baltimore jobs : Innovation + Job News

The Mergis Group is adding recruiters to its team. The company is adding new recruiters to help find candidates to fill its available job openings. The Mergis Group was recently acquired by Randstad, moving it into the number two position for staffing firms and increasing its worldwide presence.

"While the overall US economy has continued in a holding pattern, we have seen increased demand for direct hire skilled professionals across the country and we believe that trend will continue. As a result, we have been consistently hiring and training recruiters and will continue to do so. Our overall recruiter headcount is up about 100 year over year and year over year gross profit growth is close to 50%, which is much stronger than anyone else in our operating space," says John Ruffini, National Director of Permanent Placement for The Mergis Group.

The Mergis Group has a large volume of available jobs in the Baltimore area. In addition to hiring recruiters, the Baltimore office is looking for accounting and finance professionals, engineers and technology professionals to place with firms looking for help. "Employers in today's market are looking to hire professionals that bring needed skills to the table. They are in search of specialized talent that can step in and add value immediately. In accounting, those professionals coming out of the Big 4 or large regional public accounting firms are in constant demand by the private sector. In technology, the demand for skilled application developers continues to be very strong," adds Ruffini.

The Mergis Group will continue to add new recruiters to its staff to search for these specialists. The company has been in Baltimore for more than 30 years and is the top firm in the Baltimore area for Accounting and Finance recruitment.

Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: John Ruffini, The Mergis Group

http://www.mergisgroup.com/index.jsp

Incite Creative, a marketing and graphic design firm, has added three new staff members. The Baltimore-based company was established by Dina Wasmer and Carl Cox in 2003. The growing firm has expanded its creative and marketing senior staff, and is searching for additional talent.

The three new hires are expected to increase opportunity for Incite Creative in several areas and foster cultural diversity. The firm is looking to expand its hotel and hospitality portfolio with the addition of Nadine Afiouni, a former team member at McCann Erickson Advertising, and a graduate of American University of Beirut, as a new Associate Creative Director. Ms. Afiouni has worked at building several brands in the Saudi market, including Hilton Hotels, The Body Shop, and Fairmont Hotels.

Maria Fuster joins Incite Creative as a new Marketing Strategist. The Notre Dame of Maryland graduate has launched several businesses in real estate and marketing, with specific focus on connecting with the Latino market.

Graphic designer and illustrator Joe Parisi is also joining the team at Incite as an Associate Creative Director. Mr. Parisi's art and design work has been featured in campaigns by The National Aquarium, ESPN, FILA, and the American Red Cross.

Incite Creative is continuing to expand staff as the economy improves. The company is currently looking to add experienced freelance graphic designers and freelance copywriters to its roster. Incite Creative is also accepting reservations for its signature Positioning Workshops, including the Full Bodied and Positioning Lite marketing workshops.


Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Dina Wasmer, Incite Creative

The Maryland Economic Development Association is turning 50. The non-profit organization was formed in 1961 with the goal of encouraging partnership and networking among the businesses and professionals involved in the economic development climate in Maryland.

MEDA will be hosting a conference in conjunction with Maryland's Economic Development Week. This is the first year for Economic Development Week, which MEDA hopes to make an annual event. MEDA, in conjunction with Comcast, will be sponsoring economic development week to highlight award-winning economic development projects in Maryland.

As a highlight of Economic Development Week, MEDA also plans to host the MEDA Fall Conference on October 28th at the Turf Valley Conference Center in Ellicott City. The MEDA 2011 Fall Conference is entitled "Economic Development: An Investment in Partnerships That Strengthens Our Competitiveness". The conference will feature programming and sessions designed to showcase new ideas in the economic development marketplace, identify areas for improvement in Maryland's economic development strategies, and celebrate the programs, projects, and people that have made a difference in Maryland's economic development landscape in 2011.

MEDA is currently accepting nominees for the 2012 MEDA awards, as well as applications for membership.


Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: MEDA

Welsh Construction remodeling is celebrating 50 years in business this month, and looking to the future with new programs and new hires. Welsh Construction Remodeling recently added four staffers -- a  residential salesperson, an insurance salesperson, a Vice President of Operations, and a marketing and digital media coordinator.

"Welsh has been so enduring because of the quality of our people, and the fact that when we do work, we do it the Welsh way. We have so many of our own craftsmen and don't subcontract a lot of work. So we are able to control the production process and the quality of our work. And our first job and our last job that we get are only as good as the experience that our customers have. So we always make sure we do the right thing," says Joe Myerhoff, President and CEO of Welsh Construction Remodeling LLC

The company is making charitable donations as part of the celebration. Welsh is running a sweepstakes in celebration of its golden anniversary, and matching charitable donations to three area causes made by sweepstakes entrants.

"As a member of the community, it was important to Welsh to embrace some type of philanthropic activity for several of the area non-profits which are each doing a lot of good. And tying it into our 50th anniversary just made an awful lot of sense. We were very happy to be able to do this," Myerhoff continues.

Welsh Construction Remodeling is planning to expand its services this year, adding roofing, innovative new types of insulation, and a Fine Homes division.


Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Joe Myerhoff, Welsh Construction Remodeling

The logistics of opening a new business can be tricky. When pursuing the idea to start a venture, entrepreneurs are faced with the choice of keeping overhead low by working from home, or engaging premises to have meeting space. That's where co-working environments like Capital Studios come into the picture.

"I travel a lot and have seen co-working spaces here and there. We wanted something very general that a lot of different groups felt comfortable in," says Mike Morris, a real estate professional who founded Capital Studios with partner Kevin Hollins.

Just opened on Bank Street, Capital Studios in The Tack Factory offers startups and entrepreneurs the opportunity to engage office space that's flexible and still affordable. Their open-plan space features modular work stations, equipped conference rooms, and office equipment. There's no concern for a budding business to get the utilities turned on or furnish an operating space. The decor is minimalist and modern. Work space, including access to conference rooms, can be rented on a daily or monthly basis.

"What this is really geared toward is the person working at a Starbucks who wants to have their mail delivered here, have a meeting, talk to the person sitting next to you," Morris says.

The newly opened facility has the capacity to provide the base for dozens of startup firms and small businesses. There are currently a dozen businesses based at Capital Studios full time. The current crop of small enterprises at Capital Studios has a tech focus. The list of firms calling Capital Studios home includes graphic designers, programmers, foreign currency traders, and members of the staff of the Baltimore division of Citybizlist.

Capital Studios is expanding the facility and will be offering additional work spaces in the near future.


Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Mike Morris, Capital Studios

Incite Creative is offering a new series of workshops designed to help start-ups launch with an understanding of how to position their enterprise for success. Dina Wasmer, President of Incite Creative, saw an opportunity to create positioning workshops that would teach entrepreneurs how to build their brand and position their business themselves rather than relying on a service to do it for them.

"Over the years we've had a number of small businesses or sole proprietors say that they love the process but can't afford it. We have created the 'Positioning Lite' workshops to provide the same information we convey in the full-bodied version, but do so at a lower price-point and just 1.5 hour investment of time. And for those who prefer the autonomy, this format is set up where we provide the tools, teach them how to do it, and they can implement it themselves, which is also appealing to some," says Wasmer.

The Positioning Lite workshops offer entrepreneurs training in forming a brand identity and a position statement for their business. The workshops focus on concepts like communicating your business's unique niche, streamlining and consistently portraying your marketing message, and figuring out ways to have your message heard. The Positioning Lite workshops also offer entrepreneurs the opportunity to connect in a small group setting.

"I think it's a tough time to start a new business. Even established businesses that have a solid reputation are struggling to get contracts signed in a timely fashion and contending with price wars. That's why it's so important that business owners have a solid market positioning that is built on a point of distinction other than price. Someone will always be cheaper, but they won't necessarily be better. Positioning is the art of striking a balance between being unique and being in demand," Wasmer says.

