Aldi Exclusive Brands meet or exceed the national name brands on taste, quality and price. What does Aldi see for the future? Aldi continues to innovate with their product offerings, adding new and exciting products including more organic items and additional fresh and more healthful options. Aldi is a leader in providing better-for-you choices. Aldi was the first grocery store to offer its own line of gluten-free products, was the first to offer its line that is free of certified synthetic colors, partially hydrogenated oils and added MSG and their Never Any! meats have no antibiotics, added hormones or steroids, or animal by-products. —Jeff Baehr, division president

350 EMPLOYEES

ESTABLISHED 1913

in Germany

API TECHNOLOGIES CORP. 5305 Spectrum Drive | Frederick | www.weinschel.apitech.com

API Technologies Corp. is a manufacturer of RF and microwave signal conditioning and electromagnetic spectrum management solutions, from components to complete subsystems. The Weinschel brand, manufactured in Frederick, specializes in the highest quality components and subsystems available in the market for wireless communication and test and measurement applications.

AstraZenecA/ Medimmune 660 Research Drive | Frederick www.astrazeneca-us.com

AstraZeneca’s biologics manufacturing center in Frederick produces lifechanging medicines for the treatment of cancer and respiratory and autoimmune conditions. The center is the largest biologics manufacturing facility in the company’s global network of assets. What’s keeping the company here? Frederick County’s support of the life sciences, investment in education and workforce development, and proximity to world-renowned academic institutions are among the reasons we value being in Frederick. —Michelle Michael, associate director of communications

700 EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED 1988 Established as MedImmune in 1988, purchased in 2007 as wholly owned subsidiary of AstraZeneca

What is keeping your business in Frederick County? The main factors are those that brought us here. We are into our second long term lease and hopefully will execute a third and it will be because the economics from a business factor are still favorable. What is most important to us though, is that our employees will still find it favorable to both live and work in Frederick. —Megan Ensiminger, marketing

80 EMPLOYEES

ESTABLISHED 1952 formly Aeroflex/Weinschel

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BATTELLE BNBI BB&T 8300 Research Plaza | Fort Detrick www.bnbi.org

The National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) is the first national laboratory created by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Managed by Battelle National Bio-defense Institute (BNBI) as a Federally-Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC), NBACC is the first laboratory built for DHS—a national resource to understand the scientific basis of the risk posed by biological threats and to attribute their use in bioterror and bio-crime events. What has been a challenge for BNBI? After unexpected federal budget cuts recently, Frederick’s business, civic and political leaders engaged its congressional delegation to save the lab. —Brian Gaudet, communications director

180 EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED 1929

7200 Bank Court | Frederick | www.bbt.com

BB&T is one of the largest financial services holding companies in the U.S. with $221.2 billion in assets and market capitalization of $36.7 billion as of June 30, 2017. BB&T offers a wide range of financial services including retail and commercial banking, investments, insurance, wealth management, asset management, mortgage, corporate banking, capital markets and specialized lending. Why did you choose Frederick County as a business location? Back in 2000, FCNB was a community bank looking for a strategic partner. After considering several options BB&T was selected as the best path forward for a merger and this was a very attractive market for BB&T. Since that time BB&T has enjoyed solid growth and investing back into a great community. —Robert L. Tuggle, market president

130 EMPLOYEES

ESTABLISHED 1872

BECKLEY’S CAMPING CENTER 11109 Angleberger Road | Thurmont | www.beckleysrvs.com

Operating on 30.5 acres, with $50 million in annual sales, Beckley’s Camping Center sells RVs to support a balanced and active lifestyle. Owners report that RV travel enables them to experience nature and outdoor activities and enjoy quality family time. What awards or accolades do you want to mention? For the past 15 years, we’ve been named #1 RV dealer in the state of Maryland (as determined by Statistical Surveys). We’ve won over 1,000 awards for both sales and achievements and service excellence. We employ certified service technicians, most of which are classified as ‘master.’ We participate in hundreds of community activities, events and fundraisers, supporting veterans’ events and others. —Kelly Shanholtzer

124 EMPLOYEES

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ESTABLISHED 1980


BIMBO BAKERIES USA 7110 English Muffin Way | Frederick | www.bimbobakeriesusa.com

The business has several brands as part of its label, including breakfast favorites from Thomas’ including English muffins and bagels as well as doughnuts and other bakery sweets from Entenmann’s. For lunches there’s Sara Lee bread for making sandwiches. Nationally, the company operates more than 60 bakeries and employs more than 22,000 workers. Owners stress their social commitment to their associates and local communities to contribute to their health and wellness and to that of the environment and to place “delicious and nutritious baked goods and snacks in the hands of all.” Some of their brands can trace their histories back to the late 1800s or early 1900s.

150 EMPLOYEES

ESTABLISHED 1994 and 2011

BlueLinx Corporation 4300 Georgia Pacific Boulevard | Frederick | www.bluelinxco.com

BlueLinx is a leading distributor of building products in North America. Employing over 1,600 people company wide, they offer thousands of products to service over 10,000 customers nationwide, including dealers, industrial manufacturers, manufactured housing producers and home improvement retailers.

