A Week In Business

Local Dentist Lectures At Association Meeting

BERLIN – Area dentist William Allen, DDS MAGD recently returned from lecturing to the Missouri Dental Association at its annual meeting. Allen taught the Missouri dentists “Advanced Procedures in Cosmetic Dentistry”, which focused on the newest techniques to create beautiful natural smiles with an emphasis on porcelain veneers.

Allen, pictured at right with Missouri Dental Association President Dr. Shanon Kirchhoff, DDS MS, early in his career decided to study and teach advanced techniques in dentistry and to incorporate the latest advances into his and his students dental practices. He serves as a mentor and teacher to many other dentists pursuing excellence in dentistry.

In addition to teaching, Allen has a private practice located at 13901 Coastal Highway in Ocean City. He has been published in General Dentistry, the Journal of the Academy of General Dentistry. Allen was honored in 2006 and again last year by Maryland State Senate for his achievements in clinical dentistry. In 2004, he was awarded a Mastership in the Academy of General Dentistry (MAGD), an honor designated to less than 1,400 dentists worldwide.

For a free consultation with Allen, call 410-250-1559.

Panera Opens In WOC

WEST OCEAN CITY – For those who are looking for coffee, sustenance and free wireless Internet in West Ocean City, your prayers have been answered with the opening of Panera.

Panera Bread is a cafe chain that is part restaurant, part coffeehouse, and part bakery. The new White Marlin Mall Panera is on Route 50 in West Ocean City and opened on Wednesday morning.

"What makes Panera different is that we bake our bread fresh every day and we think customers are looking for that high level of quality," said Amy Burke, a Neighborhood Marketing Coordinator [NMC] for Panera Bread. "We serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and want to create an inviting environment where you can just enjoy a healthy meal. Our mission statement sums it up rather nicely – A Loaf of Bread in Every Arm."

The closest Panera location to Ocean City is in Salisbury.  The restaurants in the greater Maryland area are franchised by one of the largest Panera Bread franchisees in the country, Lemek LLC. The group is headed by Brian Lemek and is headquartered in the Columbia, Md. area.

George Dixon is the regional manager overseeing the opening of the local Panera. The 96-seat bakery-cafe in Ocean City is the group’s 37th location and Lemek plans to open nine more locations in the future for a final total of 46. A Panera for the town of Easton is already on the drawing board.

Realtor Earns Designation

OCEAN CITY – Skip Schlesinger, a Realtor with Re/Max Premier Properties in Ocean City, has earned the NAR Resort & Second Home Property Specialist designation.

This certification recognizes Realtors who demonstrate an expertise in working with clients buying, selling or managing properties for investment, development, retirement or second homes in a resort and/or vacation destination.

“The second home and investment market has never been stronger, and investors are demanding the expertise of a professional with proven knowledge of resort and second-home market conditions,” Schlesinger said.

Top Producers

BETHANY BEACH – Seacoast Realty, a Carl M. Freeman Company, announced January’s Top Producers for all eight Seacoast Realty locations at a recent Sales Meeting.

Robert Kauffman received top honors for listing volume for the month of January.

Karla Morgan of the Bayside office received the top honors in sales volume for the month of January

Colleen & Missy Team received top honors for listings volume for a team and sales volume for a team for the month of January.

Investing Class Offered

BERLIN – Old Dominion Investment Corporation (ODIC), along with the Ocean Pines Recreation & Parks department, will be offering a basic investing class entitled, “Running on Empty?” on Thursday, March 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the Ocean Pines Community Hall.

The class will describe the relationship between time, savings and investing for retirement. In addition to retirement savings tips, the class will review basic investing terms and strategies.

Pre-registration is requested. Call 410-213-8513 to register.

AGH VP Becomes Fellow

BERLIN – James Brannon, FACHE, vice president of human resources at Atlantic General Hospital, recently became a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), the nation’s leading professional society for healthcare leaders.

Fellow status represents achievement of the highest standard of professional development. In fact, only 5,400 healthcare executives hold this distinction. To obtain Fellow status, candidates must fulfill multiple requirements, including passing a comprehensive examination, meeting academic and experiential criteria, earning continuing education credits and demonstrating professional/community involvement. Fellows are also committed to ongoing professional development and undergo recertification every three years.

Brannon is privileged to use the FACHE credential, which signifies board certification in healthcare management and ACHE Fellow status.

 “ACHE is a premier professional society for healthcare managers, and I am very pleased to have been able to achieve the Fellow designation from such a prominent organization,” said Brannon.