Shows
Let's ConnectWhat's Happening in Biddeford? A Conversation with Mayor Marty GrohmanHost Kristina Egan sits down with Marty Grohman, Mayor of Biddeford, to talk about one of Maine’s fastest-growing and most talked-about cities. From revitalization efforts and economic development to housing, community life, and what’s next for Biddeford, Mayor Grohman shares insights on the challenges and opportunities shaping Biddeford’s future.Produced by Tom BellEdited by Caroline ParkerPhoto Credit: Tom Bell2025-07-1830 min
Randy Forcier Podcasts74 - Susan Deschambault & Marty Grohman, Biddeford Mayoral CandidatesOn this week's episode, I'm joined by the two candidates running to be the next Mayor of Biddeford, Maine: Susan Deschambault & Marty Grohman!
With each of them I discuss their background, what they love about Biddeford, what some of the biggest challenges facing Biddeford are and why YOU should vote for them.
Here is more info:
Susan Deschambault - www.deschambaultformayor.com
Marty Grohman - www.mayormarty.com
Election Day is November 7th, get out there and vote!
2023-10-0948 min
The Retirement Success in Maine PodcastThe Future of Energy Use in Maine with Marty GrohmanEp 046: According to U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) data from 2017, the average monthly energy bill in Maine is just $87.21. That’s the lowest average energy bill of any state in New England, and one of the lowest in the U.S. For reference, Maine’s closest neighbor, New Hampshire, features a much pricier $114.95 average monthly energy bill. (Source: SmartData) However, that's not the entire picture where electrical energy is only ONE energy source that Mainers use ~ many Mainers use heating oil, gas, wood, pellets, solar, etc. to heat their homes during winter months or supplement electrical use. For many Main...2021-07-1559 min
The Grow Maine ShowGraig Morin and Darrell Pardy of Brown Dog CarriersGraig Morin has been in the Transportation industry for 21 years and President of Brown Dog Carriers for just over 3 years.
Director of Business Development Darrell Pardy is an experienced entrepreneur who has led several Maine companies through strong growth, including Bristol Seafood &Thomas Moser.
Together, they operate their steadily growing trucking company with safety and customers and drivers satisfaction as their top priority.
Learn how a trucking company in southern Maine has positioned itself to be an enduring success.2020-09-1900 minThe Grow Maine ShowPete Murray, CEO of DAVO Sales TaxAs the CEO of DAVO Sales Tax , Pete leads a talented team focused on removing the hassle of sales tax management from the to-do list of business owners and managers across America. DAVO integrates with popular Point-of-Sale systems such as Clover, Square, and Toast to set aside sales tax daily for merchants and then file and pay it to the state when due. With DAVO, merchants no longer need to even think about sales tax - “Sales Tax on Auto Pilot”.
Joining DAVO on the back of a career in entrepreneurial businesses, Pete brings a strong technology background and proven lead...2020-09-1300 minThe Grow Maine ShowNick Baudoin, Co-Founder of PowermarketNick Baudouin is the Co-Founder and Director of Business Development at PowerMarket. PowerMarket has grown to 20 people since it’s humble beginnings 6 years ago. Located in NYC (although scattered around New England at the moment), PowerMarket is the industry leader in bringing community solar management to solar developers and bill savings to households.
He graduated with a Masters in Energy, Trade and Finance from Cass Business School in the UK and a BA in Human Geography and Economics from Boston University. Before PowerMarket, he spent time with a geothermal company doing project development around North America. He played professional baseball in Irel...2020-09-0500 minThe Grow Maine ShowSam Hotchkiss, CEO & co-founder of ReconnectSam combines technical skill with vision to identify markets and motivate teams. He's built and sold two successful tech companies, including Parka to Automattic, so he knows how to take on a problem and address it. When an acquaintance of his received a DUI, the difficult, outdated court mandated follow-up process struck him as an industry primed for disruption, as well as a place to do well by doing good. That led to the founding of Reconnect.
Early in the process he would meet Ed Larson, an investor with a long history in the telco industry. The two would go...2020-08-1800 minThe Grow Maine ShowMike Davis of Industrial Roofing Co.Mike Davis is an owner & President of the IRC Industrial Roofing Companies in Lewiston, Maine. With over 100 team members, and offices in both Maine and Massachusetts, IRC is Northern New England’s leading commercial roofing, siding, and service company. IRC has been a winner of numerous Safety awards and the Customer Service Award from the Maine Family Business Awards.
