Profiles of the 2018 Champions of Maryland Manufacturing
During 2018, RMI received 280 nominations for Champions of Maryland Manufacturing and selected the top Champions from each nomination category. The top 39 Champions of Maryland Manufacturing were recognized in each of the following nomination categories: Community Engagement, Emerging Leaders, Energy & Sustainability, Growth & Productivity, International Business, Manufacturing Technology (Industry 4.0), STEM Student Advocate and Talent Attraction. Champions were recognized at the RMI Champions Gala Awards Ceremony and featured in Champions of Maryland Manufacturing Yearbook.
These Champion profiles help us tell the story of the good work happening in Maryland manufacturing today. See profiles below:
Community Engagement Champions
Emerging Leaders Champions
Energy and Sustainability Champions
International Business Champions
Growth & Productivity Champions
Industry 4.0 Champions
Talent Attraction Champions
Student Advocate Champions
Manor Hill Brewing Company, of Howard County, has raised more than $3 million for Howard County charities and other nonprofits
Manor Hill Brewing has raised more than $3 million for Howard County charities and other nonprofits. Owner E. Randolph Marriner, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation president emeritus and board member, founded HoCo Wine Masters in 2002, raising $3.0 million for CF research and over $150,000 for ECP flood relief efforts.
HoCo Wine Masters has also provided funding for ADG Gumbo for Katrina victims, Friends of Patapsco Valley State Park, Ellicott City flood relief’s Fund for Art, Gilcrest Hospice Care Taste Events, Howard County Historical Society, Howard County Farm Bureau, Howard County Festival of the Arts, Leadership Howard County, Patapsco Valley Heritage Foundation, Robinson Nature Center, Johns Hopkins Pediatric Center Stanstock Festival, St. Andrews Episcopal Church Annual Pig and Jig, St. Louis Catholic Church and School Malone Family Fundraiser, and Voices for Children.
Updated May 24, 2019
Protenergy Natural Foods, of Dorchester County, has grown from producing a million cases a year to finishing 2018 at more than 10 million cases produced
Protenergy Natural Foods drives innovation and provides state of the art packaging designs that produce in a way that achieves shelf stability and best-in-class flavor and performance. Since they opened their doors in 2011, Protenergy has grown from producing a million cases a year to finishing 2018 at over 10 million cases produced. The company leverages operational excellence to grow their people and their capabilities. Protenergy’s latest expansion will launch them into the glass and can ready to drink beverage category nationwide.
Updated May 16, 2019
Growth at Strouse Corporation, of Carroll County, is unprecedented with revenue gains of 58 percent in the last three years
The Strouse Corporation designs and manufactures pressure sensitive adhesive solutions. A 3M Preferred Converter of pressure sensitive adhesive/flexible materials, Strouse solves complex problems for medical, automotive, electronics, industrial, aerospace, and military industries. Known for superior product performance backed by a quality management system registered to ISO 9001:2008 standards and ISO 13485:2016 registration, Strouse’s growth is unprecedented with revenue gains of 58 percent in the last three years, 55 percent capacity increase, and a staggering 21 percent improvement in productivity. Continuous focus on productivity, next level automation, and quality allow for double-digit growth projections the next few years, making Strouse a capable global competitor. Susan Chambers, President, recently received the 3M Supplier of the Year for Woman-owned business award highlighting outstanding performance as a 3M supplier.
Updated May 16, 2019
Hub Labels supports awareness, fundraisers, and volunteer projects through engagement with charitable organizations
Hub Labels encourages employees to participate in the community through a committee that drives quarterly departmental outreach programs to support awareness, fundraisers, and volunteer projects though engagement with charitable organizations. Employees, along with company President Thomas Dahbura, raised more than $12,000 this year and $24,000 in 2017, contributing funds and volunteer hours of support for the Good Will, Brookes House, Micah’s Backpack, Washington County Humane Society, Children in Need, REACH Shelter, Washington County United Way Day of Caring, the American Red Cross, Big Brother and Big Sister Organizations, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Maryland’s Adopt a Highway Program, and more. www.hublabels.com
Updated September 9, 2019
Mike Koch of Firefly Farms, Garrett County, mentors fledgling agribusinesses and is establishing best practices in this industry
Mike Koch, President of FireFly Farms(left), is an emerging leader in Garrett County’s agribusiness sector. FireFly, founded in 2002, is dedicated to excellence and in handcrafted goat cheese sustainable growth. Their cheese, made using fresh, locally-sourced milk from regional family farms, is sold throughout the country. Koch and his company are members of various cheese guilds, and their cheeses have won more than 110 national and international awards of excellence. Their two newest cheeses are manufactured for Whole Foods Market, where they will be exclusively available for one-year.
