May 2022 Edition
Innovation
Sponsored by People's United Bank
May Speaker Series:
RockStep Solutions: Streamlining in vivo Study Management for Biotechs, Pharma, CROs, and Academia
May 12 | 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. | Bricks Coworking Space, Hathaway Creative Center, Waterville

Listen in to hear how RockStep Solutions is transforming and digitalizing in vivo drug discovery, improving laboratory workflows, and helping vaccines get to market faster.

About RockStep Solutions: RockStep Solutions is a Portland Maine-based biomedical research company that works with scientists, academia, and non-profits to aggregate data for on-demand access.
5 Qs with Chuck Donnelly
CEO, RockStep Solutions
How has your experience as an entrepreneur in Maine informed your company's direction and success?

Maine has a very supportive entrepreneurial community. RockStep launched in 2015 with funding from the NIH. After receiving the initial go-ahead from NIH, RockStep joined the Maine Top Gun program, which provided basic business guidance designed for early-stage companies. The Maine Technology Institute has been instrumental to our company in providing early-stage financing and help with grant writing. The excellent MTI grant writing support helped RockStep secure significant funding from the NIH.

As a life sciences company, RockStep’s connection with the Jackson Laboratory has been very important to our company both as a customer and a source of inspiration. RockStep’s CEO, Chuck Donnelly, was Director of Computational Sciences at JAX (a Maine based company) where he developed an understanding of how grant funding works with the NIH and learned about animal model research and the challenges of managing in vivo data and operations. 
 
RockStep’s connections with Maine and JAX have helped us develop many industry connections and credibility with the NIH. A number of RockStep’s customers know about the high-quality research conducted at JAX which helped us get in the door before we had a lot of market exposure.

Challenges we had to overcome, as a life science company in Maine, included recruiting talent and traveling to customer locations, primarily in Boston and the San Francisco Bay Area. These challenges were mitigated by establishing our offices in Portland where it is an easy drive to Boston and access to PWM for air travel. Portland is also a destination for tech and life-sciences professionals who don’t want to live and work in the hustle of a big city like Boston.
Upcoming Dirigo Speaker Series
June Speaker Series | June 9
STARC Systems: Manufacturing Durable Temporary Containment Solutions for Commercial Applications

By Chris MacKenzie, VP of Business Development
July Speaker Series | July 14
SledTRX: Digitizing Snowmobile Trails to Increase Connectivity Across Maine

By Jake Warn, Founder
Virtual Speaker Series Recordings
Dirigo Speaker Series conversations have been made available for viewing anytime. You can watch recordings of past conversations on our YouTube Channel.
Wingspans Helps Companies Attract Talent and Fuel Diversity
Plant Seeds for the Future with Wingspans
Wingspans supports businesses and corporations in Maine with their workforce recruitment and retention strategies. Their novel approach combines authentic storytelling and is maximally engaging students and job seekers.

To learn how Wingspans can help your company, please contact lindsay@wingspans.com.
How to Avoid a Cash Flow Crisis: Know Your Business
Article by People's United Bank
All businesses, regardless of their size, are susceptible to cash flow problems but none more so than small businesses. Whether it is underestimating a sales cycle, falling behind on collections, an unexpected downturn in the economy, or a disruption like bad weather, small businesses are much more prone to a cash flow crisis. Fast-growing businesses are especially vulnerable to cash crunches when increasing expenses begin to outrun their cash flow or they let their receivables get out of control.

For more insight into understanding the needs of your business, click here.
Business Investment
Top Stories of April 2022
Contact: Don Plourde
207-660-4000
dplourde@cbplourde.com
Central Maine Real Estate Spotlight
Featured Industrial Property:
Building Size: 16,934 sq.ft.
Sale Price: $679,000
Property Features:
  • 2 loading docks
  • 12-foot ceilings
  • Large off-street parking lot
Context:
  • Proximity to I-95
  • Spacious interior
Construction Management
Sheridan Construction Proudly Sponsors the State of Maine's Apprenticeship Program
Sheridan Construction is proud to join local CTE schools as a business sponsor for the State of Maine Apprentice program. As you know, Sheridan was the first business sponsor for a CTE school in the State of Maine. Since then, Sheridan has added another apprentice to the payroll. We are currently working with MMTC and CATC to become a business sponsor for the future Apprenticeship program that each school hopes to become a part of by the fall of next year. This will enable the students to get paid while learning valuable hands-on skills. Sheridan believes in investing in the future of the students, enabling them to have the confidence and skills to be successful in whatever career path they choose.

To read Sheridan's recent feature in Mainebiz, click here!
Quality of Life
Sponsored by MaineGeneral Health
Stroke is a brain attack, cutting off vital blood flow and oxygen to the brain. It is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. 
 
MaineGeneral works with Dartmouth-Hitchcock to provide advanced stroke care to our communities using the TeleStroke program.

Learn more at www.mainegeneral.org.
Workforce Investment
Workforce Training & Professional Development: 
Maine Community College System Announces Historic Investment in Workforce Training
Looking to train your workforce? The Harold Alfond Foundation is funding training that will offer Maine businesses the opportunity to train their frontline workers and will cover the cost up to $1200 per employee. You can partner with KVCC for training or another training center of your choice. KVCC provides training in trades, healthcare, hospitality, information technology and more. Trainings include welding, precision machining, carpentry, solar installation, high pressure boiler and heavy equipment operator training, emergency medical services, phlebotomy, 3D printing, Comp TIAA, and so much more. Employees can participate in existing training programs or KVCC can create a customized training to meet your business needs. For more information on our training programs visit us at www.kvcc.me.edu/workforce.

If you would like to train your employees or future employees, contact Elizabeth Fortin at 207.453.5858 or by email at workforce@kvcc.me.edu to take advantage of this incredible opportunity for free or low cost training.
Coworking & Collaboration
Where Great Work Meets Innovation
Location can be a game-changer when it comes to running your business. Bricks Coworking and Innovation Space is located in the historic Hathaway Creative Center, directly across from Waterville Brewing Co., and in the heart of Waterville's growing downtown. Featuring spacious interiors and an ergonomic design, its floating desks and conference room are fully equipped to meet your needs.
Floating Desk
($150/Month)

24×7 Access
High-Speed Wireless Internet
Free Coffee and Tea
Printing/Copying
Meeting Room Access
Business Address & Mail Delivery
Dedicated Desk
($250/Month)

24×7 Access
High-Speed Wireless Internet
Free Coffee and Tea
Printing/Copying
Meeting Room Access
Business Address & Mail Delivery
Sit-Stand Desk
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