Profiles of the Top 50 Innovative Businesses for 2022

Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research

FREDERICK’S top 50

INNOVATORS FOR 2022

We live in exciting times, progress is being made to better understand and fight cancer, the way it’s possible to grow salads greens year round in a part of the country where we have cold winters, or giving people virtual reality entertainment. This edition of Top 50 is focused on innovation and the people who are making it happen. The Frederick Office of Economic Development invites readers to delve into who are Top 50 Innovators for 2022.

» @VR Virtual Reality » Alirtify » Amber Fields Malting &

Brewing » AstraZeneca Frederick

Manufacturing Center (FMC) » BioElectronics Corporation » Clym Environmental

Services, LLC » Cornerstone Genomics Inc.

» District Farms

» Dynamic Automotive » FESCO Energy » Fingerboard Farm » FoodPRO Corporation » Frederick Health Precision

Medicine & Genetics

» Frederick Innovative

Technology Center, Inc. (FITCI) » Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research (operated by Leidos

Biomedical Research, Inc.) » Frederick Social

» Frederick Wig Company » Galaxy Control Systems » Hood College » HR Answerbox

» iHire

» Jecho Laboritories, Inc. » Kite, a Gilead Company » Kroger Delivery » Lonza Walkersville Inc.

» Maryland Ensemble

Theatre

» McClintock Distilling » Moon Valley Farm » Orases

» Perfect Truffle

» Playground Specialists » Postern

» PsyTechVR » Quantic PMI (Planar Monolithics) » Quantum Loophole, Inc. » Rocky Point Creamery » SHIFT Work + Play » SL Studio

» Step Fusion Solutions » Summer Creek Farm

» Surelocked In Escape

Games

» Tao Treasures LLC DBA Nanobiofab

» Texcell-North America, Inc. » The Kombucha Lady » Tonix Pharmaceuticals

» Transdermal Specialties

Global, Inc. » United Way of

Frederick County » Walnut Ridge Farm/Moo

Cow Creamery » Warehouse Cinemas

» WSC, Inc.

@VR Virtual Reality

5 Willowdale Drive Unit B13, Frederick www.atvirtualreality.com

Nine virtual reality stations where you can enjoy over 70 games including sports, action, adventure, sightseeing and more. They also offer multiplayer games and have clients as young as three and as old as 70 plus.

VR provides educational experiences for schools, summer camps and small or large groups. Meditative experiences, yoga and other physical exercises are also offered. Groups can choose to book a single station or multiple stations. One player will play in the station at a time, while others in your party can sit back and watch you navigate through the world of virtual reality on your very own 65” 4K TV connected to your station.

EMPLOYEES 5

Alirtify

118 N. Market St., Frederick | www.alirtify.com

Alirtify is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform that uses data from news events such as sentiments, location and keywords to glean real-time insights. Alirtify uses news data, blogs, social media and other publicly available data to share what is important to the user.

They utilize AI technologies like machine learning and natural language processing to provide rapid insights by cutting through the noise of daily alerts, drastically reducing response times to curate real-time intelligence.

EMPLOYEES 10 FITCI Client

Amber Fields Malting & Brewing

12521 Good Intent Road, Keymar | www.amberfieldsmb.com

Amber Fields was conceived to diversify and add greater value to crops grown for nearly two centuries. To prosper in the ever-changing marketplace, ag producers must adapt. In spring 2000, the owners took grain production in a new direction. Consulting with a local extension agent, they began the research and development phase of what became Amber Fields Malting & Brewing. At the

time, no malting courses were available, so they read books and developed grain processing through trial and error. Malting grain provides access to the thriving craft brewing and distilling industries.

Amber Fields is Maryland’s first commercial malting company in 100-plus years and adds value to grains traditionally grown on the family farm, malting and marketing them to local breweries and distilleries.

EMPLOYEES 2

AstraZeneca Frederick Manufacturing Center (FMC)

633 Research Court, Frederick www.astrazeneca.com

AstraZeneca’s biologics manufacturing center in Frederick produces life-changing medicines for the treatment of cancer and respiratory and autoimmune conditions. The center is the largest biologics manufacturing facility in the company’s global network of assets.