Builders firstsource 3302 Ballenger Creek Pike | Frederick www.buildersfirstsource.com

Builders FirstSource includes a lumber location in Point of Rocks and a millwork facility. They provide lumber, doors, millwork and other building supplies to area builders to help them deliver the American dream of home ownership to their customers. What would surprise people about your business? People would be surprised by the variety and scope of our employment offerings, not just in what we offer to employees as far as benefits, but the actual jobs and roles available at our locations. We aren’t one dimensional, we hire and employ drivers, salespeople, designers, and so many other positions people might not expect. —Hallie Moore, communications specialist

300 EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED 1998

What keeps you in Frederick County? Access to railways and large land acreage—our Frederick facility is one of the largest we have built for distribution. We also have easy access to Washington D.C., Northern Virginia and Eastern Pennsylvania, which are some of the major markets we service with this location. —Erin Sullivan, marketing manager

75 EMPLOYEES

ESTABLISHED 1954 becoming BlueLinx in 2004

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Canam Steel

Carey International

4010 Clay St. | Point of Rocks www.groupecanam.com

7445 New Technology Way | Frederick | www.carey.com

The location in Point of Rocks was purchased by Canam Steel in 1986 and serves as corporate headquarters. This 250,400 square foot facility produces Joist products. What awards or accolades would you like to mention? We received the first Diversity and Inclusion Award presented by the Frederick County Society for Human Resource Management, named one of Frederick County’s Innovative Businesses, received the prestigious Maryland International Business Leadership Award highlighting the accomplishments of top Maryland companies, the Governor’s Leadership Award from The World Trade Center Institute, the Regional Manufacturing Institute recognized Canam for its commitment and dedication to the community, recognized for its partnership with Frederick Community College; and has received the award for Best Family-Friendly Places to Work in Frederick County. —Rose Davis

200 EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED 1960

Established in New York City’s Grand Central Station as the first limousine company in the United States, Carey International is the industry leader for executive and luxury ground transportation worldwide. For example, Carey International is the preferred ground transportation provider for The PGA Tour. What’s keeping your business in Frederick County? Carey International opened its Global Customer Engagement Center in Frederick in May 2005 and in 2016 made the decision to move its headquarters here, as well. We have found the Frederick area to be rich in talent and as a great community where employees can both live and work. At this point, it is difficult to imagine Carey International’s headquarters being located anywhere else. —Jeffrey Keilhotz, senior communications specialist

250 EMPLOYEES

ESTABLISHED 1921

Dairy Maid Dairy 259 E. 7th St. | Frederick | www.dairymaiddairy.com

Once known as Excelsior Sanitary Dairy, Joseph Vona purchased the plant in 1965 and changed the name to Dairy Maid Dairy. In 2013 Dairy Farmers of America purchased the business that produces a variety of quality fluid milk and juices, plus eggs, ice cream mixes, cottage cheeses and sour creams for businesses from distributors to restaurants and corner stores. The plant produces almost two million half-pints per week for local schools and institutions and is 100 percent farmer-owned. What is keeping your business in FrederickCounty? Our history is an important part of who we are, as long as we have great people working for us and we have access to the raw ingredients and resources that we need to run our business, we could not imagine a better place to be. —Dwayne McMahan, sales manager

150 EMPLOYEES

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ESTABLISHED 1894


Costco DEpot 5236 Intercoastal Drive | Monrovia | www.costco.com

Costco has been a leader in the warehouse club and retail industry for over three decades. Today, Costco leads the industry in terms of service, quality, value and innovation. They have grown to be the second-largest retailer in the world, and the largest operator (in terms of sales) of membership clubs worldwide. Costco operates 18 depots in North America, which are used to reduce the cost of receiving goods and improve productivity. Depots receive goods by truck or ocean container in a cross dock manner. Products come in from the manufacturer at one dock and leave later the same day from another dock in a truck bound for their warehouses.

Twice they have been named Employer of the Year by Goodwill Monocacy. Why did you choose to locate in Frederick County? We made the decision primarily because of its location to major highways and the Port of Baltimore as well as its proximity to the 33 locations we service in Maryland, Virginia and Western Pennsylvania. In addition, we found that Frederick County is a great place for E commerce fulfillment. —Jen Cerrito, depot manager

375 EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED 2010

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Dept. of Veterans Affairs Acquisition Academy

Dynamic Rugs 4845 Governor’s Way | Frederick | www.dynamicrugs.com

Dynamic Rugs distributes to various independent home furnishing retailers, chain stores and internet vendors nationwide. They also are teamed with designers worldwide, including Canada, Europe and South and Central America to create rugs that make a fashion statement. They do extensive market research online and in person, including checking out interior design blogs. In 2005 the company moved from Montgomery County to an 85,000 square foot distribution center that allows it to expand and better organize its inventory. They are the only company of its kind in Maryland.

7845 New Horizon Way | Frederick www.acquisitionacademy.va.gov

The Department of Veterans Affairs academy trains employees who manage over $24 billion for goods and services needed to achieve the vital mission of the VA. What would surprise people about your business? We administer the Warriors to Workforce Program, that hires and prepares returning wounded veterans with little to no post-high school education for a career in federal acquisition. After successful completion, participants advance to an internship to become full-time contract specialists. —Laura Edwards, public affairs specialist

120 EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED 2008

What do you see for 2018? If the economy stays the same, we are hoping to expand because we are maxed out of our current space. We are looking to grow in space and in employment size. —Matthew Rouhanian, owner

20 EMPLOYEES

Eminent Services Corp. 7495 New Technology Way | Frederick | www.emiserv.com

Eminent is committed to providing a complete range of quality investigational drug management and info-tech services to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry and research organizations in a cost effective and timely manner. The company offers specialized regulatory guidance throughout the drug development cycle, from bulk drug characterization and formulation, manufacturing of clinical trial materials, to product launch. Eminent serves the pharmaceutical needs of educational institutions, government organizations and the pharmaceutical industry. Founder Dr. Krupakar Paul Thadikoma is the holder of several patents in drug production and is technical consultant to several federal agencies in clinical drug product development.

