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ARCHIVE PROVIDENT BANK & BERNDT GROUP ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP FOR WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT Baltimore, Maryland - February 14, 2008 - Provident Bank and Berndt Group Announce Partnership for Web site Development February 14, 2008 BALTIMORE, MD—Provident Bank has selected The Berndt Group, a Baltimore, MD-based full service interactive agency, to lead a large-scale project to revamp and redesign Provident’s corporate web site. This project with Provident will continue The Berndt Group's (TBG) over 10 years of work with leading financial institutions (Mercantile, World Bank, Muni Mae/MMA Financial, Smith Barney, Calvert Funds) online. Other recent projects have included The Baltimore Museum of Art, Maryland Art Place, The Maryland SPCA, The National Aquarium, and Mannington Floors. The Berndt Group was selected by Provident because of its expertise in best practices for user experience and content management systems. The company is developing a comprehensive Web strategy for Provident and implementing a best-of-breed web site. Provident Vice President and Internet Channel Manager Andy Snyder says the web site redesign will include a complete visual overhaul of the site that includes navigation, content and graphics. “Our plan is to expand the ‘Provident Experience’ through this key delivery channel. We will build on our existing brand as ‘right size’ with enhanced online capabilities to help grow, build and retain relationships.” The overall goals for the redesign of Provident’s web site are aimed at achieving the following objectives for customers and prospects: - Deliver a clear and contemporary brand impression and value promise for Provident Bank - Grow and build customer relationships across all business lines - Provide customers with the level of services expected and needed to retain relationships President and CEO, John Berndt, commented, "We are extremely pleased to be working with Provident, which is really the last remaining significant local bank, and has been a leader in the region. It's a great opportunity for us to build a thought-leading, contemporary platform for a great local institution." The project joins other major Berndt Group account acquisitions in 2007/2008 including RWD Technologies, KCI Technologies, Johns Hopkins Children's Center, and University of Maryland School of Law, to name a few. The web redesign will be completed by summer 2008. ARHD PROVIDES 24x7 LIVE SUPPORT Eldersburg, Maryland - January 21, 2008 - On Monday January 14th, 2008, America's Remote Help Desk (ARHD) announced that their dedicated live Help Desk support is now available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. ARHD's 24x7x365 live Help Desk support is a unique service that provides their clients with a skilled technician to support their end users all day, everyday. There is typically very little wait time and no voicemail to contend with. Calls are answered in less than 30 seconds by your Help Desk technician who remotely connects to your machine within 90 seconds and solves your problem. "With live support available 24 hours a day, your company will always be able to receive help no matter when a problem occurs," stated Rich Rubinstein, President of ARHD. ARHD's Help Desk is currently supporting organizations with anywhere from 30 to over 6,000 end users. The Help Desk can resolve a wide range of computer and hardware related issues. From supporting office automation applications such as Microsoft office to handling issues like network connectivity, applications, printers and more! In an industry where response times for technical support are typically measured in hours or days, ARHD measures response in seconds and their problem resolution time in minutes. KAWG&F Recognized as a Future 50 Winner by SmartCEO Magazine Baltimore, MD January 10, 2007 – Baltimore SmartCEO magazine and Hartman Business Technology recently announced the publication’s fourth annual Future 50 winners in the January 2008 issue. Katz, Abosch, Windesheim, Gershman & Freedman, P.A. (KAWG&F), located in Timonium, MD, was among this elite group representing the 50 fastest growing companies in the Greater Baltimore area based on employee and revenue growth. These companies collectively employ 5,500 people and bring in more than $2 billion in revenues. KAWG&F has undergone considerable growth over the last few years to better meet the needs of clients. Since 2004, the firm has increased total income by 38% and employee growth by 42%. In response to the addition of more personnel, the firm has expanded its office locations to include Annapolis, MD, and Easton, MD, and is leasing 2,100 additional square feet of office space in the Timonium office as well as additional space at the Columbia location. KAWG&F has benefited from being a Maryland-based small business for the past 37 years. Starting with just two people, the firm has grown consistently and steadily for nearly four decades in a state that values small business and creates an environment where entrepreneurs can build strong businesses and relationships. Since its inception, KAWG&F has grown to become one of the top ten accounting firms in Maryland and one of the 125 largest accounting firms in the United States. UMBC's ACTiVATE Program Receives Prestigious Award Recognition Catonsville, MD 1/16/08 -- ACTIVATE, a program of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) that trains mid-career women to start and manage technology ventures, was honored by a leading national entrepreneurship organization last Saturday. The program received the U.S. Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship’s (USASBE) award for Best Specialty Entrepreneurship Education Program. Presented at the organization’s annual conference in San Antonio, Texas, the award was based on each program’s innovativeness, uniqueness, quality, effectiveness, comprehensiveness, sustainability and transferability. “The winner is the one program that demonstrates a fresh approach to adding new meaning to entrepreneurial education,” said judging panel member Stan Mandel, an executive professor at the Babcock Graduate School of Management at Wake Forest University and director of the school’s Angell Center for Entrepreneurship. “This was clearly demonstrated by UMBC in the ACTiVATE program—a great concept, implemented well, with outstanding participants.” “ACTiVATE has become a model of innovation for teaching and mentoring entrepreneurs, and we are thrilled to be recognized by a leading organization in the field of entrepreneurship,” said Ms. Armor. Said David Fink, director of entrepreneurial services at bwtech@UMBC and the ACTiVATE program director: “We felt there was a need for a new way to teach entrepreneurship and increase the commercialization of technologies. In just three years, ACTiVATE has already had a tremendous impact on the local business community.” An acronym for Achieving the Commercialization of Technology in Ventures Through Applied Training for Entrepreneurs, ACTiVATE is a joint program among Alex. