Ceo

Bob Baffert strode into the Preakness stakes barn Friday morning, shouting toward Orb's trainer Shug McGaughey loud enough so all could hear. "OK, Shug, I'm here to take away that media spotlight for you," he said. Baffert, indeed, is one of the few people in the sport who could have swiped some of the attention from McGaughey and his heavily favored colt this week . Baffert has won the Preakness five times, and on three occasions he's moved on to Belmont with a chance at the Triple Crown.

Jos. A. Bank Clothiers Inc.'s top executive, R. Neal Black, earned $2.9 million last year, a decrease from the $4 million in compensation Black earned in 2011, the Hampstead-based men's apparel retailer said. Executive compensation for CEO Black, who also serves as the company's president, included a base salary of $806,492 and $1.96 million in stock awards, Bank reported in a filing Friday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In 2011, Black's earnings also included $1.2 million in non-equity incentive plan compensation.

Arundel tax auction nets $2.5 million 1 Anne Arundel County held its annual delinquent tax auction online for the first time this year, netting $2.5 million in revenue. The number of successful bidders increased from three last year to 32 during this month's auction, with the overall number of bidders up 55 percent. Ninety-eight percent of the approximately 1,400 properties with delinquent taxes and fees were sold. "The online tax sale process makes it easier for small investors in the community to participate, and at the same time brings needed revenue in this difficult budget climate," said County Executive John R. Leopold.

Tracy Balazs, the president and CEO of an Annapolis-based staffing firm, was named Entrepreneurial Success of the Year last month by the Baltimore district office of the U.S. Small Business Administration. She founded the company, Federal Staffing Resources LLC, in 2004. It now employs more than 300 people, has eight offices across the country and generates more than $30 million in revenue annually. The company mainly provides health professionals to government outfits, including the Army, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Federal Aviation Administration, though FSR recently expanded its operations to the staffing of private companies.

Medifast Inc., an Owings Mills-based maker and provider of weight-loss programs, said Thursday it would replace its chief executive officer next week with the company's board chairman. The employment agreement for Michael S. McDevitt, the current CEO, expires Wednesday, and he and the board mutually agreed not to renew his contract, the company said. McDevitt led the company during a period of growth over the past five years; he had joined Medifast in 2002. McDevitt will be replaced by Michael C. MacDonald, a board member since 1998 and executive chairman since November.

GSE Systems, a Sykesville-based developer of simulation and training systems for the power-generation and manufacturing industries, announced Tuesday the appointment of Jim Eberle as its new chief executive officer. Eberle will also serve as a director to the company's board. Eberle replaces CEO John V. Moran, who retired on Oct. 31 and has become a consultant to the company. Eberle joined GSE as its chief operating officer in June. Hanah.cho@baltsun.com Text BUSINESS to 70701 to get Baltimore Sun Business text alerts

WITH CORPORATE scandals shaking the nation's stock markets, the New York Stock Exchange - the securities industry's top self-regulator - naturally has pushed for corporate governance reforms. It's also only natural that the world's largest stock market adopted this June higher standards for its own governance, including pledging to disclose its executives' pay. What's unnatural - and deeply troubling - is that disclosure now reveals the NYSE as a vivid example of perhaps the most resistant ill afflicting corporate America: "CEO-itis," as one analyst dubs it. The private entity announced last week that Richard A. Grasso, its chairman and CEO, is receiving a stunning $140 million in deferred salary and retirement benefits.

Is there a better way to market your product than naming "East Bound & Down's" Kenny Powers your CEO?  That's just what K-Swiss did with its new YouTube marketing campaign.  The videos -- which in true Powers style are profane (cover your ears children!) -- feature cameos from Michael Bay, Matt Cassel, Jillian Michaels, and MMA Champion Jon "Bones" Jones, among others, who now apparently help Powers run the company.  K-Swiss now has a new slogan too: "Shut up and buy them.

James Keefe Donahue, former president and CEO of Industrial Shows of America Inc. who also was producer of the International Auto Show and Chesapeake Bay Boat Show, died June 23 of heart failure at Good Samaritan Hospital. The Lutherville resident was 88. Mr. Donahue was born and raised in Arlington, Mass., and was a 1942 graduate of Belmont High School. He enlisted in the Army in 1943 and served with an infantry unit in the European Theater and received a battlefield commission.

Given Robert Vigorito's endurance as a six-time finisher of the world-famous Ironman Triathlon event in Hawaii, many figured that his tenure with the Columbia Triathlon Association would go on forever. Those who did might be surprised to hear that Vigorito - or simply "Vigo," as he is called by many - is retiring from the organization he helped create. Vigorito, who will turn 65 in March, announced Friday that he was ending his 26-year run as CEO and race director of what is one of the area's oldest and most prestigious endurance events.

