Member Updates
Having started her career with Kent County Public Schools during the Nixon administration, Virginia "Ginnie" Walls retired this month after 51 years of service.
Walls was an administrative assistant in the school system's Office of Finance. Among her responsibilities assisting with bookkeeping and payroll for KCPS' nearly 500 employees.
"I started when I was 17," Walls said.
Contact: Steve@tecmadison.com
Bespoke Chocolate, located in the heart of Chestertown, is an established and profitable full-service chocolate shop, specializing in high-quality handcrafted chocolates. After years of success, the owner is retiring, presenting a unique opportunity for a new owner to take over a thriving business. This turn-key operation includes a fully trained staff, a comprehensive training program for the new owner, and complete production capabilities, from fudge and chocolate production to nut roasting.
The business boasts impressive sales, with an ROI of 42% and a net profit of 30%, making it a perfect investment for someone seeking a six-figure income. The shop also benefits from a strong online presence, including a $25,000 website with e-commerce capabilities for easy customer access.
The owner’s retirement offers a once-in-a-lifetime chance to step into a well-established business that not only serves as a popular local destination but also has a strong wholesale component with 150 customers. The sale comes with a flexible long-term lease and all the necessary software and systems in place to manage payroll, sales, taxes, and inventory.
The sale must be completed by June 1, 2025, or the business will close, and the space will be made available for rent. This is a rare opportunity to take over a profitable, community-oriented business with all the tools and support needed for continued success.
Whether you're managing your own health or the health of a loved one, SCOT can help you learn the best ways to communicate with your health providers, how preventative care supports well-being, the importance of having an advance directive, how to manage medications, and what medical technology can make things easier to manage. Questions are welcome and encouraged at this free, interactive program!
Ken Kozel, MBA, FACHE, President and CEO of University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH), has been named to The Daily Record’s 2024-2025 Power 100, a list of 100 individuals shaping businesses, governments, nonprofits, law firms and other key institutions in Maryland. UM SRH is a member organization of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS).
Kent School is inviting children and their parents to attend a series of fun, Saturday sessions designed to engage and stimulate the curious minds of children ages 8 and under. The workshops will be held on February 8, February 22 and March 1. There is no charge and the public is welcome. Parents should plan on staying on campus while their children participate.
January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month. As the Mid-Shore region’s state-designated Regional Navigator, For All Seasons continues to partner with a network of agencies working to respond to and prevent human trafficking. The agency’s Anti-Human Trafficking Regional Navigator program helps identify human trafficking situations, offers support to survivors and their families, and provides community outreach, awareness, and education. For All Seasons’ Red Sand Project and free Human Trafficking courses have engaged community members over the past few years to participate in the prevention efforts on the Shore and will be offered to the community again this year.
UM Shore Medical Center at Easton, a University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH) hospital, has been recognized for the fourth consecutive year as High Performing in Maternity Care (Uncomplicated Pregnancy) by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals for Maternity Care. This is the highest award a hospital can earn as part of U.S. News’ Best Hospitals for Maternity Care annual study. U.S. News & World Report has also named UM Shore Medical Center at Easton as a 2025 Maternity Care Access Hospital.