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship, bwtech@UMBC Research and Technology Park, Office of Technology Development and the Center for Women in Technology (CWIT). Sponsors include the National Science Foundation, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Maryland Technology Development Corporation, Whiteford, Taylor and Preston, Constellation Energy, Wachovia Bank, Lion Brothers and Corporate Office Properties Trust (COPT). “The ACTiVATE program is just one part of UMBC’s commitment to entrepreneurship, technology transfer and workforce development,” noted Mr. Auvil, who is also one of the program’s architects. “It encourages the development of new technology companies and supports women who are interested in pursuing an entrepreneurial career.” Classes are held on Monday evenings, from January through December, and one Saturday per month at the bwtech@UMBC Incubator near UMBC’s main campus in Catonsville. Six of the companies founded by ACTiVATE graduates have entered bwtech@UMBC’s incubator program. BIOFACTURA, INC. ANNOUNCES $1 MILLION CONGRESSIONAL APPROPRIATION TO SUPPORT ITS SMALLPOX BIODEFENSE THERAPEUTIC PROGRAM Rockville, MD., January 7, 2008 - BioFactura, Inc., a privately held biopharmaceutical development company, today announced that the FY 2008 Department of Defense (DoD) appropriations law includes $1.0 million to support its Smallpox Biodefense Therapeutic Program. This funding will augment BioFactura's current DoD Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) contract and allow for accelerated pre-clinical studies to bring this critical product to US soldiers and civilians. Bioterrorism has been labeled a “Clear and Present Danger” by the US government and smallpox has been determined to be among the highest priority threats. At the present time there is no effective treatment for smallpox exposure or active infection. Although effective licensed vaccines against smallpox are available, there are risks of serious, life-threatening infection in certain individuals who receive the vaccine. Through its Smallpox Biodefense Therapeutic Program, BioFactura is developing a monoclonal antibody (mAb) based therapeutic that will treat adverse smallpox vaccination events and aims to treat other pathogenic poxvirus infections such as smallpox. Drug development is supported by a direct collaboration with the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), the nation's biodefense lab. The BioFactura/USAMRIID team has demonstrated manufacturing scale-up and consistent in-vitro activity of two lead mAb candidates. Initial animal efficacy studies in a vaccinia lethal challenge murine model are scheduled for early 2008. Darryl Sampey, President and CEO of BioFactura stated, “We are fortunate to have the support of the Maryland Delegation and the US Congress as we strive to bring lifesaving countermeasures to serious biothreats our armed forces and citizens face in the 21st century.” About BioFactura, Inc. BioFactura (Rockville, MD) is a biopharmaceutical development company focused on solving unmet medical and national security needs in the infectious disease arena. With a pipeline including therapeutics, vaccines, diagnostics, and bio-manufacturing technologies, BioFactura intends to bring critical products rapidly to market. SEVEN NEW NATIONAL AND LOCAL CLIENTS TURN TO WEBADVANTAGE.NET AS ONLINE MARKETING BOOMS HAVRE DE GRACE, MD- (11/13/07) WebAdvantage.net, a results-centric, boutique strategic search marketing and online advertising agency, has recently added seven new clients to its roster, including three national clients: National meal assembly company, Let's Dish, retained WebAdvantage.net initially for PPC Campaign Management, (Pay Per Click Campaign Management); Starlight Children's Foundation, chose Search Engine Optimization Services (SEO); and Harvard Health, sought WebAdvantage.net for consulting to help improve conversions on their website. Additional new area clients include: SSD Technology Partners, Inc. and Impact Systems for PPC campaigns and Landscape Contractors Association MD"DC"VA and Management Solutions for SEO services. With the Let's Dish campaign, WebAdvantage.net's objective plans to enhance website traffic, brand visibility, lead conversions and eventually test other online tactics. The geo-targeted campaign will deploy day-parting and customized ad messages to target busy moms, health/fitness buffs and unique gift seekers. National non-profit Starlight Foundation, (which helps seriously ill children and their families cope with their pain, fear and isolation through entertainment, education and family activities), will work with WebAdvantage.net to build program awareness and Internet searches for particular ailments. Leading medical resource website, Harvard Health, and WebAdvantage.net will focus on leveraging the traffic generated by its high search engine rankings by revising how it directs visitors into its email and sales channels. WebAdvantage.net is one of the area's leading online marketing agencies. Thomases is actively recruiting marketing talent, to accommodate her growing client base. Last year, WebAdvantage.net increased its business portfolio more than 50 percent. A 2007 Forrester report, concluded that corporate marketing executives prefer boutique agencies that specialize in digital media than staying with their traditional generalist agencies. In 2007, Nielsen reported U.S. online spending increased 23.6 percent, as print and broadcast budgets declined: Search increased 39 percent, the fastest of any online media method; Paid search (the leading and, often, most cost-effective form of online advertising) was estimated at $8.3 billion this year. PPC ad spending, the largest sector in online advertising, increased 17.7 percent (TNS). GREENHILL SAVP ANNOUNCES INVESTMENT IN BDMETRICS, INC. NEW YORK, NY- (11/27/07) - Greenhill SAVP ("GSAVP") announced today it has invested in BDMetrics, Inc. ("BDMetrics"). Greenhill SAVP led this Series C financing of $15 million with participation from existing institutional investors which included: Valhalla Partners, Grosvenor Funds, New Markets Growth Fund and Maryland DBED. As a result of this financing, Brian Hirsch, Managing Director of Greenhill SAVP, will join the BDMetrics Board of Directors. BDMetrics, headquartered in Baltimore, MD, is the creator of You-Based™ personalization technology for leading trade shows and associations and the Event365™ year-round event community technology. Specifically, BDMetrics provides the technology to power the search, personalization, media and lead generation functionality for a trade show or community's online presence. This enables the trade show owner to monetize its member base year-round through an interactive channel whereby exhibitors can place media or generate leads through the show's website or the trade show's product locator kiosks. GSAVP's investment in BDMetrics represents a continuing emphasis on backing innovative lead generation and online media companies within the technology enabled services sector. "In a relatively short period of time, BDMetrics has become the market leader in providing B2B lead generation and online media solutions to the $10 billion trade show industry. We look forward to helping the BDMetrics team build on its success to date and take the company to the next level" commented Brian Hirsch, Managing Director of Greenhill SAVP. "We are thrilled to have Greenhill SAVP as a partner and have Brian join our board as their experience in this market will provide significant value add to our business,",said Rick Geritz, founder and CEO of BDMetrics.
