WATERVILLE — Maine Enterprise Fund has introduced a brand new partnership with Dirigo Labs, a startup accelerator launched by the Central Maine Development Council, to extend capital funding into firms situated in central Maine. Dirigo Labs will present MVF with “boots on the bottom” within the area and develop a channel by way of which firms can study concerning the fairness financing choices out there from MVF. In flip, MVF will take part in Dirigo Labs accelerator programming and work straight with firms to assist them perceive the fundraising course of and determine sources of capital in Maine and past, together with, however not restricted to, Maine Enterprise Fund itself, in response to a information launch from Maine Enterprise.
Dr. Brien Walton, MVF board chair, said, “Partnering with Dirigo Labs follows the MVF board’s strategic precedence of increasing affect throughout Maine. As a lean crew, MVF will be extra environment friendly by working to help present regional companions somewhat than recreating these assets. The connection with Dirigo Labs and the Central Maine Development Council is an ideal instance of this kind of partnership, to higher join the state’s assets with dynamic leaders on the entrance traces of rising central Maine’s financial system.”
Susan Ruhlin of Dirigo Labs agreed. “As Maine’s enterprise capital fund, it made sense to ally with Maine Enterprise Fund to make sure that collaborating Dirigo Labs startups have direct entry to state funding that seeks to help excessive development firms. Maine Enterprise Fund’s demonstrated success within the state over the previous 25 years bolsters the potential for brand new financial improvement organizations like Dirigo Labs to achieve a foothold and thrive over the subsequent 25 years in higher serving the central Maine area.”
MVF is already partaking with a number of of the businesses enrolled within the Dirigo Labs inaugural accelerator class in a variety of actions from basic fundraising training to capital funding analysis. MVF expects to leverage the newly introduced MVF Microfund program to supply a wider vary of fairness funding choices to the businesses at Dirigo Labs and within the wider central Maine area.
Ed Goff Submitted picture
Skowhegan Financial savings Financial institution hires assistant vp and business lender
Skowhegan Financial savings Financial institution has introduced that Ed Goff had joined the financial institution as an assistant vp and business lender. He involves the financial institution with greater than 19 years of expertise in small enterprise possession, together with a development tools rental enterprise and a sequence of automobile washes from Skowhegan to Brunswick. His companies have been acknowledged by quite a few awards, highlighted in world commerce magazines and he has obtained the Skowhegan Space Chamber of Commerce’s Group Impression Award.
“We’re happy to welcome Ed to our business lending crew,” stated Steve Thomas, senior vp and senior business lender, in response to a information launch from the financial institution. “His successes as a Maine enterprise proprietor will likely be a novel asset to our business clients in aiding them with their monetary wants and objectives in the present day and into the long run.”
Goff will likely be primarily based out the financial institution’s Augusta department and can help the financial institution’s enterprise clients in central and southern Maine.
“As a former small enterprise proprietor for almost 20 years, Skowhegan Financial savings Financial institution has all the time been there to help my companies’ monetary wants and objectives,” stated Goff. “I now sit up for becoming a member of the business crew the place I can return that stage of help, proven to me, to different Maine enterprise house owners on behalf of the financial institution.”
Denis Bergeron, left, was lately introduced awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by Maine Public Utilities Fee Chairperson Philip L. Bartlett II through the New England Convention of Public Utilities Commissioners. Submitted picture
Maine Public Utilities Fee analyst receives Lifetime Achievement Award
HALLOWELL – Denis Bergeron, utility analyst and coordinator of Regional Market Applications on the Maine Public Utilities Fee, was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award on the New England Convention of Public Utilities Commissioners.
Bergeron has labored in state authorities in management positions for 35 years. For the final 15 years, he has been the fee’s lead analyst and outspoken advocate for Maine at New England Energy Pool, Federal Vitality Regulatory Fee, Unbiased System Operator-New England, and New England States Committee on Electrical energy.
“Denis is extremely regarded and is taken into account a number one knowledgeable on New England transmission and era points,” stated PUC Chairperson Philip L. Bartlett II, in response to a information launch from the fee. “His ardour in advocating each for Maine and for the New England area is unparalleled.”
Bergeron has obtained many accolades in his profession. In 2013 he was acknowledged by Effectivity Maine for his “dedication to power effectivity.” He was additionally acknowledged by the Northeast Vitality Effectivity Partnership for his “excellent dedication, management and repair to NEEP and its mission to speed up power effectivity as a number one local weather change resolution.” NECPUC additionally beforehand honored Denis in 1999 and once more in 2013 with its George Dunn Award, which acknowledges workers who’ve carried out in an exemplary vogue on problems with regional significance or affect.
