The University of Maryland is the largest university in the greater Washington metropolitan region and is ranked among the nation’s top 20 public research universities. Designated the flagship institution of the University System of Maryland by state law, the university has shown remarkable growth in the quality of its student body. Construction of more than $500 million in new classrooms, residence halls, recreational and research facilities has taken place on campus in the past decade. Total annual research expenditures now exceed $350 million. Major research partnerships have been established with such entities as Fujitsu, Fraunhofer Software Institute of Germany and Batellle/Pacific Northwest National Labs and the university is building the region’s largest research park, the M Square Enterprise Campus. The university is considered by many to be one of the fastest rising research universities in the United States.

Cassidy & Pinkard (www.cassidypinkard.com) is the largest locally owned full-service commercial real estate brokerage company in the Washington metro region. It serves local and national clients from offices located in Washington, DC, Tysons Corner, Virginia, and Rockville, Maryland. In 2004, Cassidy & Pinkard completed nearly $3.3 billion in sales and leasing transactions, $35 million in project management, and managed nearly 4 million square feet in 38 commercial office and retail properties.