OCTAVE TECHNOLOGY DELIVERS THE OCTAVEX WIRELESS SENSOR FRAMEWORK TO RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LAB The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory to accelerate development of wireless sensor networking technology using software from Octave Technology. ELLICOTT CITY, MD- (11/12/07) - Octave Technology, Inc., a leader in wireless sensor software development is proud to announce that The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory has recently purchased the OCTAVEX™ Wireless Sensor Framework to accelerate development of wireless sensor networking technology at the lab. "Exciting new applications for wireless sensing technology are currently being created at APL" said Robert D'Antonio, Ph.D., Executive Vice-President at Octave. "The unique technology of the Universal Gateway within the OCTAVEX™ Framework allows APL to use any type of wireless protocol or sensor type without having to create a software layer from the ground up. This flexibility allows APL to concentrate their time on building the underlying sensor technology and use the service oriented architecture (SOA) components of Octave software to better position their sensor-based products for commercialization and integration." The OCTAVEX™ Framework can simultaneously support any number of sensor points for different types of wireless protocols including mesh networks [Zigbee, WirelessHART or proprietary platforms], active RFID tags, point to point RF sensors, and other types of smart sensors. The integration of Octave software with APL sensor technologies and expertise will accelerate the timetable for developing commercially viable wireless sensors, and do so in a more flexible and cost effective manner.
AIRBAND
COMMUNICATIONS EXPANDS WIRELESS Fixed-wireless network provider plans to double the number of base stations DALLAS & BALTIMORE - (11/13/07) - Airband Communications Inc., the industry's leading fixed-wireless company for businesses in the United States, today announced plans to expand coverage of its high-bandwidth solutions in Baltimore. As part of its national expansion strategy, Airband plans to double its total number of base stations and market reach in the Baltimore/D.C. area from nine to 18 by the end of 2008. "Baltimore has a dynamic and growing business community that we are committed to supporting," said Mark Spagnolo, president and CEO of Airband. "We are excited about offering more Baltimore businesses an alternative to last-mile access, one that is unmatched in scalability and speed to delivery, and supported by the most responsive service team in the industry." Airband owns and operates the leading fixed-wireless network based on WiMAX technology. The company focuses solely on businesses, delivering VoIP and broadband data services - including dedicated bandwidth up to GigE speeds. Airband's network bypasses the traditional wireline infrastructure, so customers benefit from faster installations, rapid bandwidth upgrades and more accessible customer care. Airband currently serves more than 3,500 customers nationwide. "When we decided to select a fixed-wireless provider, Airband was the clear choice because of its speed of delivery and very reasonable price point," said Scott Erickson, chief technology officer for Catonsville, Md.-based Erickson Retirement Communities. "From an installation and customer service standpoint, Airband could move much quicker than the local telephone company could. Additionally, they provided us with the physical path diversity that is critical in maintaining our medical-grade network." Based in Catonsville, Md., Erickson Retirement Communities is a leading provider of full-service retirement and healthcare in the U.S. The company has been an Airband customer since 2005 and leverages fixed-wireless services in several different ways, including connectivity at its new construction locations where high-bandwidth services can be quickly delivered. Today, Retirement Living TV - an Erickson-initiated cable television network targeting people 55 years of age and better - uses a 45 Mbps Airband connection for bandwidth-intensive multimedia file sharing between various locations. Erickson also uses Airband services at its headquarters and several retirement communities to ensure reliability and path diversity from its traditional wireline network. As part of the Baltimore expansion, Airband already has turned up new base stations in Owing Mills and Glen Burnie, Md., and has upgraded a facility into a base station in Silver Spring, Md. Each base station provides coverage for a three- to five-mile radius. Airband first entered Baltimore in 2005 with the acquisition of a local fixed-wireless provider. Since the acquisition, Airband has added higher bandwidth capacity and additional base stations, as well as improved the security, reliability and the performance of the existing network. Today, Airband offers a comprehensive portfolio of high-speed data, Voice over IP, virtual private network (VPN) and other managed solutions - delivered over the industry's most scalable last-mile network. Customer benefits include:
The planned Baltimore expansion is part of a larger national expansion strategy as Airband seeks to grow to new markets, as well as expand coverage in its existing markets including Austin, Texas; Charlotte, N.C.; Dallas/Fort Worth; Houston; Los Angeles; Orange County, Calif.; Philadelphia; Phoenix; Raleigh/Durham, N.C.; San Antonio and San Diego.
