Produced by Franklin Springs Family Media as a CD and DVD, the concert of traditional Irish and Scottish songs, with some of Zahm's originals thrown in, was recorded in front of a live audience Feb. 13, 2007. Zahm, who handled vocals, guitar, bodhran and penny whistle, will reunite with Baltimore's Tad Marks on fiddle and mandolin, Cheryl Prashker on percussion, and Steve Hobson on guitar. In addition, they are happy to have Ross Armbrecht playing with them on bass.

"I am so excited to have worked with Franklin Springs Family Media to produce this live concert performance with my band," wrote Zahm on his Web site: www.charliezahm.com. "I could not be happier with the end result. Franklin Springs put together a beautifully crafted visual production, capturing the music perfectly." Video and audio clips from the recording can be viewed and seen on Zahm's Web site.

With a baritone voice that has been described as "coming along once in a generation," Zahm has become one of the most successful artists on the Celtic festival circuit by weaving magical moments of Scottish and Irish history with passion for the performance and a chosen repertoire pleasing to all members of the family. A master of the guitar as well, he brings an authentic love and respect for the music he sings - and with dashes of humor and a light in his eyes, he will draw you into the stories of his songs.

Since he's been old enough to sing, Zahm has been entertaining audiences with the Celtic songs and melodies he first heard in the largely Scottish province of Ontario, Canada - his mother's birthplace. Keenly aware of his own heritage, which includes healthy doses of Scottish and Irish blood on both sides of his family, he has collected several hundred popular selections and performs them for thousands of fans up and down the Eastern Seaboard and across the United States. As one of the most sought-after Celtic singers on the East Coast, Zahm plays regularly everywhere from concerts and festivals to television shows and Celtic-themed Caribbean cruises, where his 6-foot-4-inch frame and powerful baritone voice make him one of the most memorable performers around.

The 24-credit government contracting certificate is designed so students can enroll on a part-time basis and complete all coursework in 16 months. Customized to meet the needs of working adults, coursework will be offered in the classroom and online. The curriculum is aligned with the Defense Acquisition University. Cecil will launch the credit certificate in government contracting in the upcoming fall semester, which starts Aug. 31.

Much of the material in this new program will be taught by Dr. David Linthicum, who has been hired as assistant professor, business and procurement. A highly experienced generalist in federal procurement and contracting, Linthicum's career in federal contracting spans more than 20 years. He served as the government's principal contracting authority at Texarkana Army Ammunition Plant in Texas, where he managed a multi-billion dollar, multi-year contract for the contractor operation of a government owned production facility. Upon completion of that assignment, he worked for the U.S. Army Communications and Electronics Command as a contracting officer at Fort Monmouth in New Jersey. In this position, he planned and oversaw the negotiation and award of contracts, earning unlimited authority expenditure for federal acquisitions with an annual financial commitment of more than $68 million.

"I previously had an opportunity to work with the college and really enjoyed the working relationships and professionalism demonstrated by all of the folks I interacted with," said Linthicum. "When this opportunity presented itself, it seemed like a perfect match. I was interested in teaching in my field of expertise and Cecil College was looking for someone with my background and experience." Linthicum holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Columbia College in Missouri and a master's in personnel management from Central Michigan University. Upon his retirement from the U.S. Army, he earned a doctorate in leadership and policy from Temple University and began a new career on the contractor side of government contracting. He has led the growth of two startup small businesses and has won numerous government contracts.

Linthicum founded an independent consulting firm in 2008, Linthicum LLC. His company provides consultant services in the areas of federal market development, proposal preparation, procurement, and contract and subcontract management, as well as corporate operations. Linthicum, LLC also offers services in the areas of long-range planning and project implementation. "I have had the good fortune to work on the government and contractor sides of the federal acquisition process," said Linthicum. "As a government contracting officer, I gained unique insights into the federal contracting processes and the government's inherent obligation to protect the best interest of the public. As a senior executive in the government contracting marketplace, I have gained yet a different understanding of the complexities and challenges of doing business in the federal marketplace."

A 20-year member of the National Contract Management Association and an NCMA fellow, Linthicum has taught more than 25 different procurement/contracting classes for the NCMA. He has also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland and the City Colleges of Chicago. His prior association with Cecil College includes presenting two non-credit seminars in the professional studies certificate in innovation excellence program and aiding in the development of credit course syllabi.

"The impact of BRAC is creating a new cultural paradigm in the local community," said Linthicum. "The shift of government program office responsibilities from Fort Monmouth and other locations to Aberdeen Proving Ground will continually create jobs in the government contracting arena. These jobs will be created both in industry and within the government. In order to work in the government contracting field, one must complete a number of specific courses and obtain acquisition certification. The certificate program at Cecil College will provide the opportunity for students to achieve the training and certification needed to qualify for these opportunities."

To complement the government contracting education training being provided in the classroom and online, the college will also be looking to place students in internships throughout the region. In addition, Cecil College will be calling upon members of the community to help form an advisory board. For more information about Cecil's government contracting program, contact David Linthicum at 443-205-3439 or drdol@zoominternet.net.

"Our trustees take our mission, which includes affordability, very seriously," said Pannill. "We just had a reduction from the state and there is a strong possibility that we can experience an additional reduction this fiscal year. Our public funding partners - the state and local government - are going to be hard-pressed next year. Considering it has been three and a half years since we last raised tuition, we think it is a modest increase. It makes sense to make adjustments periodically rather than hold off, hurt our academic excellence, and then make some big jump that really is difficult for students to handle."

For its part, Cecil College has instituted a number of cost-saving measures and is continuing to address this area. The college has eliminated several non-academic events, cut some expenses, and managed vacant positions without any direct impact on the education mission. In addition, administrators have temporarily taken on teaching duties and the faculty members have agreed to a one-year suspension of the sabbatical leave program.

Cecil students also have numerous financial aid options available to them, including Pell Grants, Cecil College Foundation scholarships, veterans education benefits, Maryland state scholarships and grants, student loans, and work-study. Almost 50 percent of Cecil College students receive some type of financial aid, whether it is federal, state or college aid, employer tuition waivers, or scholarships from local organizations and businesses.

"Our priority is to make sure we are delivering an excellent product in the classroom," said Pannill. "Ensuring we have all of the technology and faculty we need to do that is critically important to us. We think the timing is right for a tuition increase and the need is there. We will continue working hard to contain our cost."