Mike earned a chemical engineering degree from the University of Maine and an MBA from the New York Institute of Technology. In his spare time he enjoys skiing with his kids and chasing Striped Bass on Casco Bay.
Don't miss this in...2020-08-1100 minThe Grow Maine ShowBrett Wickard of Bull Moose & FieldstackBrett Wickard founded his first company, Bull Moose Records, after his junior year at Bowdoin College. Wickard oversaw Bull Moose's rise to become the largest retailer of music, movies, games, and books in northern New England. Wickard then founded Crickery Wood - a provider of point of sale software and services. Wickard's newest company, FieldStack, fuses elegant inventory, point of sale, loyalty, and eCommerce modules with enhanced analytics, decision making and automation into a Lean Retail platform for medium to large sized retailers.
This is everything the GrowMaine Show is passionate about -- being innovative, looking out for employees, building communi...2020-08-0400 minThe Grow Maine ShowAmanda O’Brien of 1820 WinesAmanda started eighteen twenty wines in 2015 with a friend who had been home-brewing rhubarb wine. When she tried it, she had the same reaction everyone else does when they have it "this actually tastes good".
Amanda has a strong background in marketing, had worked professionally in the wine industry, and wanted to take on the challenge of bringing a good wine to market made with local produce (rhubarb).
She has taken her love of wine and Maine, her digital marketing experience, and constant curiosity to keep eighteen twenty growing.
Amanda runs the business with a troupe of friends and family an...2020-07-2800 minThe Grow Maine ShowRichard Pfeffer of Gritty’sRichard is co-founder and president of Gritty's Brew Pub, of Portland, Auburn and Freeport Maine. In this episode we discuss the founding of Gritty's, including Richard's background as a sailor and stockbroker -- prior to making a 32-year leap into entrepreneurship and building a company with more than 100 employees.
Richard is a longtime member of Maine Technology Institute's Agricultural & Marine Technology tech board, and gives back to the community in many other ways, including Gritty's Community Nights.
The pandemic began with Richard standing in an empty pub on a Saturday night -- but he never had to throw any beer...2020-07-2000 minThe Grow Maine ShowJim Robbins of Robbins LumberJim retired as President of Robbins Lumber in 2013. He is staying involved with the company as a consultant but also enjoying his retirement to the fullest. He’s very active with the following organizations: Katahdin Area Council Boy Scouts of America, Searsmont United Methodist Church, Maine Forest Products Council, and North American Wholesale Lumberman’s Association. Jim is married and has three children and 12 grandchildren. In his spare time he enjoys hunting, fishing, white water canoeing, boating, hiking, cross country skiing, traveling, antique autos and spending time with his family.
2020-06-2900 minThe Grow Maine ShowDr. Sam Fratoni, Mentor and Angel InvestorSam is a business executive with over 30 years of corporate leadership with Hewlett Packard Company and as Corporate Vice President for IDEXX Laboratories. He holds a BSCH degree from Bucknell University and a PhD in Analytical Chemistry from Purdue University. He also attended the Advance Management Program at Wharton and has over forty publications and presentations on chemistry, leadership, education, quality and management.After leaving the corporate world, Sam has focused on helping smaller organizations, both commercial and non-profit, apply proven leadership, management and growth techniques scaled to achieve success. This has included Board Chair for Breakwater Learning, Board Chair...2020-06-2300 minThe Grow Maine ShowJack Moore of Harpswell AdvisorsJack is President and Chief Investment Officer of Harpswell Advisors, a Maine based firm serving foundations and endowments throughout the United States. Harpswell embraces an OCIO approach that leverages the benefits of both passive and active strategies and creates custom portfolios for each institution it serves. Harpswell was named among the nation’s top 108 Charitable Investment Advisors in Investor.com’s 2020 study.