Koch mentors fledgling agribusinesses, such as High Country Creamery, manufacturer of cow’s milk cheeses, and supports other local agribusinesses to distribute their products using FireFly’s distribution infrastructure. He is a leader and is establishing best practices for local agribusinesses.
Updated May 24, 2019
April N. Richardson, President of Food Opportunities, Prince George’s County, supports minority and women-owned companies in the food industry that wish to scale into manufacturing
April N. Richardson is an attorney and emerging manufacturing leader who has used Food Opportunity’s personal story of growth to build a model of success for the company and other like-minded companies. Growing from a broken oven and production of 50 cakes a day, Food Opportunity partners with larger companies, providing baked goods to retailers like Starbucks, Wegmans, Nordstrom, Safeway, and QVC. Today, Food Opportunity is a full scale manufacturing company with multiple ovens and production space that produces upwards of 2,000 baked goods daily.
Committed to job creation and opportunities, the company will partner with the City of Baltimore to hire and train formerly incarcerated persons in baking and coffee manufacturing.
Updated May 16, 2019
McCormick & Company, of Baltimore County, realizes that there are many opportunities for ‘triple bottom line’ investments for the environment, economy and people”
At McCormick and Company, sustainable manufacturing is one component of a larger corporate social responsibility effort. Creating innovative flavor solutions that translate to about 150 countries and territories around the world takes a passion for problem solving, extraordinary effort and teamwork. It means being mindful of the company’s role in supporting the environment by investing in infrastructure to optimize energy performance, as well as reducing solid waste, water consumption, and packaging. The company’s greenhouse gas strategy is to focus on energy efficiency and use renewable energy where market conditions are favorable. While many companies believe it is too expensive to be sustainable, McCormick realizes that there are many opportunities for “triple bottom line” investments that are good for the environment, economy, and people.
Updated May 16, 2019
K&L Microwave, of Wicomico County, reduced energy usage by 36.4 percent between 2011 and 2017
K&L Microwave is a world leader in the design and manufacture of RF and microwave filters, multiplexers, and integrated assemblies. The company’s Environmental Policy, R I C C A (Reduce-Improve-Conserve-Comply-Apply), is known by all employees and provided as a wallet card. K&L has sustained a 20 percent reduction in the amount of coolant disposed of and purchased, recycled an average of 91K pounds per year of scrap brass and aluminum, reduced energy usage by 36.4 percent between 2011 and 2017, and plans to replace HVAC units and building roofs with a white roof to reduce solar heat gain. K&L Microwave’s Environmental Management System (EMS) conforms to ISO 14001.
Updated May 24, 2019
STULZ Air Technology, of Frederick County, is the industry’s leading air handling product for delivering savings on customers’ energy bills
STULZ Air Technology Systems, a leader in the design and manufacture of environmental control equipment, produces the STULZ CAH-1080, the industry’s leading air handling product for delivering savings on customers’ energy bills. STULZ is globally recognized for sustainability leadership and action.
Installation of approximately 2300 solar panels on the roof on their over 200,000 square foot facility in the City of Frederick generates greater than 800 MWh of electricity annually, or almost 60 percent of the total electricity usage. In other initiatives, the company implemented an auger-compactor system to consolidate seven tons weekly of packaging wood waste, now incinerated at a power plant for energy recovery instead of going into the local landfill and reducing waste disposal costs by 80 percent. STULZ switched to LED shop lighting and reduced power consumption nearly seven percent while doubling LUX in the work space.
Updated May 24, 2019
International sales at Chesapeake Specialty, of Baltimore County, comprise 40 percent of overall sales
Chesapeake Specialty Products’ leadership is visionary and global. Ken Sanchez, president, knew there was international demand for the company’s sand foundry additive and worked with the company’s team to connect to distributors to sell into foreign markets. Working with the U.S. Commercial Service to promote sales into South Korea, Turkey, Vietnam, and Thailand, the company also utilized an U.S. Small Business Administration Export Maryland grant to promote sales to Vietnam and Cambodia.
Expanded sales in Europe and Asia diversified revenue streams to maintain Chesapeake’s Baltimore County employment base. Company expansion into Turkey and East Asian markets fuels the company forward, contributing to international sales, which comprise 40 percent of overall sales. Chesapeake Specialty Products is the recipient of an Export Achievement Award from the U.S. Commerce Service.
Updated May 24, 2019
Sisu Global Health, of Baltimore City, has begun sales in Africa. Their medical device products are assembled in Baltimore by Harbor Designs and Manufacturing
Sisu Global Health, a medical device company for emerging markets, is proud to be a Baltimore-based company with global reach. Its Maryland-manufactured Hemafuse, Sisu’s flagship product, as well as other portfolio devices, are assembled in Baltimore by Harbor Designs and Manufacturing. With an international focus, the company has begun sales in Africa and in the upcoming years expects to sell Hemafuse and other Sisu portfolio products across Africa and emerging markets. Gillian Henkler, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO), and team have built the company from a 3D printed idea to a fully manufactured product. Named Baltimore’s 2016 Technologist of the Year, Henkler is committed to promoting women in STEM. The company intends to grow and to expand their manufacturing footprint here in Maryland.
