Tell us a bit about Conveyor Handling Company.

Conveyor Handling Company has been a leading material handling distributor since 1974.  The company is located on the southwest side of Baltimore and has 49 employees.  We have partnered with private and public companies of every industry nationwide, as well as government agencies, offering cost-effective customized material handling solutions that increase productivity, efficiency, and profit.  In addition to our in-house sales, engineers, and installation crews, who will work with you during every phase of your project, Conveyor Handling Company also has a full time service department. Our 13 experienced service technicians and our fleet of fully equipped vans with a large inventory of parts for most conveyor manufacturers can provide conveyor service and preventative maintenance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with 2 – 3 hour response time.

What core values does Conveyor Handling strive to adhere to?

Conveyor Handling has always believed that our growth and success over the last 38 years is due largely to the hard work, commitment, and conscientiousness of its employees.  Even though the company has grown to a staff of 49, the management tries to maintain a “family” atmosphere, while striving for excellence and making customer service and satisfaction a priority.  We continually convey to the employees the valuable role they play in the day to day operation of the company.

What prompted you to become a supporter of the Greater Homewood Adult Learning Center?

I had been an Advisory Board member for the Center for Adult Literacy and Learning (Project CALL) located in the Govans area of Baltimore City for more than 10 years.  When its founder and director, Sr. Mary Delia Spitznagel, suffered a stroke, it was necessary for her to step down.  However, Sister realized that there remained a great need for adult literacy services in this city neighborhood and asked the Board to investigate ways to keep the center operational.  It was an exciting time for Project CALL when we discovered that the Greater Homewood Adult Learning Center was looking to expand its services in this area.  After several months of planning and discussions, Greater Homewood was able to absorb Project CALL and continue classes.  At this time, I was approached by Greater Homewood and invited to join their Board during this transition process.

Why do you believe it’s important for businesses to support a nonprofit like GHCC?

Businesses are comprised and managed by individuals.  When these individuals reflect on the opportunities and successes of their lives and realize how truly fortunate and blessed they are, being able to say thank you becomes a very important goal for them.  Not only does it give you a way to “give back” but it also brings you an inner happiness. It helps you to see the bigger picture of life.  For someone who truly enjoyed going to school and who recognizes the valuable role that education plays in life, supporting a non-profit like GHCC only made sense.  The programs offered at GHCC will give someone the opportunity to experience the enjoyment I felt in school.  And he or she will have the chance to learn reading and communication skills that will enable him or her to become an independent and successful member of his or her family and community.  It seems that supporting GHCC is a win-win for everyone.

Owner Diane Pappas recently shared with us a little about how she got where she is today, and why she decided Greater Homewood was the perfect place for business.

Tell us a little bit about the history of Mille Fleurs.

Mille Fleurs opened in August 1995 and has been at the same location since. The shop is located at 314 Wyndhurst Ave., in Wyndhurst Station, the site of a former Maryland and Pennsylvania railway house.  It was the dream of Diane Pappas and Kathy Quinn, two 40-somethings seeking career changes, who met at Dundalk Community College and completed the 2 year certificate program in Retail Floristry there.  Diane and Kathy worked side by side for 15 years until Kathy retired in September 2010.

What is your mission statement?

To provide the highest quality, longest lasting, most unusual flowers and foliages from around the world and to artistically design these flowers in a wide variety of inspired styles. We receive twice weekly direct shipments from growers in Holland as well as garden flowers from a local organic farm. In addition, we shop almost daily at the local wholesale markets, hand selecting only those items that meet our exacting standards. We take extra care to process and handle our flowers properly. We generally sell our flowers in tight bud, so the recipient can enjoy watching all the stages of the blossom’s development over time. We also guarantee our flowers.

To provide unparalleled customer service.

To serve the community. We never sell our older blooms. Instead, they are donated each week to Viva House, a soup kitchen and pantry in Baltimore City. In addition, Mille Fleurs has sponsored teams with the Roland Park Baseball League and supported many functions of the local private and public schools, numerous local churches and church schools and such worthy organizations as the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Maryland SPCA, Paul’s Place, Mt.  Washington Pediatric Hospital, Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service, Chase Brexton  Health Services, Dyslexia Tutoring Program, The Family Tree, Cylburn Arboretum, and The Roland Park Community Foundation. We have also mentored many students from the Park School and Friends School who have chosen to complete their senior work projects at Mille Fleurs.

