In today's competitive business landscape, effective marketing is essential for success, but it can be challenging, especially when you're working with a limited budget. Join us for a webinar presented by Dan Reed, an experienced marketing professional, as he shares valuable insights on how to make the most of your marketing efforts without breaking the bank.

During this webinar, you will gain a basic understanding of marketing principles and learn how to identify and target your ideal customers. Dan will also explore various advertising options and take questions about what makes sense for your specific business.

The webinar will cover essential topics, including:

- Understanding the fundamentals of marketing and its role in reaching different audiences.
- Identifying and defining your ideal customers and understanding their behaviors.
- Practical dos and don’ts based on market research.
- Exploring advertising options that align with your budget constraints.

You will also discover the power of data in making strategic marketing decisions. Dan will explain how to leverage demographic and psychographic information to understand your customers better, refine your marketing messaging, and select the most effective platforms to reach them.

Additionally, the webinar will provide practical resources and tools to assist you in conducting market research. Dan will introduce the assistance available from the local library, highlighting valuable databases and services accessible through them.

Do you ever seize up at the thought of having to sell? Suffer from imposter syndrome or a little call reluctance?This workshop will put you in a whole new headspace regarding selling. You'll see a whole new way to position yourself for the Win. From there, you'll learn ten steps to move the needle on your sales efforts within your company.

It's fun, intuitive and effective!

SCORE Subject Matter Expert Pete Nikitas shares his accumulated wisdom of a 38-year career as a sales executive. His on-the-job training as a Senior Vice President for Fidelity Investments feeds into his message for entrepreneurs across all industries.

Program Description: In this session we’ll learn about the distinguishing characteristics of masculine and feminine leadership traits, explore what leadership model you lean on the most, and discuss ways that you can intentionally integrate masculine and feminine leadership to become a whole and resonant leader for yourself and others.

This program is for individuals but can also be offered for your team. If you are interested, contact us.

Conscious Revolution offers transformative coaching, consulting, and community experiences that invite leaders to tune into their hearts to share their authenticity and coherence with the world.
Learn more at https://www.consciousrevolution.com/

This 90 minute workshop introduces the most important questions and topics to address before or while starting a business.

Topics discussed include:

-Entrepreneurial Myths
-Defining a Value Proposition
-Fundamentals: Legal, Insurance, etc
-Testing Your Idea by bootstrapping
-Financial Basics
-Business Plan

Are you ready to unleash the full potential of your business?

Join us for Propeller III, a transformative cohort program to take your business to the next level.

Propeller III is a 21-week cohort program that will run on Wednesdays from 11am-12:30pm from May 22nd - November 6th. Sessions will not be held during holiday weeks (June 19th, July 3rd, and September 4th).

The first session will be held in-person at Coastal Enterprises Inc 30 Federal St. Brunswick, ME 04011. The rest of the sessions will be on Zoom.

The expected time commitment for Propeller III is approximately 3.5 hours per week, including session time, one-on-one meetings with a designated consultant, and homework between sessions.

You are eligible to participate in Propeller III if you are a Maine-based female business owner who has either:

Completed our Propeller I or II cohort programs or
Has validated your business through preliminary customer discovery efforts in addition to creating a business model canvas and pitch statement.
Throughout this cohort you can expect:

A 21-week accountability/support peer group

An “a la carte” menu of industry-specific consultants for 1:1 project development

Guest speakers to engage in small group Q+A

Throughout this cohort you will receive:

Expert Guidance: whether you've completed previous Propeller cohorts or have already validated your business model, Propeller III is your next step towards success. Benefit from tailored support that meets you where you are on your entrepreneurial journey.

Peer Support: Network with a diverse community of like-minded entrepreneurs, share experiences, and forge connections that will support you long after the program ends.

Strategic Approach: These sessions are designed to equip you with practical insights, actionable strategies, and expert advice to propel your business forward.

The goal of Propeller III is to support you in continuing to grow and prepare your business for the next opportunity in the ecosystem.

Apply for Propeller III Today!
The deadline to apply for Propeller III is May 3rd at 9am. We will email you if you've been selected for our 2024 cohort program. We will review applications on May 6th and respond by May 10th.

The idea of wanting to do well in business, while doing good in the world, is on many entrepreneurs’ minds.

