Franchot Information

Franchot made stops at Irish Traditions in Easton and Cambridge International in Cambridge to present the businesses with the newly created "Better with Less" award an honor given to one business in each county that has achieved economic success while using fewer resources, identified new market opportunities in the midst of a struggling economy, used innovation to operate more efficiently, or strengthened local communities by providing vital services and opportunities for success. At his first stop at Irish Traditions, Franchot thanked owner Margaret McLemore for "not retreating in hard times," and, instead, moving forward and opening a second shop in Annapolis. The Irish specialty store which sells everything from Irish jewelry to apparel to china and crystal operated solely out of Easton for the past five years, before McLemore opened the Annapolis shop last fall. When accepting the award, McLemore said opening the shop in Annapolis has helped her company gain some efficiency of scale, and she hopes to continue to take advantage of opportunities for growth in the future. Maureen Scott-Taylor, director of economic development for the Town of Easton, said she's been a fan of McLemore's since the day they met, and is proud to be able to say an Easton business has opened in Annapolis. "I always say, 'If you want to learn a lesson in retail, go see Margaret. She knows her stuff,'" said Scott-Taylor, who nominated Irish Traditions for the award. Recognizing the risk McLemore takes when buying inventory and stocking the store's shelves, Talbot County Council President Dirck Bartlett said he admires the unique business, which betters the Easton experience for visitors and residents alike. "I love unique businesses like yours," Bartlett said to McLemore. "They make visits to the town special." Del. Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio, R-37-B-Talbot, thanked McLemore for making Irish Traditions a part of both the Easton and Annapolis communities, saying she now gets a taste of home when in Annapolis. "Thank you for being a part of our community," she said. "Your efforts are obviously paying off." At Franchot's second stop in Cambridge, he highlighted Cambridge International's economic contribution, outstanding customer service and efficiency. "Three hundred families in Maryland are employed by (Cambridge International), and I just can't describe how important that is to our state," he said. "You are the heart and soul of our economy. You employ our friends and our neighbors, and it is, believe me, appreciated by everybody." Cambridge International CEO Tracy Tyler accepted the award, saying she was proud of the company's accomplishments. "As we enter our 100th year of business, we have a lot to celebrate," Tyler said. "We make more metal mesh for architectural applications than anybody else in the United States, and we're very thrilled to introduce two environmental technologies to the world this year." Del. Adelaide Eckardt, R-37B-Dorchester, said these new environmental technologies which include emissions control and gasification technologies are a marker for Dorchester County in promoting more green business and a green economy. "(Cambridge International is) being a leader in that opportunity that we want to see a lot of people follow," she said. Cambridge Mayor Victoria Jackson-Stanley said Tyler has done an "excellent job" at the helm of a "very efficient and progressive company," and congratulated Tyler on the company's success.