Brian Rogers, manager of the T. Rowe Price Equity Income Fund in Baltimore, won't be voting the fund's shares in support of splitting the role of CEO and chairman at JPMorgan Chase & Co. Jamie Dimon has been CEO at JP Morgan since 2005 and became chairman a year later. "I fully support the combined Chairman and CEO role at JPMorgan under the superb leadership of Jamie Dimon," Rogers said in a statement. "He and his management team have created superior shareholder value after the company weathered the financial crisis so capably.

Here we go again. Our dear mayor and the clowns on the city school board are going to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on their search for the replacement to schools CEO Andrés Alonso. Why not look at the current assistant chief, Tisha Edwards, who I'm sure is more than capable to be the new school superintendent. She has the experience and knowledge of the entire school system. We do not have the money to spend on searching all over the country for a person. Keep the money here.

Big business and anti-tax groups have been making hay out of a story in CEO Magazine that ranked Maryland 41st in business climate. But look closely: a lot of the things that CEO Magazine says are holding states back are actually things you would want for yourself and your family. Many of CEO Magazine's bottom-ranked states have the highest incomes, lowest poverty rates, and the best rates of health coverage and education attainment, including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Maryland.

When Dan Rodricks ("Complaining CEOs need to take a hike," May 9) has a business to run, make payrolls, pay benefits, meet government regulations, and pay taxes for his employees, maybe then he could criticize the opinions of these CEOs who have concerns about Maryland's taxes and regulations. Joe Heming Text NEWS to 70701 to get Baltimore Sun local news text alerts

With city schools CEO Andrés Alonso's announcement last week that he is stepping down at the end of this school year, Baltimore finds itself in the market for a new leader who can continue and expand upon the reforms he instituted. Whoever succeeds Mr. Alonso will have a hard act to follow, and finding a replacement who possesses the right combination of leadership, management and interpersonal skills won't be easy. That's why the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners must insist on conducting a thorough, nationwide search for the city's next schools CEO and resist pressures from some city leaders to short-circuit the process by rushing to name a successor.

I took a walk early Wednesday morning. Azaleas and dogwoods were in bloom. Green-again trees and shrubs were damp, dripping from Tuesday's rain. A zillion birds were singing, and even the starlings sounded sweet. The Orioles had won another game. A horse with a Maryland owner had won the Kentucky Derby. There were several things about which to be pleased. There was the usual ugliness in the news — the shootings that go on in Baltimore, no matter the season — but I gave myself 15 minutes to walk and appreciate the peace of the 6 a.m. sidewalk.

On September 1, 2004; FRED CEO SR.; beloved husband of Isolene D. Ceo. He is also survived by four children (one son predeceased), three brothers, one sister, two daughters-in-law, one son-in-law, nine grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends. On Wednesday, Mr. Ceo will lie instate at 1st Baptist Church of Cherry Hill, 823 Cherry Hill Road, where the family will receive friends from 10 to 10:30 A.M. with services to follow. Inquiries to VAUGHN C. GREENE FUNERAL SERVICES 410-233-2400.

On October 14, 2005, CORPORALBERNARD L. CEO, son of Rosemarie and Fred Ceo, Jr.; brother of Fred III (Nancy) and Corye Ceo. Also survived by other relatives. Friends may call the PHILLIPS FUNERAL HOME, P.A., 17221-27 N. Monroe Street (Westwood Ave), Thursday, 12 noon to 8 P.M. Family visitation 5 to 7 P.M. Family will receive friends Friday, 9 to 9:30 A.M., with Mass to follow at St. Bernadine's Roman Catholic Church, 3812 Edmondson Avenue. Interment Arlington National Cemetery.

Education observers were split Tuesday on whether the city's school board should launch a nationwide search to replace schools CEO Andrés Alonso or give the job of taking on the district's daunting challenges to his hand-picked successor. Some, such as principals union president Jimmy Gittings, said they'll push for the board to name interim CEO Tisha Edwards as permanent superintendent. School officials said late Tuesday that Edwards, Alonso's chief of staff, would not have to obtain a state waiver despite lacking the teaching experience typically required by state law for the post.

W.R. Grace CEO Fred E. Festa sold shares of newly exercised stock options for a nearly $1.3 million profit, the Columbia chemical maker said Tuesday. Festa exercised an option to buy 21,490 shares at $19.71 apiece Monday and sold them the same day for about $78.04 each, according to a company filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. W.R. Grace said the sale was "pursuant" to a prearranged trading plan. Festa owned 100,000 shares of company stock after the transaction.