Roland King

Digital Marketing - Operations, Analytics & Content

Features

The Spirit of the Game

By

Feature article on UMBC homepage

The sun rises and crews get to work cutting the plush Riviera Bermuda grass, repainting lines and repairing divots with green dyed sand.

As the only Bermuda grass field in the America East Conference, UMBC has to keep it looking its best. And, with the growing success of its soccer program, there’s a good chance the field will see a lot more action this fall.

For the defending America East champion UMBC men’s soccer team, this recent success is nothing new. However, the 2013 season marks a lot of firsts for the team, including cracking the top ten in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) rankings and 7th in Top Drawer Soccer. They currently rank no. 8 in NSCAA, slipping one spot after a tough, double overtime loss to Delaware. UMBC women’s soccer is also seeing similar success, having won seven of their last nine contests – the most wins for the team since 2006.

 “We have maintained a quality program for quite some time, but these are heights we have not scaled before and marks an exciting, new era for our team,” said Steve Levy, Associate Athletic Director, UMBC.

UMBC’s unprecedented success comes at a time when soccer in the United States has never been more popular. And, with the 2014 World Cup less than 12 months away, that interest will only continue to grow.

However, if you were to visit UMBC campus on a game night, you’d think the Cup was just days away. University students and alumni have a strong tradition of supporting its soccer program. Each fall, “retriever fever” sweeps the campus community, bringing with it a surge of college spirit and camaraderie. Halls are decorated, events are booked and thousands of students converge on the campus for Homecoming week – all leading up to the men’s soccer match. This year, more than 1,700 attended the Saturday game.

“Every year we draw more and more fans and alumni back to campus as a community, while the events and support get better and better,” said Anthony Adams, Men’s Soccer Associate Head Coach. “I would challenge anyone to come to a men’s soccer game and not see tremendous school spirit.”

Despite the large disparity in budget and resources when compared to other top school programs in the country, UMBC has continued to consistently rank well in game attendance and participation. During the 2012 soccer season, the university was 25th in attendance, nationally; and numbers are up from 995 to 1,228 per game in 2013.

Nowhere is this school spirit and support more evident than on the sidelines. Each home game, thousands of students, alumni and fans turn out – complete with banner flag, rally drum, matching apparel and organized chants. Lot 17, named for the original spot where fans would gather before and after each game, was a way for UMBC’s soccer fans to get organized. Following the 2010 season, men’s soccer saw a significant rise in attendance at home games after an appearance in the 2010 NCAA tournament, advancing to the second round. With help from an enthusiastic men’s soccer club team, Lot 17 was formed and is now a quintessential part of the school’s soccer heritage. The fan-based group often travels to away games and can be found taking over opposing stadiums with their cheering.

Soccer is a sport I am very passionate about,” said Edward (Teddy) Tibert, a UMBC club soccer player and lead organizer for Lot 17. “I think that’s what makes it great – we’re so unique from other schools in the sense that the greatness of soccer isn’t taken away by all the shine that football brings.” This Saturday, the America East Conference action continues, as UMBC men’s soccer battles University of New Hampshire (UNH) for first place at Retriever Soccer Park. For tickets and more information, please visit www.umbcretrievers.com.

A day in the life of our Tiffany Award winner

By

American Red Cross quarterly employee newsletter feature article

It starts with a look in the mirror. She places a little make-up here and there; checks her hair; even fixes the slight bend in her wire-frame glasses. Finally, she glances down toward the bottom of the mirror and reads a simple quote: ‘Remember: the customer can hear your smile.’

“That’s something I live by,” explains Renee Wilson-Coleman, Customer Service Tech. II, and winner of this year’s Level II Tiffany Award. And it’s no mystery why she has been given such a prestigious award. According to her co-workers, her attitude is reflected in her work, and her energy and personality are contagious. It is her mission in the morning to speak to everyone. “I say good morning to everyone, and if I don’t get a response, I holler good morning — that usually gets their attention,” Renee says, laughing.

