Header

Skip to main content

Author: Amanda Bosland

New Initiative Promotes Cybersecurity Collaboration in Montgomery County, Maryland

Posted on by Amanda Bosland

The initiative will launch at a business engagement event on March 6, 2023

Rockville, Md., Feb. 22, 2023 – As the world continues to grapple with the complexities of securing critical IT systems and infrastructure, Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) and partners are stepping up their collaborative approach to cybersecurity innovation.

The National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE) is launching a new Cybersecurity Connections initiative with a special emphasis on small businesses seeking to provide cybersecurity services or that want to connect with companies, government or academic organizations for cybersecurity support. Some of the effort’s goals are: to better address the cybersecurity-related needs of companies and institutions in the state and county, to help the NCCoE better understand the cybersecurity needs of companies and to expand collaborations with firms that can develop practical solutions, and to spur economic development.

“I am looking forward to the launch of the new Cybersecurity Connections program and the ability for the 5,500 high tech businesses in Montgomery County to use NCCoE expertise as they develop new business and health solutions,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. NCCoE was formed in 2012 as a partnership by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Maryland Department of Commerce and Montgomery County.

Business executives and other industry stakeholders can learn more at a networking event on Monday, March 6. The program will feature remarks by Elrich along with Maryland Secretary of Commerce Kevin Anderson and U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and NIST Director Laurie E. Locascio, as well as a panel discussion highlighting opportunities for collaborative approaches to cybersecurity.

The event will be held at the NCCoE, with support from Montgomery County government and MCEDC, and will include a renewal of the NCCoE partnership and the launch of the Cybersecurity Connections initiative.

“We value our partnership with Maryland and Montgomery County, which helps to make the NCCoE such a valuable resource for organizations of all sizes looking to improve their cybersecurity,” said Under Secretary Locascio. “We want to strengthen our engagement with small businesses and give them the opportunity to learn from our experts — and to lend their own expertise to the development of cybersecurity guidance that can help organizations across the country.”

MCEDC will continue coordinating the partnership intermediary agreement in conjunction with the County Executive Office.

“This renewed partnership and launch of the Cybersecurity Connections initiative will be instrumental in connecting companies to the wide range of expertise offered by the unmatched National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence,” said Bill Tompkins, President & CEO of the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation. “We want to help cyber companies in Montgomery County, in Maryland, and beyond, draw on the capabilities of the NCCoE to ensure cyber safety and security.”

Event Details

Date: Monday, March 6, 2023

Location: National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, 9700 Great Seneca Highway, Rockville, MD

Agenda:
9:30 a.m. Arrival and Registration
10:00 a.m. Partnership Commemoration
10:45 a.m. Networking Break
11:15 a.m. Panel Discussion: Exploring Opportunities for Collaborative Approaches to Cybersecurity
12:00 p.m. Networking Lunch sponsored by MCEDC
1:15 p.m. Adjourn

The event also will be streamed live to the public. To attend in person, register by March 3. To attend virtually, use this link.

“We are excited to work with Montgomery County and the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence on this new program that not only strengthens our current collaboration, but also gives our small businesses an opportunity to connect with a range of new partners,” said Secretary Anderson. “Maryland continues to lead the way in providing world-class cyber solutions thanks to forward-thinking programs like this one that harnesses the power of our cybersecurity industry.”

“The National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence has worked on some of the most pressing cyber challenges we face as a nation, and their critical efforts happen right here in Montgomery County,” said Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation Board Chair Kevin Beverly. “This partnership will lead to stronger cybersecurity advances and greater economic opportunities for our local cyber companies.”