FMC is a Smart Factory and a Digital Lighthouse, which performs a unique role by testing digital technologies via proofs of concept. They build the right capability to deliver and own the products and establish the business processes to enable the digital solution to run their routine operations. Inspired by what science can do, they are focused on accelerating the delivery of life-changing medicines that create enduring value for patients and society.

EMPLOYEES 750

BioElectronics Corporation

4539 Metropolitan Court, Frederick www.bielcorp.com

They are fighting the opioid epidemic by developing and manufacturing non-invasive, disposable, drug-free, pain therapy devices for treating back and knee pain and other musculoskeletal complaints. They also manufacture a device for post-operative pain and wound care. All products are U.S. FDA cleared.

They took a technology previously only available in a clinical setting, and miniaturized it to a drugfree, non-invasive, sensation-free, affordable, wearable device for treating pain. Their devices can be used 24/7 and are clinically proven to reduce the need for medications, including opioids.

EMPLOYEES 7

FITCI Graduate

Clym Environmental Services, LLC

Cornerstone Genomics Inc

1539 Tilco Drive, Suite 123, Frederick | www.clymenvironmental.com

ROOT, 118 N. Market St., Frederick | www.cornerstonegenomics.com

Clym Environmental Services, LLC (Clym) provides waste management, environmental and safety services to the life sciences and healthcare industries. Clym has developed and refined a proprietary, environmentally friendly technology called O3PureMed for the commercial processing of regulated medical waste (RMW). Headquartered in Frederick, they have been in business for 25 years with offices at the NIH in Bethesda, New Castle, Pa., and Greenfield, Ind.

Clym has earned the honor of being part of the Maryland Green Registry, which recognizes environmentally sustainable practices at organizations of all types and sizes. Clym is proud to be a member of this exclusive group that has saved a combined total of more than $100 million annually.

EMPLOYEES 10

Cornerstone Genomics Inc develops cloudbased analytical software for genome scientists in corporate, academia and government research labs. Their products offer innovative solutions for the multi-billion dollar industry of disease diagnostics. Founded in 2017, they are a virtual company with headquarters in Frederick.

Their innovations stem from an expert knowledge of how DNA changes over time. A small team, they are a synergistic combination of genome scientists and software developers. Working closely together, they have created a new approach in disease diagnostics with SBIRs from the National Science Foundation.

EMPLOYEES 4 FITCI Client

District Farms

Dynamic Automotive

4500 E. Basford Road, Frederick | www.district.farm

8824 Urbana Church Road, Frederick | www.dynamicautomotive.net

District Farms aims to transform the produce industry by growing leafy greens year-round in an incredibly sustainable manner. They are committed to using technology to build a resilient food infrastructure. District Farms prioritizes sustainable agriculture practices.

They formed District Farms Innovations with a mission to push the boundaries of growing in commercial greenhouses. They believe that if all commercial indoor farms could run at peak efficiency driven by machine learning systems, they could dramatically increase yields at every facility.

EMPLOYEES 22

Dynamic Automotive is an industry leader in automotive repair. Dynamic Automotive has been serving Frederick County residents since 1995 with five locations, focusing on the community they serve.

Dynamic Automotive is innovative because of their commitment to their team and helping them to be the best they can be. They establish career paths for all team members that can be personalized for their entire career. They use Roadmap Reviews to learn team members’ future goals. The company is able to attract, retain and train its entry level workforce.

EMPLOYEES 48

FESCO Energy

7470 New Technology Way, Frederick www.fescoenergy.com

FESCO Energy provides turnkey delivery of energy efficiency, energy renewable and energy resiliency projects for existing facilities in the federal, educational and health care markets. In 2018 FESCO received the “Innovator of the Year” award from the

Maryland Department of Commerce for their work in developing software that analyzes interval utility data to determine possible generation concepts that include a mix of energy generation systems (renewable, gas fired) and energy storage (electrical, mechanical, thermal).

When these solutions are coupled with right sizing and a building’s energy demand, the combined projects often meet the financial requirements allowing it to be financed with no capital from the customer and paid for through the energy cost savings.