What inspired you to start this business? 

We wanted to bring upscale flowers, artistic design and unparalleled customer service to the greater Baltimore community.

What qualities did you look for when deciding the location of your business?

We wanted a beautiful, quaint, bright and welcoming space.

We wanted to have plenty of free parking and a location convenient for potential clients from both Baltimore City and County-proximity to I 83 was important.

We wanted to be part of a close knit neighborhood and community.

We wanted to be close to our local wholesale markets.

What was the biggest challenge you faced in starting your business? How did you overcome it?

The biggest challenge was marketing the business and determining what methods actually work. We have tried all available avenues–print advertising, radio, cable TV, direct mail, store signs, coupons, email, press releases etc. Over the years, we have been able to determine what works best for our shop.

What do you love most about having a business in Greater Homewood?

I love the fact that the shop is in a very small specialty shopping center with a lot of character in the middle of a residential neighborhood. It is a real neighborhood where we enjoy seeing residents walking and children playing every day.  We have some customers from the neighborhood who have been coming to the shop every week since we opened. We have been able to follow the milestones of their lives through their floral needs and to watch their children grow up through their birthdays, proms, graduations and weddings. Many have even become personal friends and that is awesome.

What do you love most about Greater Homewood?

It is such a beautiful place with lots of green areas and wonderful architecture.  I love the fact that it is a complete neighborhood, with residential and shopping areas, libraries, schools and churches.

What prompted you to become a supporter of GHCC?

Community service has always been a large part of how Mille Fleurs has operated.

Why do you believe it’s important for businesses to support a nonprofit like GHCC?

Because of our bond with the neighborhood and our deep gratitude to our long standing loyal customers, we have always supported causes that are near and dear to their hearts. It is our way of thanking and giving back to our clients by helping to enhance the community in which they live.

Mille Fleurs is a beautiful shop inside and out, from the incredible floral arrangements they create to the spirit of service that runs throughout all they do.  Their commitment to making the community the best it can be is an inspiring model for all to follow.

Mille Fleurs is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9-5pm and Saturday from 9-3pm. They are open Wednesday by appointment only and are closed on Sundays. For more information on this local favorite, please visit http://www.millefleursinc.com/.

Drop in for a visit, and remember to stop and smell the roses!

Tell us a bit about the history and accomplishments of Thornhill.

Thornhill Properties, Inc. was founded in 1986 by George L. Panos, a certified property manager and licensed real estate broker, and James F. Offutt, Jr., a Baltimore County real estate attorney. George Panos, CEO and President of Thornhill Properties, Inc., has been working in real estate for more than 35 years, providing property management and brokerage services to multi-unit residential, retail and commercial clients.  Our company is known for its proactive, hands-on approach to management and enjoys a loyal client base.

During more than 20 years in business, Thornhill has represented national retailers such as CVS Pharmacy, Rite Aid Pharmacies and Revco, as well as Nationwide Motors Sales, Cellular One and A&A Global Industries.  We have represented owners of apartment buildings, from those with 12 units to those with more than 450 units.  Our institutional property management clients have included Eastern Savings Bank and the Resolution Trust Corporation (now part of the FDIC). Recently, Thornhill has partnered with Terra Nova Ventures and is handling the leasing for their $40 million renovation of Mill No. 1, a mixed-use project along the Jones Falls slated to open in 2013.

Today Thornhill manages a large, diverse portfolio of properties in the greater Baltimore area. Our mission is to provide professional real estate brokerage and management client services based on a strategy of proactive care. We take pride in the fact that all new management business has come through referrals; we have never advertised our management services.

What inspiration or vision do you share with Thornhill’s original founders?

George was inspired as a youth growing up in Baltimore watching the City and surrounding counties develop around him – he wanted to be a part of the changing landscaping. I share the same vision now 30 years later. We started managing Clipper Mill in 2009 and seeing how that community has evolved and succeeded through the failing economy has inspired me. I look forward to working on Mill No. 1, our latest project, and making it a success.

