November 2019 Edition
Innovation
Sponsored by People's United Bank
5 Qs with Josh Devou
Program Coordinator at the Harold Alfond Institute for Business Innovation and Organizer of Thomas College's Converge & Create
1. This year marks the 3rd anniversary of Thomas College's Converge & Create. Why did Thomas start this event? 
[Josh Devou]: We started ‘Central Maine Converge and Create Weekend’ because we knew there were people doing great and interesting things in our area. We created this event to highlight some of those people, as well as encourage others to attend and network. Since 2017, we have varied our speakers and strived to put people in the room to talk about what’s happening in innovation, entrepreneurship, businesses & more!

2. Who is Converge & Create for?
[JD]: Converge and Create is for anyone who is looking to learn new skills, hear interesting ideas and ask questions about what the future holds. Often our speakers are consultants or in-demand experts, so it’s a way to get in front of these people without an appointment or being their client!

3. What happens at Converge & Create?
[JD]: At Converge and Create, participants attend facilitated presentations, breakout sessions, or panels with experts in their field . These topics vary, but are always focused and impactful. Presenters are willing to answer participant’s questions, and we encourage our speakers to network with attendees before and after their presentations, which most do!  

4. There are some top-notch speakers booked for Converge & Create 2019. Can you give us a quick synopsis of who is presenting?
[JD]: This year we have presenters that will speak about Scrum, Agile, Lean, AI, Funding for innovation, expert facilitators, and a local entrepreneur sharing some of his lessons learned and how to generate cash through side-hustles . Truly it is a can’t miss lineup, if you own a business or want to improve your skills, you need to be there.

5. The entire 2-day schedule brings incredible value, but what's one session that attendees just can't miss?
[JD]: I’m most excited about our Keynote Speaker, Rodrigo Meirelles of WEX . He will be speaking about how WEX is using the latest technology to help their business today, and how that technology helps them constantly innovate.

All of our speakers bring something exciting to their presentations, so be sure to register for free today at www.thomas.edu/create to reserve your spot.
Top Gun 2020 Application Open
Top Gun returns to Waterville for a second year at Thomas College's Harold Alfond Institute for Business Innovation .

The business accelerator is open to all industries (whereas last year was focused on specialty food and beverage), and combines learning sessions with high-impact mentoring , culminating in a statewide pitch competition and trade show .

Applications are due November 20 .
Small Business K now-How
Using Business Credit Cards as a Finance Tool
For many small businesses, the unpredictable ebb and flow of cash in and out of the business can create temporary cash shortages which can stunt a business’s ability to grow. Having a reliable source of capital can provide the financial cushion they need to help them smooth out the financial bumps as they work to expand their businesses . For businesses on a growth trajectory, a credit card can be a handy tool in the right circumstances. 

Read more about using business credit cards here.
Business Investment
Top Stories of October 2019
F3 MFG Growing Fast, Hoping Workforce Catches Up - the third-fastest growing company in Maine has become a major employer in the region as demand for its all-aluminum truck and van bodies and headache racks continues to climb.


Waterville Startup's App Seeks to Save You Time by Reading to You - Eariously found the resources and serenity of central Maine to make an ideal home as it perfects its app software, which will be open to the public as a subscription service by the end of the year.

Meet the Millennials Investing in Mid-Maine - CMGC's project profiles several millennial leaders in their respective fields, including real estate development, culinary, arts and culture, technology, and community engagement. The online platform allows you to read about the millennials' impact, read their interviews, and explore their projects that are contributing to the region's growth.
New England Lean Consortium will be hosted by Wunderlich-Malec in Winslow
Maine's Lean practitioners are invited to join their New England colleagues for a Lean Leaders meeting , an opportunity to learn new approaches to improving a Continuous Improvement (CI) Program.

The event is targeted to companies with a Lean Program that would like to take their CI program to a new level, and those companies who want to benchmark with other New England businesses.
Friday, November 8 | 11am-3:00pm | Winslow, ME
Central Maine Real Estate Spotlight
Featured Commercial Property Location :
Space Available: 5,100 sq.ft.
Lease Rate: $2,000/mth
Property Features:
  • 1,800 sq.ft. office space
  • 3,300 sq.ft. warehouse space
  • Multiple loading docks
Context:
  • High-traffic area near Rt. 137 with close proximity to U.S. Rte. 201
  • Municipal water and sewer.
Contact : Don Plourde | 207-660-4000 | dplourde@cbplourde.com
Workforce Investment
Employer Spotlight: You
CMGC and Kennebec Valley Community College (KVCC) invite you to tap into the KVCC student talent pool via a variety of engagement opportunities, including classroom visits, internships, and job referrals.

