Names and Notes

Martinez established Project Enhancement in 1998 to provide project management services and technical expertise for government clients such as the Department of Energy and NASA.

Martinez, chairman of the Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, recently was recognized as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Minority Business Enterprise owners for 2007 by the Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs. His company was named one of Hispanic Business magazine’s 100 fastest-growing Hispanic companies and 500 largest Hispanic businesses in the United States for the fourth year in a row.

Fitzgerald Auto Mall sued after repossessing car

Fitzgerald Auto Mall in Frederick was ordered to pay a Washington County woman $55,000 after a jury last week found the company breached its contract when it repossessed her car in 2005.

Trudy Lynn Scott of Smithsburg had signed a contract for a new $23,000 2006 Mazda Tribute in September 2005. The dealership contacted her two weeks later, saying she had signed the wrong contract. Scott refused to sign the new one, according to court documents.

Fitzgerald then repossessed her car, citing her failure to make two monthly payments. Scott’s attorneys argued the car was repossessed because of her refusal to sign the new contract.

Fitzgerald’s attorney, David Ryder of Brault Graham LLC, was unavailable for comment.

Names & Notes reports news of startups, new developments, key personnel changes and trends affecting county business. Items may be mailed to Rebecca McClay, The Gazette, 2A N. Market St., Frederick, MD 21701; faxed to 301-876-2124; or e-mailed to rmcclay@gazette.net.

3 Roads producingdocumentaries

3 Roads Communications of Frederick is creating two separate documentaries on the Republican and Democratic presidential nominees.

The one-hour videos will be distributed internationally. The documentary on Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is in production and will likely be released in the spring.

‘‘The Contenders” will detail the lives and positions of each party’s nominee with original interviews with the nominees, political analysts, foreign policy experts and campaign insiders.

‘‘We’re looking to provide audiences with a comprehensive look at the candidates and their positions so that they can draw educated conclusions about what the presidency of each candidate would mean to them,” said Russ Hodge, executive producer.

Leadership shuffles atMiddletown business group

Middletown Valley Business Association voted in a new board last month: president Bill Dolan, vice president Stephanie Sullivan, treasurer Sam Smith and secretary Martha Pirrone.

Dolan said one of his goals is to expand membership to nearby towns.

The association is organizing a Web site, www.mvba-md.org, to include a newsletter.

Frederick woman to benational chairwoman

Anne Hale Miglarese, president of Fugro EarthData Inc. of Frederick, will chair the newly formed National Geospatial Advisory Committee.

Fugro EarthData, founded in 1955, provides global remote sensing, mapping and geospatial information system services.

The company recently won contracts for mapping technology in two Georgia counties.

Fugro has 275 offices and 11,000 employees in more than 50 countries.

Mug of Chamberlain

Sports clinic adds staff, opens in Walkersville

Frederick Sport & Spine Clinic recently hired Justin Chamberlain at a physical therapist assistant. The 2005 Mount Aloysius College graduate will work in the aquatic therapy program.

Frederick Sport & Spine Clinic, with locations in Frederick and Middletown, most recently opened a location in Walkersville.

Café 611 to host

grand opening

Café 611 will hold a grand opening and ribbon cutting at 3 p.m. Friday at 611 N. Market St., Frederick.

The event will include hors d’oeuvres, live entertainment and vendors.

Ryan & Associates opens

In Hagerstown

Ryan & Associates, a Frederick engineering and design company, plans to open a second location in Hagerstown. The company specializes in structural and geotechnical engineering, retaining-wall designs and inspections.

‘‘We chose [Hagerstown] because there is more development opportunity and the overhead costs are less than Frederick,” said Angie Steidl, business manager. ‘‘We have an established client base in Washington County.”

The company had also considered sites in Frederick, Thurmont, Cascade and Waynesboro, Pa.

Mug of Feltz

Acupuncturist nominated

for women’s award

Jessica Feltz, founder of the Turning Point: A Community Acupuncture Center in Frederick, is among eight semi-finalists for the fifth annual StartRight! Business Plan Competition for Women Enterpreneurs.

More than 40 entries were received from Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. The contest is sponsored by Rockville Economic Development Inc.

Semi-finalists will give oral presentations to a panel of judges on Friday. Three winners will be selected and announced April 1.

The Turning Point, at 243 W. Patrick St., opened in November. 

Leadership shuffles atMiddletown business group

Middletown Valley Business Association voted in a new board last month: president Bill Dolan, vice president Stephanie Sullivan, treasurer Sam Smith and secretary Martha Pirrone.

Dolan said one of his goals is to expand membership to nearby towns.

The association is organizing a Web site, www.mvba-md.org, to include a newsletter.

Frederick woman to benational chairwoman

Anne Hale Miglarese, president of Fugro EarthData Inc. of Frederick, will chair the newly formed National Geospatial Advisory Committee.

Fugro EarthData, founded in 1955, provides global remote sensing, mapping and geospatial information system services.

The company recently won contracts for mapping technology in two Georgia counties.

Fugro has 275 offices and 11,000 employees in more than 50 countries.