What qualities did you look for when deciding the location of your business?

We manage properties from Bel Air, Harford County to the Inner Harbor. A central location for our main office is key. We chose the Greater Homewood area due to accessibility. We manage over 20 properties in this neighborhood and own several buildings in the area.  

What was the biggest challenge you faced in starting your business? How did you overcome it?

Finding the right team to carry out our vision. We treat every client like family–every client is important, whether it be a property owner or prospective tenant. We have been able to promote from within and still have several members on the Thornhill team who have been with us since day one.

What prompted you to become a supporter of GHCC?

Our desire to preserve and improve the surrounding community.

Why do you believe it’s important for businesses to support a nonprofit like GHCC?

It’s extremely important to maintain and improve the community, especially in our line of work. Our clients’ property values depend on the surrounding community, and it is important to maintain and improve the community to increase and maintain property values.

Here is another sampling of the amazing prizes that will be available at GHCC’s 11th Annual Scrabble Fundraiser for Literacy. Join us on Saturday, April 14 from 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM for Scrabble games, live music, delicious food, beer & wine. You may just end up winning a gift certificate to one of following fabulous local businesses:

1. Video Americain
2. Record & Tape Traders
3. The Senator Theatre
4. Ukazoo
5. Atwater’s Traditional Foods
6. Joe Squared

Register today and come play with us!! You can also pay at the door. Tickets are $50 or $40 for students and 62+. All proceeds benefit the Greater Homewood Adult Learning Center’s efforts to combat illiteracy in Baltimore City.

See some more prizes here!

Obed Dominguez, a 2008 graduate of the Greater Homewood Adult Learning Center and External Diploma programs, recently came back to visit. He wanted to share that he just completed his degree Program at Baltimore City Community College, and is now the proud holder of an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science for Electrical Technology!

His next plans include enrolling in Towson University this fall for computer science. Obed has also pledged to return to GHCC to assist with enrolling new learners by sharing his own personal success story with them. Congratulations, Obed!

You can support learners like Obed by attending the 11th Annual Scrabble Fundraiser for Literacy on Saturday, April 14. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Greater Homewood Adult Learning Center, which offers free literacy instruction to more than 600 Baltimore City adults each year.

Last November, we interviewed Greater Homewood learner Hector Rosado, who had just passed the two assessments required for admission into the Biotech training program at the BioTechnical Institute of Maryland. At that time, Hector identified testing for the GED as his next major goal. Hector came by this week to show us his diploma and share his reflections on the vision, drive, and hard work that enabled him to earn his high school diploma in under a year.

How long did you prepare for the GED test before taking it?

I joined the [Adult Learning] Center in April and studied through December.

What helped you earn your high school diploma in under a year?

Ms. List encouraged me to go to the library, do things on my own, push forward through those books, and do the homework.

What did you do to prepare? What were your study strategies?

I made it my number one priority. I didn’t miss any classes. I scheduled around my studies as much as possible, so that I could include my studies in all my activities. I studied whenever the opportunity arose. Studying was my recreation.

Who supported you in your efforts to pass the test?

My wife, Elizabeth, number one. All of the instructors and staff at the Adult Learning Center. Also, I motivated and supported myself. You have to have the desire and drive to get it done.

How did you feel when you found out that you had passed the test?

It’s hard to put into words. I feel great. It’s something that I always wanted and finally achieved. It’s a feeling of exultation. I won; it was a victory.

What are your next steps, now that you have your high school diploma?

Now that I have my HS Diploma, that goal is out of the way and I have to put that aside. I have to start on another goal. I’m not quite sure what I will do, but I know that I have many doors open now that I have a diploma. I want to go to school and further my education. I don’t want to die with a shovel in one hand and a pick in the other. Maybe I’ll look into starting up a business.

What advice can you offer other learners preparing for the test?

Use EVERYTHING. Use all of the assets you can find. Don’t just use the books the Center provides. Find and use other things that can help you along the way to the GED. Don’t just depend on others; depend on and believe in yourself. Use whatever experience brought you this far in life to do the work necessary. If you have a desire, a goal, don’t let anything stand in your way. Keep going for it, don’t let things stop you, not even yourself. Just keep going, and you’ll be surprised at what you can do.