Prior to Harpswell, Jack managed a market neutral hedge fund predominately for non-profit institutions and family offices. Jack also served as a Principal with The Vanguard Group where he was a Senior Analyst working directly for several of Vanguar...2020-06-0800 minThe Grow Maine ShowRich Brooks of Flyte New MediaRich Brooks is founder and president of flyte new media, a digital agency in Portland, Maine, that’s been in business for over 23 years. He is a nationally recognized speaker on entrepreneurship, digital marketing, and social media.He founded The Agents of Change, an annual conference and weekly podcast that focuses on search, social & mobile marketing. He recently co-founded Fast Forward Maine, a podcast and workshop series for growing Maine businesses.Rich is the author of The Lead Machine: The Small Business Guide to Digital Marketing, a popular and well-received book that helps entrepreneurs and marketers reach more of their ideal cu...2020-06-0100 minThe Grow Maine ShowWhit Richardson of Maine Startups InsiderWhit is an award-winning journalist and communications professional. After more than a decade in the newspaper business, during which time he won the prestigious Gerald Loeb Award for Distinguished Business and Financial Journalism from the UCLA Anderson School of Management, Whit took his experience crafting narratives and distilling complex topics into easy-to-understand terms to the corporate world. Until recently, he led communications and investor relations for 4Front Ventures, a publicly traded company operating in the legal cannabis industry. Whit led 4Front’s communications and marketing efforts from its nascent stages to emerging from stealth mode to ultimately going public in th...2020-05-2600 minThe Grow Maine ShowLes Otten of Maine Energy SystemsLes Otten has been a leader and an innovator throughout his nearly five-decade entrepreneurial career – in a wide range of pursuits including business, tourism, alternative energy, community development and philanthropy. Here are but a few of Les’ accomplishments.
At Sunday River Ski Resort, Les took a tiny, struggling ski mountain in western Maine and turned it into one of the most successful resorts in America.
Les put together an ownership group to buy the Boston Red Sox and served as vice chairman and partner in the franchise from 2002 to 2007 when they won the World Series twice. Les spearheaded the effort to s...2020-05-1800 minThe Grow Maine ShowJohn Burns of Maine Venture FundJohn is passionate about contributing to a resilient and sustainable Maine economy by supporting innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable corporate growth that contributes to opportunities for Maine people and an economy that works for all and preserves our history while embracing change.
Over 30 years of institutional investing experience, analyzing industries and companies, managing municipal, corporate, and international bond portfolios, and for the last many years serving as Maine Venture Fund (“MVF”) Managing Director, executing and overseeing the full range of venture capital investment activities. I have a passion for working with teams, entrepreneurs, building companies, Maine, and Maine’s economic well-being.MVF hi...2020-05-1100 minThe Grow Maine ShowMatt Timberlake of Vortex/The Ted Berry CompanyAs Executive Vice President of Corporate Development, Matt Timberlake works with all Vortex divisions throughout the United States to ensure its mission, vision and values are fully implemented and maintained. A lifelong resident of Maine, Timberlake grew up in the underground utility industry as a third generation member of the family owned Ted Berry Company Inc. of Livermore, where he served as its president.
In February of 2019, the Vortex Companies acquired the Ted Berry Company. Together the two companies present a tremendous opportunity for growth, not only in the northeast region but across the country, as well given its history...2020-05-0400 minThe Grow Maine ShowAngel Investor Bill RyanWilliam J. Ryan, Jr. began his professional career as an attorney, practicing corporate law in Portland before embarking on his career in the sports business. Bill has worked as a sports marketing executive, owned the Oxford Plains Speedway and founded the Maine Red Claws. His current focus is on angel investing, principally in companies based in Maine. In addition to his business interests, he currently serves on the board of the Portland Museum of Art.2020-04-2700 min
Fast Forward Maine PodcastWhat Owners Need to Know About Sustainability - Marty GrohmanDo you see “sustainability” as an added cost for your business? An expense that hurts your bottom line? Then you’re doing it wrong. By injecting sustainability into your business processes, you can reduce expenses, generate more revenue, boost goodwill, and run a more successful company. Marty Grohman from E2Tech shares some of the ways businesses can avoid “greenwashing” and actually get down to being a positive force in their community, all while improving their bottom line.2020-04-1928 minThe Grow Maine ShowChris Lynch of Legacy PropertiesChris Lynch is the President, Founder and owner of Legacy Properties Sotheby's International Realty. From its inception in 2006, Chris has grown the company from its six founding brokers to more than 80 Maine and New Hampshire based real estate agents and 5 offices serving Coastal Communities from Rye, NH to Jonesport, ME. In recent years he has expanded to the Western Lakes and Mountains in addition to our ability to serve the New Hampshire Seacoast. In this time of great transition, Chris is leading his company in new ways.
