YOUR FREE ISSUE TheBusiness Business of Howard + Anne Arundel Counties and the BWI Business DistrictM | www.bizmonthly.comonthly | July 2019 Volume 32 Number 7 A12 The Business Monthly July 2019 July 2019 The Business Monthly B1 www.bizmonthly.com www.bizmonthly.com PEOPLE IN BIZ APL names Forte, Stewart hired Harrison Hascoe as manager of Girls on the Run hosts 5K John Forte has been named business operations and sponsorship. Girls on the Run mission area executive for Homeland Most recently, Hascoe was the event of Central Maryland Protection at the Johns Hopkins operations manager for the National hosted a celebratory University Applied Physics Laboratory Women’s Hockey League. 5K in Howard June (APL) in North Laurel. He will direct 1. efforts to create disruptive capabil- Siff joins Cardno More than ities that safeguard and secure the Cardno TEC, an environmental 1,100 girl runners homeland against asymmetric threats. consulting firm in Annapolis, has completed the Summer fun for you Also at APL, Jessica Stewart has been named Dan Siff as a senior project untimed 3.1 mile celebrating appointed mission area executive. manager. He has worked with clients run. She most recently served as the lab’s such as the Army Corps of Engineers, The race day in program area manager for Innovative the Naval Facilities Engineering Howard County also Operational Concepts. Command and the U.S. Air Force. honored local hero, RELAX Suzy Serpico who Two exit TEDCO Berrier new MDDC ad director recently finished the Kevin Berrier has been named Epic5 Race in Hawaii. The Maryland Technology Three girls celebrate after completing their 5K at Girls on the Run. Development Corp. (TEDCO) has advertising director at the Maryland- Epic5 is a total of 5 REWIND announced that CEO and Executive Delaware-D.C.-Press Association. For Ironman’s (2.4-mile swim, 112 mile bike, The program culminates with girls Director George Davis is stepping down the past six years, he worked for the and 26.2 mile run) in 5 days on 5 islands positively impacting their communi- from his position, effective July 31, to Frederick News-Post; he also spent more of Hawaii. She is one of three women to ties through a service project and being REFRESH pursue a new opportunity. Davis joined than a decade with the Carroll County ever complete this race. physically and emotionally prepared to the organization in 2017. TEDCO also Times. Girls on the Run is a nonprofit orga- complete a celebratory 5K event. Our community announced that Andy Jones, chief nization with local Councils in all 50 A recent independent study indicated It’s summer in our investment officer of the Maryland McNaboe joins VAAAC states, with nearly one and a half million that the girls who were the least active has great places to Venture Fund, has also resigned to Erin McNaboe has joined Visit girls. Over the course of the ten-week before Girls on the Run increased their community and it’s pursue other opportunities. Annapolis & Anne Arundel County program, girls in third to fifth grades physical activity level by 40 percent from time to enjoy some (VAAAC) as chief operating officer. She develop essential skills to help them pre-season to post-season and main- Black Bears hire Hascoe has spent the past two years as owner navigate their worlds and establish a life- tained this increased level beyond the of our favorite The Maryland Black Bears have of Moxe Marketing of Annapolis. time appreciation for health and fitness. program’s end. things. Wecker wins state restaurant award Riding a wave or a Continued from page 1 percent of the customers he serves are an absolute the Republicans,” he said. “If everybody took better roller coaster. month is the most challenging part of the business. joy. Over the years, he has gotten to know a great care of each other, instead of arguing we’d be further An owner’s job is to do whatever is needed, a fact he many of them on a personal level and they are more ahead as a country.” never seems to forget as he pitches in busing tables if than customers … they are friends. On Monday nights at 18th and 21st, the speakeasy the crowd gets too big at any one of his establishments. When The Iron Bridge Wine Co. became a success, often becomes a fundraising arm for the community. Visiting an historic Before a recent show at Merriweather, he said, it also meant that key members of that restau- Through “Gin & Jazz” nights, the restaurant helps site or hiking a “from 5 to 7:30 p.m. I’m busing tables, running food, rant’s staff had topped out of their careers. Wecker raise money for local nonprofits ranging from Camp seating people, everything I can do to help.” observed some of them leaving for other challenges. Attaway to Bridges for Housing Stability. The venues new trail. “My brother Rob noticed people leaving, and he said: lends itself to regular charity nights, Wecker said, Humble beginnings ‘How about we open a pirate bar?’ ” and Iron Bridge has continued its track record of When Wecker was 19, he started washing dishes at Steve and Rob opened Mutiny in Glen Burnie in donating wine and dinners to many local fundraising the Magic Pan in Columbia. “I came in and told them 2011. And the list goes on: after 25 years of being efforts and causes. Moving ahead Going to a concert I’d like to wait tables. But they said I was too young, a restaurateur, Wecker now has 240 employees Wecker aims for the experiences at his restaurants so I ended up washing dishes.” between the five restaurants. And he considers each to be totally different from one another. “Some nights or an outdoor play. His dish washing skills were noticed by the restau- employee an important part of his success. I want a burger and a lager at Cured. Some nights rant manager, who said he was the second-fastest “When I put my dishes down at the dish stand, I I want oysters and a mojito at Mutiny, sometimes dishwasher he’d ever seen. “There was a guy in say ‘thank you.’ Because I appreciate what the folks I want seafood at Iron Bridge with a buttery oaky Finding a new Florida he knew who was faster than me. He called who wash the dishes contribute to our success,” he Chardonnay, and some nights a 28-ounce porter- him The Man With the Electric Hands. I thought that said. “Operating a restaurant is about every indi- house, a cabernet, and some music at 18th & 21st.” restaurant or a was pretty good, being second to The Man With the vidual contributing to the whole. It continues to be But is he having fun? Electric Hands.” about putting together a team that makes you look “If you think owning a restaurant will be fun, it picnic in a park. From there, Wecker became a host, then a busboy, better than you are,” he said. can be. It’s spectacularly hard work but if you love it, then a waiter at Magic Pan. He also realized he was Wecker said he and his brothers were taught by there’s nothing better,” he said. a “people” person. His very first restaurant owner- their parents to give back to the community and In the meantime, Wecker continues to appreciate Many great options ship was the Elkridge Furnace Inn, which realized his through his restaurants he has provided an incalcu- his employees, his customers and even his accolades, dream of owning a small inn and restaurant. Though lable amount of support to charities and non-profits. though they surprise him. are close to home. he is no longer associated with the establishment, He often urges people to quit arguing about poli- He remarked, “OpenTable named Iron Bridge one Wecker said it taught him the ropes of restaurant tics and social beliefs and go help their neighbors. of the top 10 restaurants in America for wine lovers. ownership - and relating to customers. Happily, 99.9 “I’m done with the Democrats and done with How on earth?! That little place on Route 108.” So, enjoy and GO! go B1 Photo by Seth Hoffman 50 YEAR ODYSSEY Space Research Howard police run for Special Olympics celebrates 50 years of Detective Zachary Perchinski of the Howard County Police Department carries the “Flame of Hope” down Centennial Lane June 6 exploration and success. in Ellicott City in the Torch Run, an annual event that raises money and supports Special Olympics. The Torch Run is a year-round fundraising effort organized by law enforcement officers. A6 ‘Restaurateur of the Year’ TALE OF TWO COUNTIES Howard faces challenges and Anne Arundel makes major investments. Wecker wins state honor A10, A11 By Susan Kim the eyes of his/her fellow opera- Staff Writer tors, and demonstrates leadership on behalf of the food service indus- Steve Wecker is Maryland try,” according to the association. TICK TICK TICK Restaurateur of the Year “When they called me and said I Researchers looking An owner of The Iron Bridge was one of five finalists, I realized I for ways to reduce Wine Co., Cured, 18th & 21st, and don’t see myself that way. I’m really Lyme Disease. A13. two locations of the Mutiny Pirate humbled.” Bar and Island Grille, Wecker and But receiving Restaurateur his partners have received many of the Year from the Restaurant FORT MEADE awards over the years, includ- Association of Maryland in May With 55,000 ing Corporate Philanthropist of was a big surprise, Wecker said.