The purpose of the Connect Harford 2nd Annual Symposium Report is to share ideas and information that will inspire and encourage growth throughout Harford County. The remarks and suggestions presented within are those of the Connect Harford participants. They are intended to be informational in nature and for your use as you strategize about the future of your organization or business.
2nd Annual
Symposium Report Fall 2014
Agenda Registration Continental Breakfast Welcome Keynote: Mark King Keynote Q&A Table Discussion #1: Invite the Possibilities Break Participants Switch Tables Table Captains Collect “Invite the Possibilities” Cards 9:45 Subject Matter Experts: Explore the Possibilities Subject Matter Experts Speak on Topics of: • Entrepreneurial Spirit • Additive Technology • Farm to Table 10:30 Table Discussion #2: Embrace the Possibilities Participants Discuss Three Topic Areas 11:35 Table Discussion #3: Identify ONE “What if . . .” Concept to Share 1 1:50 Large Group Share Table Hosts Share ONE Concept With the Room 12:15 Closing Video and Remarks 12:30 Open Market Lunch 7:15 8:00 8:25 9:05 9:15 9:30
Please Note: The ideas and comments documented in this review are those of the Connect Harford participants. It is recognized that some of the suggested items have already been implemented.
Section 1: Symposium Overview Connect Harford is an annual symposium event that brings together leaders and emerging leaders from Harford County, and across multiple disciplines (business, government and education), who are dedicated to promoting and inspiring economic growth and a prosperous future for the diverse community that is Harford County. The goal of the event is to explore ideas, share stories, educate leaders about what’s happening in the county, build and expand networks, and discuss how best to maximize the full potential of Harford County, both today and into the future. Presented by The Dresher Foundation, hosted by Harford Community College, and moderated by MarketPoint LLC, this year’s symposium was held on October 1, 2014, in the APG Federal Credit Union Arena at Harford Community College. Now in its second year, the event focused on exploring the diverse opportunities and possibilities that could be nurtured to become focal points for Harford County, guided by the theme “Invite the Possibilities.” Participants had the opportunities to brainstorm about the possibilities, learn about three specific areas where Harford County is uniquely positioned to excel, and engage in small group discussions about existing assets and resources, as well as what it would take to advance these ideas in a meaningful way in Harford County.
Conversations centered on identifying economic opportunities, addressing barriers, sharing innovative solutions, and providing access to information – inspiring all stakeholders to take the actions needed today to make their vision a reality tomorrow.
Participant Demographics The attendance at this year’s event reached 350 individuals across multiple disciplines. Based on demographic data collected at the time of registration, the make-up of participants attending the event is outlined in the following charts and table. Figure 1 Industry (n=284)
Figure 4 Age Range (n=285)
Figure 2 Y ears Lived or Worked in Harford County (n=275)
  Figure 5 Gender (n=348)
Figure 3 H ow Much Longer Do You Expect to Live / Work in Harford County (n=302)
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Section 2: Invite the Possibilities
Attracting Talent
Following his comments, participants were encouraged to think about the diverse opportunities and economic landscape of Harford County and what possibilities or ideas they would like to see become a focal point for the county. These are their ideas:
• D evelop incentives to attract young talent. • Tap intellectual and technological capabilities of younger workforce. • Retrain/retool to bring a creative workforce to the county • Create greater collaboration between business and education in developing today’s workforce. • Create a committee to drive and help companies implement the distributive leadership style. • Bring a mentorship program to the county. • Ask businesses to recruit college graduates back to the community; consider work availability and flexibility to keep the connection. • Create new opportunity for training, networking, mentoring, and practical experiences. • Provide more opportunities (partnerships, apprenticeships, etc.) between business/industry and education as catalysts to get people into jobs they’ll like • Create an environment that encourages young people to remain in Harford County via affordable living and encourage stewardship of the Harford community.
Community Engagement
Economic and Business Environment
Keynote speaker Mark King, President of adidas Group North America and Chairman of TaylorMade Golf Company, set the tone for the symposium and energized the audience with the story of TaylorMade’s efforts to inspire, lead change, and create an environment that engages and creates leaders at all levels. We invite you to view and share Mark King’s inspirational message by visiting http://tinyurl.com/ MarkKing-ConnectHarford.