After 17 years on Wall Street, Chris gave up his role as a Managing...2020-04-1300 minThe Grow Maine ShowRob Simopoulos and Andrew Rinaldi of DefendifyRob Simopoulos is the Co-Founder of Defendify, the all-in-one cybersecurity platform that makes cybersecurity possible for Small Business. Rob is a lifelong entrepreneur, as passionate about small business as he is about cybersecurity. In his 20+ years in the security industry, he has received awards, accolades, and recognition from a variety of trusted industry experts and publications. Rob and the Defendify team are based in Portland, Maine, and are on a mission to simplify cybersecurity and help secure small businesses and channel providers from evolving threats. You can reach Rob at rsimopoulos@defendify.io.
Andrew Rinaldi is the Co-Founder of Defendify...2020-04-0600 minThe Grow Maine ShowKevin Hancock of Hancock LumberKEVIN HANCOCK is an award-winning author, speaker, and CEO. Established in 1848, Hancock Lumber Company operates ten retail stores, 3 sawmills and a truss plant. The company also grows trees on 12,000 acres of timberland in Southern Maine and is led by its 550 employees.
Hancock Lumber is a six-time recipient of the ‘Best Places to Work in Maine’ award. The company is also a recipient of the Maine Family Business of the Year Award, the Governor’s Award for Business Excellence, the MITC ‘Exporter of the Year’ award, and the Pro-Sales national dealer of the year.
Kevin is a past chairman of the National L...2020-03-3000 minThe Grow Maine ShowMahesh Ramanujam of US Green Building CouncilMahesh is proving that building a more sustainable world is no longer a dream, but a global evolution. As president and CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) he leads a community of 13 million people that’s growing every day.
A graduate from India’s Annamalai University with a degree in Computer Engineering, Ramanujam couples a strong background as a data scientist with his goal of building healthier communities and democratizing sustainable living.
Transformative thought programs, partnerships, and initiatives continue to be at the heart of Mahesh’s work today. He leads hundreds of employees and thousands of volunt...2020-03-2300 minThe Grow Maine ShowLou Simms of Maine Technology InstituteTaking some downtime away from the office during the coronavirus outbreak and thinking about your next startup? Well you came to the right place. Learn how to apply to MTI from Lou Simms, who serves as a Senior Investment Officer at Maine Technology Institute. Lou joined MTI in 2015 and truly relishes the opportunities to work with Maine’s aspiring entrepreneurs – dedicated to supporting the growth of Maine’s innovation economy on a daily basis.
Lou joined MTI after finishing his Master’s work at the University of New Hampshire’s Sustainability Institute and Organic Dairy Research Farm – and Lou has prior experi...2020-03-1600 minThe Grow Maine ShowMichael Bourque, CEO of MEMICMichael Bourque became the second President and CEO of The MEMIC Group in 2017. Having served under founding president and mentor John Leonard for more than two decades, he held the position of Senior Vice President for External Affairs, giving him a broad and engaged view of the company and the insurance industry. He oversaw government and community relations and corporate marketing efforts that helped drive the growth of The MEMIC Group from a single state workers' compensation carrier to a super-regional specialist with eight offices across the Eastern Seaboard and more than 20,000 policyholders across the country. His efforts helped to...2020-03-0900 minThe Grow Maine ShowNancy Marshall, the PR MavenIn 1991, Marshall Communications was born, a life-changing experience for Nancy and one that’s she’s never regretted. Today, more than 26 years later, the agency has represented many major clients, including the Maine Office of Tourism, the Maine Office of Business Development, and The Orvis Company, among others. Nancy’s hallmark is her commitment to living clients’ businesses. When she was representing Northern Outdoors, she became a licensed whitewater rafting guide. For the Maine Windjammer Association, she lived the life of a crewmember on the Victory Chimes. For Orvis, she is learning to fly fish and tie flies. She is also wel...2020-03-0300 minThe Grow Maine ShowJohn Konsin of PrapelaA 2x CEO, John is the principal founder and CEO of Prapela, Inc.; a company introducing new technology to help newborns breathe, relax and sleep. John previously held leadership and executive positions at four different Fortune 200 companies and one FTSE 100 company. He has led or assisted in the generation of more than $5.4 billion in revenue and launched over 100 new products. John's experience includes work in the medical device, diagnostic, medical imaging, durable medical equipment, biologics, wearables, genetic testing, hospital supplies, and consumer products markets. For over 35 years, he has worked closely with Physicians and leaders in Pediatrics, Sports Medicine, Orthopedics...2020-02-2500 min
