Baltimore Business Journal articles from December 2001

Baltimore Business Journal archives from December 2001

Empire builder: CareFirst buyer's appetite not yet sated.(Wellpoint Health Networks Inc., Leonard D. Schaeffer)(Statistical Data Included)
December 7, 2001... Leonard D. Schaeffer is not known to shy away from a challenge. In 1986, the Princeton alumnus took over Blue Cross of California -- despite company losses that reached $153 million a year -- and transformed the health insurance company...

Legg Mason acquires Owings Mills land.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... Legg Mason Inc. has quietly acquired nearly eight acres in Owings Mills, fueling speculation that the investment firm will expand in Baltimore County. The Baltimore company -- with headquarters at 100 light St. downtown -- purchased a...

Ciena cuts back on space.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... Ciena Corp., the Linthicum-based fiber optics. equipment maker that laid off 10 percent of its work force last month, is now trying to unload a portion of its real estate. The public company plans to sublease as much as 160,000 square feet...

Tech firm breaks off ziegler ties.(digitalorganism, Boldhaus Inc.)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... A local tech company sent a letter this week severing its ties with former Gr8 CEO Craig Ziegler and his new company because it was unhappy with a two-month-old agreement, the company's president said. Baltimore-based digitalorganism...

Beth steel, U.S. steel in merger talks. (From the web).(Bethlehem Steel Corp., United States Steel L.L.C.)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... Officials of bankrupt Bethlehem Steel Corp. are in discussions with United States Steel LLC and several other companies over a possible merger and creation of a company more capable of competing with cheap foreign imports.

Condor wins National Guard contract. (From the web).(Condor Technology Solutions Inc., U.S. Army National Guard Bureau)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... Baltimore-based Condor Technology Solutions Inc., a Web development firm, won an advertising account worth up to $50 million from the U.S. Army National Guard Bureau Nov. 30.

COPT buys Va. property for $58.2M. (From the web).(Corporate Office Properties Trust)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... Corporate Office Properties Trust, a real estate investment trust focused on office development, purchased a Chantilly, Va, office complex and adjacent undeveloped property for $58.2 million.

GSE converts $3.9M debt into stock. (From the web).(GSE Systems Inc., ManTech International Corp.)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... Columbia-based GSE Systems Inc., a provider of technology to the energy industry, signed a deal with ManTech International Corp. to convert $3.9 million in debt to stock in the company.

Comcast strikes deal to retain service. (From the web).(Comcast Cable Communications Inc., Excite@Home)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... Comcast Cable Communications Inc., struck a $160 million deal to keep its high-speed Internet subscribers connected to Excite@Home's network until it can transfer customers onto its own network.

Investment firm buys Pa. company. (From the web).(acquisition information)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... Baltimore investment firm Intellectual Capital Markets Inc. acquired Declaration Holdings Inc. of Conshohocken, Pa. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Correction. (From the web).(Correction Notice)
December 7, 2001... * In the "Who's Who in Bankruptcy Law" publication [Vol. 19 , Nov. 30-Dec. 6], the introduction contained incorrect information. President Bush has not signed into law stricter bankruptcy legislation. Both houses of Congress passed legislation,...

Main St. loses a big one. (Informed source).(Hopkins Furniture closes)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... The closure of a 76-year-old retail staple along Annapolis' Main Street is leaving a hole on the state capital's main retail strip. Hopkins Furniture is going out of business, leaving behind a three-story retail show room and warehouse...

Law firm dissolves. (Informed source).(Blum, Yumkas, Mailman, Gutman & Denick P.A. )(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... Under fire from a $2 million malpractice lawsuit, the Baltimore law firm of Blum, Yumkas, Mailman, Gutman & Denick P.A. closed its doors late last month, and a majority of its remaining partners have joined an Owings Mills law firm. Four...

Company gets Sept. 11 aid. (Informed source).(Belaire Limousine Inc receives first loan)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... Belaire Limousine Inc., a Harford County company, was given a $258,700 loan, becoming the first Maryland company to receive aid under the U.S. Small Business Administration's Expanded Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. Started in...