MILLENNIAL MEDIA RAISES $15 MILLION TO EXTEND LEADERSHIP IN RAPIDLY-GROWING MOBILE ADVERTISING MARKETPLACE Leading mobile ad networks company builds on significant momentum NEW YORK, NY - (11/6/07) - Millennial Media, the cross-platform mobile advertising company, today announced it has secured $15 million in B-round financing to aggressively extend its leadership position in the fast-growing mobile advertising industry. The company plans to intensify its investment in delivering solutions to advertisers and agencies to reach consumers via mobile devices and build on its position as a leading mobile ad network. Millennial Media's additional growth initiatives include sales and international business development to complement its premier network. This Series B funding brings the total raised in 2007 to $21.3 million. The funding was led by Charles River Ventures (CRV) and as part of the investment, Millennial Media appointed CRV's George Zachary to its board of directors. Zachary brings more than 17 years of operating and investing experience in computing and consumer technology with a successful focus on building great services and software technology companies. He led CRV's investments in Areae, Geni.com, GoTV, Skyrider, Twitter and is on each company's board of directors. Existing investors Bessemer Venture Partners and Columbia Capital also participated in the financing. "As mobile advertising moves from early adoption to broad inclusion in media planning and buying, expect the market for mobile ads to be robust," said George Zachary, board member of Millennial Media and general partner at Charles River Venutures. "With the broadest product set, choice mobile ad networks and a stellar team, Millennial Media is well-positioned to be the leader in this growing market." Millennial Media is led by a team of mobile and advertising industry veterans that helped Motion, Marketplace™ and Decktrade™, the company's flagship products, become some of the most effective mobile advertising solution in the US. These industry-leading mobile ad networks are designed specifically to best meet the diverse needs of agencies, brands and direct marketers. With Motion for rich-media user experiences, Marketplace for delivering reach and brand engagement and Decktrade for performance campaigns, the company helps advertisers succeed in meeting their objectives. "We will continue to aggressively invest in building the global mobile advertising opportunity for advertisers, and continue delivering the richest demand in the industry to publishers," said Paul Palmieri, CEO of Millennial Media. "We have an outstanding team, a vast network of strategic publishing partners and capabilities far beyond our competition. These valuable assets combined with our strong sales competencies are in place at a time when the mobile advertising market is experiencing explosive growth. Our employees, partners and investors are focused on leading this emerging market." "Rarely have I seen a company as well-positioned as Millennial Media to proactively lead a market," said Ron Elwell, Partner at Bessemer Venture Partners. "The company is one of our best performers and is clearly moving the needle with its recent partnership wins."
SMARTLOGIC SOLUTIONS STREAMLINES SCHOOL LUNCH DELIVERY BALTIMORE, MD - (10/30/07) Baltimore-based SmartLogic Solutions (SLS), a client company in Baltimore City's Emerging Technology Center incubator (ETC), has built two new interactive applications that improve service and boost efficiency for the Health e-Lunch Kids Program (HELK). HELK - available at select schools in the metropolitan areas of DC, MD and VA - allows parents to select meals and snacks from a variety of healthy alternatives and have them delivered to the children's school each day. The new web-based ordering and administrative systems built by SLS provide HELK with a scalable order and administrative platform that will help set the stage for HELK's strategic growth plans into cities and states across the country. "The system SLS built for my company has helped streamline many of my administrative tasks including my interaction with my suppliers and delivery companies," says Monica Tomasso, Founder of HELK. "Plus our customers love the new interface and say it is much easier to use than the old system we had." SLS designed the application with survey data and user inputs. The resulting fresh design is loaded with new capabilities and enhancements, enabling families to easily order healthy meals that kids enjoy. "We are excited to play a small part at improving healthy lunch deliveries to school kids of all ages." says Yair Flicker, Co-President of SLS. "We will be happy to work with HELK in the future." The new administrative system greatly improves life for administrators behind the scenes at HELK. Employees use it to manage daily lunch menus, create reports for delivery truck and manage customer information.