This partnership makes it easier than ever to engage with KVCC students in the courses relevant to you.
Connecting with KVCC students will build exposure for your organization, help recruit for open positions, enrich students' educational experiences, and build a qualified local workforce .

You can learn more about each engagement opportunity here ; the variety is designed to fit your needs and schedule. Don't miss this free opportunity to connect with a talented pool of candidates - take this survey to indicate your interest in learning more .
We hope you enjoy learning about local talent recruitment and retention strategies, and if your business has an innovative strategy or unique culture, please share with us!
Workforce Training & Professional Development:
One College, Four Locations
Quick Facts on KVCC
  • Established 50 years ago
  • Serves 2,406 full- and part-time students in 2019
  • Offers 35 degree and certificate programs
  • Fulfills its mission to prepare students to achieve their educational, professional, and personal goals in a supportive environment through shared values of responsibility, integrity, and respect.
KVCC serves over 2,400 students between its four campuses. The College's 70-acre main campus is in Fairfield , and the newer 600-acre Harold Alfond Campus is located seven miles north in Hinckley .

KVCC recently expanded with two satellite locations:

Augusta/Buker - KVCC returned to the Capital City area to offer a range of classes at the Buker Community Center. Courses include Anatomy & Physiology, English Composition, Introduction to Communication, Introductory Statistics, College Algebra, and Introduction to Psychology.

Rockland - KVCC is pleased to announce the opening of its satellite site at the Mid-Coast School of Technology. In the fall of 2019, KVCC began to offer courses in the Health Sciences certificate as part of the Bring College to ME program , part of the Maine Community College System's Rural Initiative .
Quality of Place
Sponsored by MaineGeneral Health
Celebrate 2019 Economic Development at CMGC's Annual Meeting Celebration
CMGC's Annual Meeting celebrates the incredible economic development accomplishments achieved in Fairfield, Oakland, Waterville, and Winslow in 2019 and thanks those leaders, developers, volunteers, and business owners who make growth possible.

All are welcome to enjoy our celebration, which features local shops , food and beverage , and entrepreneurs , including:

  • Tech & Innovation Showcase
  • Waterville Brewing Co.
  • Common Street Arts' Holiday Bazaar
  • Bricks Coworking & Innovation Space
  • The Robin's Nest
  • Salty Dog BBQ food truck
  • Developer of the Year award
  • Emerging Leader of the Year award
  • Waterville GreenDrinks

A special thanks to MaineGeneral Health , Kennebec Savings Bank , and Northern Light Inland for their generous support.
Health Tip: November is Home Care & Hospice Month
You deserve the highest quality health care when you are at home – a partner who will work with you and your family to develop and meet your health goals.

Whether you need help to recover from a recent surgery, learn to manage a new diagnosis or long-term illness, or regain your strength and mobility after an injury, the caring, skilled and compassionate caregivers at MaineGeneral HomeCare & Hospice are here for you.

We offer a full range of home care and hospice services so you can be home, where you want to be . Click here to learn more.
Stay connected with CMGC:
If you are an investor in CMGC and would like to submit content to CMGC Intelligence , simply reply to this e-mail to speak with Elaine Theriault-Currier.
Board of Directors:

Chris Gaunce, chair – Central Maine Motors Auto Group
Michael Heavener, vice chair – Town of Winslow
Beth Gibbs, treasurer – Thomas College
Lucille Zelenkewich, secretary – Peoples United Bank
John Dalton, past chair – Northern Light Health - Inland Hospital
Elizabeth Fortin – Kennebec Valley Community College
Paul Stein – MaineGeneral Health
Darlene Ratte – Best Western Plus
Michael Roy – City of Waterville
Gary Bowman – Town of Oakland
Michelle Flewelling – Town of Fairfield
Brian Clark – Colby College
Michael Runser – Valley Beverage
Allan Rancourt – Kennebec Federal Savings
Lisa Hallee – Bill & Joan Alfond Foundation
Donald Plourde – Coldwell Banker Plourde Real Estate
Tom Meucci - Huhtamaki

 Ex-Officio Board Members:
Laura Cyr – Kennebec Valley Council of Governments
Christian Savage - Somerset Economic Development Corporation
James Dinkle – Kennebec Regional Dev. Authority / FirstPark