The Southern Maine Report#25 - Marty Grohman | The Grow Maine ShowMarty Grohman is the host of the Grow Maine Show podcast and the executive director of E2Tech, an organization dedicated to expanding Maine's clean energy sector. Marty also served two terms as a representative in the Maine State House from 2014 to 2018, and is known as a voice for start-ups and entrepreneurship in Maine. Marty and I talk about exciting new tech companies popping up in Maine, our experiences podcasting, his tenure in the State House, climate issues and more. Follow The Southern Maine Report Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesouthernmainereport/?hl=en F...2020-02-2400 minThe Grow Maine ShowAdam Lee of Lee Auto MallsAdam Lee has been with Lee Auto Mall for 32 years, serving as President and assuming the position of Chairman of the Board in June 2010 upon the passing of his father, Shep Lee. He currently serves on the Muskie Board of Visitors, the MPBN Board, and the Maine Conservation Voters Board.
Lee served as the Chairman of the Efficiency Maine Trust and Chair of the Maine Audubon Corporate Partners. He is the past chairman of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and a past member of the Natural Resources Council of Maine, Maine Historical Society, Maine Energy Council, Governor’s Advisory Council, Ce...2020-02-1700 minThe Grow Maine ShowBrian McLaughlin of Amplify AdditiveBrian R. McLaughlin is the President & CEO, and Founder, of Amplify Additive, a Additive Manufacturing service provider with a focus on Orthopedic Implant manufacturing. At his uniquely outfitted facility in Scarborough, ME, they 3D print Titanium using advanced equipment from GE Additive. The equipment is highly specialized and operates under vacuum at elevated temperatures to provide material properties that exceed industry standards at the highest quality. “By 3D printing Titanium with this Electron Beam Melting technology, we are able to produce implants that not only have never been able to be designed and manufactured before, but provide a better quality of...2020-02-1000 minThe Grow Maine ShowPeter DelGreco of Maine & Co.Peter serves as President and CEO of Maine & Co., a privately funded business attraction and economic development organization. Charged with helping companies establish successful and profitable operations in Maine, Maine & Co.’s Board of Directors consists of top executives from Maine’s business community. During Peter’s tenure, Maine & Co. has attracted numerous companies from various sectors, growth stages, and sizes to locations throughout the state of Maine. Through Peter’s leadership, Maine & Co. has attracted companies Portfolio companies include: athenahealth, Sun Life Financial, Carbonite, Grand Rounds, and Wayfair.
Prior to joining Maine & Co. in 2004 as the Director of Client Services...2020-02-0300 minThe Grow Maine ShowRachel Knight of Destination OccupationYou won't want to miss this story. Rachel Knight was hours from closing her three-year-old business. She set up a meeting with her biggest client to break the bad news – she was going to have to close Destination Occupation.
But the client had news for her – that wasn't going to happen.
Three years later, not only is Destination Occupation, which helps employers grow their workforce by introducing them to potential employees they'd never meet otherwise, still in business – the company is growing and thriving.
Founder & CEO Rachel Knight is a Maine native. She graduated from Bangor High School in 1982, and has an u...2020-01-2700 minThe Grow Maine ShowAndrew Silsby of Kennebec Savings BankAndrew Silsby serves as President and CEO of Kennebec Savings Bank, a $1.1 billion bank headquartered in Augusta, Maine. He began his career in banking while a college student, working as a Float Teller at NorStar Bank, which later became Fleet. Upon graduation, he was hired as a Management Trainee at Fleet Bank. In the winter of 1993, Andrew was hired by Kennebec Savings Bank as a Loan Officer. In just seven years he rose to the Senior Lending position where he oversaw the lending staff as well as setting the loan policy. Time in that position set the stage for his...2020-01-1800 minThe Grow Maine ShowHeather Johnson, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Economic & Community Development, on the Statewide Economic Development PlanHeather Johnson grew up in Skowhegan and graduated from the University of Maine. She began her career in the private technology sector including sales, operations and general management roles at Nokia, Gateway and Toshiba.