EMPLOYEES 13

Fingerboard Farm

10240 Fingerboard Road, Ijamsville www.fingerboardfarm.market

Fingerboard Farm opened in 2016 as an agritourism desti-

nation. Located on 25 acres in Ijamsville, the historic 1789 Inn hosts families and innovators in the hemp industry. Hemp cultivation research began with the 2018 Farm Bill and acceptance into the Pilot Program with Morgan State in 2019.

The cultivation, harvesting and drying of the first year’s three acres of hemp was self-taught, utilizing various tools, equipment and techniques from horticulture, vegetable and tobacco farming. Producing CBD oil and products was difficult without prior knowledge, experience, buyers, or equipment.

Post-harvest left them with hundreds of pounds of flower, no buyers or method to make products. In year two, they bought a commercial freeze dryer, a reverse osmosis system and cold water extraction machine to produce solventless bubble hash. They built an e-commerce site and launched with other products produced on the farm. Today they are producing 10 unique health and wellness products.

EMPLOYEES 5

foodpro corporation

Frederick Health Precision Medicine & Genetics

321 E. 5th St., Frederick | www.myfoodpro.com

As a broad-line wholesale restaurant distributor, they offer restaurant digital marketing services as a benefit for being a valued customer. They have upgraded their online ordering platform in addition to launching a new app and upgrading to a new system for warehouse functions.

In the food service distribution world, the focus has always been products. They went the extra mile to include a digital marketing support that is not common to see in business. Their new online ordering platform and app has made it easier for customers to have the control to view the inventory and invoicing without having to make a call. Customers have better control of their accounts more than any other supplier in our direct market.

EMPLOYEES 160

7211 Bank Court, Frederick | www.frederickhealth.org/pmg

This service offers genetic testing to provide patients with a treatment plan as unique as their own DNA. Operating out of their Crestwood location, this service has been offered since 2020. They are expanding soon to a larger location at the Frederick Health Village.

They leverage this technology to provide treatment plans for several conditions including cancer, hereditary diseases and behavioral health conditions. This genomic information improves patient outcomes and results. It is also added to the electronic medical records, traveling with the patients.

EMPLOYEES 10

Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. (FITCI)

4539 Metropolitan Court, Frederick | www.fitci.org

FITCI is Frederick’s business incubator/accelerator. It excels in entrepreneurial growth and training, especially in life science and technology. The nonprofit encourages technological innovation and accelerates development of commercially viable businesses, enhancing local economic vitality since 2004.

FITCI is more than an incubator. In 2016, it refocused on coaching, capital, and connection building. FITCI created intensive mentoring and advisory boards, programming tailored for emerging entrepreneurs, broad networking opportunities, and information systems to ensure equitable access to resources.

EMPLOYEES 6

Frederick National Laboratory For Cancer Research

(Operated by Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc.)

8560 Progress Drive, PO Box B, Frederick | frederick.cancer.gov

Frederick National Laboratory works to solve the unsolvable in biomedical research to benefit global

public health. Since 1972, FNL has supported the National Cancer Institute and National Institutes of Health in cancer, HIV and emerging disease research and as a hub for emerging technologies.

FNL innovates basic research, drug development, scientific processes and biotechnologies. The national lab is tapped for high-risk projects, adapting to address global needs and to develop solutions to its government customers’ challenges.

EMPLOYEES 1,825

Frederick Social

Frederick Wig Company

50 Citizens Way #100, Frederick | www.frederick-social.com

7 N. Court St., Frederick | www.frederickwigcompany.com

Frederick Social opened in December 2021 as Frederick’s first self-pour taphouse. They are a new kind of café, designed as a workplay-thrive space by giving the customer full control of their experience to pour themselves a drink or to order food. The flex space is prime for remote working, events or gatherings.

By integrating smart technology in their ovens, selfpour wall, integrated POS system, and employee management app, they have seen a lower than average operating cost generated from food, beverage and labor, resulting in lower labor expenses, reduced waste from food and alcohol, and eliminated theft.

EMPLOYEES 17

Frederick Wig Company is a medical wig studio and boutique located in historic Downtown Frederick. This small, woman-owned business specializes in alterations and customizations, handmade and readymade, high quality wigs, hairpieces, and accessories.

