SMECOs Slater Honored as CEO of Year
Six businesses and executives were showcased for being on the Leading Edge during the 14th annual Leading Edge Awards ceremony, June 11. The annual event celebrates forward-thinking individuals and businesses that spur economic growth with efforts and decisions that make real impacts, said Dr. Daniel Mosser, vice president of the College of Southern Marylands Division of Continuing Education and Workforce Development.
Recognized this year are Marrick Properties as Calvert County Business of the Year; SmartSite, LLC as Charles County Technology Company of the Year; Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa as CSM Partnership in Education; Lockheed Martin as The Patuxent Partnership Member Firm of the Year; MESMO Inc. as Small Business of the Year; and Austin J. Joe Slater Jr., CEO and president of SMECO, as CEO of the Year for Southern Maryland.
Involved in corporate philanthropy since its founding in 1984, Marrick Properties has supported Calvert Hospice Festival of Trees as well as established a $100,000 endowment at CSM and supported numerous projects at the college including CSM Foundations Golf Classic for 14 years. As one of Southern Marylands premier home builders and commercial builders, Marrick Properties has deep roots and their local pride runs equally strong and true. Since 1984, their goal has remained unchangedto have every one of their homeowners and business customers share that same level of pride in their own homes, workplaces and communities. For more on Marrick Properties, visit http://youtu.be/EjBqCOtYdmc.
SmartSite, LLCs founders Frank Duduk and Patrick Hobbs started their company in November 2008 with a commitment to a Triple Bottom Line that is, an equal focus on people, planet and profit. Through innovative use of technology, the partners have stayed true to that principle, building their land development business while paying close attention to the social and environmental impacts along with the financial outcomes of their operation. Duduk says they designed SmartSite to be a transformative new industry prototype model of collaboration, technology and life cycle idealism one that increases efficiency across all operations, reduces risk and saves money. For more on SmartSite, LLC, visit http://youtu.be/KBIBIwEht7w.
Lockheed Martin, a global security and aerospace company engaged in research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services, employs 500 people in Southern Maryland, primarily working on the Joint Strike Fighter program. Lockheed Martin also embraces the communities it calls home, with a culture of community service that spans from charity projects that help make the lives of Wounded Warriors a bit more fulfilling to programs that will strengthen student interest in STEM, such as Engineers in the Classroom, STEM Group tours of the F-35 Integrated Test Facility, NAS Patuxent River, and supporting STEM-ING to inspire females to pursue STEM careers. For more on Lockheed Martin, visit http://youtu.be/Ok-pTwCNad8.
Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa is a true champion of education and demonstrates their commitment to the community and the local workforce by investing in CSM. This organization exemplifies the concept of partnership through its use of CSMs education resources and support of the CSM Foundation. They choose to train their employees through programs offered through CSMs Corporate Center. They give back to the community through generous donations to the CSM Foundation in support of scholarships and the colleges four newest Division I athletic programs (mens and womens lacrosse and cross country). For more on Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa, visit http://youtu.be/fLHPABki1Yk.
MESMO Inc. is an SBA 8(a) certified, Center for Veteran Enterprise verified Service-Disabled Veteran Business government contractor with an international-export focus on Africa and the Middle East providing defense and development capacity building, logistics, language translation services and consulting support services. In 2013, MESMO significantly utilized SBTDCs business and international consulting assistance as well as its Procurement Technical Assistance Program to improve MESMOs capabilities. This has led to recent contract awards by the U.S. Navy (Seaport-e) and Department of Homeland Security (Logistics) as well as its progress in growing business opportunities internationally. For more on MESMO, visit http://youtu.be/-jKZU4dacK0.
During Slaters tenure as president and CEO since 2002, SMECO has been awarded the JD Power Award for excellence for six consecutive years. Under his leadership, SMECO has invested millions to install an outage management system, built an Engineering and Operations Center in Hughesville, and led the way in renewable energy investment, including opening a 5.5 megawatt solar farm in Hughesville with a second slated for Waldorf this year. He and his wife, Carmen, are foster parents and actively support Southern Maryland. As an alumnus, he cares deeply about CSM, serving as a trustee and now as a member of CSM's Foundation. A founder of the Southern Maryland Navy Alliance, he is also former chair of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce and an inductee of its Business Hall of Fame. For more on Slater, visit http://youtu.be/nKkoUvghWUs.
The Leading Edge Awards are presented annually in partnership with the Calvert County Department of Economic Development, Charles County Technology Council, the Corporate Center at CSM, the CSM Foundation, The Patuxent Partnership and the Small Business Technology and Development Center (SBTDC).
Platinum sponsors for this years LEA include CSM, Greater Waldorf Jaycees, Marrick Homes, SmartSite LLC and Southern Maryland Newspapers.
For photos from the event, visit http://csmphoto.zenfolio.com/14lea. For information on Leading Edge Awards, visit http://www.corporatecenter.csmd.edu/LEA/2014.html.