After leaving the private sector, Heather had the opportunity to concentrate on rural economic development at Somerset Economic Development Corporation, before her appointment as Director of the ConnectME Authority, a broadband development agency. In this role, Heather was responsible for managing a small grant program, mapping key assets, working with communities and businesses to help them identify needs and opportunities to utilize connectivity to enable their goa...2020-01-1200 minThe Grow Maine ShowBill Seretta of Fork Food LabBill Seretta is a serial social entrepreneur with over 50 years of experience in launching new enterprises and rebuilding old ones in both profit and non-profit sectors.
Bill is founder and President of the Sustainability Lab which created and hosted for 4 years the New England Food System Innovation Challenge. In October of 2018 the Sustainability Lab took over operations of Fork Food Lab. Under Bill’s leadership Fork has grown from 24 members to 43 today. He is now implementing plans to make Fork Food Lab a sustainable business that will provide 60 food entrepreneurs the opportunity to grow their businesses in a new 10,000 s/f...2020-01-0400 minThe Grow Maine ShowTopher MalloryTopher Mallory has three roles: CEO of the iconic Maine retailer Mexicali Blues, co-founder of Split Rock, Maine's first Organic Distillery, and owner of Royal Rose Simple Syrups, organic drink mixers. These businesses together represent more than 100 employees and many millions in sales revenue. Starting from a summer job selling skateboards, Topher has built this remarkable "only-in-Maine" career. Learn how, and why, in this compelling interview!2019-12-3000 minThe Grow Maine ShowPatrick Roche of Think Tank Coworking – Leaving Maine for a Second ActPatrick Roche is the Founder and Director of Think Tank Coworking, based in Portland, with three locations in Southern Maine. He is the recipient of numerous accolades, including the 2016 Innovative Small Business award presented by SCORE and the 2017 "Best Small Business" presented by the City of Portland. In addition to running Think Tank, Patrick spends time in New York City where he works with Gesundheit Media, producing video and marketing content. In his spare time, he writes screenplays, enjoys traveling to far-off lands and boating around Casco Bay. He is passionate about civics, the arts and building local creative economy.
...2019-12-2100 minThe Grow Maine ShowJulene Gervais of Greenlight MaineJulene Gervais' enthusiasm and passion for Greenlight Maine's entrepreneurial mission complements her role as host. Julene is an award winning Television Anchor and Reporter. She began her broadcasting career in Wilmington, North Carolina working for WECT-TV as a producer. In Maine, Julene has worked at WAGM-TV in Presque Isle, WLBZ 2 in Bangor and WGME 13 in Portland. She was awarded Best Sportscaster by the Maine Association of Broadcasters in 2004. Julene has a diverse background covering stories related to our state's economy, healthcare and politics. This makes her the perfect host for Greenlight Maine to use her skills as a journalist to...2019-12-0600 min
The Grow Maine ShowRecovery: Carolyn Delaney of Journey MagazineCarolyn Delaney is the founder and publisher of Journey Magazine, the state's first printed magazine devoted entirely to the topic of recovery from addiction.
Carolyn and her team are on a mission to amplify hope and celebrate freedom from addiction and are doing that by sharing local stories of community support, personal recovery stories and informative articles. She is known for inspiring hope and celebrating positive stories with the line, "people like us live like this."