About MCEDC

Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) is the official public-private economic development organization representing Montgomery County, Maryland. Created in 2016, MCEDC is led by a Board of Directors of business executives. Its mission is to help businesses start, grow and relocate in Montgomery County by helping them gain access to top talent, business and market intelligence and prime locations. For more information, visit https://thinkmoco.com/

Press release link: https://thinkmoco.com/blog/nccoe-cyber-engagement-event

Rockville Little Theatre’s PRIDE@PREJUDICE advances to Eastern States Festival after Maryland Community Festival win

Posted on by Amanda Bosland
Left to right: David Gross, President-MCFTA; Teresa Gillcrist, P@P Producer, RLT, Laura W. Andruski, P@P Director, RLT; Scott loom, VP-MCTFA. Photo credit: Vanessa Bisbee Markowitz

Rockville Little Theatre's PRIDE@PREJUDICE garnered multiple accolades including 'Outstanding Production'

Rockville, Md., Feb. 20, 2023 – Rockville Little Theatre performed a 45-minute selection from their recent production of PRIDE@PREJUDICE by Daniel Elihu Kramer at the Maryland Community Theatre Festival (mctfa.org) held in La Plata on February 11 – 12.  PRIDE@PREJUDICE was originally performed at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre in Rockville, MD  from January 28 – February 5.

RLT competed against six other productions: Kentland’s Community Players, Port Tobacco Players, Raging Hag Productions, Newtowne Players, New Direction Community Theatre and The British Players.

PRIDE@PREJUDICE was directed by Laura W. Andrusk and produced by Teresa Gillcrist.  The Assistant Director/Technical Director was Aaron Skolnik. The cast included Niranjali Amerasinghe, Lena Winter, Meghan Williams Elkins, Ian Swank and Joseph Coracle.

PRIDE@PREJUDICE garnered the following accolades:

  • Outstanding Stage Manager to Aaron Skolnik,
  • Outstanding Ensemble Performance,
  • Outstanding Achievement in Acting to John Coracle,
  • Ed-Ro-Char Award for Technical Excellence, and
  • Outstanding Production.

The win for Outstanding Production allows Rockville Little Theatre the opportunity to take their production to the Eastern States Theatre Festival (estafestival.org/) in Wilmington, DE on April 14  –  16.

About Rockville Little Theatre

Rockville Little Theater (RLT) was founded in 1948 and is the oldest continuously operating 501(c)3 nonprofit live theatre in the Rockville area. RLT provides high quality performances at reasonable prices. We strive to entertain, enlighten and educate all who attend our theatrical events. RLT offers an opportunity for community members to step out of their everyday lives and to assume new roles as playwrights, actors, directors, costume designers, set designers, and audiences. Learn more at http://www.rlt-online.org/

The Shops at Congressional Village poised for revitalization under new owners

Posted on by Amanda Bosland
The Shops at Congressional Village - Image copyright: Loopnet/Costar

The retail center was acquired by Beltsville-based IVEA Restaurant Group

Article originally published by Washington Business Journal on February 16, 2023

A joint venture that includes Beltsville-based IVEA Restaurant Group has closed on its $44 million acquisition of the Shops at Congressional Village with plans to bring a host of new tenants to the Rockville Pike retail center.

IVEA teamed up with Windfall Group USA, Caspian Group and Pacifica Square USA to cast the winning bid for the Shops after its prior owner, an affiliate of Ronald Cohen Management Co., defaulted on a 2019 loan backed by the property. The sale was recorded with the Montgomery County Circuit Court on February 8.

The center was a little more than 60% leased at the time of the auction to a mix of tenants including 84 Lumber, MyEyeDr and a Verizon store, but its new owners say they’ve inked a half-dozen leases combining for around 30,000 square feet in the 99,463-square-foot center at 1701 Rockville Pike. It’s too soon to disclose tenant names, said Judy Ni, director of real estate for Aurora, Illinois-based Windfall, but expect there to be a heavy focus on food and beverage.

“There are a lot of different uses already in the shopping center, a lot of different activities and shops, so with the restaurant mix, it will really tie the shopping center together nicely,” she said.

IVEA, led by founder and CEO Edward Wong, partners with restaurant groups including those at The Spot, an Asian food hall at Rockville Town Center, and it hopes the Shops will serve as the landing point for overseas restaurant chains looking to expand into the U.S., per Marshall Nguyen, a commercial real estate broker at Caspian and a partner at Aurora-based Pacifica Square.

Nguyen is involved in a growing number of properties across the U.S., including the re-tenanting of a former Gander Mountain store in the St. Paul-Minneapolis area and, with Windfall, the redevelopment of a vacant Sam’s Club in the Chicago area.