Incite Creative is accepting reservations for Positioning Lite workshops in August and September now.


Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Dina Wasmer, Incite Creative

Although the pace of unemployment has slowed, Maryland lost 6,746 jobs in the month of July. These job losses placed Maryland fifth in the country for job losses in the month of July according to a newly released report from job outsourcing firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

The report goes on to state that the surge in job cuts was caused by a flurry of layoffs at several major employers, including Borders and Lockheed-Martin. Lockheed-Martin is the second largest employer in Maryland.

Released August 3rd, the report shows that the largest number of national job cuts in July were in the pharmaceuticals industry, followed closely by retail and government sector jobs. This marked the first time this year that government was not the largest sector for job cuts.

There were some bright spots in the jobs report. The estimated 66,000 job cuts recorded nationwide last month are still much lower than the approximately 105,000 job cuts per month averaged between January 2008 and December 2009.

Maryland's unemployment rate has continued to trend lower than the national average. Recently released numbers from the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation show that Maryland's unemployment rate is 25% lower than the national average. Maryland's unemployment rate stands at 7 %, 2.2% lower than the 9.2% national average.


Writer: Amy McNeal
Sources: Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation; Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.

Blueprint Maryland, a non-profit, non-partisan business analysis group, released its first report, "Maryland's Business Climate and Vulnerability to Federal Downsizing" on July 25. The report focuses on potential job losses in Maryland in the wake of proposed federal spending cuts. Also included in the report is an assessment of Maryland's economic climate.

Conducted by the Sage Policy Group, the report presents an inventory of Maryland's assets in terms of education, infrastructure, quality of life, taxation, employment, intellectual capital, and other factors. The inventory aims to identify the relationships between these aspects of life in Maryland and the performance of the state economy.

The study also offers a model of the potential effects on Maryland's economy that could be caused by the proposed 22% reduction in federal spending recently recommended by the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. The study goes on to examine what impact this reduction could have on the state's employment numbers and the effects that such a reduction in federal spending could have on the state's future economic development.

The report's findings indicate that a 22% reduction in federal spending would potentially cause the loss of nearly 150,000 federally-related jobs statewide. In their model scenario, Blueprint Maryland finds that Maryland's unemployment rate could potentially rise from 6.8 percent to 11.8 percent.

The study recommends that Maryland's focus should be on increasing private sector employment, including encouraging development in the alternative energy industry, a review of Maryland's labor union laws, and retraining programs for Marylanders living in rural areas.


Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Chevy Weiss, Blueprint Maryland

Baltimore Entrepreneur James Cullen was looking for more fulfillment from life than his career as a lawyer was providing. He found an outlet for his creativity by becoming a designer of custom stickers. His growing sticker company, My Custom Sticker, recently launched a new website to sell both pop culture and custom sticker designs directly to the public.

"I was walking my dog, and I noticed that every other car in my neighborhood had a Nantucket sticker on one side of their bumper and a Maryland Club parking sticker on the other. I happen to know the Maryland Club only has 12 parking places. It struck me that people like to advertise what they do, what they're proud of, where they belong, or what they like," Cullen says.

The Hunt Valley-based company is growing. My Custom Sticker employs 9 people, but is looking to add staff. The company recently added four designs from the popular BBC television series Doctor Who to their catalog. My Custom Sticker has expanded their catalog for wide appeal, from 50 designs at launch to over 1600 designs today.

"We started out doing area-specific souvenirs using text, but what began to set us apart is our graphics. For example, we have over 100 dog breeds. We have everything from New Age to Celtic to hunting and fishing to sports. Our stickers give you an inexpensive way to display what makes you unique and how you relate to everyone else," Cullen continues.

The company is focusing now on developing a business-to-business website, allowing wholesale clients to buy in bulk or create their own designs. My Custom Sticker expects to have the new B2B site up and running by the end of this year.


Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: James Cullen, My Custom Sticker

AVF Consulting is growing. The Towson-based company offers ERP business management software and IT consulting to clients in retail, education, and the nonprofit sector. AVF recently added four new clients to its roster. Unity Healthcare, Community Options, Inc. and The Albert B. Sabin Vaccine Institute, Inc. have signed on with AVF to implement new management and accounting software. Pet supply retailer Care-A-Lot is also working with AVF on IT solutions as it moves from an online operation to brick and mortar retail.

"We're an organization that focuses on helping nonprofits deploy newer accounting systems to help them become more efficient. We bring 25 years worth of experience to the table working with similar organizations, understanding how non-profits operate. We have the professionals on staff that help them get the most out of it," says Jeremy Fass, Executive Vice President of AVF Consulting.

The company is also looking to expand staff as it develops these new projects. AVF has just added new staff to focus on its newest division - - outsourced accounting services. They're also looking for nonprofit and retail implementation consultants.

"We're hiring and growing, very selectively," Fass says. "We're focused on hiring and retaining professionals who understand how to create solutions to people's problems."

The company recently started work on a solutions study with the American Psychiatric Association to explore possibly implementing new software. The project is in the early planning phases, as the two organizations explore the feasibility of the budget and requirements.


Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Jeremy Fass, AVF Consulting, Inc.

Business coaching has been a growth industry in the economic downturn. As business owners seek new solutions to their problems, including work-life balance, growth strategies, and marketing, some entrepreneurs are adding a business coach to the company team.

"In many cases, the owner needs someone on the outside of their business to give them a different viewpoint. In other cases the owner needs to have a trusted adviser that they can be honest with and who will be honest with them. In almost all cases, the owner needs someone to serve in the capacity of an objective friend that will hold them accountable to getting results," says ActionCOACH certified business coach Gary Stokes.

Coaching fees can start at $100-500 for a one day workshop or seminar. One-on-one coaching can run into the thousands of dollars per month depending on the size and scope of the project and the business.

"Most businesses engaged in one-to-one coaching will invest around $2000 per month," Stokes says. "The average client for ActionCOACH stays with a program for over a year."

Business coaching has been trending upward in the last 5 years. In a 2010 survey of  over 1000 companies in diverse industries, The American Management Association found that 52% of them had coaching programs, and 37% of the companies that did not have a coaching program were working to implement one.


Writer: Amy McNeal
Source:  Gary Stokes, ActionCOACH; The American Management Association

Two prominent resources for job seekers, the U.S. Department of Labor and Manpower, have released reports on the employment situation in Maryland.

In the U.S. Department of Labor's May Jobs Report, Maryland is listed as one of four states with statistically significant job loss for the month. Maryland lost 13,300 non-farm jobs, placing the state fourth on the list for over the month job loss. The unemployment rate in Maryland is still below the national average, however -- 6.8%, as opposed to the national average of 9.1%.

Recruiting organization Manpower released a report on expected area third quarter hiring in Maryland.

The company's quarterly jobs survey, released June 14th, shows that 72% of the Maryland employers they surveyed intend to maintain their current staffing levels through the third quarter.

The Manpower report also includes some hopeful indicators for the Maryland jobs picture. Employers surveyed plan to decrease staff levels in the third quarter of 2011 by 5%, a significantly lower number than last year. Of the Maryland Employers surveyed, 20% intend to increase staff levels in the third quarter, up from 16% in the second quarter of 2011.


Writer: Amy McNeal
Sources: U.S Department of Labor, Manpower

Tourism is heating up for the summer in Baltimore. As the city enters a summer packed with headline-making events like the Grand Prix and Baltimore Pride, the hospitality sector is looking forward to a busy and profitable season. 

"Tourism is lifting itself, and doing very well," says Tom Noonan, President and CEO of Visit Baltimore. 

At the Inner Harbor, increased tourism spending is providing opportunities for growth. The Rusty Scupper, a staple of the Inner Harbor tourist trade, expects revenues to increase 25% this year. The National Aquarium and The Maryland Science Center are also experiencing increases in visitor traffic and revenue. Baltimore's popular free bus service, The Charm City Circulator is experiencing increased ridership, and expects to reach 2 million riders this year. 

