April 2018 – Crossroads Business Journal

Purdue Global makes official debut

April 30, 2018By MIKE LEWIS mlewis@crossroadsbizjournal.com

Purdue University Global officially launched in early April, unveiling a new website and logo. Purdue, Indiana’s public, land-grant university, announced a deal in April 2017 to acquire for-profit Kaplan University from Kaplan Inc. The former Kaplan campus at 18618 Crestwood Drive in Hagerstown is now part of the Purdue Global network of campuses. W. Christopher Motz, regional vice president of partnerships and strategy in this area for Purdue Global, recently sent an email announcing the move. Motz, who was named Washington County Business Person of the Year during February’s Washington County Business Awards ceremony, referred to Purdue as a “very […]

Face Time for May 2018

April 30, 2018

Have a Face Time item? Submit your new hires, promotions, awards and other people items to facetime@crossroadsbizjournal.com, or by mail to Crossroads Business Journal, 100 Summit Ave., P.O. Box 439, Hagerstown, MD 21741. If you have questions, call editor Joseph Deinlein at 301-791-7591, or reporter Mike Lewis at 301-733-5131. Bank of Charles Town honors employees CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — Potomac Bancshares Inc., the one-bank holding company for Bank of Charles Town, recently honored four employees at the third annual BCT Award Ceremony at the Hilton Garden Inn in Martinsburg, W.Va. Four individuals were recognized by their peers for exceptional performance. […]

Dan Ryan Builders CEO announces successor

April 30, 2018

FREDERICK, Md. — Daniel M. Ryan, founder and CEO of Dan Ryan Builders, recently announced his succession plan. Ryan named Ronald “Ronny” Salameh, long-time chief operating officer and senior vice president, as his successor. Salameh was named president of Dan Ryan Builders effective April 1. “For the past decade, Ronny has been driving the growth of Dan Ryan Builders in the Mid-Atlantic Region,” Ryan said in a prepared statement. “As chief operating officer, he focused on expanding market share in the original operations, revamped product and brand while adding three new markets to the company’s footprint. As I step back […]

‘We can tell our client’s story’

April 30, 2018By MIKE LEWIS mlewis@crossroadsbizjournal.com

Scott Bowen of MSB Architects From the fish tank in the wall to the guitars by the desk to the trademark bow tie he wears, Scott Bowen’s office atmosphere reflects a bit of his personal story. The architect, based in Hagerstown, Md., said that’s what his firm tries to do for its clients — to blend practical needs with an artistic vision that tells a client’s story. Three-dimensional models and large photographs show off some of those projects, such as the picture of the Lucy School in Frederick, Md., and the model of the planned expansion of the Schmankerl Stube […]

Professional services benefit from artificial intelligence

Updated August 13, 2018

Certain professional services have been keeping their glamour and scarcity due to the difficult scalability. Legal advice, financial services, management consultancy and other types of tailored advising such as medical advice, graphical design and others fit this mold. Artificial Intelligence — aka cognitive technologies — are reaching the level where they have the potential to change that situation. AI is a machine that works and can react like humans, while still benefitting from accessing data bases and working tirelessly under the most demanding conditions. On one hand, AI allows advanced and higher-quality services by supporting human service providers in accessing […]

D.M. Bowman puts SmartDrive to work

April 30, 2018By MIKE LEWIS mlewis@crossroadsbizjournal.com

SmartDrive Systems recently announced that D.M. Bowman Inc. has deployed the SmartDrive program across its fleet of more than 380 trucks. Bowman is a family owned and operated trucking company based in Williamsport, Md. SmartDrive is a leader in video-based safety and transportation intelligence. “Video allows us to identify and address risks before a collision occurs, and the SmartDrive program proved to be the best solution to support our culture of safety,” Barry Wertz, director of risk management and safety at D.M. Bowman, said in a news release. “The SmartDrive team provided excellent support, making sure the deployment went smoothly and set […]

U.S. Silica Holdings announces deal for facilities

April 30, 2018

FREDERICK, Md. — U.S. Silica Holdings Inc. recently announced two major deals. The company announced a definitive agreement to acquire EP Minerals for $750 million in cash. It also has signed an agreement to sell three transloads in the Permian, Eagle Ford and Appalachian Basins to CIG Logistics for $75 million in cash. EP Minerals — with sales of over $200 million — is a global producer of engineered materials derived from industrial minerals including diatomaceous earth, clay and perlite. “EP Minerals checks all of the boxes in terms of what we’ve been looking for in an attractive, adjacent business to our […]

The Calendar for May 2018

April 30, 2018

Have a calendar item? Submit your business calendar items to calendar@crossroadsbizjour nal.com, or by mail to Crossroads Business Journal, 100 Summit Ave., P.O. Box 439, Hagerstown, MD 21741. If you have questions, call editor Joseph Deinlein at 301-791-7591, or reporter Mike Lewis at 301-733-5131. MARYLAND Learning Lunch Hour Tuesday, May 1 — Join the Washington County Chamber of Commerce members for lunch, discussion and networking. 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hager Hall Conference and Event Center, 901 Dual Highway, Hagerstown. Free for Washington County Chamber of Commerce members; $10 for nonmembers. Call 301-739-2015, ext. 100; email info@hagerstown.org; or go […]

D’Vinci partners with reading advocacy group

April 30, 2018

After more than 50 years of success with print book-focused reading programs, Reading is Fundamental has partnered with d’Vinci Interactive to create a portal of online resources to foster a love of reading and literacy. The flagship product, Literacy Central, features more than 6,000 literacy resources for educators and parents to use with pre-kindergarten, elementary and middle school students. Literacy Central won the 2018 Parents’ Choice Silver Award. It includes activities, games, interactive reading passages, lesson plans, and videos paired with classic and popular books — all available for free. Users can search by theme, grade level or keyword to […]

Smith Elliott Kearns earns highest rating in peer review

April 30, 2018

HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Smith Elliott Kearns & Co. LLC was recently notified by the peer review committee of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants that it has successfully completed an independent quality review of its accounting and auditing practice. The quality review was conducted by the national firm of Cherry Bekaert LLP under guidelines established by the AICPA. The reviewers made an independent assessment of the firm’s quality control policies and procedures, and inspected the working papers and reports on a representative sample of accounting and auditing engagements. Smith Elliott Kearns received the highest rating possible on its peer review, […]