Longer term, Nguyen said the team may look to redevelop the Shops, but that’s several years out. For now, the owners are just focusing on bringing in new tenants and helping them navigate the approval process.

“When coming to a new property, we want to bring in concepts that are not there, to excite the community, excite customers, so it’s going to be a lot of fun,” he said. “Our long term vision is to do a lifestyle center, or maybe mixed-use, with retail on the bottom and apartments on top. That would be the highest and best use for the corner, long term. But the most important thing for us since we bought the property was to stabilize it with new tenants.”

 

 

 

 

Business Spotlight: Èkó House

Posted on by Amanda Bosland
Francis Odiase (left) and Yomi Ajao (right) - Co-owners of Eko House

"Èkó House goes beyond being just a location you eat in to become a hub. A hub for music, entertainment, connections, beauty, art and inspiration."

What does Èkó House offer?

We are a Nigerian restaurant in the DMV, that offers authentic Nigerian food, as well as an array of Nigerian/American fusion meals. With a seating capacity of 250, we’re able to host large events and large groups of people (of 15 or more parties). We cater to events including wedding after parties,
pre-wedding parties, bridal showers, birthday parties, office get togethers, retreats, and private events.

What motivated you to start your business?

My business partner and I have lived in the United States for almost three decades. We noticed a gap in the availability of a combination of authentic Nigerian meals, visually appealing presentations and aesthetically pleasing environments. What we had become accustomed to was that brands that offered authentic Nigerian foods were either lacking in aesthetics and presentation or had a somewhat higher focus on the fusion selections in a way that sort of compromised on the authenticity of Nigerian tastes.

Even though we did not have a problem with prioritizing the fusion selections, we just desperately craved an environment that reminded us of home, not just in the food offerings but also in the feel of the environment. We craved an environment that mimicked the warmth and buzzing of Lagos, the vibe, the excitement and the feeling of community all in one, so we decided to bring that feeling here, to the United States of America. Through Èkó House, our aim is to bridge that gap, to introduce our culture to people in the DMV through our food, music, and expressions of art. We want them to see and fall in love with the “Naija spirit”. We want to give them a first-hand experience of all the best things of Nigeria.

 

What makes Èkó House unique?

Èkó House goes beyond being just a location you eat in to become a hub. A hub for music, entertainment, connections, beauty, art and inspiration. A hub for all things that celebrate life, love and community. We want everyone who walks into Èkó House to feel the love that Nigerians as a people have to give. We want people to walk into our establishment and be filled with peace and joy, those feelings of comfort and familiarity associated with their homes.

Why did you choose to run your business in Rockville?

My business partner and I have lived and been coming to Rockville for a few years now and we’ve been drawn to how community inclined it is.

The first thing you notice when you visit Rockville is how family friendly it is, with a healthy blend of young and middle-aged people. We noticed the variety of food brands around and could not help but feel like there was something missing. We finally determined what was missing, and that’s when we got the idea to establish a Nigerian brand here. We knew that was the flavor the community was missing. Starting Èkó House, we are bringing an additional variety to the collection of amazing restaurants in Rockville.

Where do you see Èkó House 5 years from now?

As a new business, we’re happy to say that we’re doing very well. Since our grand opening in July 2022, we’ve had an interesting few months. We’ve experimented, failed at some things, learned and grown. In the next 5 years, we hope to learn even more. We may be thinking about expanding into new territories soon. Plans are still underway.

 

About Èkó House

Èkó House opened in July 2022 at 150 Gibbs Street, Rockville, MD 20850 in Rockville Town Square. Learn more about Èkó House at www.ekohousedmv.com

Business Spotlight: ACB Precision Focus Photography

Posted on by Amanda Bosland
Marcia and Paul Cole, owners of ACB Precision Focus Photography

"We believe in creating images that tell a story, make a lasting impact, and create memories that last a lifetime"

What does ACB Precision Focus Photography offer?

ACB Precision Focus Photography is a multimedia agency and studio. We offer photography and videography services to individuals, couples, families, and corporations.

What motivated you to start your business?

Building a legacy and generational wealth motivated us to start ACB. Our company’s name was inspired by our three children: Amaya, Charles and Bryce.  We strive to lead the way showing our future generations anything is possible with hard work, dedication, believe in yourself and use the talents you naturally have.