Frederick Wig Company was created out of a personal need and creative problem solving. Owner, Rachel Anne Warren works with people both in person locally and virtually globally. As a published essayist, she has written about her personal journey from alopecia to becoming a traditional wigmaker. Currently, 60 percent of custom wig-making business (40 percent of her total business) is done virtually for out-of-state or international clients, and plans to incorporate 3D printing to create molds of clients’ heads.

EMPLOYEES 1

Galaxy Control Systems

Hood College

3 Main St., PO Box 158, Walkersville | www.galaxysys.com

They are a privately held manufacturer selling their security products in over 80 countries. They are a global leader in the development of Security Access Control systems. They offer cloud hosted access control as a service and develop all hardware and software in-house. Their cloud hosted access control system is the fastest growing segment of their business.

They have included in this system IP intercom, CCTV, mobile apps for users as well as mobile access for facilities. They have recently introduced new access controllers with the most advanced Cyber Security measures to block any cyber-attack. This new platform has been recently adopted by the U.S. Department of Defense for use in bases globally.

EMPLOYEES 37

401 Rosemont Ave., Frederick | www.hood.edu

Hood College has launched innovative new programs, while also expanding programs to meet emerging workforce needs. Local partnerships with major organizations allow for ample internship and research opportunities.

They have launched programs in public health, sustainability and nutrition science. A partnership with Kite Pharma provides students with a state-of-the-art lab to study cell therapy manufacturing. The establishment of The Ruth Whitaker Holmes School of Behavioral & Health Sciences, in collaboration with Frederick Health, will train the next generation of healthcare workers. Data Driven Frederick, housed at The George B. Delaplaine Jr. School of Business, is a resource that offers data analytics to Frederick-based organizations. Their doctoral program has partnered with Leadership Frederick County to recruit Hood professors for graduate-level leadership instruction. The NeighborHOOD Partners program grants scholarships to partners’ employees and their dependents.

EMPLOYEES 274

HR Answerbox

12509 Legore Bridge Road, Woodsboro www.hranswerbox.com

HR Answerbox is a human resources consulting firm that solves people management challenges for small and mid-size businesses. We offer HR advisory services, training and coaching. We launched January 19, 2016.

By leveraging technology, HR Answerbox offers a Virtual HR Service that provides clients an online portal with hundreds of resources, as well as live support from our HR advisors. We also converted our most popular training into an online course called New Manager Bootcamp.

EMPLOYEES 1

iHire

41 E. All Saints St., Frederick | www.ihire.com

iHire is a career-oriented platform that powers 57 industry-focused talent networks. For more than 20 years, iHire has combined advanced job matching technology with its expertise in the talent acquisition space to connect job seekers with employers faster and easier than a general job board.

With innovative serving as one of their core values, iHire constantly identifies ideas, processes and products that generate positive change for their customers, associates and community—including launching an internship program to break down career barriers for entry-level software developers.

EMPLOYEES 72

Jecho Laboratories, inc.

Kite, A Gilead Company

7320A Executive Way, Frederick | www.jecholabs.com

9021 Bennett Creek Boulevard, Frederick | www.kitepharma.com

Jecho Labs is a privately owned biopharmaceutical company that researches and develops innovative therapeutic biologics, including therapeutic monoclonal antibodies, cytokines, immunotoxins and vaccines to treat a broad range of diseases and cancers. Jecho Labs’ headquarters are in Frederick.

Jecho Labs’ mission is to innovate biologics that will effectively combat the most serious human diseases including cancer. The staff at Jecho Labs wishes to help improve human health by developing the most effective and innovative biological medicines.

EMPLOYEES 23

Kite, a Gilead Company, is the global leader in cell therapy and the only company dedicated exclusively to the research, development, manufacturing and commercialization of cell therapy on a global scale. Kite’s industry-leading CAR T-cell therapy technology uses the power of a person’s own immune system to recognize, attack and destroy certain types of cancer with a one-time, individualized treatment.

Kite’s facility in Frederick, together with manufacturing facilities in California and the Netherlands, is part of the largest, dedicated in-house cell therapy manufacturing network in the world, spanning process development, vector manufacturing, clinical trial production and commercial product manufacturing.