Visit Baltimore has taken the expected increase in tourism seriously. Through its Certified Tourism Ambassador program, Visit Baltimore aims to have hundreds of specially trained personnel around the city to provide welcoming help to visitors. The program will train hospitality industry workers, police officers, cab drivers and workers in other tourism related industries to help tourists navigate the city and answer questions about history, venues and landmarks. 

"We're training a knowledgeable force, so that as a guest you'll run into someone who is certified, has taken a class and passed an exam," adds Noonan. 

Hotel occupancy is increasing, fueled by both a rebounding travel market and a healthy convention business downtown. Baltimore's hoteliers are adding approximately 2,500 new rooms to handle the increased demand. The city's hospitality profile will increase with the addition of the new Four Seasons Hotel in 2012.

Author: Amy McNeal

Source: Tom Noonan, Visit Baltimore

Change Matters, a social enterprise consulting firm, has become Maryland's first Benefit LLC. The Takoma Park-based company advises Maryland non-profit and social purpose businesses.

"This designation honors and recognizes the way we want to do business. In a balanced way. And really in a way that puts serious emphasis on community improvement and environmental stewardship. I do think that this designation is a differentiation factor," says Change Matters, Benefit LLC founder and principal Amy Kincaid.

The Benefit LLC structure is the first of its kind in the US. Maryland's Benefit Corporation law took effect last October, making Maryland the first state to recognize a specific corporate designation for companies that choose to balance financial concerns with social and environmental missions. The statute creating the designation was signed by Governor Martin O'Malley in May, 2011.

June 1, 2011 was the first day that companies could file for organization as a Benefit LLC. In addition to Change Matters, other Maryland firms are pursuing the Benefit LLC designation. Substance 151, a Baltimore-based communications firm, was the second company to file. Clean Currents, a wind and solar energy provider, has also filed for the designation.

"There are no direct, clear financial incentives to doing this. Even though I do think there is potential value to the state to encouraging this kind of business, there are no tax incentives, there are no special procurement points, marketing business development assistance, or such," continues Amy Kincaid. "I believe this kind of economic activity can generate perhaps modestly, but deeply and sustainably, local jobs and revenue and community assets, innovation toward solving social problems."

Change Matters founder Amy Kincaid will be moderating the panel discussion "Social Enterprise: When Your Business Is Changing The World" at July's ThinkBig Baltimore conference.


Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Amy Kincaid, Change Matters, Benefit LLC

Baltimore tech industry pioneer System Source in Hunt Valley is moving into a post-recession growth phase. The company is expanding operations and hiring new personnel to meet the area's rising demand for remote office management, IT training, and teleconferencing.

"In 30 years, we've lived through four recessions," says System Source President Maury Weinstein. "You have to reinvent yourself."

Opened in 1981, System Source has grown with Baltimore's tech industry. The company's newest focus is on remote managed service for small companies that can't necessarily afford to staff their own full-service IT department. System Source offers clients the opportunity to have a remote IT department that can handle their servers and equipment. The company is also expanding its portfolio of services with updated videoconferencing.

"With the price of gas, video conferencing really makes sense. For a business in Baltimore, driving to see a client nearby might not even be as economical," Weinstein continues.

System Source recently opened its 15th Learning Center classroom in Havre de Grace. The opening of this new facility is directly tied to the training opportunities created by BRAC. As more defense contracting and other BRAC-related jobs open in the area, job seekers and existing employees will need new certifications and applications training.

In response to this expansion of operations, System Source is looking to grow its team. The company is currently looking to fill 5 openings. System Source is looking for tech teachers for the Learning Centers, and sales support staff in the company's home office in Hunt Valley.

"We've seen explosive growth in some technologies," Weinstein says. "We're gearing up for something new."


Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: System Source, Chris Riley and Maury Weinstein