23 EMPLOYEES

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ESTABLISHED 1994

ESTABLISHED 1997


EXPERIENT

Engage USA 880 N. East St. | Frederick | www.engageusa.com

EngageUSA processes donations for non-profit organizations. Their datadriven solutions help museums, social welfare and veterans organizations, and seniors-advocacy organizations to raise money more efficiently, allowing them to have more net funds for their programs. They recently opened a new data center and plan to add 30-50 new positions. What would surprise people about your business? Many of your donations to national and international non-profit organizations are processed right here in Frederick. We partner locally with Woodsboro Bank and nationally with Bank of America, M&T Bank, and Wells Fargo to quickly and inexpensively get both money and data where it is needed. —Dennis Hoffman, chairman

122 EMPLOYEES

ESTABLISHED 2000

Equipment Development Co. (EDCO) 100 Thomas Johnson Drive | Frederick | www.edcoinc.com

EDCO is a family-owned manufacturer of its own branded lines of small construction equipment including surface preparation, floor grinding, removal and professional sawing. The EDCO fabrication division is a regional supplier of manufacturing services to other manufacturing companies. Products are sold worldwide.

(a Maritz Global Events Company) 5202 Presidents Court | Frederick www.experient.com

The company was established as Conferon. In 2003 it merged with Frederickbased Expo Exchange and became Conferon Global Services. The company rebranded as Experient in 2006. In 2012 Experient joined forces with Maritz Travel to make up Maritz Global Events with more than 600 employees worldwide and are engaged in some way in more than 3,000 events annually. What is keeping your business in Frederick County? We have long term employees from the community and continue to grow with the community. There is no need or desire to move. —Harby Tran, senior director of marketing

270 EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED 1970

Why did you choose Frederick County as a business location? In the 1970s, our co-founders moved the business here from Sliver Spring because land was affordable and they saw Frederick’s potential. The cultural diversity and business-friendly atmosphere keeps us here. —Jason Stanczyk, marketing director

N.A. EMPLOYEES

ESTABLISHED 1957

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Fannie Mae 9107 Bennett Creek Blvd. | Urbana | www.fanniemae.com

Fannie Mae serves the people who house the nation as a leading source of financing for mortgage lenders, providing access to affordable financing. Created by Congress in response to the housing crisis during the Great Depression, Fannie Mae subsequently helped GIs returning from World War II purchase houses. After several revisions over the years, Fannie Mae became a private, share holder-owned company chartered by Congress in 1968. Since then Fannie Mae has weathered national and global economic cycles to where it is today. Between 2009 and 20016, they enabled 6 million home purchases nationwide.

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“Fannie Mae is consistently delivering a steady stream of innovations to our customers. We see their challenges as Fannie Mae’s challenges, and we are listening to their feedback to make our customer solutions better and smarter,” says Timothy J. Mayopoulos, president and CEO. “We are committed to working with customers to forge a stronger and safer housing finance system that provides opportunities that are affordable to the next generation of American homeowners and renters.”

200 EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED 1938


FEMA 16825 S. Seton Ave. | Emmitsburg | www.training.fema.gov

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Emergency Training Centers (NETC) serves as an interagency emergency management training body for the U.S. government. Located on the former campus of St. Joseph College, NETC is home to the National Fire Academy, U.S. Fire Administration, and Emergency Management Institute. The campus also includes the Learning Resource Center library, the National Fire Data Center, and the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial. Both independently and by means of cooperative research and development agreements with the military and cooperative agreements with the technology companies and academic institutions, NETC also conducts research to identify methods for offering more effective training.

577 EMPLOYEES

ESTABLISHED 1979

Fitzgerald Auto Mall 114 Baughman’s Lane | Frederick | www.fitzmall.com

They are a family-owned and operated multi-brand new and used car dealership that specializes in relationships, not transactions.

Flying Dog BreweRy 4607 Wedgewood Blvd. | Frederick www.flyingdogales.com

Starting in Colorado, Flying Dog purchased Frederick Brewing Company in 2006, creating world-class beer inspired by a unique focus on art, creativity and innovation. Unapologetically independent, they strive to build meaningful connections with a community of fans who share their obsession for great beer. What is keeping your business in Frederick County? We couldn’t be more thankful for the support the local Frederick community has given Flying Dog. There are so many like-minded, independently owned businesses that we believe share many of our sensibilities … There is a true sense in Frederick that the small businesses are working together to build something great, and we love being a part of that effort. —Jim Caruso, CEO/Ben Savage, CMO

100 EMPLOYEES What do you foresee for your business and/or the economy in 2018? We believe that the economic strength of Frederick is only going to continue to grow in 2018. Between the number of individuals moving in, the diversity of cultures that are now dwelling here, the continuing expansion of homes and businesses that are sprouting up, and the fact that so many outside the area see Frederick now as a destination location, we believe our beloved Frederick community will continue to experience great prosperity. —June H. Rutkay, general sales manager