Updated May 16, 2019
Evapco, Inc. manufactures products in 23 locations in 10 countries around the world
Evapco, Inc. is a global designer and manufacturer of products for Commercial HVAC, Industrial Refrigeration, Power Generation and Industrial Process. Founded in 1976, Evapco became employee-owned in 1984 and now manufactures products in 23 locations in 10 countries around the world employing over 3,000 people. In 2017, the Taneytown world headquarters expanded by adding a new 160,000 sq. ft. building; the expansion will add 125 new jobs over the next five years. EVAPCO, Inc.’s powerful combination of financial strength and technical expertise has established the company as a global industry leader. Its Wilson E. Bradley Research Center is a 60,000 square foot facility that is among the largest and most advanced of its type in the world in the HVAC and refrigeration industries.
Updated August 26, 2019
At RoosterBio, of Frederick County, products are truly ushering in a new era of productivity in their field
RoosterBio was founded in 2013 to radically change how stem cells are made and used by executing to a strategic stem cell manufacturing technology roadmap. RoosterBio products are designed to enhance customers’ manufacturing efficiencies and radically streamline product development and the stem cell based therapeutics supply chain. The company aims to impact the emerging Regenerative Medicine Industry to the level Intel impacted the computer industry. Championing the concept that stem cells are having a “transistor moment” as a technology segment, RoosterBio has commercialized first-in-class products that demonstrate 10-100X scale enhancements and 10-50X productivity gains compared to existing products. Their products are truly ushering in a new era of productivity in the field, setting the stage for a sustainable Regenerative Industry based on innovations in manufacturing sciences.
Updated May 16, 2019
Michael Raphael of Direct Dimensions, Baltimore County, pioneers methods and solutions for 3D scanning, working across industries
Direct Dimensions, led by Founder and CEO Michael Raphael, has pioneered methods and solutions for 3D scanning, working across industries – aerospace, automotive, art, architecture, military, museum, medical, and movie VFX. Direct Dimensions is a world leading 3D scanning firm, based in Maryland. Industry 4.0 demands digital data for manufacturing. Direct Dimensions digitally captures real world objects, parts, tools, and spaces to create highly accurate 3D design data for manufacturing and analysis. Their 3D technology enables engineers, architects, and even doctors to work with accurate, physical world reality-based 3D digital data. Direct Dimensions regularly 3D scans planes, trains, and automobiles for re-engineering; buildings and facilities for architectural re-design; parts, tools, and molds for quality control; and even A-list Hollywood actors for the biggest movies ever made.
Updated May 16, 2019
At Lion Brothers, of Baltimore County, the entire product lifecycle was recently re-invented introducing digital design, advanced manufacturing and material science innovation
Lion Brothers, led by CEO Susan Ganz, is the leading designer and manufacturer of apparel brand identity systems. Suzy and her team transformed Lion into a tech-led company after producing identity and decoration in traditional methods for global sports, lifestyle, uniform and fashion brands for more than 100 years. The entire product lifecycle was re-invented by introducing digital design, advanced manufacturing and material science innovation to create new product innovations, accelerate speed to market and support customization and personalization of apparel at scale. Based in Owings Mills, Lion Brothers is a leader in apparel digital manufacturing technologies with state-of-the-art Domestic and Far East production facilities and global design and rapid prototyping capabilities, supporting clients around the world with new product innovations, speed and efficiency.
Updated May 16, 2019
Stanley Black & Decker’s Hampstead Powder Metal Manufacturing Facility in Carroll County is a pilot plant for Connected Factory, the organization wide Industry 4.0 initiative
Stanley Black & Decker’s Hampstead Powder Metal Manufacturing Facility is a pilot plant for Connected Factory, the organization wide Industry 4.0 initiative. Plant Manager Ann Fagan and the rest of the Hampstead team have implemented systems and programs that increase productivity and quality of product, have embraced new technology, and have been pioneers for testing and validating systems that will eventually be scaled across the organization globally. The Hampstead Manufacturing Facility’s dedication to improving and remaining competitive exemplifies Stanley Black & Decker’s standard for innovation and design in its industry.