Fixing fallingwater. (Informed source).(engineering contract information)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... "It's not everyday you get to work on Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpiece." That about sums up Dennis Sanschagrin's excitement about his company's latest high profile project Vstructural LLC, a unit of Hanover-based Structural Group, was hired...

Gainers & Losers: Don't fret parris. You'll get a good seat at the Orange Bowl.(Baltimore, Maryland businesses information)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... * Beth Steel There's still hope for the big Sparrows Point employer. Now, if only the government will agree to bail out its retirees. * Gov. Glendening It seems the governor's golden parachute has a hole in it. There's always going back to...

City pushes for equity deals by minorities.(Baltimore, Maryland)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... Baltimore City economic development officials are using political muscle to help minority entrepreneurs gain ownership in development projects. The city is insisting that minority inclusion be a priority for developers who want tax breaks,...

Mercy aims to woo suburbanites in expansion.(company management strategy)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... Mercy Medical Center is using an old trick to strike up new business. Embedded in the downtown hospital's $110 million expansion plans is a focus on attracting suburban patients to its growing outpatient facilities -- a move that hospital...

Dewalt says it's sticking with Nascar.(Dewalt Industrial Tool Co marketing information)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... Potato chip maker Lance, filling-station chain Amoco and tobacco manufacturer Kodiak are pulling their names off race cars. But Baltimore's Dewalt Industrial Tool Co. draws the line at cuffing back its roughly $8 million to $10 million...

Martek founder spins off bio-agriculture firm. (Health & Biotechnology).(Advanced BioNutrition)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 7, 2001... David J. Kyle is at it again. About 17 years after helping start up publicly traded Martek Biosciences Corp., Kyle last month unveiled his latest bioscience creation, Advanced BioNutrition. Founded on technology developed by...

Hospital's fortune changes. (Health & Biotechnology).(Upper Chesapeake Health)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 7, 2001... What a difference six months has made for Upper Chesapeake Health. In May, the Harford County health system eliminated about 160 jobs at its two hospitals -- Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Bel Air and Harford Memorial Hospital in Havre...

Buying up pharmacies. (Health & Biotechnology).(NeighborCare Pharmacy Services buys 30 phamacies previously owned by Mariner Post-Acute Network)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 7, 2001... In its quest for market share, Baltimore-based NeighborCare Pharmacy Services purchased about 30 pharmacies formerly owned by Mariner Post-Acute Network, a bankrupt long-term care company, for about $60 million. The transaction, which was...

Getting the green light. (Health & Biotechnology).(Cell Works Inc.)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... Baltimore's Cell Works Inc., a biotech focused on the treatment on cancer, recently received good news from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (www.fda.gov). The federal agency granted Cell Works (www.cell-works.com) orphan drug status...

Chick-fil-A plans expansion in baltimore area. (Retail & E-Commerce).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 7, 2001... Chick-fi1-A, the Atlanta-based chicken restaurant chain, is planning a four-store expansion in the Baltimore area in 2002, including a new store adjacent to the ever-sprawling Arundel Mills mall complex. - Aside from the Arundel Mills...

Changes at can co. (Retail & E-Commerce).(leasing deals)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... Women's boutique Bridals by Deborah closed its doors at the Can Company in Canton on Nov. 11, and the building's developer, Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse, has signed a lease with Foot Solutions, a chain that sells custom-made shoe insoles. ...

Hole in the mall. (Retail & E-Commerce).(Lechters Inc. leaves four shopping centers)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 7, 2001... Lechters Inc., the company behind national retail chain Lechters Housewares, dimmed the lights on locations in four local shopping centers owned by Columbia's the Rouse Co. (www.therouse company.com). Lechters (www.lechters.com) stores...

Legg shutters Va. office amid cuts. (Banks & Finance).(Legg Mason Inc.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 7, 2001... Legg Mason Inc. laid off four investment bankers in Reston, Va, and then shut down the office as part of its recent cost-cutting and restructuring program. The Baltimore-based Legg Mason (www.leggmason.com) laid off 84 people on Nov. 14. ...