TYDINGS & ROSENBERG'S TIMOTHY A. HODGE, JR. APPOINTED TO THE MARYLAND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION BALTIMORE, MD - (10/19/07) Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley has appointed Tydings & Rosenberg LLP partner Timothy A. Hodge, Jr., a member of the firm's Business, Corporate and Tax Department, to the Maryland Economic Development Commission (the "Commission"). Mr. Hodge has been sworn in and will formally be confirmed by the State Senate in January 2008, when the Maryland General Assembly reconvenes. The Commission was created in 1995 to foster a positive business climate to enhance economic development in Maryland. The Commission, a partnership between the private sector and state government, is focusing on e-government and regulatory reform, minority business growth, business competitiveness initiatives, and strategies to enhance the growth and success of high tech industries in Maryland. Mr. Hodge was privileged to receive the appointment. "I am honored that the Governor has asked me to serve on the MEDC. I look forward to working with Secretary Edgerly and the Commission to advance the cause of business in Maryland," he said. Mr. Hodge's experience uniquely qualifies him to serve on the MEDC. In November 2005, he re-joined Tydings & Rosenberg LLP after serving as the Chief Legal Officer and Director of Government Affairs for 180s, Inc., an innovative maker of patented performance apparel including its signature wrap-behind-the-head ear warmers called "180s". At 180s, Mr. Hodge implemented a global strategy to protect the company's potential products. His efforts and initiatives stopped patent infringers, including three multi-billion dollar companies, and enabled 180s to retain its revenue stream from sales of key product lines. He also directed several equity and debt financings that helped 180s grow to ninth place on the INC. Magazine list of the 500 fastest growing private companies in the U.S. in 2004. 180s received the Maryland Technology Company of the Year Award from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 2004. And, for his contribution to 180s global IP strategy, Mr. Hodge was the recipient of the International Business Leadership Award from the World Trade Institute in Baltimore in 2003. In 2007, Mr. Hodge was named one of Maryland's Super Lawyers as published in The Baltimore Magazine. Mr. Hodge is active in professional and community organizations. He currently serves as the moderator of the Government Contracts Roundtable of the Greater Baltimore Technology Council. He also serves on the Biotechnology Subcommittee of the Greater Baltimore Committee and the Development and the Leadership Breakfast Committees of Catholic Charities. He is a past Trustee of Loyola Blakefield High School and past president of its Alumni Association, and a Class of 2004 graduate of the Leadership Program of the Greater Baltimore Committee.
FROM
5 TO 50 IN 3 YEARS - R2I.NTEGRATED ADAPTS AND GROWS BALTIMORE, MD-(10/10/2007) Baltimore-based R2i.ntegrated, a digital marketing communications and technology firm, is announcing the recent hiring of their 50th employee; the latest benchmark of their continuing growth and expanding national and international client base. Another source of growth has been the recent opening of the firm's Falls Church, VA office, giving them a solid foothold in the Greater Washington DC area. As a result of the opening, the new location has added area clients like XO Communications, Digital Bridge, Vovici, and TCS. R2i has also been working to increase their community presence in the area, becoming a member of area groups such as Tie-DC, Executive Biz, WIT, and The George Mason Business Alliance. The firm's growth has come as a result of the ability to identify market needs, and a willingness to adapt the firm's skill set to suit those needs. Matt Goddard, Head of the Digital Marketing Strategy and Operations at R2i, saw that many of his customers expressed a need to be able to not only design new digital media for their websites, but that the actual construction, maintenance, and ROI metrics for these web environments was truly the pain point. Matt's solution? "Continued expansion of talent and expertise in open source technologies and the adding of employees who have expertise in social network theory and social media," says Goddard. "We are also playing special attention to how content can be distributed using social media in B to B environments." R2i is divided into two groups, the technology practice and the communications group, which combine to deliver feature rich online solutions that integrate into their clients' overall strategic marketing goals "This combination of the digital marketing strategy and powerful open source technology solutions allow our clients to effectively reach more customers and has been the primary motivator for our recent customer wins," says Goddard. Staying in front of market demand is fundamental to how R2i conducts business. Utilizing a combination of applied social networking theory and open source technology, R2i has been releasing multiple sites that utilize the latest in Web 2.0 applied theory. Sites feature a scalable format with user-generated content, blog features, high impact video and dynamic data feeds as well as a wide variety of feature sets popularized by such sites as Facebook.com and Flickr.com. "It is vital for us to stay ahead of what will be the next play in this space," explains Goddard. "This innovation, partnered with our application of timeless marketing and design principals has led to our strong growth over the past 3 years."
SALAR ANNOUNCES CSG HEALTH SOLUTIONS MSDRG QUERY LIBRARY TO BE OFFERED AS PART OF SALAR'S TEAMNOTES PHILADELPHIA, PA - (10/4/2007) - Salar, a software engineering company providing mobile productivity solutions to physicians in complex medical environments, today announced that it has integrated CSG Health Solutions' Documentation Query Library, DocuQTM , with Salar's electronic documentation solution, TeamNotesTM. The partnership will focus on delivering CSGHS's compliance-driven clarification forms directly to physicians through Salar's TeamNotes interface. TeamNotes enables caregivers to document patient care at the point-of-service on wireless tablet PCs or laptop computers eliminating paper-based documentation and streamlining workflows. As a result, hospital reviewers and coders can review the documentation, query clinicians, and code the case remotely and concurrently. "With over 15 years of experience in the hospital documentation improvement arena, the founders of CSG Health Solutions offer world-class solutions for Clinical Documentation Improvement initiatives through their highly-regarded 'never a cookie-cutter' approach," said Todd Johnson, President and CEO of Salar, Inc. "Partnering with CSGHS offers our users a faster, more efficient way to respond to documentation queries in real-time." CSG Health Solutions, LLC is known for their long-standing work in clinical documentation and ability to foster long-term relationships with their clients. "We are thrilled about the partnership with Salar," said Catherine O'Leary, one of the Managing Directors of CSG Health Solutions, LLC. "Salar and CSG support the same goal of improving the quality of documentation while maintaining a focus on compliance."
