Then, a little later, I sat down and read the newspaper. In the paper is an article about two high schools in Orlando, Florida, banning the exchange of any gifts, cards or flowers "in order to maintain our instructional focus and avoid distraction." You have got to be kidding me. I guess the good news is that the principals didn't make it that if you brought a card for your Valentine that you would have to bring one for every student so no one felt left out. So much for the joy and happiness that Valentine's Day is supposed to bring.
25 Şubat 2013 Pazartesi
Happy Valentine's Day Except in Orlando, Florida
To contact us Click HERE
This morning, I was in a grocery store and watched four high school students picking out Valentine's Day cards and flowers before they headed off to school. They were all over the store, shopping with a vengeance and making sure that they got the right card, flowers and boxes of candy. It actually was kind of cute as to how excited and enthusiastic they were.
Then, a little later, I sat down and read the newspaper. In the paper is an article about two high schools in Orlando, Florida, banning the exchange of any gifts, cards or flowers "in order to maintain our instructional focus and avoid distraction." You have got to be kidding me. I guess the good news is that the principals didn't make it that if you brought a card for your Valentine that you would have to bring one for every student so no one felt left out. So much for the joy and happiness that Valentine's Day is supposed to bring.
Then, a little later, I sat down and read the newspaper. In the paper is an article about two high schools in Orlando, Florida, banning the exchange of any gifts, cards or flowers "in order to maintain our instructional focus and avoid distraction." You have got to be kidding me. I guess the good news is that the principals didn't make it that if you brought a card for your Valentine that you would have to bring one for every student so no one felt left out. So much for the joy and happiness that Valentine's Day is supposed to bring.
A Much Slower Pace
To contact us Click HERE
I have been in South Carolina for the past week and I have come to realize that the pace is so very different between the North and the South. I know that Maryland is technically in the South, but from a pace perspective, you would never know it.
I took a car to the dealer for servicing last week for an 11 AM appointment. I arrived at 10:57 and waited and waited to be able to pull into the service bay. Finally, I got out of my car and stood with my arms folded. At that point, two service reps came out and said that they would be with me in a minute. They went back into their offices and continued their very jovial conversations with the customers who they were helping. No hurry to get the cars to be serviced out of the drive up bay. I finally got to interact with a service rep about 15 minutes later. He said to me, "you aren't from around here are you?" I replied that I wasn't. He said that it appeared that I was used to a different pace. I said that I was, but that I also looked at it from a service excellence perspective. What I am used to is that as soon as you pull into the service bay there is someone there to check you in and move the car out of the service bay. It was more efficient, but I explained that their approach seems to work for the slower pace in the South. It all worked out and we were laughing and joking by the end of our interaction.
As I write this blog, I am in an airport in the Charleston, SC. We learned that our flight to DC was going to be delayed about 30 minutes due to service issues with our plane coming from its last destination. It was amazing as to the reaction. People who were impacted by the delay with their connections in DC casually got up walked up to the gate agent and began the process of changing their flights. Up North, the scene would have been very different. Loud sighing, complaining and anger would have been the order of the day. The difference was amazing. Eventually, I plan to retire to the South and it will take some time to get used to the slower pace, but I think that I am going to like it. Everybody is so nice.
I took a car to the dealer for servicing last week for an 11 AM appointment. I arrived at 10:57 and waited and waited to be able to pull into the service bay. Finally, I got out of my car and stood with my arms folded. At that point, two service reps came out and said that they would be with me in a minute. They went back into their offices and continued their very jovial conversations with the customers who they were helping. No hurry to get the cars to be serviced out of the drive up bay. I finally got to interact with a service rep about 15 minutes later. He said to me, "you aren't from around here are you?" I replied that I wasn't. He said that it appeared that I was used to a different pace. I said that I was, but that I also looked at it from a service excellence perspective. What I am used to is that as soon as you pull into the service bay there is someone there to check you in and move the car out of the service bay. It was more efficient, but I explained that their approach seems to work for the slower pace in the South. It all worked out and we were laughing and joking by the end of our interaction.
