A Week In Business

Company Rebranding Effort Announced

OCEAN PINES — Cards Technology, formerly Cards Computers, unveils a new brand this week with a multi-chamber ribbon cutting and celebration at the corporate headquarters in Ocean Pines.

CEO Sam Card and Operators Manager Mark Shaw

CEO Sam Card and Operators Manager Mark Shaw

The company started in 2000 as a computer repair shop and evolved over the years to serve businesses across the Eastern Shore and lower Delaware in IT and communications. The rebrand initiative was kicked off in January with a goal to clearly define the company’s mission and vision internally and for potential and current customers.

The rebrand was started by CEO Sam Card and Operations Manager Mark Shaw and involved a thorough discovery process to identify who and what the company is. Input was then solicited from all of the company’s employees. The new corporate identity was determined through defining a vision, changing the company name and creating a new logo designed by Zach Bova, a former employee of the firm.

“The rebrand signifies that we are more than a computer repair company, and going forward, it communicates a clear message of how

we are a complete technology solution for the area’s small businesses,” said Card.

The final logo design, chosen by Card and Shaw, was then applied to company vehicles, a new website, social media, building signage, portals, invoices and software. The logo represents a simplistic approach to technology, which is the foundation of the company’s mission.

“We have a passion for bringing technology to a level humans can understand so it makes dollars and sense,” said Shaw.

Cards Technology services businesses primarily in Worcester and Wicomico counties in Maryland and Sussex County in Delaware but its reach has expanded across the Eastern Shore and into the Washington DC metropolitan area. Cards Technology provides IT services, cloud solutions, security, surveillance and audio and video communications services to all industries. Local names such as Royal Plus, Insurance Management Group, Bergey & Company and Gregory & Associates rank among businesses served.

Cards Technology will officially unveil the new brand at a Ribbon Cutting on Friday, May 22 at location on Manklin Meadows Lane from 5-8 p.m. Salisbury, Ocean City and Ocean Pines Chambers of Commerce will be present and the public is invited to join in the celebration of the company’s 15-year evolution from a small computer repair shop to a full-service tech company.

Pediatrician Added

BERLIN – Atlantic General Hospital and Health System has announced that pediatrician Laura M. Stokes has joined the medical staff to provide care at Atlantic General Pediatrics in West Ocean City and will begin seeing patients on June 4.

Stokes will occupy Suite 2 at Atlantic General Medical Center, along with pediatrician Anita Pascucci, who will be relocating from the Atlantic Health Center to join her. The new practice is located next door to Atlantic Primary Care and Pediatrics, the office of internal medicine/pediatrics physician, Munna Garg and family physician Danielle Orr.

The proximity of the two practices will allow the pediatricians to work closely to ensure their patients receive prompt appointments for sudden sick visit needs.

“We’re very excited that Dr. Stokes will be joining us,” said James Brannon, vice president of professional services at Atlantic General Hospital. “With her recruitment and the construction of Atlantic General Medical Center, we are able to bring a team of pediatricians to west Ocean City to care for the area’s growing population of young children.”

Stokes comes to Atlantic General from University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Bel Air. She has been a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics since 2004 and is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics.

Certification Achieved

SALISBURY – Peninsula Home Care, an award-winning, locally-based home care agency, announced the certification of clinical manager performance improvement and educator Juanita Chatham in Chronic Disease Self-Management. Chatham is also certified in Pain Management.

Juanita Chatham

Juanita Chatham

“I learn something new every time I teach a workshop,” said Chatham. “It is inspiring to watch people set goals, work hard and achieve them. It could be as simple as finding ways to relieve stress which in turn helps an individuals’ health and well-being. The mind and body are linked together so when one struggles, the other is right behind it. This course helps people take a look at their overall health and lifestyle and make changes to reach positive outcomes in daily living.”

Chatham completed a week-long course at MAC Incorporated to earn the Chronic Disease Certification.

“This certification demonstrates our team’s commitment to providing the highest level of care to our patients and the community,” said Nancy Bagwell, Peninsula Home Care branch director.

The self-management model, from Stanford University, has shown significant, measureable, and sustainable improvements in health status, increased exercise, reduced fatigue, self-efficacy, and psychological well-being in addition to improved and enhanced partnership with physicians, health care providers and care givers.

Market Update

SALISBURY — The number of homes sold increased in many parts of Maryland’s Eastern Shore region in April, according to The Long & Foster Market Minute reports. The Eastern Shore market includes Worcester, Wicomico, Dorchester, Queen Anne’s, Talbot and Caroline counties. The Long & Foster Market Minute reports are compiled from data from residential real estate transactions within specific geographic regions, not just Long & Foster sales.

The Eastern Shore real estate market saw some positive trends in the number of homes sold in April. Worcester County experienced a 6-percent increase in the number of homes sold, and Caroline County saw a 3-percent increase. In Wicomico County, the number of homes sold decreased by 6 percent.

In Worcester County the median sale price rose by 4 percent and 5 percent for Wicomico.

Active inventory in both Wicomico and Worcester counties dropped by 10 percent, and Talbot County saw no change in inventory. Queen Anne’s County experienced an increase of 4 percent.

In most areas of the region, homes are selling in three to six months on average, according to the April data.

“April showed us that there are some great things happening in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast real estate market, including in the Eastern Shore region where we saw an increased number of homes sold,” said Jeffrey S. Detwiler, president and chief operating officer for The Long & Foster Companies. “The conditions of the real estate market in many areas of the country are providing excellent opportunities for both buyers and sellers, and we’re pleased to see a nice robust spring market.”

Company To Conduct Sale

SALISBURY — John McClellan and Ben Alder, both senior advisors with Sperry Van Ness-Miller Commercial Real Estate, have been retained by Perdue Farms to represent them in the sale of the former Showell Poultry Complex.

The property was acquired as part of Perdue’s purchase of Showell Poultry in 1995 and is comprised of 740 acres — 300 tillable, 297 wooded and 143 facility acres. The zoning ranges from agriculture to heavy industrial, with the railroad bisecting one large industrial parcel. Parcels are primarily located in Showell and Bishopville with one parcel located in Delaware.

McClellan and Alder are conducting a wide spread aggressive marketing campaign targeted at agriculture, timber and industrial land buyers.