The slow build - Express

POST 200. CAPITAL BUSINESS . 12/19/11 8
Welcometoourspecial
Post 200 issue of Capital Business.
Ordinarily, our pages would be filled
with the latest news on government contracting,
commercial real estate, technology,
banking and the business of law. But
this week we take time out to focus on the
region’s very biggest — the companies,
law firms, nonprofits and other organizations
that power our local economy.
It doesn’t take too long to go through
the list to realize just how diverse the
greater Washington business establishment
has become, and how connected
we still are to the fortunes of the federal
government.
Government contracting is big business
here. Four of the five largest public
companies are defense or federal con-
commitment
teamwork
heritage
strength
Jay O’Brien
Executive Vice President
800.399.5919
dypb.
s 1868
tractors.
It’s also remarkable to see how stable
our business community has been, despite
the recent global economic turmoil.
This year’s list saw the departure
of just nine organizations from last
year’s accounting, and nearly all were
replaced by larger firms.
For instance, defense giant ATK
moved from Minnesota to Arlington, and
claimed No. 15 in our ranking of public
companies. Vangent, an Arlington contractor
that was once one of our larger
private companies, was gobbled up by
Falls Church-based General Dynamics.
Volkswagen of America was knocked
from the list of foreign-owned compa-
nies when Canadian contracting giant
CGI bought Arlington IT purveyor
Stanley, adding to its U.S. workforce
already here. Comcast edged out Target
in terms of full-time employees working
in the region.
Some companies changed lists. Public
companies such as contractor SRA
International and Blackboard, the online
education firm, were taken private.
Private RLJ Cos. created the public RLJ
Lodging of Bethesda, and so became our
choice for the list.
A few Post 200 stalwarts face uncertain
futures. Mortage finance giants
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac remain
under government control as Congress
Committed to
thE SUCCESS —
Successfully growing your business
requires vision, determination, talent
and know-how. It also takes a seasoned
financial partner with the business
banking experience and resources
necessary to help you navigate the
way.
At Sandy Spring Bank you’ll work with
knowledgeable relationship managers
who know the community, the
neighborhood nuances, but most im-
weighs what to do with them. Other
firms have been buffeted by the economy
and their place is tenuous at best.
There are plenty of companies
knocking on the door to take their spots.
We considered whether to add a category
to capture fast-growing upstarts
such as daily deal purveyor LivingSocial
and energy data firm Opower. But in the
end, we opted to focus on the big because
most have stood the test of time,
in good economies and bad.
And as our cover story on the employment
picture shows, big companies
still wield a lot of influence locally in the
creation of jobs.
— Dan Beyers
of LOCAL BUSINESS.
portantly, your business. By offering
unparalleled individual attention, uncommon
local decision-making, and
tailored financial recommendations
we can meet your unique needs. This
personal approach sets us apart in
the market, and has been helping local
businesses of all sizes succeed for
over 140 years.
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