Asset strategy opens office. (Banks & Finance).(Asset Strategy Consultants opens office in Winchester, Virginia)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... Asset Strategy Consultants (www.assetstrategyconsultants.com), a pension consultant based in Baltimore County, opened a new office in Winchester, Va., which is located in the Shenandoah Valley. The office is the sixth for Asset Strategy,...

Calvert opens charity funds. (Banks & Finance).(Calvert Foundation and Calvert Group)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 7, 2001... The Calvert Foundation (www.calvertgiving.com) of Bethesda, a nonprofit charity aligned with the Calvert Group (www.calvertgroup.com) family of socially responsible mutual funds, has created a set of eight charity funds called Giving Folios...

Ebersole named president. (Banks & Finance).(Mary Fran Ebersole, president of Maryland District of Financial Women International)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... Mary Fran Ebersole, a partner at the law firm of Tydings & Rosenberg LLP, became president of the Maryland District of Financial Women International last month. Financial Women International is a 3,500-member. advocacy group based in Arlington,...

Sandy spring bancorp inc. (News & notes).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 7, 2001... The board of directors of Olney-based Sandy Spring Bancorp Inc. approved a three-for-two split of its common stock. Trading with the adjustment for the' split will start Dec. 21. The split will increase the number of shares outstanding to...

Security for 'a big market'. (Tech watch).(TechGuard Security Inc. opens office in Millersville)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 7, 2001... A St. Louis-based technology security firm hopes to capitalize on the concerns of Greater Baltimore businesses. TechGuard Security Inc., a woman-owned firm, opened a regional office in Millersville last week and is setting its sights on...

SafeNet inc. (News & notes).(SafeNet Inc. and Adtrain Inc. sign licensing deal)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... Baltimore-based SafeNet Inc. (www.safenet.com) signed a licensing deal with Huntsville, Ala.-based Adtran Inc. to package its security products with Adtran's software.

Investors emerge in tight market: Group plans to give startups push to profitability. (baltimore.tech).(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... Young companies looking for much-needed cash in today's stingy venture capital market may get their prayers answered by a group of local investors. "There's a big gap between startup funds and big-time venture capital," said Richard A....

Stock snapshot: CompuDyne corp.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 7, 2001... NASDAQ: CDCY Hanover-based CompuDyne Corp., a developer of technology for the security industry, is benefiting from the current appetite for these stocks on Wall Street. The company's stock hit its 52-week high of $19.55 a share on...

BBJ Tech 25: A glance at greater Baltimore's leading public technology companies. (batlimore.tech).(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
December 7, 2001... BBJ Tech 25: A glance at Greater Baltimore's leading public technology companies This Last Week's Week's Net Percent Company ...

New Enterprise Associates. (Venture Corner).(invests in Pharmion Corp.)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... Batlimore venture capital firm New Enterprise Associates invested $20 million in Denver-based Pharmion Corp in a private placement. Pharmion, a pharmaceutical company, raised a total, of $65 million and plans to use the money to launch its...

Largest investment firms in the Baltimore area: (Ranked by number of Series 7 certified brokers (1) in the Baltimore area). (The list).(Directory)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
December 7, 2001... Largest investment firms in the Baltimore area (Ranked by number of Series 7 certified brokers (1) in the Baltimore area) Rank/ Name No. of series 7 Revenues last Address ...

Hot ticket: Real estate agents tout strong sales despite lagging economy. (Special report: Real Estate & Development).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 7, 2001... Bill and Jane Love, a husband-and-wife agent team for O'Conor Piper & Flynn ERA of Tirmonium, are having their best year -- ever -- in the residential real estate business. Despite the slowdown following the Sept, 11 terrorist attacks and...

RI. asks struever for help on mill projects. (Real estate & economic development).(Struever Brothers Eccles and Rouse Inc.)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse Inc., a Baltimore development firm, has extended its reach to Providence, R.I. City officials there asked Struever Bros. (www.sber.com) to provide advice on mill preservation projects, said Carl W. "Bill"...