310 EMPLOYEES

ESTABLISHED 1990

ESTABLISHED 1966

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FoodPro

Frederick Memorial Healthcare Systems

321 E. 5th St. | Frederick www.foodprocorp.com

400 W. 7th St. | Frederick | www.fmh.org

FoodPro started as a produce company specializing in the sale of bananas to grocery stores in Frederick County. Today, they distribute to Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland and Downtown Frederick, projecting a 15-20 percent growth in 2018. They won the 2016 UNIPRO Foodservice Key Distributor award. The company occupies 100,000square feet of space in Frederick County. Everyone who works at Food Pro is an employee-owner with stock ownership in the business and an interest in its continued success. Why did you choose Frederick County as a business location? The family grew up in the area and its roots are still here. We still love Frederick County; it’s perfectly located for our distribution. —Dennis Barry, director of marketing/Scott Brunk, president

120 EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED 1935

Frederick Regional Health System is known for the care provided at Frederick Memorial Hospital, with a full array of diagnostic and treatment services including specialized cardiac intervention, neonatal intensive care and behavioral health services. There are more than 15 ambulatory locations, providing radiology, lab, rehabilitation, urgent care, primary and specialty care physicians — including major investments in the cancer service line. What do you foresee for your business and/or the economy in 2018? Our business continues to expand beyond the walls of the hospital. For the past few years, our goal has been to reach people in the community before they are sick enough to need a hospital visit. We continue to make investments in people, technology and facilities to provide high quality treatment. —Melissa Lambdin, marketing & communications director

2,379 EMPLOYEES

ESTABLISHED 1902

Homewood at Frederick 7407 Willow Road | Frederick | www.homewood.com

Homewood at Frederick, a private notfor-profit continuing care retirement community, is situated on 140 acres with a spectacular view of the Catoctin Mountains, offering a vibrant, maintenance-free lifestyle without obligations and worries associated with home ownership. What keeps your business in Frederick County? Frederick city is now the second largest city in Maryland. But, more importantly, it is a city with such character and warmth. We stay in Frederick County because of the people in Frederick. The majority of our staff come from the Frederick area. They are committed to serving the residents we have here on our campus. They are interesting, unique and a pure pleasure. —Meg Cliber, marketing director

310 EMPLOYEES

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ESTABLISHED 1932


HONEYWELL INTELLIGRATED SYSTEMS 4510 Buckeystown Pike | Frederick | www.intellegrated.com

Honeywell Intelligrated is a singlesource provider of intelligent automated material handling solutions that drive fulfillment productivity for retailers, manufacturers and logistics providers around the world. Through a broad portfolio of automation equipment, software, service and support, Honeywell Intelligrated solutions give businesses a competitive edge and optimize operational performance through increased flexibility, efficiency and accuracy. The company designs, manufactures, integrates and installs complete material handling automation solutions including conveyor, sortation, palletizers, robotics and automated storage and retrieval systems—all managed by advanced machine controls and software. The company has more than 3,400 associates with field operations in 10 states.

100 EMPLOYEES

ESTABLISHED 2001

Integrace BUCKINGHAM’S CHOICE 3200 Baker Circle | Adamstown | www.buckinghamschoice.org

Located on 42 scenic acres seven miles from Downtown Frederick, Integrace Buckingham’s Choice is a not-for-profit life plan community that affords residents a lifestyle of flexibility and choice to live life on their own terms.

Legal & General America 3275 Bennett Creek Ave. | Frederick www.lgamerica.com

Legal & General America is in the business of providing financial protection for American families. LGA is a top 10 provider of term life insurance in the U.S. issuing more than $48 billion in new coverage in 2016. Why did you choose Frederick County as a business location? Urbana offers an appealing lifestyle, including an easily accessible location on I-270, great housing choices, a highly rated public school system, a walkable town center, state-of-the-art public library and exciting new retail and mixed-use amenities planned for the area. Frederick County is home to a highly skilled and well educated work force. —Michael Behlmaier, vice president, marketing

400 EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED 1836

What do you foresee for your business and/or the economy in 2018? We plan to continue our tradition of reinvention to meet the changing needs of the marketplace. We want to deepen our partnerships in greater Frederick and work collaboratively to create more opportunities for meaningful living. We envision becoming a community without walls. —Kimberly Paddison-Herr, director of sales and marketing

200 EMPLOYEES

ESTABLISHED 2002

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Lonza

METALFAB, INC.

8830 Biggs Ford Road | Walkersville www.lonza.com

7340 Executive Way | Frederick | www.metlfab.com

Lonza is one of the world’s leading suppliers to the pharmaceutical, biotech and specialty ingredients markets, harnessing science and technology to create products that support safer and healthier living and that enhance the overall quality of life. In addition to drinking water sanitizers, antidandruff agents and other personal care ingredients, the company provides agricultural products, advanced coatings and composites and microbial control solutions that combat dangerous viruses, bacteria and other pathogens. Founded in the Swiss Alps, Lonza today has more than 50 major manufacturing and research and development facilities including in the United Kingdom, Belgium, India, Brazil, China and Singapore.

