Archives for June 2021

WorkSource Success: Jacob Vogelhut, Biotechnology

With COVID-19 surging through the country and our county in April 2020, the hospitality industry began to crumble. After more than 15 years at Marriott International, Jacob Vogelhut found himself out of a job like so many others. Navigating this new professional challenge was something that he was not looking forward to. Nevertheless, he embraced his circumstances and used them as an opportunity to forge ahead on a different career path. Having been in project management for the majority of his career, Jacob knew that he wanted to stick with it but the hospitality industry was no longer a viable option for the foreseeable future.

His wife had worked in the pharmaceutical field for years so he had some familiarity with the industry and it interested him enough to pursue a new career in biotechnology. With the help of his network, he absorbed as much information as possible about the industry. In late 2020, a friend recommended that he visit WorkSource Montgomery (WSM) for career service assistance. Jacob was assigned to work with American Job Center career coach, George Jefferson, and before Thanksgiving was enrolled in and completed Project Management Professional (PMP) training to renew his license. Shortly after that, WSM connected him with Agile/Scrum training after he expressed interest.

In December, the first Montgomery County Biotech Bootcamp was scheduled to launch early in January 2021. The Bootcamp is a pilot program that provides entry-level biotechnology training to county residents displaced due to COVID-19. The goal of the program was to grow the talent pool for the county’s rapidly growing biotech industry which has a large presence here. The Bootcamp was developed in collaboration with Montgomery College, University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) at The Universities at Shady Grove (USG), Montgomery County Economic Advisory Group (EAG), Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC), and WSM.

Jacob heard about the Bootcamp and inquired about it with George at WSM. Even though the training taught only the basics of biotechnology, he thought it would be a great opportunity to learn the industry lingo and laboratory fundamentals in a hands-on environment—proving his commitment to the industry. Jacob was accepted into the Bootcamp at USG/UMBC in early January. Two tracks were made available to participants. For those with some college experience or college degrees the Biotech Bootcamp program was offered at USG/UMBC and a track for those with a high school diploma or equivalent was offered at Montgomery College.

Jacob in the UMBC/USG Laboratory during the Biotech Bootcamp.

Jacob completed the Bootcamp in February and immediately landed a great job with Thermo Fisher Scientific—a Massachusetts-based, Fortune 150 company that provides scientific instrumentation, software, and services to the healthcare, life science, and other laboratory industries. With his PMP background, renewed license, and obvious commitment to working within the biotech industry, Thermo Fisher did not hesitate to hire him.

Two months into the new job, Jacob oversees a team of 25 project managers as a Senior Manager of Client Services at Thermo Fisher’s biorepository in Rockville. He enthusiastically recommends WSM and the training pathways offered to whoever is in a similar position as he was. “I’ve encouraged friends and colleagues to contact WSM. It’s hard to get motivated to find something different. You have to treat it like a full-time job but there is help out there. WSM offers a lot of value. They have funding and programs that are incredibly helpful and make a real difference during a career search,” he said.

Jacob at the Thermo Fisher office in Rockville.

Jacob is one of several Bootcamp graduates who have found sustainable employment successfully. The next Biotech Bootcamp is tentatively scheduled to begin Summer 2021 and will again be offered at both schools. The biotechnology career pathway is one of several that WSM offers to county residents that are unemployed, underemployed, or displaced due to COVID-19. For more information about our services and career pathways, contact us. For more coverage on the pilot Biotech Bootcamp visit Montgomery College and WJLA DC.

Source: Cynthia Grissom, Director, Business Solutions, WorkSource Montgomery, Inc.
Contribution from Timothy Fahey, Dirigo Agency, Inc.

THE HEALTHY BENEFITS OF A FARMER’S MARKET

Ever driven past a farmer’s market on the corner on the way to the grocery store? Farmer’s markets offer many great benefits not only nutritionally, but also environmentally. Check out these 5 benefits of shopping at a farmer’s market:

Fresh produce: Brought directly to you from the field, these fruits and vegetables are the freshest you can find. Fruits and vegetables you find in grocery stores are often sprayed with chemicals to simulate the ripening process, whereas fresh produce is allowed to ripen in the field before being brought straight to the market. Produce is shipped all over the United States, resulting in the produce you find in grocery stores to often be bruised or damaged. While some produce you find at a farmers market might be a little deformed due to natural growth, it is of better quality.

Enjoy seasonal produce: The food at the farmer’s market depends on what produce is specific to that season. This means that the produce at the farmers market is the freshest and best quality. If you are looking for sweet corn in the winter, odds are it will not be the best quality if you find it in a grocery store. The produce sold at the farmer’s market is at its peak and are organic and non GMO.

Help protect the environment: Shipping produce all over the United States uses natural resources that contribute to pollution. Chemicals used to enhance produce sold in grocery stores contribute to air and water pollution. Shipping large amounts also requires a lot of packaging materials in turn, creating more trash needing to be disposed of. Foods that are sold at farmer’s markets are usually grown in an ecofriendly environment and requires less packaging due to short shipping distances.

Know where your food comes from: Farmer’s markets allow you to shop for produce locally. Unlike grocery stores that receive shipments of produce form all over, the produce sold at farmer’s markets are usually grown locally, probably by your neighbor. You can find out exactly how and where the food is grown and what chemicals, if any, the use. Chat with the sellers about the growing, harvesting, and transportation process.

Help your community: Shopping locally helps support your community. The amount of family owned farms is decreasing over time, due to the high cost of production and farm maintenance. Shopping at your local farmer’s market allows you to get produce that is not genetically modified while also supporting a local business in your area.

Next time you need produce, head to a local farmers market for friendly faces and the freshest produce. Meet a friend, or bring the kids along to get them involved in nutrition and cooking.

About Patient First

All Patient First Medical Centers are open 8 am to 10 pm every day of the year, including holidays. Patient First provides non-appointment urgent care for routine injuries and illnesses, primary care for patients who do not have a regular physician, and Telehealth allowing patients to visit with a provider directly through their smartphone, tablet, or computer. Each Patient First center has on-site digital x-ray, on-site laboratory, and on-site prescription drugs. Patient First currently operates medical centers in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. 

                          Brooke.Waller@patientfirst.com