Booming apartment life. (Real estate & economic development).(developers move ahead with apartment building plans)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... Despite the unsteady economy, developers are still moving ahead with apartment complexes in Baltimore City. "The market is doing surprisingly well," said Bob Aydukovic, director of the downtown housing initiative. "Everybody is still...

Rubbermaid still looking. (Real estate & economic development).(Newell Rubbermaid Inc. searches for new location)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... Newell Rubbermaid Inc., the Freeport, Ill., maker of Parker pens and Calphalon cookware, is continuing its search for a new corporate headquarters, and city leaders hope Baltimore is still in the running. "Nothing has changed," said...

eRealty sets eye on local housing market. (Special report: Real estate & development).(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... eRealty, which bills itself as an online/offline residential real estate brokerage firm, is trying to carve a niche for itself in the already crowded Baltimore housing market. Starting last year, the Houston-based company began increasing...

Remodeling is good alternative to moving. (Home planning).(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... So, you're m love with your location, but your home just doesn't accommodate your lifestyle anymore. Maybe your family has grown or gotten smaller. Maybe you have different interests or responsibilities that require more space, such as a...

Devise a strategy. (Home planning).(home building)(Brief Article)(Column)
December 7, 2001... Now take the next step. Contact a reputable architect and request a consultation to make sure your ideas are even feasible based on your current structure, lot, area restrictions, etc. Once your ideas are deemed "doable," contact a builder...

Let the building begin. (Home planning).(weighing options of remodeling)(Brief Article)(Column)
December 7, 2001... Now, armed with this information, it is time to decide. Are you staying and remodeling? Or, do you think the cost of the remodel is so far above your budget that you'd prefer to simply move? Assuming you don't want to choose that last...

Largest arts organizations in the Baltimore area: (Ranked by 2000 budget). (The List).(Directory)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
December 7, 2001... Largest arts organizations in the Baltimore area: (ranked by 2000 budget) Rank/ Name 2000 budget 2000 last Address total/ for attendance/ year Phone / Fax /...

People.(hirings and promotions)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... The People section publicizes management- level hirings and promotions of area businesspeople. We also publicize elections to nonprofit and charitable organizations. We do not run professional certifications or designations. Send announcements...

Taking stock: The BBJ index (*) of 83 stocks closed at 1138.97 on Dec. 5, 2001.(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
December 7, 2001... Taking stock: The BBJ index (*) of 83 stocks closed at 1138.97 on Dec. 5, 2001. Weekly Gainers & Losers Price Corporation 12/5/01 % Change 1. Target Logistics Inc. ...

Proxy corner: A weekly analysis of Baltimore-Area public companies. (Taking Stock).(Sylvan Learning Systems Inc.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 7, 2001... Sylvan Learning Systems Inc. 1001 Fleet St. / Baltimore, 21201 / (410) 843-8000 / www.sylvan.net Corporate profile Sylvan Learning Systems, an international provider of educational services to families, schools and industry,...

Calendar.
December 7, 2001... Tuesday, Dec. 11 "The First Steps to Starting your Own Business," sponsored by die Baltimore County Small Business Resource Center and the Eastern Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce, will take place at the Eastern Baltimore County...

Keep legal costs down. (Business doctor).(maintaining close relationship with company's legal services)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... A small-business owner is continually challenged to contain the never-ending expenses of running a company. So why add to the tab by having routine meetings with a business attorney? A rush job translates into big fees. Many business...

Business journal misses point of 'right-to-work' legislation. (Letter to the editor).
December 7, 2001... Editor: I read with great interest your opinion on right-to-work legislation [Vol. 19, Nov. 23-29, Page 281. In theory, the Maryland legislature should have an agenda that addresses the real issues that keep businesses from moving to...

Arundel deserves high marks for teacher training efforts. (Letters to the editor).
December 7, 2001... Editor: Baltimore Business Journal technology reporter Roger Hughlett's article "When teachers need teaching" [Vol. 19, Oct. 26- Nov. 1, Page 11] focused needed attention on the importance of teachers staying current about computer...