• I nvite youth to the process; provide opportunities for young people in the county to network, share ideas, and be part of the community’s discussions and decisions. • Create student think tanks through the school system with annual gatherings. • Get all government agencies on the same page and working in the same direction. • Employ distributive leadership in government, to address the loss of faith in elected officials. • Increase engagement across all generations (youth to aged). • Connect the “change agents” in Harford Count.y • Move from silos to spheres of influence (Education, Business, Government) to lead change vs. manage change. • Establish a countywide forum and report out to other county agencies and businesses. • Hold regular Town Hall meetings • Bring together disparate groups of new and old residents. • Explore ways to bridge youth, millennials, and generation X into leadership positions within organizations and within the county
• P rotect resources, state-of-the-art jobs, and rural routes outside development. • Bring in greater diversity of businesses. • Make Harford County the Silicon Valley of the East; world class tech centers. • Establish APG and Harford County as national leaders in additive manufacturing. • Focus on how the approach of government officials can change. • Transform Harford County from a change-resistant community to one of innovation and intentional distributive leadership; involve millennials in management/leadership in the business world. • Create an environment where knowledge base and new ideas are blended and encouraged . • Create a “test bed” for innovation shared throughout the community. • Continue to utilize and bring new technologies to the education sector, both private and public. • Expand entrepreneurial support infrastructure and effectively communicate about available resources and opportunities. • Decrease reliance on APG and government industries; diversify the business base. • Explore alternative directions for APG to ensure it remains relevant. • Explore ways to motivate funding and simplify the process for new businesses.
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Community Development
• C reate an environment where people want to work and live, urbanize our population centers, and create a downtown environment. • Promote community amenities, highlighting quality of life in Harford County. • Attract young adults to stay, work and play in Harford County through better transportation and social scene; ensure affordable housing for young people. • Create a cultural climate that the community embraces; make Harford County a destination. • Model county after proven, ranked “Best Counties,” and learn from the mistakes of those that failed. • Focus on how we become appealing to younger residents. • Address transportation and infrastructure issues; more walking communities; there is no urban element. • Integrate the influx of new people to the county due to BRAC. • Continue revitalization of Route 40 corridor; room for more improvement. • Address perceptions associated with certain areas of the county (e.g., Edgewood and Aberdeen). • Address the public health crisis of substance abuse among young people.
Section 3: Explore and Embrace the Possibilities Discussions were focused on three specific areas that are already gaining traction in the county: Entrepreneurial Spirit, Additive Technology, and the Farm-to-Table movement. After local experts in these areas shared their experiences and explained why they see Harford County as fertile ground for development in each, participants were asked to continue the conversation and explore these ideas further. In the following pages, we are sharing with you the suggestions for what is needed for growth in the topic area.
Action Plans
• C reate a strategic plan to develop leadership opportunities among all stakeholders in the county. • Create a structure to foster action and implementation of Connect Harford. • Create town hall-style forum in between annual events • Establish an accountability system; determine goals and metrics for growth.
The ideas and comments are those of the Connect Harford participants. It is recognized that some of these items have already been implemented and are happening. The role of the Connect Harford Planning Committee is to be an information sharer and not an editor, providing you with a true picture of the audience’s views and opinions. 4 | Connect Harford | Fall 2014
Entrepreneurial Spirit Overview
Entrepreneurship involves almost every aspect of business, from conceptualization to startup, and to managing the business for the long term. To be successful, entrepreneurs must have planning ability, marketing and communication skills, strong interpersonal skills, basic business management skills, and a knack for leadership. Entrepreneurship bolsters local economies by: • preserving local character and prosperity • building vibrant communities • keeping decision-making local • keeping dollars in the local community • creating jobs and higher wages • promoting environmental stewardship through walkable towns • ensuring product diversity According to global management consulting firm McKinsey and Company, small business confidence plummeted in the recent recession, leading to an entrepreneurial slowdown. This is particularly troublesome because entrepreneurs and small business account for almost two-thirds of the U.S. economy’s
job creation. The good news is that a recent survey conducted by Babson and Baruch Colleges for the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor showed that nearly 13 percent of U.S. adults were involved in start-up businesses – the highest level since 1999. Additionally, 43 percent of Americans believe there are good opportunities for entrepreneurship.