As I write this blog, I am in an airport in the Charleston, SC. We learned that our flight to DC was going to be delayed about 30 minutes due to service issues with our plane coming from its last destination. It was amazing as to the reaction. People who were impacted by the delay with their connections in DC casually got up walked up to the gate agent and began the process of changing their flights. Up North, the scene would have been very different. Loud sighing, complaining and anger would have been the order of the day. The difference was amazing. Eventually, I plan to retire to the South and it will take some time to get used to the slower pace, but I think that I am going to like it. Everybody is so nice.
Permitting Fees at Last Year's Rates to Encourage Business Friendly Climate
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FREDERICK, MD – Frederick County permitting fees were due to automatically increase as of July 1 by 3.2 percent to keep pace with inflation this year. But, with business-friendly goals of utmost concern to the Frederick Board of County Commissioners, the board recently chose to keep rates the same as last year.
The board also agreed to clarify fee schedule policies in the Community Development Division to provide clarity and consistency with other regulatory issues in the Department of Permits and Inspections. It establishes, eliminates and/or clarifies other fees for certain approvals that are a result of new or modified planning and development review approval processes and also incorporates comprehensive planning and zoning fees into the fee schedule to coincide with the division’s reorganization last year.
Key changes in the fee schedule include the clarification to the “agricultural buildings” definition to be consistent with the building code; establishing of a “minimum permit” fee instead of a “per square foot” charge, and elimination of the fire code revision fee charged for additional plan reviews. In addition, the board will exempt the county’s capital improvement program from payment of the fees in accordance with its strategic goal to “consider eliminating review fees for county capital projects.”
Board President Blaine Young commented, “We believe that holding the permitting fees at the same rate is good for business, and what is good for business is good for Frederick County. The decisions the board has made are part of our strategic goals to consider proposals to reduce, alter or eliminate rules and regulations to help improve county processes.
“We commend our employees for working diligently to help businesses more easily and efficiently navigate their way through the process. We welcome continued feedback from our citizens -- from the homeowner to the large business to the small business.”
At the beginning of their term in office, the Frederick Board of County Commissioners initiated a review of over 200 recommended changes to rules and regulations as part of their goal to improve the “business friendly” atmosphere in Frederick County, and have made good progress toward completion.
The items on the “business friendly action items” list were proposed after meetings with officials from the former Permitting and Development Review and Economic Development Divisions and members of the Frederick Chamber of Commerce, Frederick County Builders Association, commercial business representatives and many other stakeholders.
The changes coincide with the Board of County Commissioners’ proposed Strategic Plan goal of providing improved predictability for businesses. The goal states that “Frederick County needs to implement predictability in the business community in order to reduce inefficiencies, allow cost control, provide an effective process and increase understanding in daily business processes within Frederick County Government.”
For further information, visit www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/permits or contact Director Gary Hessong, Permits and Inspections Department, at 301-600-1172 or via e-mail at ghessong@FrederickCountyMD.gov.
The board also agreed to clarify fee schedule policies in the Community Development Division to provide clarity and consistency with other regulatory issues in the Department of Permits and Inspections. It establishes, eliminates and/or clarifies other fees for certain approvals that are a result of new or modified planning and development review approval processes and also incorporates comprehensive planning and zoning fees into the fee schedule to coincide with the division’s reorganization last year.
Key changes in the fee schedule include the clarification to the “agricultural buildings” definition to be consistent with the building code; establishing of a “minimum permit” fee instead of a “per square foot” charge, and elimination of the fire code revision fee charged for additional plan reviews. In addition, the board will exempt the county’s capital improvement program from payment of the fees in accordance with its strategic goal to “consider eliminating review fees for county capital projects.”
Board President Blaine Young commented, “We believe that holding the permitting fees at the same rate is good for business, and what is good for business is good for Frederick County. The decisions the board has made are part of our strategic goals to consider proposals to reduce, alter or eliminate rules and regulations to help improve county processes.
