text: Advance kicked off their 50th anniversary celebration on Thursday, July 10th, with a full day of festivities for its entire family of 162 employees at the company’s headquarters in Cockeysville. The morning started with an intimate meeting hosted by Co-Founders, and CEOs, Alan and Lois Elkin, sharing stories of their 50 years building one of Baltimore’s leading independently owned companies, and the premiere of a new video, “Advance – Celebrating 50 Years.” In it, the Elkins, and other employees, reflect on the remarkable achievement.
  “We could never have thought fifty years ago that this is what we would have, nor would we have the kind of people that we have that really find themselves part of this family,” says Co-Chief Executive Officer, Lois Elkin, in the video.
  As a gift, employees surprised the Elkins with a personalized photobook and dedication of a boardwalk bench in their honor at their favorite respite spot, Ocean City, Maryland, between S. 1st Street and S. Division Street. The bench inscription reads, “Alan & Lois Elkin, Congratulations on 50 years in business! Sincerely, Your Advance Family. Advance Business Systems, Est. July 10, 1964. We Live and Breathe This Stuff.” In another surprise, just after the meeting, one employee, whose husband owns an aerial advertising service, arranged a congratulatory sign to be flown over the headquarters that read, “Happy 50th Anniversary Advance.”
  The celebration continued throughout the day, as employees were treated to surprises such as commemorative t-shirts, free massages, a catered lunch from Mission BBQ, and ice cream. At five o’clock, the company hosted a final event, in true family-style, for employees and their families, with a full-blown festival featuring food trucks with crabcakes, sliders, and snowballs, along with carnival games, miniature golf, face painting, balloon artists, photo booth, and a cupcake array in the form of the 50th anniversary logo.
  “Culture is so important to the success and future of Advance, and we wanted this day to be about celebrating all of the people who have helped us get here,” says President, Jeff Elkin, “Our people, their passion, and their commitment to our customers, are the reasons we will achieve even greater things in our next 50.”
  Photos from the day’s events can be seen on the company’ s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/advancestuff