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What is needed to encourage growth?
Participants shared ideas about Entrepreneurial Spirit. Education
• I t would be helpful if more entrepreneurial courses were provided at the high school and college level. • The high schools and middle schools might consider introducing students to more entrepreneurs and small business owners within the school system and community. • It is advisable to provide students early with an understanding of the job market and how to be successful within it. • There are ways to improve the training available; it could run more smoothly. • It would be helpful to sponsor an entrepreneur day in schools, in addition to a career day, in order to educate students on small businesses and running them, both in general and in their specific community. • There is some technology instruction provided in schools, but not enough training to let students take what they have learned and develop it. It would be nice if they could mentor
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each other, taking what they have learned in classes to the next level. There should be more training, more required entrepreneurship classes, and a fostered entrepreneurism that questions why things are the way they are, and how one person can change it. It is important to remember and educate the non-college bound young people, and inspire them to possibly become new business owners and entrepreneurs. Training for a particular trade can lead to entrepreneurism. There should be more resources, more advanced classes, and more guidance in colleges and high schools geared towards entrepreneurism and starting a new business. With today’s technological advances, it is vital that continuing education include technology instruction and how it can fit in with the tradition of entrepreneurism. It would be helpful to take what the John Carroll School does, for instance, and apply it to public schools, making the benefits available to a wider group of students. It would help to identify interested students earlier in development in order to foster an early education and enroll them in programs at Harford Tech or magnet programs. It would also be interesting to provide resources and education in entrepreneurship for teachers who wish to either educate their students on it, or utilize the training themselves. It would be helpful to provide more technical schools specializing in teaching entrepreneurship in order to reach a wider audience. It is important to foster a partnership between businesses and schools to make a connection the students can utilize.
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Mentorship & Application
• M entorship or apprenticeship programs would be a great addition to the school system, providing students with connections and opportunities in their own communities, as well as educating them on what it means to be a mentor. The School Force Initiative would help create a new mindset, helping young people be more comfortable with standing out and excelling and not simply fitting in. Shadow days could also help create a mentorstudent relationship for young entrepreneurs. Hands-on experience is indispensable. • Entrepreneurs could use other people acting as the CEOs of their company, or someone else taking their raw ideas and developing them. • Life Style Centers would help foster not only good mentorstudent relationships, but also better communication with the community in general. All aspects of the community are important to consider in entrepreneurial conversations. • Experimentation within the mentorship programs would help young future business owners learn how to successfully innovate. Internships should be both business and individual in order to create different opportunities and experiences for students. It is important to promote working for companies as well as working your way up. • It might help to offer incentives for companies to sponsor students and internships. • It is important to consider new types of education, or refocusing education, in order to foster new ideas and passion for entrepreneurism.
• It would help to have zoning/planning that create communities of convenience so entrepreneurial spirit stays in county, as opposed to having students from the area take what they have learned and utilize it in what they believe is a better community. • Intra-county transportation systems would greatly help both entrepreneurs and their customers. • We should re-establish the local SBDC. • It is important to encourage large businesses to support small business; it would help the community and the businesses themselves. • Distribution of farm items to a marketplace in one local, central place would be more convenient for the consumer and more profitable for the small business community as a whole. • Connect Harford is an example of a good forum and a concept that could be successfully utilized in other parts of the community. • Bringing manufacturing back into local areas would greatly improve the community feel and the success of small businesses.
Funding Sources
• G rants, contests for entrepreneurs, venture capital, and angel investors are all ideas for motivating investment in entrepreneurs and those unsure if they want to take the leap and become entrepreneurs to do so. • Creating a sponsor environment to provide access to capital would help small businesses and young business owners. • Bringing government and entrepreneur funds together would help foster a relationship as well as fund new businesses. • Investors are always a good way to help new small businesses.