Copies of Journey can be found at over 500 locations from York to Bath.2019-11-2800 minThe Grow Maine ShowPeter Troast of Energy CirclePeter Troast is the Founder and CEO of Energy Circle, a team of digital marketing experts and strategists who work with over 350 HVAC, solar, insulation, and home performance companies in 49 states to grow their business through services like website design and development, search engine optimization, lead generation and strategic content production. Peter is recognized as one of the country's foremost authorities on marketing for home performance, HVAC, and other efficiency related contracting companies. His fast-growing company is based in Portland, Maine.2019-11-2200 minThe Grow Maine ShowJosh Broder of TilsonJoshua Broder is CEO of Tilson, a telecommunications deployment and IT consulting firm based in Portland, Maine. Under Josh's leadership, Tilson has grown from 10 to more than 600 employees nationwide, achieving listing on the Inc 5000 nine consecutive times (likely a record for any Maine company). Josh is an Army veteran and earned the Bronze Star for his service in Afghanistan, where his team ran the tactical communications network for US forces. Don't miss this story of a man and a company on a mission!2019-11-1500 minThe Grow Maine ShowBeth Shissler, President of Sea Bags, IncBeth Shissler is President of Sea Bags in Portland. Starting from making just a few of the iconic tote bags made from recycled sails each year, she and the Sea Bags team have grown the business into one of Maine’s largest manufacturing companies, and saved over 700 tons of sails from the landfill while doing it.2019-11-1000 minThe Grow Maine ShowElizabeth Ross Holmstrom of Mindful EmployerElizabeth Ross Holmstrom is Founder & President of Mindful Employer of Portland, Maine. Here’s her pitch: employees are choosing purposeful work over standard pay and benefits, and they are staying with companies invested in their professional development and wellbeing. By working with Mindful Employer, you can quickly learn about your employee experience and improve recruitment & retention through simple daily practices.2019-11-0400 minThe Grow Maine ShowMaddie Purcell of Fyood KitchenMaddie Purcell is founder and president of Fyood Kitchen. The fast-growing Portland company puts on amateur cooking competitions known as “Fyoods” for birthdays and wedding parties, as well as providing creative team-building events for corporate groups and small companies.
Here's the player on WGAN News if the one below doesn't work. Thanks for listening!2019-10-2600 minThe Grow Maine ShowLouis Waterhouse of LAW CalibrationLouis Waterhouse, founder of LAW Calibration of Saco, learned his craft in the US Air Force, and founded his growing company right here in Maine. Starting out in his basement, he began calibrating torque wrenches – the kind make sure the wheels don't fall off school buses. Now, he leads a team of nine that service the paper and high technology industry across the northeast. Plus the school buses.2019-10-1800 minThe Grow Maine ShowLinc Merrill of Patriot InsuranceLinc Merrill is the president & CEO of Patriot Insurance of Yarmouth. But he started out doing triptiks for AAA, and raising steers and hogs in 4-H. Hear the unique career story and perspective of the leader of one of Maine's largest and most successful companies, this week on The Grow Maine Show.2019-10-1300 minThe Grow Maine ShowDawn Reshen-Doty of Benay EnterprisesFor almost 30 years, Dawn Reshen-Doty has been running Benay Enterprises, a business support company that provides back office accounting and management support. Under her leadership, the company is expanding its Maine presence. In this appearance recorded on 7/27/19 on WGAN's Inside Maine, we explore what is driving growth for Benay and Dawn's impressions and plans for growing the business in Maine.2019-08-0400 minThe Grow Maine ShowLynn White of Vet-to-Vet MaineLynn White is a Vietnam Veteran who is the board chair of Vet-to-Vet Maine, an all volunteer veteran led organization that helps address loneliness and service needs of Maine's veterans. He's also a Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute grad (like me!). This is a recording of an appearance we put together on WGAN's Inside Maine.2019-07-0800 minThe Grow Maine ShowJason Harkins of Scratchpad AcceleratorDr. Jason Harkins is the co-head, together with Lisa Liberatore, of Scratchpad Accelerator, which is based in the Bangor region. Jason has some serious startup chops and cred and what I think is a good (and surprising) take on the whole "jump off the cliff and put the plane together on the way down" thing.Scratchpad has benefited from the support of MTI and founding corporate partner Bangor Savings (which has the enviable URL www.bangor.com), both of which are great organizations.2019-05-0300 minThe Grow Maine ShowMEREDA Event – Everyone Needs an Affordable Home: Building on Housing Solutions That WorkEver since I was a state rep and worked repeatedly on senior housing bonds, I've been interested in the issue of the lack of affordable housing in Maine. Following up on that interest, I attended and recorded a conference put on by the Maine Real Estate and Development Association on affordable housing. It was a very well done talk and I'm publishing it here, in hopes that you'll enjoy it. It's kind of a dry topic but it's very meaningful. It features Greg Payne of Avesta and the Maine Affordable Housing Coalition; Jess Maurer of the Maine Council on Aging...2019-04-0900 minThe Grow Maine ShowDan Dinsmore of PineTreeWatch.orgDan Dinsmore is executive director of the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, an independent news outlet that publishes at pinetreewatch.org. The episode is a bit of a departure for me, in that it's the first nonprofit startup that I've profiled, but it's very interesting and it's clearly an area of growth and opportunity, something that any startup wants.