'Fledgling lawyers' have much experience, youthful outlook. (Letters to the editor).
December 7, 2001... Editor: We appreciate the headline identifying us as fledgling lawyers [Vol. 19, Nov. 30-Dec. 6, Page 8]. Since we are nine lawyers with over 200 years of collective experience, who are moving into the third floor of the Sun Life building,...

Beware of city manipulation on minority business numbers. (Letters to the editor).
December 7, 2001... Editor: This letter is in response to the front-page article [Vol. 19, Nov. 16-22, Page 1] about minority contracts growing 39 percent with little justifications or factual data to support this information. Once city officials...

Cloning technology offers hope for disease sufferers. (Letters to the editor).
December 7, 2001... Editor: As a physician who cares exclusively for "the greatest generation" of senior citizens, I am excited by the potential for treatment that may come from cloning technology. All too often I am confronted with a patient who is 95...

Governor making a mistake by trying to slow income tax cut. (Letters to the editor).
December 7, 2001... Editor: The fat days of $1 billion budget surpluses are over. We now face leaner times, a faltering economy and a state budget deficit projected to soar to $1.7 billion by June 2003. One of the proposals Gov. Parris N. Glendening put...

Cyber CFO. (Venture Corner).
December 7, 2001... Cyber CFO, a provider of outsourced financial services; hosted its second JumpStart Series event Dec. 5. The Reston," Va-based firm held the first event three months ago. Ten early-stage companies presented to venture capitalists 'and...

Airports struggle for survival: Sept. 11 attacks cripple six facilities.(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... Federal air space restrictions around Washington, D.C. -- in place since Sept. 11 -- have kept six Maryland airports closed to most private planes and may force a few of them to close for good. The restrictions on Anne Arundel, Prince...

Md. banks push law for builders.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 14, 2001... Maryland banks want to stop developers from taking their business across state lines by pushing for legislation to encourage more home building in the state. The Home Builders Association of Maryland is developing legislation that would...

Legislators race to protect underinsured.(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... As CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield tries to shed its status as Maryland's. insurer of last resort, the state's legislators are moving furiously to protect the underinsured population. State legislators plan to introduce bills in the upcoming...

COPT declares a dividend. (From the Web).(Corporate Office Properties Trust Inc.)(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... Corporate Office Properties Trust, a Columbia-based real estate investment trust, declared a dividend of 21 cents per common share for the fourth quarter, payable on Jan. 15, 2002, to shareholders of record as of Dec. 31.

Telecom firm to buy PSINet unit. (From the Web).(Cable and Wireless PLC)(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... British telecom giant Cable & Wireless says it will pay $10.2 million through a subsidiary to buy PSINet's Japanese operations.

Mercantile board approves dividend. (From the Web).(Mercantile Bankshares Corp.)(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... The board of directors of Mercantile Bankshares Corp. declared a regular quarterly dividend of 28 cents per share on common stock and authorized an increase in the repurchasing of shares.

Skyway offer service to BWI. (From the Web).(Astral Airlines Inc., Baltimore-Washington International Airport)(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... Skyway Airlines announced it will start offering service between Baltimore/Washington International Airport and Milwaukee in January, becoming the third airline to launch a new service at BWI since Sept. 11.

State program to train cabbies. (From the Web).(in customer service)(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... The state's economic development arm began a year-long effort Dec. 12 to train 3,000 local taxi cab drives in customer service.

Magellen reports earnings loss. (From the Web).(Magellan Health Services Inc.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 14, 2001... Columbia-based Magellan Health Services Inc., which provides behavioral managed care, reported a loss of $384,000, or 5 cents per share, for the quarter ended Sept. 30.

Comcast begins network transition. (From the Web).(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... Comcast Corp. plans to begin moving its Internet subscribers onto its own high-speed Internet network this month, company officials said.

Ciena Corp. posts loss. (From the Web).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 14, 2001... For the fourth quarter ended Oct. 31, Ciena lost $1.8 billion, or $5.51 per diluted share, compared to a profit of $38.2 million, or 9 cents per share

Sitel to provided service in Germany. (From the Web).(Sitel Corp. contracts with Group 3G)(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... Sitel Corp. of Baltimore won a contract with Group3G, a consortium formed by Spanish wireless operator Telefonica Moviles and Finnish telecom Sonera, to provide services to wireless customers in Germany.

