Please join us in celebrating the career of Betty Egner, who is retiring from the Maine SBDC on December 1, 2017.
As a business advisor located in our Ellsworth office, Betty has been an integral part of the team for the last 10 years. She’s helped over 588 entrepreneurs and small business owners to start 77 new businesses, save or create 270 jobs and obtain over $18 million in capital to start and grow their businesses.
Betty is well known for her positive and supportive demeanor as well as her gentle manner in helping clients set realistic business and financial goals. She’s also been heavily involved in the New England Made Giftware & Specialty Food show, helping exhibitors prepare to have successful shows. Her impact on Hancock and Washington Counties shows through these comments from our clients and partners:
“Betty has been a tireless advocate for so many small businesses. She’s been an essential part of our extended New England Made team. Her expertise and commitment to individual business owners have helped bring them to their potential and grow their businesses to the benefit of their families and communities. We can’t imagine our spring show without her, but we are sending our warmest wishes for a wonderful next chapter.” – Stefa Normantas, New England Made Shows
Betty has been a fantastic champion of the New England Made Shows and the companies that exhibit. Her enthusiasm is contagious and I look forward to seeing her every year! The guidance and expertise that Betty has offered the exhibitors has been critical to their success and growth. Our New England Made community will miss seeing her but we hope she still stops by to visit! – Whitney Burdsall, New England Made Shows
“Betty has been a blessing to me and to our company in many ways. On a personal level, I have learned so much from her over the years and she was always willing and happy for me to reach her and ask questions regarding specific business questions and also for my personal professional development. One of her favorite remarks to me was “ Fiona this is a BGP moment so you know what to do!” Betty helped us from our early start up days and gave much appreciated advice and help with preparing financials for loan applications. She was always fun to work with and even working on business projection financials turned into a fun time and the time flew by! She always had an encouraging word and was always positive and practical. A joy to work with! – Fiona De Koning, Hollander & de Koning Mussle
“Betty Egner is a gardener, and the best kind. I came to her with a seed. I had an idea what the seed was and knew what I wanted it to become, but I did not know how. She guided me by showing me where to go to plant it, told me the importance of fertilizer, watering. and sun. As my seed started to sprout, I was so excited to see it slowly mold into what it was to become. My dreams slowly forming into something real. As I continued to grow this sprout, things came up that I was sure might stop it’s growth. Funding, licencing, approvals, and other barriers all started popping up like weeds all around, draining my plants energy and robbing its sun. When I thought overcoming these obstacles impossible, Betty, with a smile, showed me to pull weeds up from the roots and that they or others may come back, but persistence will help my plant flourish. After two long years of pruning, weeding, and watering, finally, what was once the seed of my dreams and goals became an impressively tall and strong tree of my success. Betty put more energy into making my dreams a reality than I would expect any one person to do for another. Without her, I would be walking around with a pocket full of seed, instead, I get to walk through a beautiful forest that I was able to grow myself. I thank you greatly Betty.” – John Morse
“Betty has truly inspired me to work with sincerity and dedication. She’s done her job and empowered me to accomplish great things. I thank her for that and for showing me how one individual can be exemplary by not only being an excellent Maine SBDC Business Advisor but a valuable mentor and friend.” – Kasey Smith, Eternav
“Betty was the biggest reason for this to happen to Kristy and I. She is a very caring person and put her heart into everything she did. She was very tough when it came to numbers, her infamous line was don’t just pull them from the sky let’s work on them. We wish her the best of luck in the next phase of her life, we will miss you Betty.” – John Marchese, Calais Motor Inn