Fraud & Scams Are on the Rise: Is Your Business Protected?

Picture this: It’s a busy morning and you get a call demanding payment—or else your utilities will be shut off. It’s a scam, and it’s happening to small businesses across Maine every day.

Today’s scams are more sophisticated than ever. From fake invoices to spoofed websites and urgent calls from “official” agencies, small business owners are being targeted in new ways, and the financial fallout can be devastating.

Join Maine SBDC Advisor Dan Umphrey and Brandon McDonald from Northern Maine Development Commission for a practical session that breaks down how to spot scams before they cause harm. This webinar will give you the tools to strengthen your defenses and feel more confident navigating common threats.

You’ll learn how to:

- Spot the top 5 scams currently targeting Maine’s businesses

- Verify suspicious emails, callers, and websites

- Check if your business info has already been compromised

- Understand your legal options and how to report fraud

- Decide if your team needs cybersecurity training

Whether you’ve been scammed before or want to tighten your defenses, this webinar offers a clear starting point.

Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. SBA. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact mainesbdc@maine.edu

Join WBC Business Advisor, Jodi Cordes, for an informal networking meeting with new, existing, or aspiring female entrepreneurs from Greater Franklin County!

We meet on the first Tuesday each month for great conversation among business owners, at any stage.

Come together to connect, share expertise, and learn from each other about running a business.

Location: H&R Block at 118 Knowlton Corner Rd Farmington, ME 04938

Light refreshments will be provided.

Registration in advance is highly encouraged.

REGISTER TODAY!!

Parking onsite is available. The Thompson’s Point campus is pay to park. Parking is $2 per an hour and can be paid via kiosk or the passport app by selecting zone 1213.
Join the Institute for Family-Owned Business (IFOB) for the 2025 Maine Family Business Awards (MFBA) (hybrid in-person and remote option). It’s our largest fundraiser of the year and we’ll have a new trade show to showcase your products, amazing networking, heavy hors d’oeuvres, cash bar and the awards show.

Now in its 25th year of recognizing family businesses with the awards, we present them in partnership with MEMIC. Since its inception, more than 100 businesses have been recognized for various categories of excellence. Businesses are nominated by members of the public, submit an in depth application and judges score them to see if they make it from, semi-finalists, to finalists to possible winners! The winners will be announced LIVE – like the Oscars – at the awards!

One comment, may best capture the essence of the awards, and in many ways describes the Institute: “While applying for the awards, we discovered a lot about ourselves…and that alone made the effort worthwhile.”

The gala attracts family businesses large and small with an audience of over 500 (hybrid). The Maine Family Business Awards is a celebration that pays more than just recognition; it serves as a vehicle for networking and opening up all shades of possibilities for families seeking to grow their business.

Exciting sponsorship opportunities available including tables with a “showcase” space during networking..

Helping Maine-based entrepreneurs learn how to start, fund, and grow a small medical device/MedTech development firm in Maine. Over four weeks, eight (8) Maine entrepreneurs, from around the state, participate in a 90 minute interactive, virtual session covering topics helping them startup a small medical device or MedTech development company. Participants will learn how to access the Maine Technology Institute (MTI) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding programs to help startup a new company and produce an innovative medical device/MedTech solution. Non-healthcare entrepreneurs and healthcare professional entrepreneurs, with an interest in starting a new company to produce an original, marketable, problem-solving medical solution, are invited to participate.

The 3rd annual SecureMaine Conference, organized by SecureMaine, a 501(c)3 charitable non-profit, will take place **Wednesday, October 8, 2025**, at the Italian Heritage Center, 40 Westland Avenue, Portland, Maine.

Attendance fees are: $40 Advance Rate, $50 on Event Day (space permitting), and Student / Veteran discounts available. Attendance includes breakfast refreshments, lunch, afternoon snack, and limited parking (first come, first served). **Registration online at https://www.securemaine.org/register.html **

This full day conference covers information security topics as they relate to technology, governance, and architecture, and finishes with a CISO / CIO roundtable discussion. SecureMaine offers expert-led sessions in both cybersecurity and physical security—with deep dives into the cyber risks organizations face today, and the tools and strategies needed to address them head-on. Up to 8 security CPEs are available depending on an attendee's continuing education path.

Attendees come from Maine and throughout New England. Constituents include security professionals and organizations with security operations who wish to improve their cybersecurity, physical security, and privacy protection strategies. The event will provide opportunities to network with industry employers and connect with industry-related nonprofits.

**The full agenda is posted at www.securemaine.org** -- confirmed sessions thus far cover a broad array of professional development topics relevant to Maine security professionals, including:
-> CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification), securing automated digital entities,
-> Creating impactful Incident Response Tabletop Exercises,
-> Integrating security architecture principles into AI Readiness,
-> Prioritizing strategies with quantitative cyber risk analysis (CRQ, using Open FAIR methodology),
-> How Maine organizations can securely leverage underused tech to help close the digital divide,
-> A moderated panel discussion with industry experts
-> A CISO / CIO Round Table at the end of the day

This full day will count toward 8 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits. Presenters and panelists were selected through public RFP by SecureMaine's Board of Directors for their independent perspectives, value to the community, and support of the event permission.