464 EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED 1897

Metalfab is a precision sheet metal and machined product manufacturer, primarily for the defense industries (air, land and sea). Metlfab is able to provide a turnkey solution starting with the raw manufacturing of the part, to finishing the product, offering top level assembly, wet painting, powder coating, plating, silk screening and UV printing. What would surprise people about your business? I think the most surprising aspect of our business is what is behind our doors considering the type of business park that we are in. When your drive around our building it looks like a "small office" environment. One would not expect to see a full blown manufacturing facility with over 20 CNC machines. —Peter Allen, president

40 EMPLOYEES

ESTABLISHED 1975

MISCELLANEOUS METALS 8301 Retreat Road | Walkersville | www.miscmet.com

Miscellaneous Metals started as a small steel fabrication shop with five or six employees. Now there are multiple million-dollar jobs and a staff of 135. In October 2015, they moved to a new facility which nearly tripled the amount of space. Miscellaneous Metals provides steel stairs, steel railings and ornamental railings for (mostly) commercial jobs. They have jobs with stadiums, theatres, apartment buildings, museums and schools. What’s keeping your business in Frederick County? We chose to stay in Frederick when we upgraded our facility in 2015 because Frederick and the surrounding areas are great communities. The majority of our employees live in and around Frederick and we really can’t imagine being anywhere else. The location is ideal for where we do business, but to be perfectly honest, we stay because we love Frederick and the community. This is home. —Benjamin Walz, director of finance & technology

135 EMPLOYEES

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ESTABLISHED 1977


MORGAN-KELLER CONSTRUCTION 70 Thomas Johnson Drive | Frederick www.morgankeller.com

Morgan-Keller was founded as a family-owned residential construction company in Wolfsville. Ralph W. Morgan handled the interiors, carpentry and office work, while Lawrence Keller looked after masonry operations. In the early days, Morgan-Keller concentrated on single-family ‘spec’ homes and soon completed entire developments. Morgan-Keller recently received half of the first place awards at ABC Cumberland Valley’s Excellence in Construction Awards Ceremony. The Cumberland Valley Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors Inc. is a trade association for contractors in the tri-state area. What do you foresee for your business and/or the economy in 2018? We foresee continued economic growth and success in 2018 and beyond. Multi-family, industrial and senior-living construction will continue to be strong markets for us. Frederick County offers a strong quality of life that allows us to recruit and retain strong team members. —Dina Davis, corporate marketing manager

271 EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED 1955

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Music & Arts Frederick National Laboratory for cancer 5295 Westview Drive | Frederick www.musicarts.com

research/Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc. 8560 Progress Dr. | Frederick | www.frederick.cancer.gov

The first Music & Arts, run by founder Benjamin O’Brien, was in a small house in Bethesda. Music & Arts now has more than 500 retail and affiliate locations, 120 educational representatives and teaches over 1.5 million lessons per year, making it the nation’s largest school music retailer and lesson provider. They offer services for everything musical including instruments, lessons, rentals and repairs.

The Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research—operated by Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc. for the U.S. National Cancer Institute—is dedicated to improving human health through discovery and innovation, focusing on cancer, AIDS and the rapid response to threats from emerging infectious diseases. What do you foresee for your business in 2018? We have initiated several new programs and hope to see those grow. We have a new cryo-electron micro-scopy facility that scientists from around the country can access to make the best ever 3D images of proteins. —Frank Blanchard, director of public affairs and communications

2,100 EMPLOYEES Why did you choose Frederick County as a business location? Frederick County offers an excellent location for a business. Reasonable distance from major airports and cities, great community partnership opportunities for the music community and the people who live here are hardworking and innovative. —Kathleen Morgan Bellamy, regional marketing manager

357 EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED 1952

ESTABLISHED 1972

NVR, Inc. 1000 Apples Church Road | Thurmont | www.nvrinc.com

NVR, Inc. operates in two business segments: homebuilding and mortgage banking. The homebuilding unit sells and constructs homes under the Ryan Homes, NVHomes and Heartland Homes brands. As a corporate entity, NVR, Inc. provides various support functions for each of its sub-entities, including sales and marketing support, vital human resource specialists and an advanced information technology department, which provide a network of resources utilized by NVR, Inc. holdings. NVR builds homes in 29 metro areas and 14 states. What would surprise people about your business? NVR, Inc. built 300,000 homes in the last 65 years.

517 EMPLOYEES

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ESTABLISHED 1948


The Plamondon Companies

ProList

4991 New Design Road | Frederick | www.plamondonhospitalitypartners.com

4510 Buckeystown Pike | Frederick www.prolist.com

Plamondon Enterprises Inc. own and operate 24 Roy Rogers Restaurants and oversee 30 franchise locations in the MidAtlantic region. Plamondon Hospitality Partners own and operate nine hotels in three states. Locally you will see the Marriott properties in Frederick and Hagerstown which are owned by PHP. Why did you choose Frederick County as a business location? Peter Plamondon Sr., the father of current co-presidents, Peter Plamondon Jr. and James Plamondon, started the company in 1980 in an emerging Frederick market by opening the Roy Rogers Restaurant on U.S. 40. Frederick County’s community is a great place to headquarter and host restaurants and hotels, with active community and caring residents, and we have proximity to the metro area. —Katrina Wyand-Yurish, director of human resources

1,000 EMPLOYEES

ESTABLISHED 1980

PLEASANTS PAVING 7700 Grove Road | Frederick | www.pleasantspaving.com

Pleasants Paving is one of the area’s largest asphalt manufacturers, providing the paving material to a wide variety of contractors from highway projects to parking lots.