SOUTH RIVER TECHNOLOGIES EXPANDS GLOBAL PRESENCE THROUGH PARTNERSHIP IN RUSSIA Softline Company Gives SRT Major Global Footprint; Collaboration Software Now Distributed in 39 Countries ANNAPOLIS, MD - (9/26/2007) - South River Technologies, Inc., (SRT) an innovator in secure file transfer and collaboration software, today announced the signing of a distribution agreement with Softline Company to better serve SRT's growing customer base in the Russian technology market. With this agreement, Softline becomes the first authorized distributor in Russia for SRT. The signing with Softline brings the company's total global reach to 39 countries on four continents. SRT has also recently added resellers in the Netherlands and Austria, and has expanded an existing relationship with a German distributor. In addition to the company's strong presence in the U.S. and Western Europe, SRT's presence continues to grow in Asia and Eastern Europe as well. "Softline has deep technology roots in Russia and we look forward to working with them to expand our presence there. Softline's recent sale to Territorial Generating Company underscores the demand for collaboration products in the Russian market," said Michael Ryan, co-founder and CEO, South River Technologies. "Many doors continue to open for SRT as companies around the globe have an increased need for collaborating within and beyond their organizations." Softline Company's customer base includes leading Russian industrial companies, financial structures, educational institutions and state organizations. In addition to IT integration, consulting and training, Softline also provides a comprehensive online shopping portal which will include SRT's products.
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND HOSTS INAUGURAL ANGEL INVESTING EVENT FOR DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI COLLEGE PARK, MD -- (9/19/2007) -- The University of Maryland's A. James Clark School of Engineering and Robert H. Smith School of Business hosted the university's inaugural Impact of Angel Investing seminar yesterday for distinguished alumni. The private seminar provided an overview of angel investing for alumni with limited angel investment experience, as well as experienced investors interested in networking with other alumni. "The university hosted a great event," says Ron Luzier, Clark School alumnus, class of 1972 and former executive vice president and chief technology officer of Swales Aerospace. "It was part history lesson, part tutorial, part introduction to ventures in need of support, and a great networking opportunity. The event was a win-win for the university, entrepreneurs, angel investors and the community at large." Angels are accredited investors who provide time and money from their own accounts as equity investments in startup companies, according to the Kauffman Foundation. Angels often have non-monetary motives for investing, as well as the usual financial ones. Angel investors were the largest source of seed and start-up capital in the U.S. in 2006, according to a market analysis report by the Center for Venture Research at the University of New Hampshire. Angel investments for that same year totaled $25.6 billion, flowing into 51,000 new ventures and creating 201,400 new jobs, according to the report. "Our goal is to make the University of Maryland the hub of entrepreneurial activity in the state and region," says Brian Darmody, associate vice president for research and economic development for the university. "Successful alumni angel networks play a key part in that plan by helping finance the creation of new companies." Speakers for the Impact of Angel Investing seminar included: C. D. Mote, Jr., president of the University of Maryland; MTECH Ventures Director Dean Chang; Technology Advancement Program Director Sarah Djamshidi; Asher Epstein, managing director of the Smith School's Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship; Melissa Carrier, director of venture investment and social entrepreneurship for the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship; Tony Stanco, executive director of Angel Investors of Greater Washington; and Mark Walsh, managing partner of Ruxton Ventures, LLC and senior fellow at the Smith School. Companies presenting to alumni included Zymetis, Inc., a University of Maryland spin-off developing cost-effective methods for producing bio-ethanol, and Hook & Ladder Brewing Company, an award winning microbrewery that gives a portion of its proceeds to local fire stations. "The University of Maryland plans to host further meetings of the angel alumni network, as well as engage other university angel networks in the region," says Darmody.
AS
SUMMER ENDS, DATAPRISE STAYS HOT In addition to ranking number 3,104 on the Inc. list, Dataprise has been named to Deloitte's "Fast 50" for the fourth time, Washington Smart CEO's "Future 50" and was named one of the Washington area's "Best Places to Work" by The Washington Business Journal. Not only has the company been acknowledged as a thought leader, but Chief Financial Officer Alan Brenner was named by Washington Smart CEO as one of the region's Top 10 "Smartest CFOs." "These acknowledgements are a clear sign that Dataprise is getting it right on a number of levels," said Dataprise president and CEO David Eisner. "Our services, our business plan and our personnel are all contributing to the company taking the lead for IT services in the mid-Atlantic region." To continue the year's momentum, Dataprise plans to re-launch its Web site in the fall with streamlined information, user-friendly features and enhanced graphics. Mr. Eisner expects that the updated Web site will further enhance the company's reputation for innovation. "I anticipate that the new Dataprise Web site will be not just a source of information or a sales tool, but an entirely new experience for our clients and potential clients to learn about what differentiates us from the competition and our commitment to excellence in every facet of our operation," Mr. Eisner said. "We've had a lot of forward movement this year, and I expect the Web site to continue that." The Web site, which will still be available at www.dataprise.com, is expected to launch in mid-October.