Updated May 16, 2019
Bobby Patton of Patton Electronics, Montgomery County, is exemplary in volunteer services to expand the manufacturing economy and encourage careers in advanced manufacturing
Bobby Patton, CEO, Patton Electronics, a communications equipment manufacturer, is exemplary in volunteer services to expand the manufacturing economy and encourage careers in advanced manufacturing. A Maryland Manufacturing Advisory Board member, Patton also chaired Montgomery College’s GT-STEP/STEM program, funded by NSF, which increased STEM majors graduating with an associate’s degree by over 7 percent and transfers to 4-year institutions by over 10 percent 3 years in a row. Patton regularly employs student interns, including students from Capitol Technology University and Montgomery College; has been recognized by Drexel as co-op employer of the year, by York College for employing more co-op students than any company in its 23 year old program, and by Montgomery County Public Schools for accepting high school student interns 10 years in a row.
Updated May 16, 2019
Paragon Bioservices, Inc., of Baltimore City, grew its workforce from 100 to more than 300 employees, becoming one of the fastest growing biotechnology companies in Maryland
Paragon Bioservices is an industry-leading contract development and manufacturing organization for cutting-edge biopharmaceuticals, focusing on transformative technologies, including gene therapies, next-generation vaccines, oncology immunotherapies, and other complex biologics. Headquartered in Baltimore City, the company has retained Paragon’s core scientific talent while expanding its leadership team, which has a proven track record in GMP manufacturing. Paragon’s business strategy delivered more than 80 percent revenue growth in 2017. Within three years, Paragon grew its workforce from 100 to over 300 employees, becoming one of the fastest growing biotechnology companies and one of the top private employers in Maryland. Continuing rapid growth, Paragon established a new 150,000 square-foot commercial-scale GMP manufacturing facility in Anne Arundel County, estimating it will hire more than 200 employees there over the next three years.
Updated May 16, 2019
Strategic Factory, of Baltimore County, mentors vocational students in the print manufacturing industry and assists in their educational pursuits
Strategic Factory plays an ongoing and active role in attracting new talent to the print manufacturing community. CEO Keith Miller started in print with just two employees in 1999. The company now consists of more than 150 team members and continues to grow and hire at an accelerated pace. Strategic Factory’s Human Resources Department is active in recognizing, supporting, and recruiting new talent, participating in print curriculum development advisory meetings and multiple mock interviews at local Vo- Tech high schools. The team mentors vocational students in the industry and assists in their educational pursuits. Team members have volunteered to judge SkillsUSA’s Regional and State Print Competition. Additionally, Strategic Factory has offered numerous internships to Vo-Tech and engineering students over the years.
Updated May 16, 2019
At Textron Systems, Baltimore County, high performing interns are offered full-time positions
With sites in Maryland and around the world, Textron Systems has supported U.S. and allied militaries for more than 50 years, establishing the company as an aerospace and defense leader. Textron Systems begins molding high-potential talent before students leave the classroom, offering internship and co-op experiences across integrated supply chain, information technology, finance and engineering disciplines. High-performing interns are offered full-time positions, supporting Textron’s philosophy of promoting from within and entry level hiring. Entry-level hires participate in Textron Systems’ First Year Experience, which accelerates development through training and helps build professional networks with senior leaders and other organizational functions. Textron Systems also sponsors programs to accelerate experience and learning to grow emerging manufacturing leaders, helping the company put tomorrow’s technology in the world’s hands today.
Updated May 16, 2019
Worthington Armstrong Venture (WAVE) renewed a dormant internal apprenticeship program
In 2017 Worthington Armstrong Venture (WAVE) implemented an in-house training program with two training paths – Tool and Die Makers and Maintenance Mechanics then worked with the Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Program to renew a dormant internal apprenticeship program which was approved in March 2018 and currently has three Tool and Die Maker apprentices. As a founding member of the Manufacturers Coalition initiated by Susquehanna Workforce Network (SWN), a resource partner of the Harford County Office of Community and Economic Development, WAVE provided guidance on training needed in the industry for new hires and incumbent workers and enrolled six employees in the first SWN Hybrid Manufacturing Training class. Partnership efforts have resulted in new hires and additional incumbent worker training.
www.worthingtonarmstrongventure.com
Updated August 26, 2018
Citywide Youth Development uses entrepreneurship and manufacturing skills training and development and has established three youth-run manufacturing enterprises
Citywide Youth Development’s mission is to provide relief of the poor, distressed, and underprivileged by encouraging entrepreneurship education, providing vocational skills training and education, including in STEM disciplines needed for produce development and production and the operation of business enterprises, including those in manufacturing. Citywide uses entrepreneurship and manufacturing skills training and development as crime prevention, poverty eradication, and community revitalization strategy. A nonprofit established in 2010, Citywide has created over 100 entrepreneurship and job opportunities and established three youth-run enterprises, including Made in Bmore, a fashion brand and retail store in Towson Town Center, and City Wide Screen Printing & Embroidery that partners with the Baltimore City and Under Armour; and Frozen Desert Sorbet, the largest mobile cart company in Maryland, currently located in Oriole Park.
www.citywideyouthdevelopment.org/
Updated June 27, 2019