ProList is a full-service provider of direct mail and direct marketing services. They provide database management, data processing, production management and mailing and fulfillment services to a wide variety of organizations and customers primarily in and around the Washington, D.C. area. More than 35 percent of the workforce has been with the firm 10 years or more. What do you foresee for your business and/or the economy in 2018? We have experienced tremendous growth in the last 12 months and expect to see that trend continue as organizations look for tried and true ways to get their messages out to their respective audiences. There also continues to be some contraction in our competitive space creating higher demand. —Dave Lokos, president & CEO

77 EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED 1989

What awards or accolades would you like to mention? We have been honored to receive many awards from the Maryland State Highway Department as well as local agencies and private industry associations, but our most valuable award is the satisfaction of the families we employ. We strive to have a safe work culture of well-trained professional equipment operators and truck drivers. It is very rewarding to be able to provide safe and stable employment for these families in our community. —Eric Newquist, president

200 EMPLOYEES

ESTABLISHED 1941

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Stulz Air Technology Systems, Inc. 1572 Tilco Drive | Frederick | www.stulz-usa.com

Starting in Germany, STULZ America was founded in Frederick in the 1980s and in 2001 purchased Air Technology Systems, Inc. in Frederick. They are a privately-owned, global manufacturer of precision air conditioners, air handlers, ultrasonic humidifiers, desiccant dehumidifiers and custom solutions, specifically for industrial, commercial, and secure mission critical applications.

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What do you foresee for your business and/or the economy in 2018? The data center industry is evolving quickly and we expect to see the most growth in 2018 with our custom indoor and rooftop air handlers, micro and modular data centers and other mission critical applications such as grow room facilities. —Judy Prosser, marketing communications specialist

396 EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED 1950


Saputo Dairy Foods USA

RR Donnelly

428 E. Patrick St. | Frederick | www.unordinarydairy.com

1 Poplar Ave. | Thurmont www.rrdonnelly.com

Through the Dairy Foods Division (USA), Saputo produces, markets and distributes in the U.S. a variety of dairy and non-dairy extended shelf-life products including cream and creamers, ice cream mixes, whipping cream, aerosol whipped toppings, iced coffee, half and half and value-added milks, as well as sour cream and cottage cheese. What’s keeping your business in Frederick County? The people and strong ties to the community are a large part of what keeps Saputo in Frederick County. As we continue to grow we anticipate our employment needs will be fulfilled with a strong work force and commitment to succeed that has been evident in the past in Frederick. —Steven Park, plant manager

111 EMPLOYEES

ESTABLISHED 1954

SKYWORKS SOLUTIONS 5520 Adamstown Road | Adamstown | www.skyworksinc.com

Skyworks Solutions, through its whollyowned subsidiary Trans-Tech, is the industry leader in technical ceramics materials. With over 60 years of experience, they offer a complete line of high-quality, low-cost ceramic-based materials for a number of RF and microwave markets including wireless communications, infrastructure, military, cable television and broadband access. Their processes—from raw materials to forming, firing, finishing, assembling and testing—produce the best and most consistently reproducible components for both low and high volume requirements.

RR Donnelly provides companies with communications solutions that span the lifecycle of a program, while their individual capabilities can support a specific project or phase. From digital to print, creative development to fulfillment and logistics, they augment tactics with consultative expertise. They help create, manage, deliver and optimize communications with a comprehensive set of capabilities and expertise—communications that spark conversations, motivate customers, build brand loyalty and grow profits. RR Donnelly embarks on projects with the desire to discover new ways of working, communicating and helping customers create the connected experiences that drive success.

395 EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED 1950

What awards or accolades would you like to mention? We were named to Forbes 2017 list of American’s Top Public Companies and Fortune’s list of the 100 fastest growing companies. —Dan Tipsord, director and general manager

155 EMPLOYEES

ESTABLISHED 2002

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Tamko Building THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC Products 7305 Executive Way | Frederick | www.thermofisher.com

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. helps its customers accelerate life sciences research, solve complex analytical challenges, improve patient diagnostics, deliver medicines to market and increase laboratory productivity.

4500 Tamko Drive | Frederick www.tamko.com

With the manufacturing of the company’s first shingle, one thing remains the same: a commitment to constantly moving the industry forward with a wide variety of building products. The decades of success is the direct result of teamwork, enduring relationships with customers, suppliers and employees and a company-wide commitment to continuous improvement. What awards or accolades do you want to mention? TAMKO recently donated $100,000 to assist those impacted by Hurricane Harvey and another $100,000 to assist with recovery in Puerto Rico. —Ron Cook, communications director

150 EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED 1944

What would surprise people about your business? Within the Life Science Business of Thermo Fisher Scientific, we currently have the largest cold chain and ambient distribution center within North America. Our warehouse currently employs 165 distribution employees and we are expecting continued growth in 2018. In addition, we have over 400 employees at the Frederick site and also expect continued growth for 2018. Our business has a strong investment in Innovation for cell culture, providing researchers with the tools and technologies that enable them to harness the power of cells to improve human health. Essentially, we develop and make everything a scientist needs to culture cells in the lab. —Charlotte McCormack, public relations

565 EMPLOYEES

ESTABLISHED 1956

Toys R US Distribution Center 7106 Geoffrey Way | Frederick | www.toysrus.com

At Toys“R”Us and Babies “R”Us the purpose is to be champions of play and parents’ best friend. They believe the first 12 years of a child’s life are the most important to shaping their future and want to build a company that empowers parents to know and inspires kids to play and grow. What do you foresee for your business and /or economy in 2018? We expect the retail industry will continue to evolve at a rapid rate as it has during the past year. We know customers have increasingly high expectations of the shopping experience, whether online or in stores so we must remain focused on our brands. Childhood is an incredible journey for parents and kids and we take pride and joy in making it fun and better for both. —Ken Nesnidol, general manager