Economic Climate
• I t might be helpful to hire someone independent to move us forward (using the University of Baltimore as an example). • We should coordinate effort and strategy to leverage all of the resources offered throughout the county and combine them into one area, one cohesive group, to move forward more quickly and efficiently. • The APG resources should be available to the broader community. • There should be term limits for those in power, which would foster more entrepreneurs. • Tax breaks and exceptions in zoning laws for companies would greatly help new businesses, and provide incentive for more businesses and homes in Harford County. In addition, a county policy that mandated a percentage of funds be paid to local small businesses would greatly improve their chances. Legislative involvement would help move plans forward in the community.
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Awareness & Marketing
• N ew people in the area need to know the local businesses; it is important to continue promoting so that small businesses will be known to new homeowners in the area. • It would be helpful if there were clearer marketing of Ground Floor; it is currently viewed as confusing. • A packet given out during licensing process offering a list of all the local info available would be a great way to let new homeowners and business owners in the area know what is available to them.
• I t is vital to educate the entrepreneurs as well as the consumers on marketing and how to utilize it. Marketing of organizations such as the SBDCs could be more widespread. • Exposing disadvantaged individuals to successful entrepreneurs would not only improve the businesses in the area, but the community in general. • Entrepreneurial competitions might help raise awareness of the small business in the area. • Website video testimonials and social media have become an integral part of advertising and are vital to the success of local small businesses. • Promoting small business as a consumer is just as helpful as the business promoting itself – “word of mouth” is very powerful.
Nurture Young Entrepreneurs
• B uilding network for younger people to learn about the real world, especially from successful young adults, will have a great impact on the community. • Promote opportunities for children and families to shadow and observe business and various careers in order to foster passion for pursuing those kinds of careers. • Entrepreneurial clubs for children will make entrepreneurship fun and accessible to young people who might not have initially sought it out. • Youth participation in boards, committees, and organizations outside of school will greatly help foster interest. • Entrepreneurial event for kids and prospective entrepreneurs helps create a connection into the business world at a young age. • Student Advisory Boards are a great way to make students feel like they are having an impact and will provide them with a passion for what they are doing that will carry on into their adult lives.
Connections and Resources
• S upporting incubator programs is of vital importance to the community, as are business innovation centers. • It would be helpful to have a center for innovation for Harford County that brought entrepreneurs and innovators together to help connect, collaborate, and build their own success. • Encouraging people to volunteer will help them understand the opportunities available to them and how they can help. • More events, such as fairs and showcases, would greatly help local small businesses connect with each other and the community. • Business advisory services would be very helpful in maintaining local businesses and helping them to grow.
Measuring Effectiveness
• W e should be able to measure the success of our entrepreneurial programming over the years by looking at the number and success of small businesses in the area.
Lifestyle That Attracts Entrepreneurs
• W e must continue to support the growth of arts and other amenities that improve quality of life that will attract young entrepreneurs to the area, both for homes and businesses.
Additive Manufacturing/ Additive Technology Overview
The term “additive manufacturing” often refers to 3-D printing, a method of manufacturing individual products and components from a digital model. Originally, the technology was used to create simple plastic prototype models, but it is now used to build larger components with greater precision. Breakthroughs in additive technology have led to sensational headlines: a company in the United Kingdom is building skull implants for reconstructive surgery from patients’ MRIs; Hershey’s plans to use 3-D modeling to enable customers to design customized chocolates; the U.S. federal government hopes to make lighter military vehicles and body armor; and Lockheed Martin plans to use an electron beam additive manufacturing system to produce titanium propulsion tanks. 3-D printing offers businesses many advantages including: • shorter lead times • mass customization • reduced inventories • more complex shapes • on-demand manufacturing • less raw material use • lower energy use In recent years, the additive manufacturing industry has enjoyed a 60 percent annual growth rate as many industries, including defense, aerospace, automotive, medical, and metal fabrications, have learned to apply this new technology. Here in Harford County, the Maryland General Assembly established the Northeastern Maryland Additive Manufacturing Innovation Authority (NMAMIA) to work with Aberdeen Proving Ground and other viable area businesses to capitalize on additive technology, appointing Rick Decker, former director of Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (which has used additive technology to develop protective equipment for soldiers) as executive director.