“We commend our employees for working diligently to help businesses more easily and efficiently navigate their way through the process. We welcome continued feedback from our citizens -- from the homeowner to the large business to the small business.”
At the beginning of their term in office, the Frederick Board of County Commissioners initiated a review of over 200 recommended changes to rules and regulations as part of their goal to improve the “business friendly” atmosphere in Frederick County, and have made good progress toward completion.
The items on the “business friendly action items” list were proposed after meetings with officials from the former Permitting and Development Review and Economic Development Divisions and members of the Frederick Chamber of Commerce, Frederick County Builders Association, commercial business representatives and many other stakeholders.
The changes coincide with the Board of County Commissioners’ proposed Strategic Plan goal of providing improved predictability for businesses. The goal states that “Frederick County needs to implement predictability in the business community in order to reduce inefficiencies, allow cost control, provide an effective process and increase understanding in daily business processes within Frederick County Government.”
For further information, visit www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/permits or contact Director Gary Hessong, Permits and Inspections Department, at 301-600-1172 or via e-mail at ghessong@FrederickCountyMD.gov.
Meet New Era Custom Design & Cabinet Works, Inc
To contact us Click HERE
Monday Retention Visit: Five Questions with Johnny Gage, Project Manager/Estimator, New Era Custom Design & Cabinet Works, Inc.
270 Interstate Circle, Suite 100Frederick, MD 21704301-695-4310www.gonewera.com
How long have you been in business?
New Era Custom Design and Cabinet Works Inc. was founded by current owner and operator John Gage in 1979. We have grown over the years from a 2 man operation to over 80 personnel. Currently, our headquarters occupy approximately 48,000 sq ft of manufacturing, warehousing, and office space which was purpose built in 2007. We like to believe that not only is our products manufactured with superior craftsmanship, but we strive for excellent customer service for repeat business as well. It is our goal to be the MID-ATLANTIC leader in custom commercial architectural millwork. New Era Custom Design strives to acquire the latest and greatest in equipment and technology in order to provide our clients with the highest quality product possible. We are a full service architectural millwork provider for commercial applications. All wood products furnished and installed by New Era are engineered in house and installed by our skilled carpenters.
How many employees do you have?
New Era has 80 people within our organization. Many of our employees have been with New Era over 20 years.
Why do you believe you will continue to be successful in Frederick County?
New Era Custom Design will continue to be successful in Frederick County because the location is spectacular for the markets we serve. Our markets reach locally is within the DC/VA and Baltimore areas for new construction and renovation projects. With both areas being within a 1hr drive. New Era also supplies work out of state as well. Being close to regional airports provide our company with a strategic advantage in order to meet our national account needs quickly and effectively. Frederick County also provides a great pool of talent to draw from a Human Resource stand point. Many of the employees that work at New Era Custom Design live in the County.
If your company is involved in community outreach, please share with us your involvement.
New Era has donated excess inventory of raw materials to local high schools in order to promote finished carpentry. We also are able to reach out to schools to inform students about careers and other opportunities at New Era Custom Design. We support the Religious Coalition of Frederick County
What are you most proud of?
New Era Custom Design has very dedicated staff that we acknowledge by offering good compensation and benefit package. We have continued to grow through many economic cycles over the last 34 years, including the current economic challenges. We are lucky to have such and talented individuals on staff that can turn an impossible project into reality.
270 Interstate Circle, Suite 100Frederick, MD 21704301-695-4310www.gonewera.comHow long have you been in business?
New Era Custom Design and Cabinet Works Inc. was founded by current owner and operator John Gage in 1979. We have grown over the years from a 2 man operation to over 80 personnel. Currently, our headquarters occupy approximately 48,000 sq ft of manufacturing, warehousing, and office space which was purpose built in 2007. We like to believe that not only is our products manufactured with superior craftsmanship, but we strive for excellent customer service for repeat business as well. It is our goal to be the MID-ATLANTIC leader in custom commercial architectural millwork. New Era Custom Design strives to acquire the latest and greatest in equipment and technology in order to provide our clients with the highest quality product possible. We are a full service architectural millwork provider for commercial applications. All wood products furnished and installed by New Era are engineered in house and installed by our skilled carpenters.
