A Week In Business

Biz AApple Discount Drugs President Jeff Sherr, right, received on Monday the Health Mart® Community Healthcare Excellence Award for consistently providing care and services that add measurable value to patient health care and community wellness. Sherr, pictured with McKesson Pharmaceutical Sales Manager Shaun Morse, is one of 10 pharmacists nationwide to receive the award. Submitted Photos

Biz BOn behalf of the Town of Ocean City, State Sen. Jim Mathias presented JJ “Hitman” McKay recently with a Key to the City for his 30 years of service in the Ocean City radio industry. McKay is currently the mid-day radio personality at Big Classic Rock 98.5 and 103.5 and he has previously been affiliated with 100KHI, X-106.9 and 101.1 WQMR. Pictured, from left, are fellow Great Scott Company radio personalities Bill Baker, OC104; Tyler Horton, WZBH; McKay; Mathias; and Skip Dixon, Hot Country 107.7.

Designation Candidate

SALISBURY – Amy Miller, managing director of Sperry Van Ness – Miller Commercial Real Estate, announced this week that Property Manager Lindsay Hall has become a candidate for the Certified Property Manager (CPM) designation through the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM®).

Hall has been with SVN-Miller since 2009, and has handled in-house property management and lease administration for the last three years.

The Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM®), an affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS®, is an association of professional property and asset managers who have met strict criteria in the areas of education, experience, and a commitment to a code of ethics. The CPM designation is the industry’s premier real estate management credential.

Over the course of the next 18 months, Hall will complete in-depth education on topics including but not limited to Financial Tools, Marketing and Leasing, and Managing the Physical Asset.

“We are excited that Lindsay is pursuing her CPM designation to better serve our clients. It is our goal to provide the highest level of service to our client base, and the knowledge that Lindsay will gain from the classes needed to receive her designation is invaluable,” said Miller.

Company Leaders Named

OCEAN CITY — Mark and Lora Fritschle and Ed Wehnert of the Mark Fritschle Group-Condominium Realty have recently announced their listing, sales and settlement leaders for June 2014. June was a great month in what is becoming a record breaking year for the company, according to Mark and Lora Fritschle.

Top listing agents by unit were Christian Ager, Wayne Phillips and Kevin Decker.

Top listing agents by volume were Kevin Decker, Christina Ager and Wayne Phillips.

Top selling agents by units were Sheri Smith, Kevin Decker, P.J. Aldridge, Tina Dorsey, Bud Cumberland, Mia McCarthy and Andrea Thomas.

Top settled agents by units were Sheri Smith, Courtney Richardson and Andrea Thomas.

Top settled agents by volume were Sheri Smith, Courtney Richardson and Kevin Decker.

Hospital Earns Regional Honor

SALISBURY — Peninsula Regional Medical Center (PRMC) is among the nation’s best hospitals for 2014-2015, and has been named a Best Regional Hospital on the Eastern Shore of Maryland according to U.S. News & World Report, the publisher of Best Hospitals.

“The data tell the story – a hospital that emerged from our analysis as one of the best has much to be proud of,” said U.S. News Health Rankings Editor Avery Comarow. “A Best Hospital has demonstrated its expertise in treating the most challenging patients.”

This is the fourth consecutive year that PRMC has been named a Best Regional Hospital in Maryland. U.S. News and World Report also previously named Peninsula Regional a Most Connected Hospital for its use of technology in support of patient care and patient safety. The Medical Center was also similarly recognized by the American Hospital Association as One of America’s Most Wired Hospitals for advancing the use of technology in patient care and safety.

Solar Carport Installed

SALISBURY — Paradise Energy Solutions has installed Salisbury’s first solar carport at its office at 436 Snow Hill Road.

The 24.5 kilowatt (kW) solar system consists of 98 solar panels and is expected to produce 30,425 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year. The carport’s multi-purpose use of producing electricity, keeping cars protected from the elements, and keeping cars cool during the summertime is a growing trend in many areas of the country.