What makes ACB Precision Focus Photography unique?

It would have to be us. We make our business unique be we strive to provide the same high-quality service to all our clients regardless of how big or small the job. We want to make the client feel at ease and have 100% confidence we will exceed their expectations. We believe in adding so much value to our clients that our price becomes irrelevant in comparison.

We strive to give every client an enjoyable experience while creating beautiful, captivating images that serves their needs.  We believe in creating images that tell a story, make a lasting impact and create memories that last a lifetime.

Why did you choose to run your business in Rockville?

Montgomery County is our home, it’s where we started our family and continue to raise our children. Rockville provided us with the opportunity to open our first studio location.

Where do you see ACB Precision Focus Photography 5 years from now?

We envision expansion and the ability to provide jobs in our community. In 5 years, ACB will be a preferred vendor in the DMV photography and videography services.  We will open our second studio. We will have a team of associate photographers and videographers. ACB will be running a mentorship program helping young men and women enter the photography world and eventually run their own business.

About ACB Precision Focus Photography

Founded in 2020, ACB Precision Focus Photography is located at 15209 Frederick Road, Suite 209, Rockville, MD 20850. Learn more about ACB Precision Focus Photography at www.acbprecisionfocus.com

Investments in Rockville companies exceed $28 billion in 2022

Posted on by Amanda Bosland

Rockville companies received $28.3 of the $29.9 billion of Initial Public Offering(IPO), mergers & acquisitions, private investment, and venture capital funding tracked in Montgomery County

Press Release published by Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC)

Rockville, Md., Jan. 24, 2023 — Montgomery County companies had a record year of investment in 2022, with more than $29.9 billion in combined initial public offering (IPO), merger and acquisition, private investment and venture capital deals. That is an increase from $4 billion in 2020 and more than $18 billion in 2021. In all, Montgomery County had 144 deals across 126 companies in 2022.

“The record investment in Montgomery County companies is a testament to the region’s remarkable climate of business growth and innovation,” said Bill Tompkins, President and CEO of the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation. “We are a premier destination with a powerful network of existing businesses across a wide range of industries. Our deep talent pool, diverse and vibrant communities, and proximity to the federal agencies including the Departments of Transportation and Energy, FDA, and NIH position the County’s companies for success.”

Venture capital was the most active category in 2022, with more than 60 companies in the county receiving venture capital funding. The investments totaled $867.88 million and were led by a $242.98 million funding round for Robotic Research, known as RRAI.

“We founded RRAI in Montgomery County 20 years ago, and we feel fortunate to be part of this community,” said Alberto Lacaze, RRAI’s Chairman and CEO. “We have access to highly skilled engineering, product and administrative talent to scale our business, and since our capital raise have added 200 jobs and expanded our Montgomery County footprint. We believe a major part of this success is due to the exceptional work-life balance that Montgomery County provides.”

Arcellx was the recipient of two funding rounds in 2022, accounting for more than $235 million.

“Arcellx began as a start up in the Montgomery County Innovation center and is now a Nasdaq-listed public company,” said Rami Elghandour, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Arcellx, which led the IPO category in 2022. “Through our growth, we stayed in the County, moving to Gaithersburg as we launched our clinical development programs and are now expanding our footprint to Rockville where we will occupy approximately 60,000 square feet of both lab and office space. We’re grateful for the support from Montgomery County which also gives us access to the exceptional talent we need to advance our company.”

Montgomery County companies saw a total of $329.11 million in initial public offerings in 2022 and $321.43 million in private funding. Merger and acquisition activity totaled $28.457 billion in 2022, led by Amgen’s record-setting $27.8 billion acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics. Horizon has been building out its East Coast research and development hub at the Alexandria Center® at Traville Gateway campus in Rockville. It is one of many life sciences and biotechnology companies to call Montgomery County home, giving the region its moniker of The Immunology Capital Next to the Nation’s Capital.