BLUE SKY FACTORY ANNOUNCES STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH RETURN PATH BALTIMORE, MD - (9/11/2007) - Blue Sky Factory, a leading email marketing service provider, announced today a strategic partnership with Return Path, a market leader in e-mail deliverability. Effective immediately, Blue Sky Factory has integrated Return Path's Sender Score e-mail deliverability and monitoring technology within its e-mail marketing application Publicaster™. As such, Blue Sky Factory clients now have access to an advanced collection of robust tools designed to optimize deliverability and enhance campaign return. "By integrating Return Path's technology into Publicaster, BSF clients now receive a more effective snapshot of how their email campaigns will perform, a more detailed analysis of where their campaigns are going and what those campaigns will look like before live deployment," said Ken Pfeiffer, head of technology at Blue Sky Factory. "Publicaster offers clients Return Path's Sender Score suite of deliverability solutions. Mailbox Monitor and Campaign Preview allow marketers to see whether their email is being delivered to the inbox and what it will look like when it gets there. Reputation Monitor delivers usable intelligence into the sender's reputation with ISPs and other receivers. Essentially, our clients are now better equipped to correct problems prior to deployment for better deliverability and return." The partnership also appoints Blue Sky Factory as a certified reseller of Return Path, a white listing service that reduces filtering risk and increases delivery rates at more than 600 million email inboxes. Sender Score Certified is the only email white list with deep consumer and corporate market coverage, including top universities and Fortune 500 companies. "Recent studies show that more than 20 percent of subscriber email gets blocked or filtered because it looks like spam to email receivers," said Greg Cangialosi, president of Blue Sky Factory. "By integrating Return Path's technology to enhance our deliverability rates, we are helping clients improve their overall response rates and subsequent revenue opportunities with each email they send through our Publicaster™ application." "Deliverability issues affect every metric a marketer measures. If emails aren't delivered to the recipient they can't garner a response, meaning that open, click and conversion data is skewed," said Matt Blumberg, CEO of Return Path. "By giving their clients access to Return Path's deliverability suite, Blue Sky Factory is helping marketers analyze the true success of their email programs." Publicaster is a proprietary, subscriber-based technology that allows users to deploy, manage and track e-mail marketing campaigns. The application offers a web-based interface that offers detailed real time reporting, easy to use editing tools, flexible list management, and an API for easy integration with other applications. Blue Sky Factory offers Publicaster to both self-service and full-service users.
AAHRPP-ACCREDITED ORGANIZATIONS ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP TO PROVIDE SERVICES ACROSS US/CANADIAN BORDER COLUMBIA, MD - (9/6/2007) -- Chesapeake Research Review Inc. (CRRI), based in Columbia, MD, USA, and ethica Clinical Research Inc. (ethica), based in Montreal, Canada, have announced a partnership delivering collaborative research ethics review services for clinical research conducted both in the United States and Canada. Dr. Felix Khin-Maung-Gyi, Founder and CEO of CRRI stated, "We are very excited to partner with ethica, an AAHRPP-accredited organization. The combination gives us a unique geographic footprint which allows us to provide seamless high quality REB/IRB and human research protections oversight for subjects participating in research in the United States and Canada. This collaboration will allow sponsors to place research with one independent, central review body with a high degree of confidence that timely and compliant oversight will occur." Dr. Janice Parente, Founder and President of ethica says that "the unique normative and cultural climate of health research in Canada dictates that the protection of research participants be overseen by those with an in-depth knowledge of these regulations and guidelines both at the federal and provincial levels. Canadian research participants need to be assured that their rights and welfare will be protected by a group of individuals who understand local language, culture and laws. That's how ethica's Research Ethics Board (REB), the only AAHRPP-accredited Canadian REB, will work in concert with CRRI to fulfill a combined role for sponsors of North American research."
CONVERGENCE
TECHNOLOGY CONSULTING RANKS ON INC. 500 "FASTED-GROWING PRIVATE
COMPANY" LIST Convergence Technology Consulting is a technologically centric organization. From the inception of our engagements to solution delivery to documentation and training, our focus never changes from meeting our client's requirements and allowing their organization to remain as self-reliant as needed. "I believe the majority of our success can be related to our commitment in partnering with our clients and not being looked at as a vendor," stated Phil Ernst, CEO and Chief Technology Officer. "Convergence has adopted the motto 'Concept2Completion®, where we work closely with our clients from project creation to project closeout." Convergence Technology Consulting, founded in 2002, has enjoyed significant growth in the past five years. "This significant achievement shows Convergence's commitment to our expertise and our clients," says Larry Letow, President and COO of Convergence Technology Consulting. "We make it a priority to build strong relationships which result in years of business with clients and partners contributing to our ability to attain such significant growth in a short period of time."
I4
COMMERCE CHANGES NAME TO BILL ME LATER, INC. Over the past few months, Bill Me Later has expanded to include small retailers and small business. Today, Bill Me Later, Inc.'s solutions help more than 450 leading retailers to control and simplify the payment experience, capture lost sales, increase customer loyalty and maximize profits. "Bill Me Later is the core of our company's success and a leading brand. It is the only payments solution to meet the merchant and consumer demands for an improved payment experience," said Gary Marino, CEO of Bill Me Later, Inc. "While our name has changed, our commitment to simplifying the purchasing experience for both retailers and consumers is still the foundation of our business. We will continue to innovate, expand our offerings and deliver value to our customers." Retailers, such as Brookstone, Zappos, Cabela's, US Airways, and PETCO, who deploy Bill Me Later have reported higher numbers of repeat customers and increases in average order value when customers use Bill Me Later. Consumers use Bill Me Later because it is the easiest, most convenient way to shop online. The company will continue to offer the entire Bill Me Later platform, which includes the flagship Bill Me Later payment system, Preferred Account private label financing, promotional financing options, and the new Bill Me Later ® Business SM small business payment service. Bill
Me Later Business was announced in June 2007 to make the Bill Me
Later payments solution available to retailers serving the small
business market. Bill Me Later Business is the first payments service
designed to help retailers meet the needs of small businesses, by
simplifying the purchasing process and increasing purchasing power
for the 25 million small business customers in the U.S., without
requiring lengthy applications or credit cards.
