Jobs : Innovation + Job News

Baltimore's Pure Bang Games is growing. The social games developer recently added star game designer Eric Ruth, developer of Pixel Force, to their roster and they're looking for more help as they launch new projects.

The company is looking for a top user interface designer as well as “rock star” front-end and back-end programmers, says Pure Bang CEO Ben Walsh. Ideally, the new hire will know AS3 Flash and/or PHP and MySQL, but if they know object-oriented programming, Pure Bang can teach them what they need to know to be mobile and Facebook programmers, Walsh says.

Pure Bang Games has a busy 2012 planned. The company is planning to launch their third mobile app game in the first quarter of this year. Pure Bang Games also plans to launch a new game by Eric Ruth.

Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Ben Walsh, Pure Bang Games

The Center for Digital Government and Government Technology recently named Baltimore as one of the top 10 digital cities in the country. Baltimore was ranked at number 9 on the list. The survey ranks cities based on a number of criteria to determine which are using technology to the greatest benefit of its citizens.
 
In its eleventh year, the Center for Digital Government Digital Cities Survey is conducted annually. The survey is the first and only survey model providing a sustained assessment of city governments’ use of information and communications technology. The Center for Digital Government’s Digital Cities Performance Institute identifies and promotes best practices and emerging trends in the public sector IT community.
 
The survey uses a number of criteria to determine which municipalities make the cut, and which aren't quite keeping up with technology. The top 10 cities are selected in four different population based categories. Municipalities are then judged on their commitment to technology use,  the impact of technology  across multiple municipal program areas, measurable progress on technology use and initiatives from the prior year, cost savings in hard and soft dollars across the municipality brought to city programs and departments as a result of technology use, innovation in adding new technology and using new technology tools and an attitude toward technology that demonstrates a spirit of  effective collaboration.
 
This is Baltimore's first appearance in the top 10.

Writer: Amy McNeal
Sources: Baltimore City, Government Technology

A newly launched company on Kent Island aims to change the way that retail and service industry workers find jobs. JobOn is using an online platform, complete with video, to connect retail and service industry workers looking for jobs and employers looking for help. JobOn offers job seekers the opportunity to post recorded video interviews to save them the running around that can be a big part of looking for a service industry job.

"Our objective is to improve the job search experience for seekers. We no longer want them to go to multiple stores, fill out paper applications, go home and wait for a call to come back for an interview. Now, using a webcam or smart phone, they can offer a recorded interview first and send it to several possible employers. Their search is more efficient and they have a better platform to showcase their skills." says Chris Ourand, Chief Marketing officer at JobOn.

JobOn was launched on September 13th at the DEMO conference in Santa Clara, California. The company was founded by former DICE executive Jody Presti and IT expert Dave Atherton. The site offers opportunities from over 200 employers from Maryland and the surrounding area. "We are excited that we have launched at a time when the market is perfect for our product. Technology is readily available with most people having webcams and smart phones, and the need is tremendous. From the results of the last six weeks we expect the concept to take off and the business to grow steadily for quite some time," continues Ourand.

JobOn hopes to expand its service to include job opportunities from across the nation in the future.

Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Chris Ourand, JobOn

http://www.jobon.com/

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

On Wednesday, October 26th, The Arc Baltimore will honor three Baltimore employers at its "Employers of Distinction" event at the Crowne Plaza in Timonium. This event celebrates National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and is designed to showcase companies that have hired people with physical and developmental disabilities through The Arc Baltimore's employment programs.

The three employers chosen -- Ace Uniform, The Guilford Association, and WJZ-TV 13 -- will be honored by The Arc Baltimore as Partners in Distinction. The companies will be honored for hiring people with disabilities supported by The Arc Baltimore's programs for a variety of  jobs including landscaping crews, janitorial positions, and workforce support.

"The leadership demonstrated by these companies and others like them in employing persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities sends a strong message to the entire business community that these individuals not only can be productive members of the workforce, but also can contribute to the success of your business if only they are given the opportunity," says Stephen H. Morgan, Executive Director of The Arc Baltimore.

The annual "Employers of Distinction" event was established to show support for employers who hire workers from The Arc Baltimore's program. Last year's winners were Applebee's of Catonsville, Superfresh of Glen Burnie, Superfresh of Perry Hall, The Maryland Zoo, UMBC, University of Maryland Physicians, and WMAR-TV 2.

The Arc Baltimore was established in 1949 and  currently supports over 4,000 Baltimore City and Baltimore County residents with disabilities and their families.


Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: The Arc Baltimore 

Moody's Analytics recently released their Job Growth forecast, and the results are stagnant for Maryland. Moody's used the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey to gather data. The data in the analysis is based on employment and industry trends from the CES survey's averages of  national, state and metro data through second-quarter 2011. The analysis continues to project jobs growth and industry forecasts through the second quarter of 2015.

The numbers for Maryland show growth in the area job market at projected to be at a near standstill through the second quarter of 2012. Moody's anticipates a change of 0.2% in the Baltimore area jobs market through that period. According to the report, jobs growth in the Baltimore Metro region is not expected to reach a full percentage point until 2013.

