Names and Notes

The finalists for Executive of the Year are Michael Dailey, director of the Frederick Innovative Technology incubator, and Chris Hagenbuch, CEO of GTI Federal. Regent Education, Orases Consulting and Integrated BioTherapeutics are finalists for top company. Biological Mimetics, Akonni Biosystems and Imagilin Technology are finalists for Small Business of the Year.

Cost: $99; members $75. Information: Wendy Dudrow, wdudrow@techcouncilmd.com or 240-243-4050.

Widearea acquiresMagicsoft’s assets

Widearea Systems of Frederick has purchased the operating assets of Magicsoft of Herndon, Va., including its flagship product VC Wizard, a multipoint video conferencing technology.

Widearea Systems will support existing VC Wizard customers, and plans to launch an update, version 7.5, within two months.

‘‘The VC Wizard product is a strong complement to our existing video and voice over IP technology,” said Choon Shim, president and CEO of Widearea Systems, in a statement.

Brunswick chamber marks third year with mixer

The Greater Brunswick Area Chamber of Commerce will host a business card exchange at 6 p.m. March 27 at the Brunswick Railroad Museum, 40 W. Potomac St.

The event will double as an anniversary celebration for the chamber, which marked its third year this month. The mixer will include light refreshments and door prizes.

Information: Jerry Knight, 301-834-5774, or www.gbacc.net.

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.

Management changes at farmers co-op group

Chester Martin, general manager of Farmers Cooperative Association Inc. of Frederick, recently announced his retirement.

The board promoted Richard E. Rutherford Jr., the association’s accounting manager, to succeed him. Rutherford has worked for more than 15 years for the association.

Also, Richard A. O’Hara was named assistant general manager and Amy C. Stephens was named show sales manager.

Downtown Partnership hosts workshop on window design

Downtown Frederick Partnership will holds its third workshop in its Competitive Edge Series on designing window displays and visual merchandising from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the C. Burr Artz Public Library, 110 E. Patrick St.

Margie Johnson, retail expert, will discuss ‘‘customer centered” training sessions and approach to solving business problems.

The session is free. Information: Kara Norman, karanorman@downtownfrederick.org or 301-698-8118.

New hires at accounting firm include two at Frederick branch

McLean, Koehler, Sparks & Hammond, a consulting firm, recently hired two accountants in its accounting and technology consulting divisions in Frederick.

Christian P. Walter of Gaithersburg is an in-charge accountant. He has more than eight years of experience in nonprofit and small-business audits, preparation of financial reports and analysis of financial statements, according to company information. Walter has a bachelor’s in economics from the University of Cooperative Education in Germany.

Emily J. Bizzarri of Fairfield, Pa., will be a staff accountant. She has seven years of experience in bookkeeping, payroll, marketing, sales, developing business growth strategies and managing subcontractors in the hospitality and consulting industries. Bizzarri earned a bachelor’s in accounting from Mount St. Mary’s University.

Zavos Architecture hires construction manager

Zavos Architecture and Design LLC of Frederick recently hired William Kasten of Point of Rocks as construction manager.

Kasten has more than 25 years of experience in residential and commercial construction and property management. His projects include major renovation projects at Bishop Claggett Diocesan Center in Buckeystown, Sheriff’s Youth Ranch renovations and several projects at Montgomery County Public Schools. He also supervised a 20,000-square-foot commercial site for Patuxent Publishing in Columbia.

‘‘Bill has a tangible understanding of what it takes to bring a project off the drawing board and into the field,” said owner Bruck Zavos. ‘‘We look forward to using his expertise and guidance with upcoming projects.”

Kasten is a member of the Frederick County Workforce Development Board.

BP Solar CEO honored with state leadership award

The Maryland World Trade Center Institute honored Lee Edwards, CEO of BP Solar in Frederick, with a 2008 Maryland International Business Leadership award.

The awards bestowed on company leaders who have ‘‘demonstrated exceptional business leadership, determination, and innovative strategic approaches in international business.”

‘‘BP Solar and Lee Edwards emerged as a clear winner from a large list of nominees this year,” said Deborah Kielty, president and executive director of the World Trade Center Institute in a statement. ‘‘With double-digit sales growth, leading-edge technology across the globe, and significant investments in the Frederick facility, we are proud to honor BP Solar and Lee Edwards.”

Baltimore Coffee & Tea shop opening at Westview Center

Baltimore Coffee & Tea Co., which imports, roasts and retails gourmet coffee and tea, plans to open in the Westview Corner Shopping Center.

‘‘The Frederick market is very robust and its location is ideal for our purposes,” said company president Stanley Constantine in a statement. ‘‘Frederick was the next logical location as we continue the regional expansion of our retail stores in central Maryland and beyond.”

Acupuncturist finalist 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 Entrepreneurs.

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.

Accounting firm hires twofor Frederick branch

McLean, Koehler, Sparks & Hammond, a consulting firm, recently hired two accountants in its accounting and technology consulting divisions in Frederick.

Christian P. Walter of Gaithersburg is an in-charge accountant. He has more than eight years of experience in nonprofit and small-business audits, preparation of financial reports and analysis of financial statements, according to company information. Walter has a bachelor’s in economics from the University of Cooperative Education in Germany.

Emily J. Bizzarri of Fairfield, Pa., will be a staff accountant. She has seven years of experience in bookkeeping, payroll, marketing, sales, developing business growth strategies and managing subcontractors in the hospitality and consulting industries. Bizzarri earned a bachelor’s in accounting from Mount St. Mary’s University.

Zavos Architecture hiresconstruction manager

Zavos Architecture and Design LLC of Frederick recently hired William Kasten of Point of Rocks as construction manager.

Kasten has more than 25 years of experience in residential and commercial construction and property management. His projects include major renovation projects at Bishop Claggett Diocesan Center in Buckeystown, Sheriff’s Youth Ranch renovations and several projects at Montgomery County Public Schools. He also supervised a 20,000-square-foot commercial site for Patuxent Publishing in Columbia.

‘‘Bill has a tangible understanding of what it takes to bring a project off the drawing board and into the field,” said owner Bruck Zavos. ‘‘We look forward to using his expertise and guidance with upcoming projects.”

Kasten is a member of the Frederick County Workforce Development Board.

BP Solar CEO honoredwith leadership award

The Maryland World Trade Center Institute honored Lee Edwards, CEO of BP Solar in Frederick, with a 2008 Maryland International Business Leadership award.

The awards bestowed on company leaders who have ‘‘demonstrated exceptional business leadership, determination, and innovative strategic approaches in international business.”

‘‘BP Solar and Lee Edwards emerged as a clear winner from a large list of nominees this year,” said Deborah Kielty, president and executive director of the World Trade Center Institute in a statement.

‘‘With double-digit sales growth, leading-edge technology across the globe, and significant investments in the Frederick facility, we are proud to honor BP Solar and Lee Edwards.”

Downtown Partnership hostsworkshop on window design

Downtown Frederick Partnership will holds its third workshop in its Competitive Edge Series on designing window displays and visual merchandising from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the C. Burr Artz Public Library, 110 E. Patrick St.

Margie Johnson, retail expert, will discuss ‘‘customer centered” training sessions and approach to solving business problems.

The session is free. Information: Kara Norman, karanorman@downtownfrederick.org or 301-698-8118.

Acupuncturist finalist 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 Entrepreneurs.

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.