Here are the Rockville companies that raised funding through IPO, private funding and venture capital in 2022:

Public Offerings & IPOs ($245,710,000)

Arcellx – $235,750,000

Shuttle Pharmaceuticals – $9,960,000

 

 

Mergers and Acquisitions ($27,800,000,000)

Horizon (acquired by Amgen) – $27,800,000,000

 

 

Private Funding ($185,240,000)

X-Energy – $160,000,000

Arcellx – $10,000,000

The Emmes Company – $5,000,000

OpGen – $3,380,000

Synthetic Biologics – $3,000,000

PediaMetrix – $2,130,000

Rise Therapeutics – $1,660,000

Weinberg Medical Physics – $50,000

Kinometrix – $20,000

 

 

Venture Capital ($152,220,000)

X-Energy– $58,000,000

Sepio System – $22,000,000

Bearn – $20,000,000

Quantum Space – $15,000,000

EngagedMD – $11,000,000

SYNAPS Dx – $10,000,000

Compost Crew – $5,500,000

AutoSled – $5,000,000

Sunstone Therapies – $2,800,000

3CLogic – $1,500,000

Shuttle Pharmaceuticals – $870,000

MezeHub – $300,000

KinaRx – $250,000

View the entire list of Montgomery County companies here: Montgomery County, MD Investments in 2022

View the full press release here: https://thinkmoco.com/blog/2022-moco-investments

Social Media Marketing Tips for Businesses – GRCC Marketing Roundtable

Posted on by Amanda Bosland

The Greater Rockville Chamber of Commerce hosted a Marketing Roundtable to discuss social media best practices for businesses

Social media is a great tool for marketing your businesses, but with the plethora of channels, ever-changing trends, and limited time, using social media can seem daunting.

The Greater Rockville Chamber of Commerce hosted its Marketing Roundtable on January 19, 2023 with local creative and marketing professionals to discuss social media best practices for businesses. View the full discussion in the video below.

Moderator:
Beth Perell, Beth Perell Consulting, LLC

Panelists:

  • Jason Weil, Jason Weil Photography
  • Margaret Doan, GKA Creative Agency
  • Amanda Bosland, Rockville Economic Development, Inc

 

COO of Rockville-based Behavioral Framework announced as a 2023 Real Leader Impact Awards winner

Posted on by Amanda Bosland

Behavioral Framework is a leading provider of ABA therapy in Maryland, Virginia, and DC, with a vision of providing exceptional care and better client outcomes for children and families impacted by autism.

Rockville, Md., Jan. 18, 2023 – Behavioral Framework and its Chief Clinical Officer, Angela West, were announced today as a 2023 Real Leaders Impact Awards winner. Real Leaders recognizes the rise in purpose-driven businesses worldwide, proving companies can thrive and help build a better world. Behavioral Framework is one of only 300 Top Impact Companies recognized by this year’s awards program. A virtual ceremony will be held on February 16, 2023, to honor the winners. 

Angela West, Chief Clinical Officer & Founder, founded Behavioral Framework with her husband, CEO Kyle West. West is a Board Certified and Licensed Behavior Analyst with over 15 years of experience. Her deep passion for children diagnosed with autism has led her to devote her entire career to maintaining and restoring ABA programs with solid leadership, research-based programming, and thoughtful care. Her extensive mental health and ABA experience provide diverse programming and behavior management knowledge. Behavioral Framework is a leading provider of ABA therapy in Maryland, Virginia, and DC, with a vision of providing exceptional care and better client outcomes for children and families impacted by autism. They are one of few family-owned and locally operated autism service providers in the region.

“We are very honored to be recognized by the Real Leaders Impact Awards,” said Angela West, Chief Clinical Officer & Founder of Behavioral Framework. “Our entire team works with passion and dedication to provide exemplary and compassionate care to the autism community. Passion motivates us, progress sustains us, and measurable results help our clients reach their lifelong potential!”

 “This is our fifth annual ranking, and the number of award winners has tripled. It’s encouraging to see how this movement is going mainstream with businesses all over the world,” said Mark Van Ness, Founder of Real Leaders. “We are excited to welcome new and past company winners to the impact movement and into the Real Leaders Impact Awards community.”