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What is needed to encourage growth?
Participants shared ideas about Additive Technology.
Educational Programs Needed
• 2 +2+2 opportunities – HCPS, HCC, Towson University at Northeastern Maryand. • 3-D printer on bus to schools – like Ag Lab, Bio Lab. • We could establish after-school programs to educate Harford County residents. • All schools should be incorporating some components of STEM. • We should hold a contest for entrepreneurs or students, giving an award for the best use of additive technology. • We should create a center at Harford Community College: build it on the CADD program, and make it on the 3-D printer. • We should develop demonstrations of 3-D printing and take them on the road. • We could educate the Harford workforce and give them work opportunities and they will be more likely to stay here. • We should offer education designed for local leaders to help them be aware of what needs to be done to be attractive for professionals. • We should consider appointing a person or group to guide additive technology – Technology Czar. • We should have more programs and more access to programs for students to learn and determine interest in technology fields. • We should begin promoting manufacturing jobs with career fairs so that local residents know they have options before they begin their job searches. • We could become the education hub for learning about additive technology. • Local businesses could provide more opportunities for students to shadow business leaders and manufacturers. • The county should organize field trips for students who do not have in-school access to 3-D technology. • We should offer teacher internship experiences to foster a better understanding that they could then take back to the classroom.
Ways to Provide Hardware/Software to Community
• C an the Public Library take the 3-D printer on the road? • Can we establish a commercial prototyping center in Harford County? • S hould we choose a vertical market to demo 3-D to? • C an we create an incubator for commercializing the technology? • The program would benefit from an image/name makeover. • We should find ways to reduce the barriers to entry.
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Ways the Community Can Become Involved
• P eople need to learn to embrace change. • We should communicate with people in the arts and the liberal arts to learn what they may be able to contribute to the field. • We should forge alliances between SMA, local commerce, state and county governments, and our library system. • We should strive to integrate the military base into the community to get away from being segmented. • We could create incentives for additive technology partnerships in the community and incentivize companies to stay local/build with local technology. • We should do a better job of promoting access to private companies who may be able to use the technology in their businesses.
Ways the Government Can Become Involved
• P rivate ventures and government agency projects need to share successes. • The state could consider matching funds provided by local governments. • The federal government should explore regulatory changes to allow better cooperation by public and private technologies and ventures.
Farm to Table Overview
The “Farm to Table” movement refers to a trend of buying foods directly from local farms, small growers, and small boat fisherman, rather than through a large feedlot or a mass producer. It is an outgrowth of the organic foods movement of the 1960s. Prior to the growth of the interstate highway system, most food was consumed within 50 miles of its origin, and with the rise of dual income families and longer work days, more people turned to heavily processed ingredients and fast foods.
Today’s consumers have grown increasingly aware of the environmental damage caused by mass production of beef, and farm-to-table foods are seen as less damaging to the environment. The National Restaurant Association’s “What’s Hot 2013 Chef Survey” showed that the number one trend for professional chefs was locally sourced meats and seafood. Many renowned chefs also agree that farm-to-table foods are healthier as the meats are less likely to contain growth hormones and the produce is more likely to have absorbed more nutrients by ripening on the vine. Locally, many Harford County restaurants, including the Laurrapin Grille, The Vandiver Inn, Bloom’s Broom Dairy, and Pairings Bistro, are committed to using seasonally inspired, locally sourced food.
What is needed to encourage growth?
Participants shared ideas about Farm to Table.
How can our communities get involved?
• L ocal communities can promote and enforce agricultural preservation programs. • Communities can organize meetings to coordinate work with local farmers to support farm-to-table. • Communities and local government can protect farmland through controlled development. • Community churches can help educate people and make home-farming land available.