How many employees do you have?
New Era has 80 people within our organization. Many of our employees have been with New Era over 20 years.
Why do you believe you will continue to be successful in Frederick County?
New Era Custom Design will continue to be successful in Frederick County because the location is spectacular for the markets we serve. Our markets reach locally is within the DC/VA and Baltimore areas for new construction and renovation projects. With both areas being within a 1hr drive. New Era also supplies work out of state as well. Being close to regional airports provide our company with a strategic advantage in order to meet our national account needs quickly and effectively. Frederick County also provides a great pool of talent to draw from a Human Resource stand point. Many of the employees that work at New Era Custom Design live in the County.
If your company is involved in community outreach, please share with us your involvement.
New Era has donated excess inventory of raw materials to local high schools in order to promote finished carpentry. We also are able to reach out to schools to inform students about careers and other opportunities at New Era Custom Design. We support the Religious Coalition of Frederick County
What are you most proud of?
New Era Custom Design has very dedicated staff that we acknowledge by offering good compensation and benefit package. We have continued to grow through many economic cycles over the last 34 years, including the current economic challenges. We are lucky to have such and talented individuals on staff that can turn an impossible project into reality.
Meet Richard B. Rudy, Inc.
To contact us Click HERE
Monday Retention Visit: Five Questions with Ken & Gary Rudy, President and Senior Vice President (respectively), Richard B. Rudy, Inc.
1 Bernard St.Frederick, MD 21701
(301) 663-9041www.rbrudy.com
How long have you been in business?
Founded in 1938 by Mr. Richard B. Rudy, the company began using a single truck and stainless steel cans to provide milk transportation services to dairies for local area farms in Frederick County Maryland. Richard B. Rudy, Inc was incorporated in 1960 and remained in the dairy industry until 2002. Diversification into liquid sugars and finished food-grade items came along in the mid 1970’s. Now 73 plus years and three generations later, the family operated business is proud and honored to continue to have many of our long-term employees and customers, which we entered into the food-grade industry with. Still located in Frederick, Maryland, our current terminal includes an office complex, a five bay, full service shop, an automated tank wash facility with three pull-through bays, as well as dry storage and cold storage warehousing.
How many employees do you have?
We currently have 75 employees. We are situated on 11 acres with 8500 square feet of space.
Why do you believe you will continue to be successful in Frederick County?
We have a niche market for the food handling industry, food certification and transportation of bulk products such as liquid sugars and corn syrup.
If your company is involved in community outreach, please share with us your involvement.
We regularly make significant contributions and donations to various non-profit groups and are very proud to be able to do so.
What are you most proud of?
Richard B. Rudy, Inc has built long-term relationships with both customers and employees. Some employees have worked here for 40 plus years with the oldest employee having been here for 47 years. We have a number who have been here 30+. The main segment of our customer base dates back to the 1960s. With this kind of loyalty and longevity, we are proud to offer a top quality service.
1 Bernard St.Frederick, MD 21701(301) 663-9041www.rbrudy.com
How long have you been in business?
Founded in 1938 by Mr. Richard B. Rudy, the company began using a single truck and stainless steel cans to provide milk transportation services to dairies for local area farms in Frederick County Maryland. Richard B. Rudy, Inc was incorporated in 1960 and remained in the dairy industry until 2002. Diversification into liquid sugars and finished food-grade items came along in the mid 1970’s. Now 73 plus years and three generations later, the family operated business is proud and honored to continue to have many of our long-term employees and customers, which we entered into the food-grade industry with. Still located in Frederick, Maryland, our current terminal includes an office complex, a five bay, full service shop, an automated tank wash facility with three pull-through bays, as well as dry storage and cold storage warehousing.
How many employees do you have?