In our Fall ‘23 event, we hosted a wise panel of fellow women business owners who shared their inspiring journeys of thriving in business while making a positive difference in the world.

In our upcoming session, we'll delve deeper into the various business structures that empower entrepreneurs to give back.

Lawyer Helen Sterling Coburn from Bernstein Shur will kick off the discussion by providing a legal overview of options such as B-Corps, Non-Profits, L3Cs, and others, shedding light on how these structures facilitate contributing to a better world.

Following this, WBC Advisor Ruth Feldman will moderate a panel discussion with women business owners that will help us understand the legal and practical aspects of those “double bottom lines”.

We'll be joined by:

Becky McKinnell Founder/CEO of iBec Creative,

Hazel Stark of Maine Outdoor School,

Jennifer Piette of Narrative Food

We’ll hear their insights about how, when, and why they established their business status, and their tips and lessons for anyone wanting to DO Well & DO Good.

There will be an opportunity for Q+A with the panelists!

We are proud to partner with the Maine Forest Products Council to present The Future of Maine Forest Products! Join us to experience the innovation within companies across Maine, hear from our expert line-up and mingle with your peers. Arrive at 8 to experience products hands on, presentations from our speakers will begin at 8:30.

Thank you to Wolfe's Neck Farm in Freeport for hosting this event! We will gather at their new Smith Center which is 100% fossil fuel free and LEED certified. Feel free to charge your EV while you enjoy the gathering.

Parking is available right outside the venue.

Speakers:

John Bryant, FOR/Maine (confirmed)

Brain Whitney, MTI (confirmed)

Cooper Babcock, Tanbark Molded Fiber (confirmed)

Jim Robbins, Robbins Lumber (confirmed)

Fred Horton, Standard Biocarbon Corp. (confirmed)

Sappi (invited)

Timber HP (invited)

Tables:

UMaine's Factory of the Future (invited)

Ai is a hot topic, from social media management to decision-making support, AI can help in so many different areas of business operations. From organization to accounting and decision-making to social media. In this workshop, we will cover a spectrum of AI solutions designed to elevate your small business and some of the reasons AI might not work for you.

Presented by Dan Reed, Marketing and Program Manager at SCORE Maine.

Throughout the workshop, we'll candidly discuss both the advantages and challenges associated with AI adoption. While AI offers efficiency gains, data-driven insights, and improved customer experiences, participants will gain insights into potential cost considerations, ongoing development challenges, and the importance of mindful integration.

Sponsored by Norway Savings Bank

Building relationships and connections in professional settings can open doors to business opportunities.

In this 4-week in-person cohort, participants master the skills of Intentional Networking, which cultivates professional growth and boosts self-confidence.

Led by Flo Edwards, participants will learn and practice interpersonal, communication, and strategic selling skills. Topics include:

● Developing a brand that defines who you are and makes you feel confident,

● Building rapport with others through soft skills, including active listening and body language,

● Sustaining engaging conversations,

● Communication intentions

Florence (Flo) Edwards has been practicing dentistry for 15 years and has served in the US Army. As a young adult, Flo participated WMPG’s youth talk radio show. She believes in building community through conversations. This foundational concept fuels her creative endeavors in podcasting and hosting inclusive BIPOC happy hours called Fourth Fridays.

Who should attend: Maine-based female entrepreneurs of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds who want to be more confident and effective communicators about their businesses. This program will be conducted in English.

Location: In-person at the CEI Women’s Business Center, 2 Portland Fish Pier, Suite 201, Portland, ME 04101

Session Dates:

Friday, May 31st 10:00am-11:30am

Friday, June 7th 10:00am-11:30am

Friday, June 14th 10:00am-11:30am

Friday, June 21st 10:00am-11:30am

Register Today!

Join us for an enlightening webinar for small business owners who are just beginning to explore the possibilities of AI. In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, leveraging artificial intelligence can be a game-changer for businesses, and ChatGPT has quickly rose to the top of popular AI tools in small business. This webinar will demystify ChatGPT, providing helpful insights and practical strategies for incorporating this tool into your small business operations.

The second half of the hour will be spent in a panel discussion with small business owners just like you who have had success using ChatGPT in their business.