“Solar carports make sense,” co-owner Jason Beiler said. “You get a parking structure that pays for itself by producing electricity. All the electricity produced from the carport is being sold to Delmarva Power, under solar net metering, and Delmarva Power is buying the electric at around 9 cents per kWh.”

Paradise Energy Solutions has installed another solar carport in the past month at Warrener’s tavern in Freeland, Md.

To celebrate and showcase the solar carport, Paradise Energy Solutions is planning a solar celebration day on July 18 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the office in Salisbury. Solar presentations will be given throughout the day with Q&A times, a cornhole yard game will be set up for entertainment, and a free grilled lunch will be provided.

Paradise Energy Solutions also plans to install an electric charging station underneath the solar carport in the near future.

Nurses Recognized

SALISBURY — Two Peninsula Regional Medical Center Intensive Care Unit nurses were recently recognized for their above-and-beyond efforts on behalf of a patient and his family.

The patient, a 49-year-old man with cancer, was admitted to the ICU, but wanted to go home. Care coordination had made it possible to arrange for him to go home the next day, but due to his medical condition, it seemed as if he might not make it. His nurse, Olha Smith, RN, contacted her colleague, Therese Franks, RN, who works in PRMC’s ICU as well as at Coastal Hospice. Smith and Franks both worked late arranging the patient’s discharge that day, and Franks even stopped by the pharmacy to pick up his medications and dropped them off at his house.

The patient made it home. He passed away that night at home as he had wished, surrounded by his beloved wife, children and dogs by his side. The nurses’ exceptional efforts made all the difference for the patient and his grateful family.

Both nurses earned the DAISY Award and were honored in a ceremony before their colleagues, receiving a certificate commending them for being extraordinary nurses. The certificate reads, “In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are, and the incredibly meaningful difference you make in the lives of so many people.”

The honorees were also given fresh daisies and a sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe. To nominate an exceptional nurse, visit www.peninsula.org/DaisyAward and share a story.

“We are proud to be among the hospitals participating in the DAISY Award program. Nurses are heroes every day,” said PRMC Chief Nursing Officer Mary Beth D’Amico. “It’s important that our nurses know their work is highly valued.”

Advisor Honored

SALISBURY – Chris Peek, senior advisor with Sperry Van Ness – Miller Commercial Real Estate in Salisbury, was recently honored with a Wicomico Executive’s Fitness Council Award for reducing his carbohydrate footprint.

The award was presented by sports legend Tom Brown. The mission of the Wicomico County Executive’s Council on Physical Fitness & Healthy Living is to promote and encourage citizens of all ages throughout Wicomico County to adopt a personal goal of physical activity and responsible living habits to ensure a healthy quality of life.

Over the past two years, Peek has changed his lifestyle to incorporate healthy eating and exercise into his everyday activities. He credits SVN-Miller Managing Director Brent Miller for getting him started by promising him a roasted turkey leg if he ran the Warrior Dash, and John Cherry, the owner of One More Rep Personal Training Center, for keeping him on track with his goals.

State Housing Data

ANNAPOLIS — Housing statistics for June showed a slight increase in sales, according to the Maryland Association of REALTORS® (MAR).

Units sold increased 2.6 percent from June of the previous year, the first increase statewide in home sales since January. Both average and median prices remained flat compared to June 2013. Average price rose by less than $1,000, or 0.1 percent, and median price declined by $700, a 0.2 percent decline.

The overall statewide market is showing equilibrium, with available inventory and pending sales both ahead of levels in June of 2013. Supply of inventory, at 4.7 months, is down from last month and up slightly from the same time last year, although still below the six months considered necessary for a stable market.
‘We are encouraged that the number of homes under contract has increased by more than 200 transactions since last year at this time,” said MAR President Russ Boyce. He went on to note that “although first time homebuyers still face some financing challenges, overall the increased inventory and stable prices create an attractive opportunity for buyers.”

Maryland monthly housing statistics are compiled by data as reported by MRIS and the Coastal Association of REALTORS®. For the purposes of this report, “units” are defined as the closed sales and “pending units” are properties under contract. Months of inventory are based on the current active inventory and monthly sales for the corresponding month.