We currently have 75 employees. We are situated on 11 acres with 8500 square feet of space.
Why do you believe you will continue to be successful in Frederick County?
We have a niche market for the food handling industry, food certification and transportation of bulk products such as liquid sugars and corn syrup.
If your company is involved in community outreach, please share with us your involvement.
We regularly make significant contributions and donations to various non-profit groups and are very proud to be able to do so.
What are you most proud of?
Richard B. Rudy, Inc has built long-term relationships with both customers and employees. Some employees have worked here for 40 plus years with the oldest employee having been here for 47 years. We have a number who have been here 30+. The main segment of our customer base dates back to the 1960s. With this kind of loyalty and longevity, we are proud to offer a top quality service.
24 Şubat 2013 Pazar
Mid-Level Corporate Associate Job in Duane Morris LLP - Baltimore, MD
To contact us Click HERE
Job Title: Mid-Level Corporate Associate
Location: Baltimore
State: MD
Practice Area: Corporate
Level: Mid Level
Description: Duane Morris LLP has an opening in the Baltimore office for a Corporate associate. The ideal candidate will have at least 3-6 years of experience in private equity/venture capital, inbound international and project/corporate finance along with a general corporate background. Stellar academics and excellent writing skills required. Maryland bar preferred. EOE/AA/M/V/D/V.
Source: Firm Web Site
Firm Name: Duane Morris LLP
Contact Details
Name: Peggy Simoncini Pasquay
Title: Manager of Attorney Recruitment and Relations
Email: Simoncini@duanemorris.com
Phone: (215) 979-1161
Address: 30 South 17th Street
City: Philadelphia
State: PA
Country: USA
Zipcode: 19103-4196
Apply Online: To Apply online click on the Source link
Location: Baltimore
State: MD
Practice Area: Corporate
Level: Mid Level
Description: Duane Morris LLP has an opening in the Baltimore office for a Corporate associate. The ideal candidate will have at least 3-6 years of experience in private equity/venture capital, inbound international and project/corporate finance along with a general corporate background. Stellar academics and excellent writing skills required. Maryland bar preferred. EOE/AA/M/V/D/V.
Source: Firm Web Site
Firm Name: Duane Morris LLP
Contact Details
Name: Peggy Simoncini Pasquay
Title: Manager of Attorney Recruitment and Relations
Email: Simoncini@duanemorris.com
Phone: (215) 979-1161
Address: 30 South 17th Street
City: Philadelphia
State: PA
Country: USA
Zipcode: 19103-4196
Apply Online: To Apply online click on the Source link
Politics of O'Malley's Offshore Wind Plan Changed, Economics Have Not
To contact us Click HERE
Governor Martin O’Malley is hoping the third time is the charm for his offshore wind boondoggle. Yesterday, O’Malley testified before the Senate Finance Committee on behalf of his plan to build wind farms off the coast of Maryland. Previous efforts died in the Finance Committee the last two years.
O’Malley is hopeful that the General Assembly will approve the plan this year.
What has changed? The politics.
Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, a proponent of O’Malley’s offshore wind plan, reassigned Senator Anthony Muse from the Finance Committee to Judicial Proceedings, and replaced him with Senator Victor Ramirez. Muse had been an opponent of O’Malley’s offshore wind proposal. O’Malley also sweetened the deal by including millions in state grants for minority businesses to compete for offshore wind energy contracts. Muse was among the three African American senators who voted against the bill in the Finance Committee last year.
While the politics of O’Malley’s offshore wind plan have changed, the bad economics have not.
However, the DLS analysis also underscores the uncertainty of the assumptions of O’Malley’s cost estimates noting in several instances scenarios where the monthly cost could exceed the $1.50 limit. The analysis also stresses that additional cost impacts may vary due to approved bids and state and federal subsidies available to developers.