Ali Lane, Associate Center Director and Maine SBDC Business Advisor will lead this presentation. ...And, yes, she used ChatGPT to promptly generate the Webinar description above!

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

As we all know, the water levels in Maine aren’t the only things rising and we need to take action to build resilience in our communities. Businesses and individuals are all affected and it is becoming increasingly important to take action at the local level and address the impacts of climate change on our water resources, infrastructure, and communities.

During this event, we’ll be discussing the various challenges and opportunities that arise when building in a changing climate. From rising sea levels to extreme weather events, we’ll explore how we can adapt and build resilience in our communities. Join us on June 5th for an engaging and informative discussion on climate resiliency. We can’t wait to see you there!

This event is sponsored by Norway Savings Bank.

Organization’s have traditionally tracked their health by looking at their finances and sometimes a version of net promoter scores. While these are important benchmarks for success, they are incomplete. In this session we’ll discuss how to build a customized, meaningful dashboard to holistically track your organization’s health, significantly broadening your definition of success and ensuring you are tracking and discussing what matters most. You’ll learn how to capture your stakeholder impact and begin defining your aspirations to add more value to your stakeholders in the future.

This program is for individuals but can also be offered for your team. If you are interested, contact us.

Conscious Revolution offers transformative coaching, consulting, and community experiences that invite leaders to tune into their hearts to share their authenticity and coherence with the world.
https://www.consciousrevolution.com/

MEREDA’s networking events attract key players in Maine’s real estate industry offering excellent opportunities to interact with the experts.

Join us and other industry professionals on Portland’s waterfront on June 13th from 5 – 7 pm for Hors d’ oeuvres, Spirits, and Great Conversation!

This event is sponsored by Maine Community Bank, PM Construction Company, and St.Germain.

Are you tasked with engaging and inspiring audiences?
Do people naturally look to you for guidance?
Are you effective at bringing people together?
Are you open to learning from others?
Are you willing to make mistakes?

In a time of unprecedented distraction and changing dynamics in the places we live and work, today's leaders are tasked with making meaningful connections throughout their days. Connections that inspire in some way – whether it’s a team meeting, a spontaneous networking opportunity or a donor presentation. Leaders need to connect in ways that are authentic and compelling.

Over two days, far away from the demands of daily work, in a quiet and supportive learning environment with like-minded peers, participants will gain the knowledge, confidence and self-understanding necessary to ground their ongoing development as authentic leaders.

Participants will:
-Examine their understanding of leadership
-Articulate their passion for the work they do
-Develop skills to build trust and connect with others
-Practice telling stories to inspire others to take action
-Identify situations where these lessons can be practiced

About the Presenter
Beth McCarthy (https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmconsulting/) has spent 20+ years helping people make their messages relevant to the people they serve. She engages people in dialog around what it means to be a human leader (and why this matters) and believes that everyone has a story to tell (and as leaders, it’s our responsibility to both tell stories that get beneath the surface and gather these stories from others – which in aggregate greatly influence the decisions we need to make).

Are you tasked with engaging and inspiring audiences?
Do people naturally look to you for guidance?
Are you effective at bringing people together?
Are you open to learning from others?
Are you willing to make mistakes?

In a time of unprecedented distraction and changing dynamics in the places we live and work, today's leaders are tasked with making meaningful connections throughout their days. Connections that inspire in some way – whether it’s a team meeting, a spontaneous networking opportunity or a donor presentation. Leaders need to connect in ways that are authentic and compelling.

Over two days, far away from the demands of daily work, in a quiet and supportive learning environment with like-minded peers, participants will gain the knowledge, confidence and self-understanding necessary to ground their ongoing development as authentic leaders.

Participants will:
-Examine their understanding of leadership
-Articulate their passion for the work they do
-Develop skills to build trust and connect with others
-Practice telling stories to inspire others to take action
-Identify situations where these lessons can be practiced

About the Presenter
Beth McCarthy (https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmconsulting/) has spent 20+ years helping people make their messages relevant to the people they serve. She engages people in dialog around what it means to be a human leader (and why this matters) and believes that everyone has a story to tell (and as leaders, it’s our responsibility to both tell stories that get beneath the surface and gather these stories from others – which in aggregate greatly influence the decisions we need to make).