Made in Frederick: ShieldCo

In the City of Frederick, a variety of local businesses make and manufacture their own products. From popcorn and coffee to dog treats, many small businesses are choosing Frederick as a place to make their products and to do business.

Made in Frederick is a feature that showcases these businesses and their products.

Made in Frederick: ShieldCo

ShieldCo is a family and veteran owned business, owned by brothers Luke and Neil Markey, along with their father, Peter Markey. The company is located in Frederick, Maryland and creates custom business signage and interior décor for a variety of clients. 

 From business plaques to sports logos, ShieldCo can make a quality piece of interior artwork for any customer. ShieldCo has made custom products for the University of Maryland, Columbia University and many other clients. The company has even created custom metal pieces of Central Park and the Frederick skyline.

 The City of Frederick's Department of Economic Development had the chance to stop by ShieldCo's offices and talk to co-owners, Luke and Neil.


Q&A with ShieldCo Co-Owners, Neil and Luke
Neil and Luke took the time to answer a few questions about their business, their products, and why they enjoy doing business in Frederick.
SheildCo co-owners and brothers Luke and Neil Markey.
Photo courtesy of www.shieldcoart.com. 

How long has your company been in business?
2013

What is your product/products?
Custom 3D business signage and interior décor.

What makes your product different? 
We turn logos and designs into art. Our technique allows companies to take a 2D logo and make a unique 3D representation. All our pieces are laser cut and industrially powder coated so they can be used inside or out and will last lifetimes.

What do you want your customers to know about your product?
It will make their company or organization stand out from the rest. It is durable and will last and is made locally in Frederick, Maryland.

What does Frederick offer a company like yours? 
Great support from local customers who believe in us and want to see us succeed. Great artisan and artistic culture that appreciates quality and design. 

Want more information on ShieldCo?
If you would like to see more of the products ShieldCo produces or would like to get information on how to purchase your own piece of custom artwork, visit ShieldCo's website.


 Connect with ShieldCo
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Want to be featured on our blog?
If you or your business has a product that's made here in Frederick, contact us and your local business could be featured in our next blog post.

 This story was completed by our fall 2015 intern from Hood College, Nick Masucci. 

Introducing Thrive Frederick - A New Marketing Concept for DED

Whether it's your first visit to Frederick or you call it home, you notice it thrives. It has 
  • Thriving Arts, Culture & Music
  • Thriving Shops and Dining
  • Thriving Small Businesses
  • Thriving Manufacturing and Biotech Companies
  • A Thriving Historic Downtown
  • Thriving Students and 
  • A Thriving Economy.
Here, thriving is a state of mind for local business owners and residents and a defining feature of the community. 

 When Frederick's Department of Economic Development (DED) wanted to update their marketing materials, it didn't have to look far for inspiration. Every day, the department strives to increase economic opportunity in Frederick by supporting and promoting a community where businesses and residents can THRIVE. 

 Beginning in 2016, DED will roll out new marketing materials as they promote their services to the community and represent Frederick as a business destination. The fresh, new colors and design represent the forward-moving and thriving community of Frederick.  

The Process
DED contracted with Jean Peterson Design for the Brand Development Discovery process and to develop the new look and feel for the department's marketing materials. Community partners and business leaders were invited to participate in a brand discovery survey that helped guide the new concept. 

Through stakeholder surveys, it was determined the new look and feel should be 
  • Simple
  • Hi-Tech Industrial
  • Modern
  • Refined
  • Colorful
Favored colors included
  • Blue
  • Navy Blue
  • Orange Red
  • Black
  • Gray
  • Green
  • Yellow / Gold
The information was gathered and analyzed, and with recommendations from senior City staff and the Economic Development Advisory Council, a new marketing concept was chosen. 

Coordinating the Concept 
As a part of the overall project, the same Brand Development Discovery process was used for two additional City departments, Parking and the Airport. Jean Peterson Design found the uniting elements, and created a concept that works across multiple departments. These are harmonious side-by-side, but each can be used independently as well.


How The Concepts Will Be Used
These colors and designs will guide printed collateral such as rack cards, advertising, trade show panels, presentations, digital media, and more. It will give marketing materials a fresh look and feel as these departments represent Frederick locally, regionally, nationally, and even internationally. The concepts are designed to work in coordination with the official city seal and present a cohesive marketing effort. 


2015 New & Expanded Businesses in The City of Frederick

In collaboration with partners, the Department of Economic Development celebrates grand openings, business expansions, and commemorative anniversaries within the Frederick business community each year. This list is a summary of new business openings and expansions within The City of Frederick based on events held by Downtown Frederick Partnership, Frederick County Chamber of Commerce, and businesses hosting their own celebrations.

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A Company's Mission Inspires its Office Design

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Enjoy a behind-the-scenes peek inside this month's inspiring office in Frederick - Someone With. Paula Jagemann-Bane is the CEO and Founder of Someone With Group. The company began as an online marketplace for breast cancer products, and has expanded its corporate vision of "Innovation for Life" to include membership based financial services for those suffering from a chronic condition.

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Made in Frederick: McCutcheon’s Apple Products, Inc.

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McCutcheon's Apple Products, located right next to Carroll Creek, produces and sells all of their products from their factory in Frederick. McCutcheon's is a family-owned business that has been making their products in Frederick since 1938.

Broker Tour Showcases Frederick as a Most Valuable Place

Nearly 50 commercial real estate professionals attended the 2015 Commercial Realtor Bus Tour on November 5, 2015. The sports-themed tour showcased Frederick, Maryland as the "Most Valuable Place" for locating a business and offered a glimpse at the various office and retail opportunities available in Frederick County. Commercial brokers from both the Frederick market and the Washington metropolitan area were in attendance.

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Tourism Council of Frederick County Executive Director John Fieseler Named Tourism Person of the Year by Maryland Tourism Coalition

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Executive Director of the Tourism Council of Frederick County John Fieseler has been named Tourism Person of the Year by the Maryland Tourism Coalition (MTC). The award was presented to Fieseler last Thursday at the 35th annual Maryland Tourism & Travel Summit, held at Turf Valley Resort in Howard County. It was announced during the MTC Awards presentation and banquet, part of the 3-day annual summit that brings together more than 250 tourism and hospitality professionals from throughout the state of Maryland.

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Inspiring Offices: Welocalize offers an airy office in a former factory

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Enjoy a behind-the-scenes peek inside this month's inspiring office in Frederick - Welocalize. Welocalize's office is located within the Glass Factory, a 17,000-square-foot structure that was built as a cannery in the early 1900s. It was previously a tailor company and also a window factory. Today, the renovated warehouse space is home to a variety of companies in Downtown Frederick.

Development Showcase Highlights Planned Investments Along the Golden Mile


An estimated 200 residents attended The Golden Mile Alliance's Development Showcase at the Frederick Elks Lodge, along with representation from elected officials, City staff, and the Frederick Police Department.  The event was organized to educate the community on the numerous planned investments along the Golden Mile corridor.  Representatives from major commercial and residential projects provided updates and addressed questions from residents and community members in attendance.  

Projects on display included:
The Golden Mile Alliance meets on the third Tuesday of the month at the Municipal Annex Building, located at 140 West Patrick Street.  Please contact the Golden Mile Alliance for details.

For the latest information on planned events and projects along the Golden Mile, check out the Golden Mile Alliance's website and Facebook page.