EMPLOYEES 500

Kroger Delivery

7106 Geoffery Way, Frederick www.kroger.com

Kroger has operated for nearly 140 years and in 2018, Kroger partnered with the Ocado Group a world leader in innovative technology that provides end-to-end online grocery fulfillment solutions.

At the hub site more than 1,000 bots move around giant grids known as The Hive that contains totes with products and ready-to-deliver customer orders. Through Kroger Delivery more customers will have more access to fresh affordable groceries with zero-compromise service arriving to customers’ doors through a best-in-class white glove delivery experience enabled by refrigerated trucks, and trained drivers. Powerful machine learning algorithms optimize delivery routes considering factors such as road conditions and optimal fuel efficiency.

EMPLOYEES 400

Lonza Walkersville INC.

8830 Biggs Ford Road, Walkersville www.lonza.com

Lonza provides life science researchers with the tools to develop and test therapeutics, from basic research to final product release. Lonza’s Bioscience products and services range from cell culture and discovery technologies for research, to quality control tests and software for manufacturing.

Lonza Walkersville manufactures endotoxin detection test kits, which determine if harmful pyrogens are present in pharmaceutical products. Their objective was to update their bacterial endotoxin test system with automation and recombinant reagents to ‘error proof’ and ‘future proof’ this product line.

EMPLOYEES 400

Maryland Ensemble Theatre

McClintock Distilling

31 W. Patrick St., Frederick | www.marylandensemble.org

Founded in 1997, MET is entering its 25th year of presenting live theatrical productions. MET’s FunCompany provides theater for youth. MET Comedy is home to The Comedy Pigs, established in 1993, and Oh CRIT, established in 2017. MET’s Ensemble School offers classes in acting and improv for students of all ages.

MET was forced to adapt and pivot to digital formats during the pandemic. MET promised their audiences five productions in the 2020-21 “Season of Surprises.” This allowed patrons to remain engaged and expanded the reach of MET programming gaining viewers from as far away as Australia.

EMPLOYEES 7

35 S. Carroll St., Frederick | www.mcclintockdistilling.com

McClintock Distilling is an internationally award-winning distillery creating craft whiskies, gins and vodkas from local ingredients. McClintock Distilling has implemented many state-of-the-art production technologies to make huge sustainability advances for the industry. They designed and built their own wastewater recycling system, reducing waste by almost half a million gallons of water a year.

They have partnered with Clean Choice energy to be one of their first commercial clients to use smart grid technology to source renewable energy to the distillery. McClintock Distilling is on track to be one of the first waste neutral distilleries in the country.

EMPLOYEES 31

Moon Valley Farm

Orases

9700 Gravel Hill Road, Woodsboro | www.moonvalleyfarm.net

Moon Valley Farm grows organic vegetables on 25 acres in Woodsboro and partners with over a dozen local farmers they trust to offer fruit, eggs, mushrooms and more for a year-round Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, for schools, and restaurants in D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia.

Moon Valley offers produce delivery year-round to customers ranging from families to schools and supports them by helping them learn the Mid-Atlantic seasons, storage requirements and sharing recipes. Local organic farming meets 21st century technology and warm customer service.

EMPLOYEES 15

5728 Industry Lane, Frederick | www.orases.com

Orases is a full-service, digital technology agency based in Frederick. Founded in 2000, they are a trusted provider of custom software, website and application development services, and solutions that drive efficiency and provide measurable cost savings to their clients.

Their mission is to provide creative and innovative solutions to everyday problems. Orases builds custom software to help businesses and organizations reach their vision, improve efficiency and use technology to make the world a better place.

EMPLOYEES 18

Perfect Truffle

25 N Market St., Frederick www.perfecttruffle.com

Perfect Truffle is an artisan chocolate boutique, which produces a variety of handpainted chocolates and frozen treats and carries a large assortment of chocolate bars from around the world. It was established in 2005 by Randy Olmstead and acquired by former employee Cody Marwine in 2021.

Perfect Truffle aims to educate the community further about what chocolate is, where it comes from, and who makes it. They accomplish this by having one of the largest bean-to-bar chocolate libraries on the East Coast and providing private chocolate tastings.