320 EMPLOYEES

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ESTABLISHED 1957


United HEalthCare 800 Oak St. | Frederick | www.unitedhealthgroup.com

United Healthcare is dedicated to helping people in Maryland and nationwide live healthier lives by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. In Maryland, UnitedHealthcare serves nearly 900,000 people, with a network of 82 hospitals and 25,673 physicians and other care providers. What do you foresee for your business and/or the economy in 2018? The U.S. health care system will continue to evolve during 2018 as employers, health care providers and consumers continue to look for new ways to reduce costs and improve health outcomes. As the nation’s largest health and well-being company, we have a unique opportunity to drive significant enhancements that will improve health care access, quality and affordability for consumers, employers and taxpayers. —Brad Alexander, regional communications director

750 EMPLOYEES

ESTABLISHED 1977

Wells Fargo Home Mortgage 8480 Stagecoach Circle | Frederick | www.wellsfargo.com/mortgage

Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is one of the nation’s largest financial institutions, serving one in three U.S. households and employing approximately one in 600 working Americans. The two major offices in Frederick housing the consumer lending teams are legacy offices from Prudential Home Mortgage, later acquired by Norwest Mortgage. Wells Fargo merged with Norwest in the late 1990s. They are the number one provider of private student loans among banks and the number two provider of student loans overall.

WRIGHT MANUFACTURING 4600 Wedgewood Blvd. | Frederick www.wrightmfg.com

Wright Manufacturing designs and builds quality commercial landscaping equipment for the professional landscaper, endeavoring to provide a reliable, sturdy and efficient product to help landscapers operate a successful business. What would surprise people about your business? Perhaps what many would not realize about Wright Manufacturing is that we design, build, and ship commercial lawn care equipment from our Frederick location to various destinations all over the world. The business is owned and operated by the Wright family, longtime residents of Frederick County. —Andrea Vaughan, vice president of human relations

130 EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED 1981

What would surprise people about your business? Since 2012, Wells Fargo has partnered with Military Warriors Support Foundation to donate 350 mortgage-free homes to veterans nationwide.

1,708 EMPLOYEES

ESTABLISHED 1997

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Written by Gina Gallucci-White Photography by Turner Photography Studio


A

t a typical fast food chain restaurant, guests usually have their standard choice of a sandwich or burger, French fries and a drink. Walk into any Roy Rogers Restaurant and customers will find not only fries as a side but eight other options: baked potato, fruit cup, mac & cheese, baked beans, mashed potatoes, side salad, coleslaw and baked apples.

Food is a Hearty Part of the Local Economy

They also can head to the fixing bar to custom create their burger. Not a pickle fan? Skip it. Tons of onions? Yes please! Several layers of lettuce? Pile it on! “No other brand really does that where the guest is really in control,” says Jim Plamondon, co-owner of Plamondon Hospitality Partners which runs the Roy Rogers brand. “They can make decisions as to what they want to put on it themselves. I think that sets us apart from the competition.”


The brand, which will mark 50 years in 2018, has 55 restaurants in six states in the Mid-Atlantic region including eight in Frederick County along with their corporate headquarters. Plamondon's father, Pete Sr., opened the first Frederick Roy Rogers on the Golden Mile in 1980. The elder Plamondon worked for Marriott running the restaurant division which included Roy Rogers restaurants but decided to go out on his own and open a franchise. He would open more than 10 additional locations before selling the business to his two sons in 1998. The pair’s Hospitality Partners company would buy the brand from Hardee's in 2002. Known to offer ‘The Holy Trio’ of roast beef, fried chicken and burgers, Plamondon says their restaurant is unique because others don’t offer such variety. “We consider Roy Rogers to be a cut above a typical fast food concept,” he says. “...Our focus is on quality, variety and choice and we don’t believe any other fast food restaurant

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Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, one of their most popular items is the Gold Rush Chicken sandwich featuring breaded chicken, bacon, Monterey Jack cheese and sweet barbecue sauce. really does that. We think we are positioned somewhere between fast food and fast casual (restaurants).” Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, one of their most popular items is the Gold Rush Chicken sandwich featuring breaded chicken, bacon, Monterey Jack cheese and sweet barbecue sauce. With the company always in product development, Plamondon could not yet discuss future menu items but local folks can rejoice because their Ballenger Creek site is one of their test kitchens where new recipes are created.


Partnering with local farms, Dairy Maid Dairy, 259 E. 7th St., produces fresh milk and also carries an array of other products including eggs, ice cream mixes and cottage cheese. The plant produces almost two million half-pints of milk weekly for schools and institutions.

No matter what your stomach and tastebuds are craving, Frederick is home to a number of national food and drink companies that will satisfy them. You may be surprised to know some of the brands in your refrigerator or cabinet are made by companies with offices in the county. They include the following: Bimbo Bakeries USA has several brands under its label including Thomas’ favorites at the breakfast table, bread leader SaraLee, hot dog and burger bun producer Ball Park and beloved sweet tooth satisfier Entenmann’s.

Bimbo Bakeries USA has several brands as part of its label, such as breakfast favorites from Thomas’ including English muffins and bagels as well as doughnuts and other bakery sweets from Entenmann’s. For lunches there’s Sara Lee bread for making sandwiches.

