Manekin

Silver is good, but, like any competitor, Manekin is hoping for gold. Technically, the real estate company has neither, but it is expected that its new corporate headquarters will be certified as a "green" building, one designed to conserve energy and reduce the effects to the environment. The final touches are being made to the $9.4 million, two-story, 52,000-square-foot structure in Columbia Gateway, although Manekin's employees have moved into their spaces. Manekin's headquarters is only the second green development by the company, although it is working on a third and expects to develop others, said R. Colfax Schnorf Jr., senior vice president and director of development for Manekin.

Harold Manekin, who embraced the rebuilding of downtown Baltimore 50 years ago through an influential commercial real estate business he founded with his brother, died of lung disease Monday at his Brooklandville home. He was 90. "With his brother Bernie alongside, Harold helped change the world's perception of Baltimore," former Rouse Co. Chairman Mathias DeVito said yesterday. "He ran his company efficiently and quietly, and the two brothers could not have made a better team." The Manekins, through the corporation they founded, were involved in leasing, managing or planning four major downtown office towers in the 1960s and 1970s - and later saw the business potential of Howard and Anne Arundel counties, where they invested heavily in office parks.

The Columbia Bank named Brian Canuel as branch manager for the Howard County-based bank's Bowie office. Harbor Bank of Maryland announced that D.M. Terrance has joined the bank as senior vice president/senior lending officer. He is responsible for the loan department and ensuring the quality of the bank's loan portfolio. Susquehanna Bank named Maurice Workman manager of the Light Street branch. Legal & insurance Rifkin, Livingston, Levitan & Silver LLC said Kevin O'Keeffe and Derrick L. Green have joined the legal firm's Annapolis and Greenbelt offices, respectively.

One of the first things entrepreneurs are taught is that if their businesses are not growing, they are falling behind. The second thing is that growth must be carefully managed. These are more than adages. They are closer to biblical commandments, because the corporate graveyard is filled with skeletons of firms that failed to heed the advice. Few companies have executed both strategies with greater focus or efficiency than Manekin LLC, the Columbia-based real estate conglomerate. It is neither the company it was nor is it the company it will be. Still, its top custodians are almost fanatical about not permitting Manekin to become something it is not. "They understand their niche in the overall real estate development community, and they work their market very well," says Richard W. Story, chief executive officer of the Howard County Department of Economic Development.

ACS elects Appletree as its president Roy Appletree, executive director of FIRN Inc. (Foreign-born Information and Referral Network) has been elected president of the Association of Community Services. Lois Mikkila, president of LMK Consulting, was elected vice president. She is a member of the board of FIRN and the advisory board for the Volunteer Center Serving Howard County. Rene Buckmon, executive director of the Columbia Teen Center, is secretary, and Jay Herbert Blackman, senior vice president of Operations at Howard County General Hospital, is treasurer.

Manekin LLC, the large commercial real estate firm, broke ground Friday for a new corporate headquarters in Columbia. The two-story building will have 52,000 square feet and be a "green" facility, meaning it will have many features to reduce energy use. It will be built on Robert Fulton Drive in Columbia Gateway, the office park just off Route 175 and Interstate 95. The building will be two-tenths of mile from Manekin's current headquarters. The company moved into its current headquarters less than seven years ago but has outgrown the space.

Former state Sen. James Clark Jr. is to receive a lifetime achievement award at Preservation Howard County's 2005 Preservationist of the Year awards ceremonies, to be held from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. today at the Commodore Joshua Barney House in Savage. He will be honored for his contributions to historic preservation, including his support of the Howard County Conservancy and its headquarters, Mount Pleasant Farm, and the Antique Farm Machinery Club. Torch Run honor for Lt. Newnan Lt. John Newnan, a 20-year veteran of the Howard County Police Department, was recently inducted into the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Richard LaMunyon Hall of Fame, recognizing his longtime volunteer service to the International Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics in Maryland.

The Jackson Organization Location: Montpelier Research Park, just off the intersection of U.S 29 and Johns Hopkins Road in Laurel. Developer: Manekin, LLC Landlord: MOR Montpelier III, a joint venture between Manekin and Corporate Office Properties Trust. Description: Build-to-suit for the Jackson Organization, a survey research consulting firm. It will be a one-story brick building with 19,170 square feet. Among its features will be three conference rooms, a training room and larger work and storage areas.