State and federal subsidies serve to mask the true cost of wind projects. In particular the federal wind production tax credit. In addition to any new monthly charges on their electric bills, Maryland ratepayers are already paying for massive federal subsidies for wind farms. The federal wind production tax credit (PTC), extended by one year in the fiscal cliff deal, will cost U.S. taxpayers $12 billion. The PTC gives wind power producers a $22 per megawatt hour/2.2 cents per kilowatt-hour credit for energy produced. In some cases this subsidy counts for between 50-70 percent of wholesale price of electricity.
If Congress extends the PTC beyond 2013, U.S. taxpayers would be subsidizing at a minimum, 12 percent (assuming the maximum price of $190 per megawatt hour) of the cost of one OREC generated by a Maryland offshore wind farm. Assuming the same maximum price, taxpayers would be subsidizing 33 percent of the energy costs of one OREC. Given that wind power is produced during periods of low demand OREC prices will tend to be lower than $190 per megawatt hour, meaning taxpayers will be subsidizing a larger percentage.
If O’Malley’s bill passes, construction of any wind farm is still in serious doubt because the federal wind production tax credit faces an uncertain future, and his financing model is not viable (i.e. ratepayer subsidies not large enough) to attract investors to support such a costly project. Peter Mandalstam, an offshore wind developer, told the Washington Post that O’Malley’s plan “may make it difficult or, in a worse-case scenario, impossible to build a project off the coast of Maryland.” Mandalstam’s contract to build a wind farm off the coast of Delaware collapsed because he could not secure financing.
Governor Martin O’Malley is hoping the third time is the charm for his offshore wind boondoggle. Yesterday, O’Malley testified before the Senate Finance Committee on behalf of his plan to build wind farms off the coast of Maryland. Previous efforts died in the Finance Committee the last two years.
O’Malley is hopeful that the General Assembly will approve the plan this year.
What has changed? The politics.
Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, a proponent of O’Malley’s offshore wind plan, reassigned Senator Anthony Muse from the Finance Committee to Judicial Proceedings, and replaced him with Senator Victor Ramirez. Muse had been an opponent of O’Malley’s offshore wind proposal. O’Malley also sweetened the deal by including millions in state grants for minority businesses to compete for offshore wind energy contracts. Muse was among the three African American senators who voted against the bill in the Finance Committee last year.
While the politics of O’Malley’s offshore wind plan have changed, the bad economics have not.
However, the DLS analysis also underscores the uncertainty of the assumptions of O’Malley’s cost estimates noting in several instances scenarios where the monthly cost could exceed the $1.50 limit. The analysis also stresses that additional cost impacts may vary due to approved bids and state and federal subsidies available to developers.
State and federal subsidies serve to mask the true cost of wind projects. In particular the federal wind production tax credit. In addition to any new monthly charges on their electric bills, Maryland ratepayers are already paying for massive federal subsidies for wind farms. The federal wind production tax credit (PTC), extended by one year in the fiscal cliff deal, will cost U.S. taxpayers $12 billion. The PTC gives wind power producers a $22 per megawatt hour/2.2 cents per kilowatt-hour credit for energy produced. In some cases this subsidy counts for between 50-70 percent of wholesale price of electricity.
If Congress extends the PTC beyond 2013, U.S. taxpayers would be subsidizing at a minimum, 12 percent (assuming the maximum price of $190 per megawatt hour) of the cost of one OREC generated by a Maryland offshore wind farm. Assuming the same maximum price, taxpayers would be subsidizing 33 percent of the energy costs of one OREC. Given that wind power is produced during periods of low demand OREC prices will tend to be lower than $190 per megawatt hour, meaning taxpayers will be subsidizing a larger percentage.
If O’Malley’s bill passes, construction of any wind farm is still in serious doubt because the federal wind production tax credit faces an uncertain future, and his financing model is not viable (i.e. ratepayer subsidies not large enough) to attract investors to support such a costly project. Peter Mandalstam, an offshore wind developer, told the Washington Post that O’Malley’s plan “may make it difficult or, in a worse-case scenario, impossible to build a project off the coast of Maryland.” Mandalstam’s contract to build a wind farm off the coast of Delaware collapsed because he could not secure financing.
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