After years of working for a large insulation contractor, Wesley (Wes) Grover decided it was time to start his own business. Wes, a U.S. Army veteran, was dissatisfied with the profit-driven approach of his previous employer. He wanted his new venture to prioritize customer service and employee well-being. His goal was to create a workplace… Read more »
Part 6 of the “Things we wish we knew” Blog series By: Tina Oddleifson, Business Advisor Most small business owners don’t spend time worrying about cybersecurity attacks. Who would want to pick on your small business anyway, right? Wrong! As business advisors in Maine, we have heard many stories from our clients about attempts and… Read more »
The Maine Small Business Development Centers (Maine SBDC), a state-wide program that helps entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses, recognized two business advisors who received their Core Competencies Certification from the New England Professional Development (NEPD) group on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. Newly certified advisors include Chase Nelson (Maine SBDC) and Jodi Cordes (CEI’s Women’s Business… Read more »
Donna Oliver & her husband, Hurley, are longtime bowling enthusiasts with 25+ years of experience working in the industry – having met at the original Interstate Bowling Center in 2000. When the owner of Sparetime Recreation and Ground Round Sports Grille in Hallowell decided he wanted to retire, Donna was the perfect fit to take… Read more »
When Alberto Mateo moved to Maine in 2022, he brought extensive experience in the food industry. After experiencing Maine’s popularity as a foodie state, Alberto wanted to start a business that celebrated Maine’s rich history as the former chicken capital of the world (a commonly forgotten fact) and also incorporated his heritage with Caribbean Latino… Read more »
Melinda Hurt has been a physical therapist for over a decade and a business co-owner for several years. As she considered her future, she wanted something more and decided it was time to start out on her own. Melinda knew she’d need help navigating the complexities of transitioning away from her partnership and support bringing… Read more »
Part 5 of the “Things we wish we knew” Blog series By: Tina Oddleifson, Business Advisor You’ve got a business idea that you’ve been thinking about for a while and suddenly you see the perfect location. You’re convinced your business will not work anywhere other than in that adorable shop on the corner of… Read more »
Julian Erickson-Watson’s love for pottery began during his senior year of college when he decided to enroll in a pottery class. Not knowing what would come of it, he chose to follow this passion to see where it would lead him. Eventually, Julian relocated to Maine, where he discovered the rich pottery community in Portland…. Read more »
In the spring of 2023, Tammy Nonni took the bold step of becoming a business owner by acquiring a cafe in downtown Freeport. Over the next few months, she undertook numerous renovations and changes, culminating in the re-launch of the establishment as Sip House. Tammy envisioned the cafe and smoothie shop as a welcoming and… Read more »
Part 4 of the “Things we wish we knew” Blog series By: Tina Oddleifson, Business Advisor “If you market to everyone, you’ll market to no one” – Famous Marketing Guru As business advisors, we review a lot of business plans. One thing we see regularly are marketing plans with vague references to social media… Read more »
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