The report also breaks down jobs growth by industry. In Moody's one year jobs growth projections, the largest gains in the Baltimore metro region are seen in Natural Resources & Mining. This includes jobs related to agriculture, fishing, mining, and alternative energy. Moody's sees a potential 15.1% growth for the area in this sector. 

The second most promising sectors in the Baltimore jobs forecast are Professional and Business Services and Education and Health Services. Moody's predicts a 2.2% one year growth in both of these sectors. Professional and Business services includes science and technology jobs and professional management and administrative services. The Education and Health category includes hospitals, medical labs, and universities.

The biggest decreases are predicted for Construction at -3.2%, Transportation and Warehousing at -1.5% and Utilities at -2.0%. Other industries, including Retail and Hospitality, are predicted to stay stagnant through 2012, with less than 1% change in available jobs.


Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Moody's Analytics

The Maryland Technology Development Corporation, a state-sponsored agency to encourage technological and entrepreneurial development in Maryland, is hosting the event "2011 ENTREPRENEUR EXPO: Harnessing the Power of Innovation in Maryland" on November 14 at the BWI Marriott. The event is designed to serve as a kick off for Global Entrepreneurship Week in Maryland.

The program of events includes a prize competition entitled "Entrepreneurial Launch Pad" in which conference participants are offered 3 minutes on stage in a conference hall to explain to a panel of judges and audience members what their business is doing that is innovative. Prizes will be awarded to the most innovative entrepreneur.

The Expo will also offer a Marketplace exhibition hall where Maryland companies and emerging entrepreneurs can showcase what their companies are doing with exhibits and demonstrations. The Marketplace will offer a Town Square central area with interactive programming and curated sessions by Betascape. Attendees will also have the opportunity to search for a mentor at the Meet Your Mentor event, a speed networking event with over 50 service providers and entrepreneurial support organizations participating.

Early Bird registration is available through October 20th.


Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: TEDCO

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 inaugural Small Business Survival Summit was held at the Baltimore Convention Center on September 7 -9. The idea for the Small Business Survival Summit grew from a grassroots effort spearheaded by founders PJ and Patrick Chambers, the minds behind the Harford County web design firm WebIXI. The master of ceremonies for the event was Bob Paff, a noted local motivational speaker and founder of Integrated Benefits Corporation.

The workshops, lectures, and networking events were tailored to the needs of small business owners. Workshops including "Getting Social Media Savvy- Building Your Buzz Online" and "Social Media Blueprint" were designed to offer introductory and intermediate lessons to small business owners looking to increase their online presence. Marketing was featured prominently in the majority of the Summit's workshops.

"You can make the best cupcakes or coffee, but what does it matter if you don't promote it?" Paff says.

Workshops on obtaining government contracts, upcoming legislation relevant to small business owners, logistics, and employee relations were also offered. The Small Business Survival Summit featured specific activity tracks dedicated to Marketing (Traditional, Online and Social Media tracks), Non Profits, Leadership & Organization and Government and Your Small Business, to allow business owners to easily keep up with the topics of interest to them.

"We're looking to do this every year," Paff continues. "Small business is the backbone of this country."

Also on the program of activities were networking events and lectures. Evening banquets featured entertainment and inspirational talks from luminaries, including speeches by Dr. Ben Carson and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.


Writer: Amy McNeal
Sources: Small Business Survival Summit, Bob Paff

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.

The National Healthcare Career Network has added several new partners to its job board alliance. The Hunt Valley-based company specializes in making connections between job seekers in the healthcare industry and recruiters looking for healthcare workers with specialized skills.

"By having intrinsic knowledge of the industry, we're able to develop solutions that address specific talent acquisition needs. We continuously gather feedback from employers to understand their challenges in order to create practical, cost-effective products and services," says Carol Barber, Managing Director at the National Healthcare Career Network.

First established in 2008, NHCN is an alliance of 267 healthcare professional association and trade group job boards. One of NHCN's founding partners was the American Hospital Association. The company recently announced that it has entered into new partnerships with three organizations. The Interamerican College of Physicians & Surgeons, the National Society of Genetic Counselors, and The American Academy of Ophthalmologists joining the NHCN means that the company now has connections to 60 physician-based organizations with over half a million members.

"Healthcare is the only industry that has continually added jobs in this recession. That said, the openings tend to be very specialized and not at the entry-level. Like all industries, healthcare has felt the effects of the economy and must be very targeted and efficient in recruiting," Barber says.

The National Healthcare Career Network is also working to improve it's connections to healthcare workers with a new mobile app offering job seekers access to other things at NHCN besides just the jobs boards, including candidate screening tools and strategic counsel.


Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Carol Barber, National Healthcare Career Network

Maryland leads the country in university conducted life sciences research per capita, according to a new report published by The Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development. The Life Sciences Maryland: Jobs and Economic Impact Report was released by Governor O'Malley at the BIO 2011 International Conference in Washington, DC.

The life sciences sector has been a major source of new job growth in Maryland in the last decade. Between 2002 and 2010, the life sciences sector was responsible for one third of Maryland's job gains. Life sciences jobs pay an average of 76% more than other jobs in the state, with an average salary of more than $91,000. The majority of the region's jobs in life sciences are in Research, Testing and Medical Labs, and Drugs and Pharmaceuticals. These specializations account for 94% of Maryland's life sciences jobs.  