Hopkins wins Doe suit. (Informed Source).(hospital acted in good faith when it gave out patient info)(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... John Doe fought the law. Johns Hopkins Hospital won. Johns Hopkins Hospital proved that it was not liable for damage done to the reputation of an unidentified Aberdeen man after the hospital released his private patient information to a...

Love those Tuesdays. (Informed Source).(survey results regarding paid time off)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 14, 2001... There is some good news and some not-so-good news for workers this holiday season. The good news: Two Tuesday holidays -- Christmas Day and New Year's Day -- means a majority of employers are calling the Monday before a paid holiday, too....

Marsh president gone. (Informed Source).(Jon Pace)(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... The Baltimore office of insurance brokerage Marsh Inc. (www.marsh.com) of New York will no longer have a president leading its office. Jon Pace, the former president of Marsh's Baltimore operations, has been tapped to run client executive...

Gainers & Losers. (Informed Source).
December 14, 2001... Maybe it would be cheaper to park in Milwaukee and fly to Baltimore. Just a thought. * Cost of parking As if parking wasn't already a burden for city businesses. The City Council decided higher parking taxes was a good idea. How about...

Mitchell seeks $400k to start black district.(State Sen. Clarence M. Mitchell IV)(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... The African-American residential and entertainment district proposed for the west side of Baltimore by State Sen. Clarence M. Mitchell IV now has a price tag: $92.9 million. Consultants working with Mitchell say that's how much it will...

Channel 2 to launch newscast at lunch hour.(WMAR-TV)(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... WMAR-TV, which for years has been in the basement of news ratings in Baltimore, is preparing to launch a noon newscast. The local ABC-affiliate station, Channel 2, will begin running its half-hour lunchtime news program Jan. 7, with...

Garage owners may hike costs to cover tax.(new tax by Baltimore City Council will likely hike parking prices)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 14, 2001... Downtown garage operators are expected to jack up parking costs -- especially daily and weekly rates -- as a result of a new tax driven through the Baltimore City Council this week. The council gave final approval on Dec. 10 to an amended...

Tech mutual funds slowly making a rebound. (Banking & Finance).(science and technology funds return 15.9% in November)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 14, 2001... Some technology mutual funds are actually doing well again. But don't get too excited. It's still nothing like the days before the Nasdaq meltdown. According to mutual fund tracker Upper Inc. of New York, Science & Technology Funds...

Century National acquired. (Banking & Finance).(by United Bankshares Inc.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 14, 2001... United Bankshares Inc. of Parkersburg, W.Va., has completed its acquisition of Century Bankshares of Washington, D.C., giving it a foothold in all-important Montgomery County. Century Bankshares is the parent company of Century National...

Credit-repair firm fined. (Banking & Finance).(Creative Financial and Housing Services Inc. ordered to shut down)(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... The Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Attorney General has slapped a Baltimore credit repair and foreclosure assistance company with a $500,000 fine and ordered the company to shutdown. The state alleges that Creative...

Changes expected at Townson Town Center. (Real Estate & Economic Development).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 14, 2001... Don't be surprised to see some new names at Towson Town Center in the coming year. With many of the retailers' leases expiring within the next several months, both expansions and departures are not out of the question, said Christopher S....

MCF buys Heath Design. (Real Estate & Economic Development).(MCF Capital Inc.)(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... Two partners of a Baltimore-based commercial real estate investment firm have purchased Heath Design Group Inc., a local interior and architectural design business. Michael McGowan and Wince Carran of MCF Capital Inc. bought the firm from...

DAP to expand. (Real Estate & Economic Development).(DAP Products Inc.)(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... DAP Inc., the Baltimore-based caulk and sealant manufacturer, is investing $3 million to expand production capabilities at its North Point plant in Baltimore County. The expansion, which includes a 1,100-square-foot addition with two...