EMPLOYEES 3

Playground Specialists Inc

29 Apples Church Road, Thurmont www.playspec.com

Established in 1998, they are a family-owned and operated recreation company. They design, sell and install commercial recreation equipment throughout Maryland, D.C., Virginia and West Virginia. They work on projects of all sizes and complexity for schools, communities, churches, municipalities, landscape architects and more.

Founded as a construction company, they have combined that knowledge with playground safety experience to create new products that encourage multigenerational play. These products have not been seen before in the playground industry and have generated buzz nationwide.

EMPLOYEES 45

Postern

PsyTechVR

6 N. East St., Suite 200, Frederick | www.posternagency.com

This is a marketing agency for businesses that want to grow. Their team of skilled marketing professionals and creatives collaboratively craft strategies tailored to clients’ needs. In business for five years, the staff includes marketing strategists, graphic designers, copywriters and digital marketers.

Community is at the heart of their innovation, which is shown by their free collaborative marketing meet-ups during COVID, creation of an online travel resource to showcase businesses across Maryland, and the expansion of their space to include an outdoor patio intended for use by non-profit clients.

EMPLOYEES 12

6 W. 3rd St., Frederick | www.psytechvr.com

PsyTech VR offers self-guided phobia training in Virtual Reality. Ten phobia practices, mindfulness techniques and art therapy in VR. Advanced VR headset and biosensors for vitals reading during training.

VR technology helps people to overcome their fears, phobias and anger issues as well as meditate in the comfort of their homes. Using VR and bio-sensors people can measure their success in fighting phobias including social anxiety and using guided meditation to fight stress in the workplace.

EMPLOYEES 2

Quantic PMI (Planar Monolithics)

7309 Grove Road, Frederick www.pmi-rf.com

Founded in 1989, Quantic PMI is a leading supplier of high-reliability RF microwave components and subsystems. Delivering industry-standard performance for missioncritical applications in the military, communications, commercial and consumer industries. PMI continues to expand its portfolio of stateof-the-art hybrid MIC/MMIC products.

Using engineering expertise, specific application of physical phenomena, advanced components, modern assembly and test equipment, plus supplementing design and manufacturing with a stringent military quality assurance program, extracts optimal electrical performance from Quantic PMI’s products.

EMPLOYEES 55

Quantum Loophole, Inc.

5601 Manor Woods Road, Frederick www.quantumloophole.com

Quantum Loophole, Inc. is an innovative developer of a first-of-its-kind Gigawatt-scale master planned data center communities with its first location in Frederick. The company was founded in 2020 and is based in Austin, Texas.

Quantum Loophole is revolutionizing the scalability of data center communities and how they are connected. They are delivering on the promise of Maryland incentives by developing the land, power, water and fiber connectivity needed to responsibly attract enduring investment from the tech sector.

Quantum Loophole’s fiber network ring, QLoop, brings needed capacity to the congested and cost-intensive NOVA network region, opening up Frederick County to new high-tech opportunities.

EMPLOYEES 50

Rocky Point Creamery

SHIFT Work + Play

4323 Tuscarora Road, Tuscarora | www.rockypointcreamery.com

1209 N. East St., Suite A, Frederick | www.shiftworkandplay.com

They are a cow-to-cone operation. They milk 130 cows robotically, which supplies the on-farm creamery store with milk and cream used in their hand-crafted ice cream. The farm has been in operation since 1883, and the ice cream shop was added in 2011.

The farm utilizes precision agriculture (including self-driving tractors, GPS plant/spray/harvest technology) and robotics. The creamery is everevolving to address customer desires, flavor trends and offerings.

EMPLOYEES 32

SHIFT Work + Play is a family-friendly coworking space designed for working parents and entrepreneurs. With a staffed playroom and a variety of private and shared workspace options, members can choose the setup that works best for them, getting some work done while their children play.

SHIFT Work + Play is Frederick’s first family-friendly coworking space. With staffed playroom sessions, a comfortable lactation room and a family-oriented community, SHIFT makes balancing work and parenting a whole lot easier. As a lawyer, advocate and mom to two young kids, founder Megan Donovan developed this model while working from home during the pandemic.

