After losing their father to cancer in 2016, Renée Ledoux began to question her career choice as an emergency room nurse. Jason Ledoux began to question his career path after spending time working a desk job, quickly realizing pushing papers was not for him. Neither felt passionate about their career paths and wanted more. One night over dinner with their mother, they were discussing how their father had worked for himself for many years and they got an idea. Why couldn’t they start their own business? The business could combine Jason’s talent and knowledge of woodworking with Renée’s outgoing personality and attention to detail, it would be the perfect partnership. They decided to give it a shot!Read More
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Swanson Consulting & Associates – Trenton, ME
Terri Swanson has successfully held several professional roles over her career. In March 2018, she decided it was time to fulfill her dream and utilize her experience in a new way. With a passion for helping people, she started her own Human Resources consulting business, Swanson Consulting & Associates.
Terri was in the beginning stages when she met Certified Business Advisor Shannon Byers. In Shannon, Terri found someone who could give feedback, ask questions that would generate ideas, and be supportive of her new business. Together, the pair worked through the Business Model Canvas and Value Proposition. This work together provided a visual guide to better understand the business and helped identify critical areas of focus in order to be successful.Read More
Maine SBDC names Ann McAlhany as 2019 State Star
Bangor, Maine –The Maine SBDC has selected Ann McAlhany as the 2019 State Star. The award, given annually, recognizes a member of the Maine SBDC staff that has shown exemplary performance and a strong commitment to small business success.
“Ann is dedicated to the success of her clients and the Maine SBDC program. She is a leader and role model among her peers and we are lucky to have her as part of our team,” said Maine SBDC State Director, Mark Delisle.
Maine ranked first in business survival rate; Maine SBDC featured on News Center Maine
This is a great piece from News Center Maine featuring the Maine SBDC and our client Surf & Summit Motorcycle.
Two great takeaways…
- Maine ranks best in New England to start a business according to WalletHub!
- Maine ranked FIRST (#1!!) in the US in business startup survival rates according to the Kauffman Foundation!
Allen Family Stables – Caribou, ME
After one successful business venture, Lauren Allen approached Center Director & Business Advisor Josh Nadeau for a second time with a larger business idea that was close to her heart. Lauren had always dreamed of owning her own horse stable. She had found an existing stable that was not being utilized to its potential and she wanted to buy it. She turned to the Maine SBDC to walk her through the process.Read More
Transcapsule – Gorham, ME
Tobey Tozier recognized a need in the transgender community. Through personal experience, he has found that this market of 1.4 million transgender adults in the U.S. lacks easy ways to document their transitions and track the effects of Hormone Replace Therapy (HRT) over time. Changes are usually tracked through photos, video, audio clips, body measurements and journaling on various apps and devices.
As a graphic designer and social entrepreneur, he wanted to create an all-in-one app that allowed users to easily document transitions in a single place. Once the app is launched, users will be able to upload photos and videos, record audio and record body measurements, track mood changes and write journal entries. Transcapsule provides a private and secure platform to document all aspects of the transition. Tobey sees Transcapsule as a way to help people in the trans community find peace and happiness in who they are, and a way to collect anonymous data that can be shared with medical providers to further research on trans health.Read More
Four Maine SBDC Business Advisors Receive Certification
Top: Marc Anton, Susan Desgrosseilliers Bottom: Raynor Large, Allison Watson
The Maine Business Development Centers (Maine SBDC), a state-wide program that helps entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses, recognized Marc Anton, Susan Desgrosseilliers, Raynor Large and Allison Watson who received their Core Competencies Professional Certification from the New England Professional Development (NEPD) group on Wednesday, May 15, 2019.
Maine SBDC offers FREE webinars to celebrate Small Business Week
Small Business Week is May 5-11. We are hosting *FREE* webinars on topics that are most important to you. Here’s the lineup:
Starting a Business in Maine On-Demand Workshop | REGISTER
Monday, May 6th – RELEASE DATE
New on-demand workshop will be released on May 6th, just in time for Small Business Week. Business Advisor Josh Nadeau will walk you through the to starting a business. Register to be notified when the workshop is live.
The BARE Essentials of Digital Marketing| WORKSHOP IS FULL
Tuesday, May 7th at Noon – LIVE WEBINAR
In partnership with Flyte New Media
Guest Speaker: the one & only Rich Brooks!
Small Business Success: Tips from those who’ve been there | REGISTER
Wednesday, May 8th at Noon – LIVE WEBINAR
In partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration
(Who better to celebrate Small Business Week with!)
**Space in these webinars is limited. register to save your spot! **
Want to Exit Smoothly? Start Now
By: Raynor Large, Business Advisor
Too often, a Seller lets external forces push them out. Unfortunately, selling a business isn’t like selling a home; a buyer’s due diligence looks deeper than the fresh coat of paint and some curb appeal. Instead, the Seller needs to start their planning years in advance for an ideal outcome.Read More
Ammo Self Storage (E&S Properties) – Hampden, Maine
Eddie and Susan Rideout are experienced business owners. They own Hampden Redemption Center as well as a Rideout Enterprises, a commercial cleaning service in the Hampden area. They had the opportunity to purchase another business – a storage unit business in Ammo Industrial Park, a former military location in Hampden from the 1960’s. They already rented several spaces at this location for their current enterprises, and did some maintenance and snow plowing for the owners. They were present on the property and had skill-sets to make ideal owners.Read More