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April 16, 2025

Portland city and chamber team up on networking program

By Laurie Schreiber

Portland’s Office of Economic Opportunity and the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce will relaunch a networking and education program designed to fill gaps in Maine’s workforce and create pathways into the city’s economy. 

The Professional Connections Program will resume this spring thanks to a $60,000 donation from the John T. Gorman Foundation, according to a news release.

"This year, we're introducing soft skills workshops and targeted sessions that explore the personalization of the workforce — all designed to foster connection, networking and practical skill-building,” said Melissa Hue, director of the Office of Economic Opportunity.

The program creates intentional connections between Portland’s job-seekers and experienced members of the local workforce, and hosts tailored workshops aimed at familiarizing job seekers with the soft skills, cultural context and the confidence needed to effectively leverage connections for economic mobility.

Quincy Hentzel of the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce
File photo / Tim Greenway
Quincy Hentzel

“As a staunch advocate for local businesses and economic growth, our chamber recognizes the urgent need to address critical gaps in our regional workforce,” said Quincy Hentzel, CEO of the chamber, which represents more than 800 businesses. “By creating intentional connections for those who have recently entered the U.S. workforce, we can start to build their network and open up professional opportunities while creating relationships where they can gain soft skills, learn about industry trends and developments and get advice or mentorship.”

The program originally launched in 2019, but was paused in 2022.

The type of work that job-seekers were interested in cut across a broad swath of industries, but there was a concentration of individuals looking for employment within engineering, information technology and health care, Hentzel told Mainebiz.

In the previous years, over 100 “connectees” enrolled in the program and the chamber provided over 150 connectors, said Hue. 

The connections resulted in successful outcomes.

“Overall data records show that 42% of residents who participated secured a job in their field,” Hue said.

The program was not only valuable for workforce development, but also played an important role in fostering a sense of belonging, she added: The city’s data show that 99% of connectees reported an increased sense of belonging in Maine due to their participation in the program.

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