EMPLOYEES 1

SL Studio

Step Fusion Solutions

11 Byte Court, Suite C, Frederick | www.slstudiofrederick.com

118 N. Market St., Suite 180, Frederick | www.stepfusionsolutions.com

The SL Studio is a community space for work and wellness. The space includes a workspace, gym and wellness room designed for remote workers, health-conscious millennials and personal trainers. It opened in August 2021.

They innovated the environment in which clients can practice and share their approach to work-life balance. SL Studio merges coworking amenities, a gym and other wellness resources to inspire taking action on your health and happiness.

EMPLOYEES 1

They develop custom technology for senior healthcare organizations. Their product, The STEP Assistant, has remote monitoring, communication and reporting features to ease staff workload, promote older adult safety, independence and wellbeing, plus allow family to more easily connect with their loved one.

Most new technology targets teenagers through middle-aged adults. Step Fusion Solutions develops novel technology specifically for older adults and those who care for them. They emphasize features that increase quality of life for seniors living in care facilities and also efficiency in providing care.

EMPLOYEES 6 FITCI Client

Summer Creek Farm

15209 Mud College Road, Thurmont www.summercreekfarm.com

Summer Creek Farm is a certified organic farm and manufacture of horticultural soil less mixes. Their mixes are the most sustainable available and outperform national brands while being the most sustainable possible. SCF is also a supplier of organic vegetables to multiple grocery chains.

Summer Creek Farm developed the first peat, perlite and vermiculite free, organic certifier approved soil less mix available. They later developed mixes for other applications. Next, they developed a mix that is more than 95 percent domestic, organic and wood fiber based. This game changer offers performance at 20 percent lower cost.

EMPLOYEES 4

Surelocked In Escape Games

5 N. Market St., Frederick | www.surelockedin.com

Surelocked In is an immersive entertainment company that introduced Frederick to escape rooms, mixing live theater with personal adventure. Recognized locally and internationally, their innovative games have boosted the local economy, bolstered tourism and brought a new age of entertainment to town.

With their gamification process, Surelocked In creates games on an unrivaled scale. They have gamified churches, colleges and entire cities, each event customized and unique. This level of innovation is so rare that other escape rooms refer clients to them rather than attempt to imitate them.

EMPLOYEES 5

Tao Treasures LLC DBA Nanobiofab

Texcell-North America, Inc.

4539 Metropolitan Court, Frederick | www.nanobiofab.com

4991 New Design Road, Suite 100, Frederick | www.texcell.com

NanoBioFAB is the world’s leading developer of wearable nanosensor and AI diagnostics technology. They are the fastest high-throughput AI-powered R&D platform to develop novel nanosensors which enables their wearable device “RAPIDiNose” to detect and monitor several gases that emanate from the human body.

Nanobiofab’s innovative sensor and device technology enable the manufacture of highly responsive and miniaturized sensors to be integrated into the RAPID-iNoseTM patch, their wearable sensor platform. The collected data by RAPID-iNose helps the user to monitor wound status and the healing process.

EMPLOYEES 11 FITCI Client

Texcell-North America is part of a global contract research organization that specializes in viral testing, viral clearance, immunoprofiling and R&D or GMP cell banking for the biopharmaceutical industry.

They are designing new and revolutionary studies to support the advancement of cutting edge medicines such as gene therapies, vaccines, medical devices and other biotherapeutics. Texcell-North America provides critical safety parameters for novel therapies and is currently expanding. The new facility will help expand the viral testing of gene therapies and medical devices using cell based and nucleic acid technologies.

EMPLOYEES 42

The Kombucha Lady

9750 Appolds Road, Rocky Ridge www.thekombuchalady.com

The Kombucha Lady started in 2016 when their kombucha flavors went wildly popular at the local farmers markets. Their kombucha is like no other on the market as the fruit and herbs stay in the jar to continue to flavor and infuse their health benefits into the kombucha.

The Kombucha Lady is the only local on-farm kombucha brewery. They grow much of the fruit and herbs on their farm. The flavors are a unique combinations of fruits and herbs that have amazing health benefits and flavor. This is a raw product only offered locally in mason jars, bottles and kegs.

