The Daily Record Business Briefs: March 17, 2011

UMES' Thompson to retire

The president of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, ThelmaB. Thompson, announced she will retire from the top job on Aug. 15.Thompson has headed the 125-year-old, historically black universityin Princess Anne since 2002, moving from Virginia's Norfolk StateUniversity. University System of Maryland Chancellor William E.Kirwan said Thompson "focused relentlessly on excellence" whileheading UMES. The university's 4,500 students are enrolled inundergraduate degree programs that include engineering, aviationscience, construction management technology, hotel and restaurantmanagement and professional golf management, and graduate programsin environmental science, physical therapy and pharmacy.

Donations to aid Japan

Maryland-based companies and companies with operations in thestate are supporting the American Red Cross and other nonprofitagencies in relief efforts to aid earthquake and tsunami victims inJapan. Here are some of the donations: Constellation EnergyFoundation, $50,000 plus employee gift match; CareFirst BlueCrossBlueShield, $50,000 plus employee gift match; McCormick & Co.,$50,000 plus employee gift match up to $50,000; Wegmans Foundation,$100,000; Northrop Grumman Foundation, $500,000 plus employee giftmatch up to $500,000. Pledges have also come from the BaltimoreRavens and Legg Mason Inc.

Tennessee taps TCS

TeleCommunication Systems Inc. of Annapolis said it was selectedby the state of Tennessee to upgrade the state's 911 system. TCSsaid its technology will enable the state to continue deploying itscurrent Internet infrastructure, while giving citizens the abilityto communicate with emergency dispatchers via voice, data, video,images and, soon, text messages. Financial terms of the contractwere not disclosed. TCS is a provider of wireless messaging softwareand data systems and precise-location technology.