Life sciences activity, including private sector jobs, Federally related jobs, and academic activity accounts for 71,618 Maryland jobs, or 3% of all jobs in the state. There are 15 Federal facilities, 16 universities or colleges, and over 500 private companies conducting life sciences research in Maryland. With more than 1700 private companies supporting and producing products for the life sciences sector in the state, Maryland ranks fifth in the country for overall concentration of jobs that are directly tied to life sciences.


Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development

As BRAC enters its final phase, Maryland officials are looking for ways to ensure that job seekers are prepared to capitalize on the new opportunities that the program has brought to the area. Maryland has been awarded a $7.66 million National Emergency Grant to implement new programs for job seekers affected by BRAC. The state estimates that 6,500 people including Department of Defense civilian employees, contractors, and military spouses have been impacted by the BRAC program.

The grant is designated to fund state programs that help job seekers navigate the Federal employment system, land Federal jobs, and update their skills through training for jobs that have been brought to Maryland through BRAC. Money from the National Emergency Grant will be disbursed to employment programs administered by the Department of Labor Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning. Funding will go to Maryland One Stop Employment Centers in 18 Maryland counties and Baltimore City. The Maryland Workforce Corporation will also be involved, distributing funds to the District of Columbia as part of the grant.

BRAC is expected to create thousands of jobs in Maryland, starting as early as September of this year. The state estimates that BRAC will create 20,000 direct Federal jobs in Maryland. State officials estimate that 40,000 more jobs will be created in Maryland by 2015 through growth from BRAC and related industries.


Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: The Office of The Lieutenant Governor of Maryland

Integrated BioTherapeutics, a firm that specializes in developing vaccines for infectious diseases and countermeasures for bio-terrorism threats, is growing. The company recently moved into a new, larger facility in the Gaithersburg Accelerator.

The move to a larger facility was spurred by the need for more secure, dedicated lab space as the company develops new vaccine technology. Integrated BioTherapeutics was recently awarded a grant from The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious diseases to develop a second-generation Ebola vaccine in partnership with the University of Texas Medical Branch. The company also received a grant from NIAID in 2010 for research and development of a Staphylococcus vaccine. The second phase of that research project is due to wrap up this year. Integrated BioTherapeutics is currently working on projects to create vaccines for a host of infectious diseases, including Dengue Fever, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Marburg Viruses and Ebola. 

"We have a drive to make something that changes the world, to create a vaccine that mutes something that effects people. We strive to help others do that too," says Rob Galioto, Director of Business Development at Integrated BioTherapeutics.

Integrated Bio Therapeutics was recently honored at the inaugural TEDCO ICE awards as Company of the Year. The award was given in recognition of the company's growth. Since its launch in 2008, Integrated BioTherapeutics has secured over $30 million in government research funding, and increased its staff size from one employee to 30. The company is expecting to add five to ten staff positions in the next year.

Author: Amy McNeal

Source: Rob Galioto, Integrated BioTherapeutics

Gov. Martin O'Malley unveiled an economic agenda at Maryland's first Small Business Summit. The plan focuses on providing small businesses with access to credit, job creation and the unemployment trust fund, initiatives that the Administration plans to champion in the upcoming General Assembly session. The Governor, who co-hosted the Summit with Greater Baltimore Committee President and CEO Donald C. Fry, called on Maryland's business community to join in fighting for these proposals.

"Small and family-owned businesses are the heart and soul of our State and the key to how we're going to turn the corner from recession to recovery to prosperity," says Gov. O'Malley. "Representing nearly 98 percent of the State's employers, strengthening our small business community will help us grow and strengthen our middle class, fuel innovation, and create jobs in Maryland."

"Most economic growth in our state will be generated from within, so this commitment to small business by Governor O'Malley is very welcomed," says GBC President and CEO Donald C. Fry. "Small business is big business in Maryland and we must continue to support our small businesses and develop innovative solutions to help them grow."

The governor outlined three key initiatives as part of a broader economic agenda to help strengthen small business in Maryland and create jobs.

The first component would streamline the loan approval process for small businesses and expand access to credit by creating the Maryland Small Business Credit Recovery Program, offering a loan guaranty on small business deals through the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development's current loan guaranty program - the Maryland Industrial Development Financing Authority Program (MIDFA).

Approved banks will be able to apply for up to a $50,000 MIDFA guaranty and a Rapid Response Program will be developed that will offer a 48-hour approval turnaround on loans needed up to a $250,000 guaranty. The initiative could leverage up to $64 million in new private sector lending for small businesses.

The second part would create jobs by establishing a Job Creation and Recovery Tax Credit, which would award businesses a $3,000 tax credit for every unemployed worker it hires. The initiative, which is proposed for one year with a $20 million cap, would boost job creation and take the pressure off the State's Unemployment Trust Fund.

The final component would introduce emergency legislation to address the rate increase for small businesses to the Unemployment Trust Fund.

Source: Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development
Writer: Walaika Haskins