Since 1894, Dairy Maid Dairy has partnered with local farms to produce safe, quality fresh milk for consumers ranging from whole to fat free skim to milk with flavorings, including double chocolate. Additional products include half-and-half, heavy whipping cream, buttermilk and eggnog. Dairy Maid also carries an array of other products including eggs, ice cream mixes, cottage cheeses and sour creams available in an assortment of sizes for businesses from food service distributors to grocery stores and restaurants to the little store on the corner.

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Dairy Maid DAIRY

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Dwayne McMahan, sales manager, says Dairy Maid Dairy is currently undergoing a major plant expansion “which will significantly increase our plant capacity, allowing us to seek other great opportunities to continue to grow.” Already, the plant produces almost 2 million half-pints per week for local schools and institutions. Dairy Maid is 100 percent farmer owned. Internationally-known Saputo has a USA division producing a vast array of cheese products under customer brand names including Stella (Italian), Salemville (blue and Gorgonzola) and Black Creek (assorted cheddars).

No matter what your stomach and tastebuds are craving, Frederick is home to a number of national food and drink companies that will satisfy them. Their Dairy Foods Division produces, markets and distributes dairy and non-dairy extended shelf-life products under the DairyStar and Friendship Dairies brands. Plant manager Steven Park says that “We manufacture more than 10 million single-serve cups of portion-controlled non-dairy creamers daily.”

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Available in 26 states currently and exported to Europe, the brewery came to Frederick in 2006 after relocating from Colorado. “I think really what we stand for is we are generally hop-forward,” he says. “A lot of our beers are hop-forward. That’s just who we are as a brand personality and what our brewers like to do but overall I think we like to really push the boundaries of what a beer style can be. I think the American Craft Brewing movement has really done that overall and we are certainly leading the charge on that.”

LET ‘EM DRINK BEER Any given year, the Frederick-based Flying Dog Brewery will offer between 40 to 45 different beers—some available year round with others as seasonal favorites or limited releases. Their most popular craft beers include Raging Bitch Belgium IPA, Bloodline Blood Orange Ale and Snake Dog India Pale Ale. “We are typically not bound by traditional standards of what beer styles might be,” says Ben Savage, chief marketing officer. They try to combine flavors that others have not, like ‘Bitch’s IPA’ and Belgium style beer or adding blood orange into beer for ‘Bloodline.’

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Available in 26 states currently and exported to Europe, the brewery came to Frederick in 2006 after relocating from Colorado. “I think (Frederick) is a really great spot for us and we couldn’t be more excited,” he says. In a $2.6 million acquisition, the company bought 31 acres in the city late last year to one day build a new, larger facility. Savage says there is no new update on the planned site. Since many like to better understand where their food and drink come from, the brewery offers tours of their facility. “We think that coming out to the brewery is a great experience,” Savage says. “...We try to be as accessible as possible. We’d love to have many people come out to the brewery as possible.”


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AT A GLANCE

The Frederick County Office of Economic Development

From left to right: Jodie Bollinger, Business Development Specialist; Sharon Hipkins, Administrative Assistant; Helen Propheter, Director; Sherman Coleman, Business Development Specialist-Minority Business Outreach; Heather Gramm, Assistant Director; Katie Albaugh, Business Development Specialist-Agriculture; Britt Swartzlander, Administrative Specialist for ROOT; and Sandy Wagerman, Business Development Analyst.

The Frederick County Office of Economic Development (OED) is a department within the Executive Branch of Frederick County Government. Located at ROOT, a one-stop business and technology cultivation center in the heart of Downtown Frederick, OED has the resources to get businesses connected. OED provides businesses with tools such as site selection assistance, redevelopment services, incentives and research. OED has a full-service staff engaged in a multi-faceted approach to business attraction, expansion, retention, and marketing.

» In addition to the staff, the OED also has a BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY CABINET that was created in 2015 to share ideas, solutions and creative approaches to business development concerns and issues facing Frederick County. The AGRICULTURE BUSINESS COUNCIL was formed to investigate and implement ways to promote, develop and preserve the ag-industry in Frederick County.

» The office is also home to Brandon Mason, Frederick County Small Business Development Center consultant and regional technical liaison and Maria McElhenny, Maryland Women’s Business Center consultant.

118 N. Market St. | Frederick, MD | 21701 | 301.600.1058 | 800.248.2296 | www.discoverfrederickmd.com

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MON-FRI 8AM-5PM (call ffor or weekend weekend hours) hours)

ory S Factor

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FROM HISTORY’S STRONG ROOTS TO

A Bright Future Frederick County has long maintained a spirit of hard work and creativity. From Frederick’s downtown—a hub for commerce as seen in this circa 1907 photo of C. Thomas Kemp Dry Goods— to county farmers growing food that was shipped around the country, Frederick was a place that fostered a strong livelihood for its citizens. That tradition continues today. Downtown remains an attraction for residents and visitors alike with a multitude of restaurants and shops, as well as other businesses and offices. Agriculture remains a strong part of the local economy and manufacturing’s place is secure. Adding to this is Frederick County’s embrace of technology, bioresearch and other cutting edge jobs. We are a county of small businesses selling to neighbors as well as having companies that operate on a global scale. We are a county embracing the future with the same enthusiasm as when we first began.

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C. Thomas Kemp Dry Goods, circa 1907






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