Kevin Kamenetz
Stanley Black and Decker Event
April 5, 2011
Good morning, and thank all of you for joining us here in Towson to celebrate a new stage in a long and successful partnership.
While we are grateful for Stanley’s presence and stability and welcome them to Baltimore County, I must brag a little about our hometown boys, Mr. Black and Mr. Decker.
In 1916, many years after Frederick Stanley opened his first store in Connecticut, Duncan Black and Alonzo Decker had one of those ideas that made our County what it is today, when they obtained the world’s first patent for a portable power tool. Within a year these forward-thinking men opened the first Black & Decker plant here in Towson. By 1919, their sales had surpassed $1 million.
As the 20th century moved forward, Black & Decker became a household name around the world, almost single handedly establishing the consumer power tool industry. The designers and engineers developed a wide array of tools for almost every aspect of our lives, from the cordless technology that made the Dustbuster possible, to the space age technology that adapted the cordless power drill for use on surface of the moon by the astronauts of Apollo 16 and 17. Their work not only revolutionized the way people across the globe lived, but it helped fuel the economic vitality of Baltimore County.
Today, the 21st century finds this company, now Stanley Black & Decker, as the world’s largest tools and security company. Though they have been in Baltimore County for almost 100 years, they remain committed to innovation, and that is why we are thrilled that they will be part of our future. Baltimore County is still the County of ideas and this $12 million investment in their Towson facility represents not only their commitment to the future of Baltimore County, but their commitment to the kind of forward thinking that made this company great.
World Class Headquarters
Stanley Black & Decker will be transforming this 33 acre campus into a world class headquarters for product development and engineering. And given that there’s a building here that dates back to 1917, I think its no surprise that this place is due for an updating. Right here in Towson, a Fortune 500 company will be doing significant innovation in fields like reduced energy consumption, innovation that will secure their place on the cutting edge of technology for the 21st century.
This is the kind of innovation that made Baltimore County the birthplace of the Dustbusters. And best of all, this innovation will preserve 1,100 full time permanent jobs right here in Baltimore County.
I want to thank Jeff Ansell, Senior Vice President and Group Executive; Lee McChesney, Chief Financial Officer; Stephen Subasic, Vice President of Human Resources; and everyone at Stanley Black & Decker for their commitment to Baltimore County. We have done great things together here for almost 100 years. I can’t wait to see what we’re going to do next.
Now, any day when a Fortune 500 company invests $12 million here and preserves 1,100 jobs is a great day for the people of Baltimore County. But it would not have happened without the hard work from our friends at the Maryland Department of Business & Economic Development. Their partnership and support of one of Baltimore County and Maryland’s premiere companies made this announcement possible. Now, it is my please to introduce the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Business & Economic Development, Christian Johansson.
