Business

Baltimore Collegetown Network, a nonprofit organization that works to attract, engage and retain college students in Baltimore, hosted its first Leaders in Higher Education Reception at Baltimore Center Stage on April 19 where University of Maryland, Baltimore County’s retiring president, Dr. Freeman Hrabowski was honored. Hrabowski is the longest-serving college president in the Baltimore area. He’s spent 45 years at Baltimore Collegetown Network institutions, including 30 years at UMBC and 10 years at Coppin State University.

The Towson Chamber of Commerce announced it received a $66,000 Community Safety Works-Business District Improvement Grant from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development to reimburse local businesses who install new exterior surveillance cameras for the benefit of public safety. “We all care deeply about keeping Towson vibrant, safe and strong and this grant is another positive step to do just that,” said Nancy Hafford from the Towson Chamber. “We are working very closely with our local businesses and property owners, the Greater Towson Committee, our residential community, Towson University, government officials, the State’s Attorney Office and our police department to keep our community as safe as possible.

The Maryland-based vaccine maker Emergent BioSolutions was forced to destroy nearly 400 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine because of potential contamination at its East Baltimore plant, far more than previously known. Further, the company sought to hide deficiencies from federal and outside inspectors at the Bayview site, built with millions of dollars of federal support, and continued to promote its manufacturing capabilities despite warnings of those deficiencies.

Brett Ingerman came to the Baltimore Business Journal’s “In the Room” roundtable event wearing a hot pink tie. He admitted it had been awhile since he donned one, adding “Covid has destroyed the dress code.” Work attire is hardly the only thing that has changed in the past couple of years and specifically in Ingerman’s line of work — the law. The managing partner of Baltimore’s mega law firm DLA Piper and three other top local lawyers, Kelly Powers of Miles & Stockbridge, Jonathan Wachs of Offit Kurman, and George Nemphos of Nemphos Braue, gathered for the roundtable in downtown Baltimore on Tuesday to discuss the dramatic shifts in law, business and the emerging opportunities they’re finding in an extremely busy time in the world.

Premier League soccer is returning to Baltimore this summer as the region looks to build momentum for its bid to host a FIFA World Cup match in 2026. Arsenal and Everton, who both play in the top division of England’s soccer system, will meet in a pre-season game on July 16 at 7 p.m. at M&T Bank Stadium, the Baltimore Ravens announced Tuesday. Tickets for the so-called “Charm City Match” go on sale to the general public through TicketMaster starting at 10 a.m. on Thursday. Pre-sale tickets for Ravens PSL owners and club supporter groups went on sale Tuesday.

Catholic Charities of Baltimore has hired its first-ever chief operating officer. Ashley Valis, who previously worked for the University of Maryland, Baltimore, stepped into the newly created role this week. As COO, she will be responsible for strategic oversight, operational excellence of programs and services, human resources and leadership of the organization’s strategic planning process and initiatives, according to a release. Valis will report directly to Catholic Charities Executive Director Bill McCarthy.

Port Covington master developer Weller Development Co. is exiting the 235-acre project and moving its headquarters out of Baltimore. The company will be replaced this month by MAG Partners and MacFarlane Partners, a team of national developers and investors, who will launch an immediate marketing and leasing campaign for the five office, retail and residential buildings now under construction at the South Baltimore site. Sagamore Ventures, founded by former Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank, and Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group, the two main investors behind the project, announced the news Tuesday.