For a complete list of finalists, please visit https://real-leaders.com/impact-awards-2023/

About Behavioral Framework

Behavioral Framework is a leading family-owned and locally operated provider of ABA therapy, and an INC 5000 company for the second consecutive year, with a vision of providing exceptional care and better client outcomes for children diagnosed with autism and their families. Behavioral Framework was founded out of a strong desire to deliver consistent and superior care with a holistic and collaborative approach that serves the whole family. Learn more at: https://www.behavioralframework.com/

 

Cheers to 25 years – celebrating a quarter century of REDI’s growth!

Posted on by Amanda Bosland

Presently known as REDI, the Greater Rockville Partnership was established in 1997 to address the economic development needs of Rockville

Rockville Economic Development. Inc, better known as REDI, was established in 1997 as the Greater Rockville Partnership. From its inception, the organization’s focus has been, and continues to be the development of economic opportunities in the City of Rockville.

This year (2022), in celebration of REDI’s 25th anniversary, we invited past and current Board Chairs and Executive Directors to reflect on what REDI means to the community.

REDI also held an anniversary celebration at historic Glenview Mansion that was attended by City and County officials, regional economic development partners, and Rockville business owners.

Rockville’s E. Cohen and Company acquired by Marcum LLP

Posted on by Amanda Bosland

The merger includes the acquisition of E. Cohen's information technology subsidiary, BinaryNetworks

New York City, Ny., December 1, 2022 – Marcum LLP announced that E. Cohen and Company, CPAs of Rockville, Maryland, merged into Marcum, effective December 1.

In conjunction, E. Cohen’s information technology subsidiary, BinaryNetworks, merged into Marcum Technology, LLC.

The transactions expand Marcum’s tax, assurance, and advisory services across the Mid-Atlantic region, where the Firm currently has offices in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Rockville.

E. Cohen and Binary add more than 90 partners and associates to Marcum, bringing the Firm’s team to approximately 4,000 nationwide.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

E. Cohen was a full-service tax and accounting firm serving individuals and middle-market businesses. The firm’s practice was focused on construction, government contracting, hospitality, nonprofit, professional services, real estate, and wholesale distribution. E. Cohen was consistently ranked among the top accounting and advisory firms in the Capital Region and the top 300 firms nationally. In 2019, it was named the No.1 firm for women by Accounting Today.

“E. Cohen was a recognized leader with deep roots in the Maryland business community and brings substantial experience to Marcum. They will not only bolster our existing presence in Rockville but will also play a key role in our expansion throughout the Mid-Atlantic region,” said Jeffrey M. Weiner, Marcum’s chairman & chief executive officer.

“We built our business over many years with a bedrock commitment to integrity and honesty, accountability, respect and teamwork, continuous process improvement and, above all, client relationships. We see these values strongly reflected in Marcum’s culture. As a top national firm that has helped shaped our industry, joining Marcum is a clear opportunity to ensure the long-term well-being of our clients as well as our team, while continuing to play an active role in our business community,” said Eric Cohen, the former firm’s managing principal.

“E. Cohen and Company was a regional model of excellence. Eric Cohen and his team will be instrumental in our continued growth in the Maryland market and throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, and we are eager begin our collaboration,” said Jeffrey D. Zudeck, Marcum’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Managing Partner.

Allan D. Koltin, CEO of Koltin Consulting Group, who advised both firms on the combination, commented, “E. Cohen defines what an entrepreneurial firm is all about – offering great advice and being viewed by their clients as an ‘impact player’ in their businesses. Marcum’s track record for growth has been staggering. They continue to be the envy of the profession while attracting best-in-class local and regional CPA and advisory firms to combine with. They might have $1 billion of revenue on the top line, but the bottom line is it’s a culture where you can achieve a really successful career and deliver amazing services to clients along the way.”

About Marcum LLP

Marcum LLP is a top-ranked national accounting and advisory firm dedicated to helping entrepreneurial, middle-market companies and high net worth individuals achieve their goals. Marcum’s industry-focused practices offer deep insight and specialized services to privately held and publicly registered companies, and nonprofit and social sector organizations. Through the Marcum Group, the Firm also provides a full complement of technology, wealth management, and executive search and staffing services. Learn more at https://www.marcumllp.com/

Link to press release: https://www.marcumllp.com/press-releases/ecohen-company-cpas-merges-into-marcum