**SecureMaine is profoundly grateful to our 2025 Sponsors, including:**

FIRE TOWER SPONSORS: Cato Networks, Halcyon, and Plixer

SEA WALL SPONSORS: Binalyze, Centripetal, Maine Technology Institute (MTI), Mitiga Security, Rapid7, Systems Engineering, Tanium, and Zero Networks

PINE+SPRUCE SPONSORS: Beazley Security, Deer Brook Consulting, GuidePoint Security, IOvations, Monarch ISC, Proofpoint, Riptide Technologies, Seemplicity Security, Semperis, Sophos, SymQuest Group, Tenable, Inc., Thomas College, ThreatLocker, Tyler Technologies, and Varonis

**About SecureMaine: **
SecureMaine, a 501(c)3 non-profit established by a collaboration of security-related nonprofits, announces their 3rd annual SecureMaine Conference in Portland, Maine. SecureMaine 2025 seeks to improve regional cybersecurity capacity by bringing leading experts, CISO / CIO executives, practitioners, and community members together for educational sessions and networking, to support the Maine security community and improve security regionally. Learn more about SecureMaine's conference series, and sign up for announcements at https://www.securemaine.org

Join us every Thursday for the Local Goods Market @ Fork Food Lab, your weekly celebration of local flavor, community vibes, and culinary creativity! This market features a rotating lineup of Fork Food Lab members and other Maine makers offering delicious bites, sips, and one-of-a-kind products.

It’s the perfect after-work destination: grab a bite, connect with friends, and explore what Maine’s vibrant food scene has to offer. Whether you’re a die-hard foodie or just looking to support small businesses in a laid-back setting, the Local Goods Market is the place to be!

Fork Food Lab is Maine’s only non-profit food business incubator and shared manufacturing and processing facility. They have around 80 small businesses working out of their shared commercial kitchen. Their mission is to support a just, diverse, and sustainable food economy in Maine, where food entrepreneurs are supported in their quest to produce high quality and sustainable products utilizing locally sourced ingredients.

Follow @forkfoodlab on Instagram for weekly vendor updates

🌟 MFBA Speaker Luncheon
🎤 Building a Legacy: Succession & Family Business Success
🗓 Thursday, October 9, 2025
🕚 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
📍 BerryDunn + Zoom (Hybrid Event!)

🔍 Program Description:
Join us for an inspiring and insightful luncheon as we dive into one of the most critical—and personal—challenges facing family-owned businesses: succession planning. Building a Legacy brings together top-tier family business leaders and advisors to explore how strategy, governance, and generational transition intersect within the 3-Circle Model of Family Business.

Through real-life stories and expert insights, this session will reveal what it takes to align family values with business goals, ensure leadership continuity, and build a shared vision for the future. Whether you’re facing a generational shift or mapping out your next chapter, you’ll leave with tools and takeaways to strengthen both family ties and business performance.

We’ll have a front row seat for an intimate discussion with our Maine Family Business Awards Guest Speaker, Matt Nielson, on his family’s use of this model and what it means to their family’s legacy and success

🎙 Featuring a dynamic conversation with:
✨ Tammy Buss, Founder & Family Business Advisor at BlueRoots
✨ Matt Nielson, VP of Strategic Initiatives at Nielson-Massey Vanillas (and MFBA guest speaker)

💡 Don’t miss this opportunity to gain fresh perspective, connect with fellow leaders 🤝, and learn how to future-proof your family business while honoring the legacy that built it.

Sponsored by: Blue Roots family business exit strategists, BerryDunn, M&T Bank / Wilmington Trust and Nielsen-Massey Vanillas, Inc.

Construction and demolition waste account for 52% of Maine’s landfills and make up the largest waste stream in the United States and the world. Of this, a staggering 90% comes from demolition. New efforts are underway to address the issue including an approach called “deconstruction,” or the systematic disassembly of buildings to maximize reuse and recycling. Join us as we hear from the head of the newly formed Maine Deconstruction Network and the owner of Second Story Builders, a mission-driven business dedicated to advancing circular construction practices in Midcoast Maine.

+ Megan Mansfield-Pryor, Waste Management Climate Policy Advisor, Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future
+ Daniel Salomon, Owner, Second Story Builders

Click here to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/5217563917544/WN_CsQ7aGoOR2-B92XId2QVkA

A Silver Tsunami resulting from a wave of aging Baby Boomer business owners threatens businesses, jobs, and growth over the coming years. Business owners considering transition often don't know where to turn for help.

In this webinar, Maine SBDC Business Advisor Chris Dodge will discuss exit plan options and introduce employee ownership options, including cooperatives and employee stock ownership plans (ESOPS).

There will also be time at the end for Q&A.