• Community organizations can sponsor events that feature chefs and farmers, displaying their produce and demonstrating how to make a meal. • Community composting programs could encourage use of fresh vegetables in home cooking by keeping whole foods top of mind. • Communities could organize “farm-to-table” weeks. • Communities could help local low-income families better understand and incorporate whole foods into their diets. • Communities can establish distribution centers for local foods. • Concerned citizens can encourage grocers (e.g., Giant, Klein’s, Weis, Mars, etc.) to institute meaningful “produced locally” labels. • Communities could build greenhouses to encourage longer growing seasons for family gardens in public places. • Communities could establish growing gardens in schools, parks and libraries. • Fitness clubs can be leveraged to promote the whole foods and farm-to-table concepts. • Citizens could choose to frequent those businesses/ restaurants that source locally. • Citizens could lobby supermarkets to stock more local food. • HOAs could set aside land for their association members. • Faith-based organizations could do a better job promoting healthy lifestyles. • Citizens could work with county government to move food around to help address social problems like poverty. • Communities in rural areas could consider easing regulations on raising small amounts of chickens, ducks, etc.
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What can farmers provide?
• L ocal farmers could establish a shared, certified kitchen to facilitate the farm-to-table process. • Local farmers could work with private and government marketing advisors to do a better job promoting their farmers’ markets. • Farmers’ markets need to be more accessible, with longer hours and more frequent openings.
What can farmers’ markets/restaurants provide?
• R estaurants should provide scannable menus, linking to additional information about food sources and nutritional content. • Farmers and grocers provide recipes with their produce so people know how to prepare tasty dishes with raw vegetables.
What is the government’s responsibility?
• L egislators could help break down legislative barriers that restrict home growing or make it more difficult to operate small community farms. • The Department of Agriculture website could offer a listing of local farmers’ markets, whole foods stores, and restaurants that offer farm-to-table menus. • The Maryland legislature could review existing state-level agricultural and food preparation standards to ensure the standards are safe, but not too restrictive.
Partnering & Sponsoring Organizations
APG Federal Credit Union Army Alliance City of Aberdeen City of Havre de Grace Harford Community College Harford Community College Foundation, Inc. Harford County Chamber of Commerce Harford County Office of Economic Development Harford County Public Library Harford County Public Schools NMTC The Dresher Foundation Town of Bel Air
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What is the responsibility of our educational systems?
• S chools can work with local farmers and restaurateurs to develop closer relationships that foster a better understanding of farming and healthy eating. • Educators could help to dispel myths that healthier food is more expensive. • Schools educate children about the farm-to-table movement. • School cafeterias could integrate farm-to-table programs into the school menu system.
How can we promote this?
• L ocal marketing firms, advertising agencies, and the media can cooperate to improve and advance communication on the importance of whole foods, healthy diets, and the farm-totable movement. • All produce should bear labels that indicate clearly where the product was grown. • Restaurants should organize a farm-to-table week; if they don’t, then communities should.
Strategic Sponsor
Harford County Public Library
Hospitality Sponsor
Towson University in Northeastern Maryland
In-Kind Sponsors MediaWise, Inc. Comcast
Planning Committee
Barbara Canavan, Harford County Public Schools Jim Dresher, The Dresher Foundation Patti Dresher, The Dresher Foundation Jeff Foulk, SURVICE Engineering Rajiv Goel, Offit/Kurman Dennis Golladay, Harford Community College Mary Hastler, Harford County Public Library
Maryland State Senator J.B. Jennings Pam Klahr, Harford County Chamber of Commerce Don Lewis, APG Federal Credit Union Jill McClune, Avon Protection Systems/Army Alliance Eric McLauchlin, Shaffer, McLauchlin, and Stover/EDAB Michael Meoli, The Dresher Foundation Brenda Morrison, Harford Community College Michael A. Parker, Leidos Robin Platts, The Dresher Foundation Jim Richardson, Harford County Government Lyle Sheldon, University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health Sharon Sykes, APG Federal Credit Union Craig Ward, Frederick Ward Associates, Inc.