Support learners like Hector by registering for the 11th Annual Scrabble Fundraiser for Literacy! Read more about the Greater Homewood Adult Learning Center here.

Here is just a sampling of the amazing prizes and silent auction items that will be available at GHCC’s 11th Annual Scrabble Fundraiser for Literacy. Join us on Saturday, April 14 from 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM for Scrabble games, live music, delicious food, beer & wine. You may just end up winning one of these items:

1. Men’s “Signature Gold” silk necktie from JoS. A. Bank Clothiers.
2. Gift Certificate to The Brewer’s Art.
3. Gift Certificate to Ma Petite Shoe.
4. Handcrafted wooden keepsake box from Ten Thousand Villages.
5. Gift certificate for massage and facial at Kobi Day Spa and Salon of Mt. Washington.
6. Travel mug from Pendleton Woolen Mills (there’s a tote available too).

And there is so much more! Register today and come play with us!! Tickets are $50 or $40 for students and 62+. All proceeds benefit the Greater Homewood Adult Learning Center’s efforts to combat illiteracy in Baltimore City.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your connection to the ALC.

I’m a retired teacher and human resources professional. I taught at the Kennedy Institute School, and I also worked as a job classification specialist and salary analyst for the State of Maryland. More importantly, I’m a mother of 8 children and a grandmother of 14 grandchildren. I have been a tutor at the ALC for almost 15 years.

My daughter, Regina, is a systems manager for Medicare. She loves to play Scrabble. She plays very well and I hardly ever beat her. I keep trying and maybe I’ll win at this year’s Scrabble Fundraiser.

How did you get involved with the work of the ALC?

When I retired, I looked around for a useful activity. My sister-in-law, who worked for another community organization, told me about Greater Homewood. It just fits my circumstances. It is within walking distance from my home, the schedule is flexible, and it makes use of my training and experience. So I started tutoring. I received training and materials. The learners I’ve worked with were fantastic. So I have stayed for 15 years.

What makes the Scrabble Fundraiser different from other fundraisers that you’ve attended?

The people! They are literate people who love words and word games. They’re competitive and fun to be with. The food is great. Last year the live music was classical piano – great background music for playing Scrabble. The space is very comfortable and there’s plenty of parking.

How has the Scrabble Fundraiser evolved over time?

The first couple of years it was held in the basement hall of the church. There were about 20 tables or so. The snacks were simple – chips and sodas. The donation was maybe $5 or $10. Gradually the attendance increased. Now, it’s expanded to Calvert School with prizes, delicious food and drink, a silent auction and live music. It’s gone from a small gathering to a gala.

What is your favorite memory from past years of the Scrabble Fundraiser?

My fondest memory over the years is of the Master of Ceremonies [Jim Fabian]. His good looks and casual good humor make him the embodiment of cheerfulness and fun – perfect for a fundraiser M.C.

At the 2nd or 3rd year of the event, Regina came in third place and won a prize. I once had the highest scoring bingo. That’s when you play all 7 letters on one turn. I won a dozen cannoli from [Vaccaro's] pastry shop in Little Italy. I forget the word, but the cannoli were delicious.

Why do you feel that the work that the ALC does is important to our community?

A literate and well informed citizenry makes a better community. The ALC provides individual and class instruction in reading, writing, math, GED preparation, English as a second language, and computers. It also provides information about social, political, and health related services.

What would you say to encourage others who may be interested in supporting the Adult Learning Center’s work?

The ALC provides invaluable help to people. Visit the Center and observe and talk to the staff, tutors, and learners. Then contribute by becoming a tutor or making a donation.

Celebrate the 11th Annual Scrabble Fundraiser for Literacy on Saturday, April 14, 2012 at the Calvert School Atrium – 4300 North Charles Street. Join us for two rounds of Scrabble, live music, a silent auction, food, beer & wine, and informal pick-up games. All proceeds will benefit the Greater Homewood Adult Learning Center. Click here to download a printable registration form or register online. Register by March 30 for an ‘Early Bird’ Prize Drawing! For more information, contact Erin George at egeorge@greaterhomewood.org or call 410-261-3519.