EMPLOYEES 5

Tonix Pharmaceuticals

431 Aviation Way, Frederick www.tonixpharma.com

Tonix is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel therapies and vaccines across therapeutic areas. Tonix has multiple facilities, including a 48,000 square foot Research and Development Center (RDC) in Frederick.

The RDC supports Tonix’s commitment to innovation by accelerating internal discovery and the development of vaccines and therapies for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. With their live virus vaccine platform, they believe Tonix is positioned to respond to new pathogens as they continue to emerge.

EMPLOYEES 28

Transdermal Specialties Global, Inc.

United Way of Frederick County

400 Sagner Ave., Suite 300, Frederick | www.u-strip.com

Transdermal Specialties Global, Inc. is committed to developing innovative drug delivery systems that enhance health and improve the quality of life. TSI, a pioneer in ultrasonic active patch delivery systems has developed a painless patented transdermal insulin delivery patch system that uses special ultrasound frequencies to expand the pores of the skin and deliver insulin into the bloodstream—no needles.

Insulin is too large to be absorbed by the skin normally and the use of ultrasound dilates the skin pores and pushes the drug into the tissue. This system generates ultrasonic transmissions of variable intensity and frequency on a programmed schedule that allows easy acceptance of drugs into the bloodstream. The variations in penetration are achieved by adjusting the timing of alternating waveforms.

EMPLOYEES 13

629 N. Market St., Frederick | www.unitedwayfrederick.org

For nearly 85 years, United Way of Frederick County has fought for the health, education and financial stability of every person in the community, with heavy focus on the 37 percent of households, known as ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), who struggle to afford basic necessities.

In 2016, United Way of Frederick County released the ALICE Report, forever changing the landscape of giving in Frederick. The Unity Campaign, Frederick’s largest comprehensive fundraising effort, followed. Now, the data-driven micro-transit solution, Ride United, is innovating transportation services for ALICE in Frederick.

EMPLOYEES 6

Walnut Ridge Farm/Moo Cow Creamery

Warehouse Cinemas

3935 Bussard Road, Middletown | www.moocowcreamerywrf.com

1301 W Patrick St., Frederick | www.warehousecinemas.com

The dairy farm was founded in 1936, and Mo0 Coo Creamery was established in 2020. Current offerings include 19 artisan cheeses, sweet cream butter, beef, chicken and eggs available at the farm and at markets.

The farm is mostly Guernsey and Jersey cows which produce a rich and high component milk. Guernsey milk is rich with beta carotene thus giving the milk a golden hue. The cows are also A2A2 making products an option for those who may not be able to digest dairy. They are also now offering 19 flavors of A2A2 artisan cheese and salted and unsalted sweet cream butter from the dairy side.

EMPLOYEES 3

Warehouse Cinemas is an elevated movie theater for the community. They have three locations, opening in Frederick in September of 2020, Hagerstown (Leitersburg) in September of 2021, and soon there will be the Baltimore (Rotunda) location.

At Warehouse Cinemas, they think differently about going to the movies. The goal is to combine authentic customer service, with an elevated food and beverage menu, and state-of-the-art projection/sound while you relax in heated leather recliners. They feature best-of-class digital projection in all auditoriums with most equipped with 4K laser technology and the latest Dolby technology. Additionally, they have Skyvue, a way to have the screen slightly tilted so each seat in the auditorium has a clear image of the movie. There’s a self-serve “Pour Wall,” partnered with Pour My Beer, so they can support a variety of local breweries.

EMPLOYEES 70

WSC, INc.

7196 Crestwood Boulevard, Suite 300, Frederick www.ws-corp.com

Since 1995, WSC has provided simulation technology products and services to the power and process industry in 30-plus countries. Using WSC developed tools and Simulation Assisted Engineering (SAE) to develop, optimize and validate plant designs, WSC has created 150 replica and generic training simulators.

WSC reinvests in itself to advance their customizable 3KEYSOFTWARE products and modeling tools, builds strategic global partnerships and offers product licensing to provide a wide range of simulation technology to clients worldwide, including web- or cloud-based training to students the world over.

EMPLOYEES 50