But, Renee — along with her co-workers in the Hospital Customer Service Department — takes her work very seriously. As the ‘go-to’ people for the Region’s hospitals, Customer Service ensures hospitals have all of the blood components they need to save lives. “It’s a lot more day-to-day than people realize,” says Sue Ellen Malone, Manager of Customer Services. “Hospitals don’t have the large storage capacity; therefore, they constantly need to be re-supplied.” Additionally, the apheresis platelet products, which Renee specializes in, only have a shelf-life of five days, creating further inventory management complexity.

Renee also works with hospitals and customers that require specifically matched apheresis donations for their patients. This multifaceted process requires technical knowledge, along with follow-through, to ensure the uniquely matched products reach the patients in a timely fashion, even if the product must come from another Region. “On the other end of it all is a patient,” says Renee. “And, because of that, I want to provide the best quality product and service to my customer.”

Capacity and conservation pivotal to solving Maryland’s energy crisis

By

Greater Baltimore Committee feature website story

Maryland faces a growing energy crisis, GBC leaders warned at the organization’s annual meeting on May 7.

The state’s power infrastructure is aging and demand for electricity in Maryland is increasing eight times faster than its generating capacity. Maryland currently imports more than 25 percent of electricity sold to customers in the state, according to Maryland Public Service Commission data.

Meanwhile, stricter federal and state regulations are causing energy providers to consider closing some of the state’s older, coal-fired plants. The Healthy Air Act passed during Maryland’s 2006 legislative session establishes more stringent rules on greenhouse gas emissions.

If the owners decide to keep the older facilities running, the Maryland Public Service Commission estimates it would require more than $2 billion in capital improvements. Unfortunately, most or all of these costs may ultimately be passed on to consumers in the generation price of electricity.

However, the PSC predicts owners of at least two Maryland coal-fired power plants will weigh whether it is possible – or worthwhile – to install the necessary equipment needed to comply with the new regulations. Currently, coal plants in Maryland generate approximately 4,958 megawatts – nearly half of the state’s total energy generation, PSC data shows.

Solving Maryland’s energy crisis begins with decreasing consumption and increasing the supply of electricity throughout the state.

There needs to be more aggressive public awareness to educate consumers and businesses about using energy efficiently. The state must work with the business community to pursue practical and effective energy conservation strategies and develop more incentives to encourage residents to use energy during off-peak hours.

Maryland also needs to enact policies that promote upgrading the electricity infrastructure for generation, transmission, distribution and environmental compliance. The state must add new transmission infrastructure by 2011 to increase its electricity importing capacity, as well as adopt a strategic plan that includes construction of new efficient, environmentally compliant power plants.

Maryland faces a growing energy crisis, GBC leaders warned at the organization’s annual meeting on May 7.

The state’s power infrastructure is aging and demand for electricity in Maryland is increasing eight times faster than its generating capacity. Maryland currently imports more than 25 percent of electricity sold to customers in the state, according to Maryland Public Service Commission data.

Meanwhile, stricter federal and state regulations are causing energy providers to consider closing some of the state’s older, coal-fired plants. The Healthy Air Act passed during Maryland’s 2006 legislative session establishes more stringent rules on greenhouse gas emissions.

If the owners decide to keep the older facilities running, the Maryland Public Service Commission estimates it would require more than $2 billion in capital improvements. Unfortunately, most or all of these costs may ultimately be passed on to consumers in the generation price of electricity.

However, the PSC predicts owners of at least two Maryland coal-fired power plants will weigh whether it is possible – or worthwhile – to install the necessary equipment needed to comply with the new regulations. Currently, coal plants in Maryland generate approximately 4,958 megawatts – nearly half of the state’s total energy generation, PSC data shows.

Solving Maryland’s energy crisis begins with decreasing consumption and increasing the supply of electricity throughout the state.

There needs to be more aggressive public awareness to educate consumers and businesses about using energy efficiently. The state must work with the business community to pursue practical and effective energy conservation strategies and develop more incentives to encourage residents to use energy during off-peak hours.

Maryland also needs to enact policies that promote upgrading the electricity infrastructure for generation, transmission, distribution and environmental compliance. The state must add new transmission infrastructure by 2011 to increase its electricity importing capacity, as well as adopt a strategic plan that includes construction of new efficient, environmentally compliant power plants.