“Right here on the fee, I can say unequivocally that Denis is relied on extensively on my own, my fellow commissioners and our administrators on strategic points associated to era, transmission and distribution issues dealing with Maine and New England,” Bartlett stated. “Denis plans to retire this 12 months and receiving recognition on the symposium is definitely a becoming approach for Denis to finish a stellar profession.”
Maine Small Enterprise Improvement Facilities advisors obtain certification
The Maine Small Enterprise Improvement Facilities, a statewide program that helps entrepreneurs begin and develop their companies, acknowledged eight enterprise advisors who obtained their Core Competencies Certification from the New England skilled improvement group on Might 18. Newly licensed advisors embrace Christine Cole (Portland), Tina Oddleifson (Portland), Anne Lancaster (Biddeford), Lori Allen (Auburn), Christina Ramsdell (Auburn), Brandon McDonald (Caribou), Alison Lane (Bangor) and Peter Piconi (Waterville).
The group is an expert improvement collaboration of the six Small Enterprise Improvement Facilities in New England and consists of the Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island applications. Its program offers a complete, core information coaching program and is a key component of the SBDC’s skill to supply useful and high-quality companies to shoppers and meet the wants of stakeholders. The certification coaching is comprised of two components — participation in specified on-line technical content material and an in-person, two-day intensive group session.
The eight newly licensed enterprise advisors embrace:
• Christine Cole is situated in Portland and serves small companies in Cumberland and York counties.
• Tina Oddleifson is situated in Portland and serves small companies in Cumberland and York counties.
• Anne Lancaster is situated in Biddeford and serves small companies in York County.
• Lori Allen is situated in Auburn and serves small companies in Androscoggin, Oxford and Franklin counties.
• Christina Ramsdell is situated in Auburn and serves small companies in Androscoggin, Oxford and Franklin counties.
• Brandon McDonald is situated in Caribou and serves small companies in Aroostook County.
• Alison Lane is situated in Bangor and serves small companies in Penobscot and Piscataquis counties.
• Peter Piconi is situated in Waterville and serves small companies in Somerset and Northern Kennebec counties.
Cornerstone expands capabilities in Maine with addition of latest principal
Cornerstone, a number one bipartisan, employee-owned authorities relations and public affairs agency with federal and state attain, introduced June 1 the addition of Matt Marks as a principal within the agency’s Augusta workplace. Marks brings to the agency greater than 25 years of political expertise and experience in transportation and infrastructure, housing, local weather and atmosphere, power, public security, workforce improvement, and state appropriations.
“I’m delighted to affix Cornerstone’s rising crew in Maine, constructing upon their success delivering authorities and public affairs companies. It’s an thrilling transition for me, and I sit up for persevering with work in Augusta,” Marks stated, in response to a information launch from the agency.
Marks joins Cornerstone from the Related Normal Contractors of Maine, the state’s most important development commerce affiliation, the place he served initially because the chief working officer in 2008. As COO, he managed regulatory efforts for the affiliation’s Maine chapter and was chosen because the chapter’s chief government officer in August 2012. He led the AGC crew that earned two nationwide public relations awards for advocacy on this management place. He additionally serves on the Maine Local weather Council, Maine Offshore Wind Advisory Committee and Offshore Wind Port Advisory Group. He’s a Maine Enterprise Immigration Coalition board member.
Beforehand, Marks served because the chief decision-maker in a Maine-based power firm, the place he managed the every day operations and expanded enterprise operations and gross sales. AGC Maine recruited Matt for his work with regulatory companies, enterprise administration and political engagement.
Having obtained his Bachelor of Science diploma targeted in utilized technical management from the College of Southern Maine, he was chosen in 2013 because the College’s Utilized Expertise Alumnus of the 12 months. Marks resides in Scarborough together with his spouse and youngsters.
“We’re very lucky to have somebody of Matt’s management expertise becoming a member of the agency,” Managing Director Campbell Kaufman stated. “Having served as CEO of such a prestigious group, Matt will present our shoppers and colleagues useful perception into public coverage discussions all around the state.”
At Cornerstone, Marks will work carefully with Mike Cuzzi and Todd Webster to develop shopper work in Maine and all through the northeast.
For extra enterprise information, go to CentralMaine.com.
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