We’ll cover:

-Exit plan options, including open market, family transition, and employee ownership
-When and why a business might consider employee ownership
The fundamentals, benefits, and challenges of worker-owned cooperatives
-The difference between worker-owned cooperatives and ESOPs
-Actionable steps and resources to explore

Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. SBA. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact mainesbdc@maine.edu

Talking about our wishes for our end-of-life care can be hard, but we want them to be known and respected. Hospice of Southern Maine is making it easier by bringing a “Conversation Project” event to our community.

This event helps people think about their wishes for end-of-life care so they can start a conversation with loved ones to ensure their wishes are expressed and respected.

Players can receive up to $90 in gift cards for participating in research associated with the event, and plenty of free refreshments will be available.

Join us at this engaging event! All are welcome, but space is limited. Contact Kim Crabill, Community Liaison, to reserve your seat!

This research study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board, under federal regulations at Penn State Medical Center, IRB Protocol No. 14689, PI: Lauren J. Van Scoy, MD.

Join us every Thursday for the Local Goods Market @ Fork Food Lab, your weekly celebration of local flavor, community vibes, and culinary creativity! This market features a rotating lineup of Fork Food Lab members and other Maine makers offering delicious bites, sips, and one-of-a-kind products.

It’s the perfect after-work destination: grab a bite, connect with friends, and explore what Maine’s vibrant food scene has to offer. Whether you’re a die-hard foodie or just looking to support small businesses in a laid-back setting, the Local Goods Market is the place to be!

Fork Food Lab is Maine’s only non-profit food business incubator and shared manufacturing and processing facility. They have around 80 small businesses working out of their shared commercial kitchen. Their mission is to support a just, diverse, and sustainable food economy in Maine, where food entrepreneurs are supported in their quest to produce high quality and sustainable products utilizing locally sourced ingredients.

Follow @forkfoodlab on Instagram for weekly vendor updates

The University of New England College of Business presents the second annual Spark Series, “The Business of Cyber Defense.” Leaders from Uprise Partners, Paul White Company, Chalmers Insurance Group, and CFC Response will share their expertise on tackling ransomware threats and strengthening organizational resilience.

Through firsthand stories and practical strategies, the panel will highlight the financial, operational, and human impacts of cybercrime and how businesses and communities can prepare before, during, and after a cyber attack. This panel is free and open to the public. Students, professionals, and community members are encouraged to attend.

Panelists include:
• Malinda Gagnon, CEO, Uprise Partners
• Brian Gagnon, CTO, Uprise Partners
• Paul White, CEO, Paul White Company
• Luke Goodine, Insurance Advisor, Chalmers Insurance Group
• Cody Braunscheidel, Cyber Incident Manager, CFC Response

If you are unable to join us in person, you can watch the panel live at: une.edu/live at the time of the event

Run, walk, or roll for autism acceptance!
Together with our Pine Tree Camp, all contributions will benefit Pine Tree Camp and make a difference in the Maine Autism Community!
Over its history, the Flutie Foundation has distributed over $20 million to schools and organizations who provide essential services, programs, support and more for people and families with autism.

Planning your business is more than just writing a plan. It’s about building a roadmap you can actually use.

In this second installment of our Startup Series, Maine SBDC Business Advisor Vien Dobui will introduce practical tools to help you turn your business idea into a working strategy. Whether you’re still developing your concept or looking to get organized before launch, this session will help you move from idea to execution.

Topics may include:

- Visual planning tools like the Business Model Canvas
- Setting business goals and building action steps
- Using checklists, templates, and planning apps to stay on track
- Tips for prioritizing when everything feels urgent

This session is ideal for entrepreneurs who have done some initial thinking and want to go beyond the basics. You’ll leave with tangible tools and frameworks to help clarify your direction and take the next step with confidence.

This is Part 2 of our Startup Series, following our Startup Checklist webinar. Future sessions will cover Financial Forecasting and Marketing Essentials.

Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. SBA. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact mainesbdc@maine.edu

The Tax Practitioner Institute (TPI) is a one-day program designed to help tax professionals apply the latest federal and Maine tax updates directly to their work. This year’s agenda includes key topics such as 2025 tax law changes and the tax treatment of digital assets, with practical guidance for both new and seasoned professionals.

Attendees will have the option to receive the latest University of Illinois Federal Tax Workbook, a valuable reference filled with examples and applied scenarios, bringing practical insights, relevant examples, and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by tax professionals today.


Who Should Attend?

This program is ideal for tax professionals who need to stay current on federal and Maine tax law while earning continuing education credits, including those working as tax preparers, Enrolled Agents, CPAs, and tax attorneys.

Tax Practitioner Institute – TPI is expected to provide 8 IRS CE (Continuing Education) credits (or 7 if you attend the Maine Tax Update breakout session), 7.5 CLE ( Continuing Legal Education) credits, and 8 CPE (Continuing Professional Education for CPAs) credits, and your certificate will be sent to you via email two weeks after the completion of the Tax Practitioner Institute.