BALTIMORE
ECOMMERCE CONSULTING FIRM GROOVE COMMERCE LAUNCHED TARGETS SMALL
TO MEDIUM SIZED BUSINESSES NATIONWIDE BALTIMORE, MD (7/24/07) -- Baltimore Internet marketing veteran Ethan Giffin today announced the launch of Groove Commerce, LLC - an eCommerce website design and marketing firm specializing in helping businesses bridge the gap between marketing and technology. By becoming an extension of their client's organizations, Groove Commerce's staff of Web marketing professionals act as an "outsourced eCommerce department," providing an end-to-end suite of managed eCommerce services. These services include eCommerce website design and development, search engine optimization (SEO), pay per click management (PPC), Web analytics consulting, and email marketing. Giffin, the firm's CEO and founder, said "Becoming successful online requires a delicate balance of technology and marketing, and we offer all the expertise necessary to maximize our client's online marketing potential and achieve such a balance." Giffin is an expert in eCommerce development and the dynamic technologies behind Web marketing. Formerly the Director of eCommerce at the $5 billion Allegis Group, Giffin was the chief architect behind the design, management, marketing, and ultimate success of Thingamajob.com, an internet portal for some 18,000+ continuously updated job openings. Because of his expertise and success in such fields, Giffin is regularly invited to speak at the industry's top conferences, including Search Engine Strategies, Ad:Tech, and ActiveInsights. The goal for Groove Commerce is to bring online marketing expertise to clients who want to successfully conduct eCommerce without having to become experts on eCommerce technology and marketing themselves.
PrimusRS
REHAB AND TRAINING SYSTEM BALTIMORE, MD (7/9/07) -- BTE Technologies, the leading provider of advanced solutions for physical testing and rehabilitation is proud to announce that its flagship clinical evaluation system, PrimusRS TM , will be utilized in athlete rehabilitation programs at U.S. OlympicTraining Centers in Chula Vista, Colorado Springs and Lake Placid. PrimusRS will offer a new way to help improve athletes' performance. It functions as both a comprehensive evaluation tool and a strength training equipment device. PrimusRS works by simulating movement patterns and biomechanics and can replicate virtually any activity to measure the performance of muscles performing almost any task. "BTE Technologies has made a real contribution to the sports medicine and rehabilitation services that we can provide our athletes," said Vinny Comiskey, head athletic trainer at the USOC Training Center in Chula Vista. "We appreciate their support in our efforts to heal and, more importantly, prevent injuries in our athletes on a year-round basis." The unit at Chula Vista is used primarily by archers, kayakers and track-and-field (including disabled) athletes. At Colorado Springs, it is used by gymnasts, bobsledders, and volleyball players, and at Lake Placid, the system is used by lugers, bobsledders, and other winter sport athletes. The system includes highly specific measurement software that allows athletes to evaluate their performance almost instantly, and to make modifications to improve that performance. PrimusRS works by simulating movement patterns and biomechanics. In any rehabilitation program, but particularly in athletics, the specificity of measurement as well consistency is critical. "The system's ability not only to replicate specific motions and resistance but do so in exactly the same manner regardless of where the device is housed gives users the ability to develop, maintain and build a consistent objective measure of performance," Ken Johnson, physical therapist with BTE Technologies. "By having the PrimusRS system at multiple locations, athletic trainers can provide the athletes a greater degree of standardization in terms of training and rehabilitation." PrimusRS also has the potential to help athletes head off injuries. As data is collected on how athletes have used the unit to repair an injury, athletic trainers will be able to recognize potential weak spots in other athletes and work with them preventively to develop their strength.
IMRE COMMUNICATIONS LAUNCHES 'GREEN' PRACTICE BALTIMORE, MD (7/2/07) -- Imre Communications, an integrated brand communications firm, announced today the launch of a green practice. Focused exclusively on providing clients with a full array of marketing services, this new division is designed to help organizations establish and leverage environmental positioning and increase awareness of environmentally conscious products, practices and services. "Green products and sustainability practices aren't just fleeting trends, they are the future of how companies will do business," said Dave Imre, president of Imre Communications. "As an organization, we have fully embraced this environmental movement and see opportunity and demand to market green across all industries." To date, Imre is already supporting a number of clients seeking marketing counsel in the green space, including The Home Depot, Travelers, CoreNet Global, Clean Control, DAP and the National Multi Housing Council. Initiatives have ranged from corporate messaging and brand strategy development to packaging, promotional and PR campaigns. The latest client to join Imre's green practice is Green Builder Media, which provides information and services relating to green building and sustainability for the North American residential building market. Imre Communications will support the firm primarily in a public relations capacity. "Imre has an understanding and dedication to green business," said Ron Jones, founding partner and editorial director of Green Builder Media. "We value their expertise and creative thinking, and look forward to working together to launch and brand Green Builder Media's services." In
addition to client work, Imre Communications has also adopted environmentally
friendly practices internally in both its Baltimore and Washington,
D.C. workspaces. It is a corporate imperative that employees be
more cognizant of eco-behavior. Specific action has included: "We're changing our habits and our traditional business practices for three reasons," Imre said. "First, we recognize that clients and potential clients will soon be demanding green solutions from their partner companies. Second, less waste equals greater profitability. Third, it's the right thing to do." The green practice is added to Imre's industry practices. The firm has already established niche expertise in the Home and Building, Associations and Insurance industries.
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