Alumnus Alan Tsao's Latest Watch Design Commemorates Key Bridge, Donates to Families Impacted by Its Collapse
October 4, 2024
Contact: Office of Advancement and External Relations
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Alan Tsao, B.S. '11, MBA '21, continues to earn accolades as his Baltimore-based watch company finds new ways to both strengthen its brand while also giving back to the community. Tsao, the CEO of the Tsao Baltimore Watch Company, announced that the company will soon sell watches made from steel remnants of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The company then will donate more than $300,000 in profits to families impacted by the destruction of the bridge, which collapsed after it was struck by a container ship last March. Six workers on the bridge died during the incident.
Tsao tells The Baltimore Business Journal that he acquired 200 pounds of steel recovered from the bridge. After spending months on the design of the watch, he is nearly ready to unveil the final product. It will be delivered to customers early next year.
Tsao "views the watch as a way to mark the historic moment while also helping those impacted by the bridge collapse," the Journal says. "Tsao's planned donation of between $300,000 to $350,000 would be about a third of his company’s 2024 sales."
Henry Mortimer, director of The University of Baltimore's Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, says he is proud of Tsao's success and his willingness to support his community.
"I've been tracking Alan's progress with pride almost since the inception of his company, and I'm always excited to see what he comes up with for his latest iteration of watches," Mortimer says. "He always offers a unique and innovative way to honor iconic Baltimore traditions, like Natty Boh, the Torsk, or the Ravens. But this newest collection is truly exceptional. Not only does it reveal the kind of person he is, as an entrepreneur and a citizen of Baltimore, but it also epitomizes what we strive to instill in our students—the desire to use your gifts to make a positive impact on your community."
Read more about Alan Tsao.