If you're interested in how the news works and love true in-depth reporting, this episode is for you.
Speaking of startups, there's a lot of great stuff coming up. First, now's the time to apply to Gorham Savings Bank's annual...2019-03-1700 minThe Grow Maine ShowTom Rainey of Maine Center for Entrepreneurs, on WGAN’s Inside MaineWGAN's "Inside Maine" airs on Saturday morning. I had the honor of hosting the program on March 2. I booked several guests with the theme of "Service", starting with Tom Rainey of the Maine Center for Entrepreneurs. MCE provides many important services to Maine startups. The Top Gun program is (deservedly) the best known, but MCE also runs many other important programs, which are covered in this interview. It's great to be able to publish it here for those who missed it live – I hope you enjoy and give your feedback and suggestions in the comments – my first go around as a li...2019-03-1100 minThe Grow Maine ShowMichelle Neujahr, Business Growth Consultant, Faculty at Southern Maine Community CollegeMichelle Neujahr is a business growth consultant and member of the faculty at Southern Maine Community College. As a consultant she specializes in helping businesses that have plateaued around a million dollars in sales scale to the next level. Michelle also works with executive teams helping them to create and execute visionary strategic plans.
She's from Minnesota, see if you can catch the accent :) and don't miss Michelle's TEDx talk "The Power of Perseverance". And be sure to support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
And don't forget to the subscribe to The Grow Maine Podcast and leave a 5-star review. W...2019-02-2000 minThe Grow Maine ShowKatie Shorey of Startup MaineKatie Shorey is the Business & Community Liaison for People’s United Bank, and President of Startup Maine, an organization with the mission to inspire & elevate entrepreneurs. She's a connector; enabler of entrepreneurs & startups, and gives a great interview.
Startup Maine's annual conference is coming up in June – and it’s not to be missed.
Now's a great time to get involved! Submit a workshop proposal, go ahead and register, or volunteer.2019-01-3000 minThe Grow Maine ShowMichael Sauschuck on Thrive 2027Michael Sauschuck is the former Portland Police Chief, current Assistant City Manager (and nominee for Maine's Commissioner of Public Safety). Speaking at the Portland Regional Chamber Kegs n Issues event in a talk I grabbed live on my phone, he walked through policing and substance use disorder recovery. Policing approaches to low level drug users have changed, and for the better - this is a very good review of how and why.
Also covered is the Thrive2027 collaborative organized by United Way. Get involved here.2019-01-0600 minThe Grow Maine ShowCarla Harris speaks at Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership InstituteCarla Harris is VP and managing director of Morgan Stanley down in New York City. She delivered a great keynote address at the Olympia Snowe Women's Leadership Institute. We all have advice we'd give our younger self - that's Carla's topic, and it's a great one. And as you'll hear in the recording, it was very timely advice for me.
Carla Harris is remarkable, and the fit is perfect with this audience. The Olympia Snowe Women's Leadership Institute is a great program for young women, started by Senator Olympia Snowe. Olympia doesn’t do anything small, and this program already has...2018-12-1200 minThe Grow Maine ShowMainebiz New Ventures/Start-up ForumHey, I’m back with The Grow Maine Show. I’m working hard after a really intense run, and loss, in a contest for US Congress. But I’m jumping right back in with this recording of the really great Mainebiz New Ventures/Start-up Forum held August 21. This is content too good to be forgotten, so I'm really glad to present it to you here:
It features:
Eliah Thanhauser of NorthSpore
Allison Lakin of Gorges ("Gorgeous") Cheeses
Becky McKinnell of iBec Creative
Bill Keleher of Kennebec River Biosciences
Sean Sullivan of Maine Brewers Guild
David Stone of Forager
The panel is mod...2018-11-1500 minThe Grow Maine ShowChris Claudio, CEO of WinxnetChris Claudio is CEO of WinXNet of Portland, Maine. He is an extremely impressive entrepreneur that has built a company, together with his partner Mike Williams, into a national leader in the IT services and security space. The company has more than 125 employees and is at the top of many national rankings in their field.
Speaking of national leaders, did you know I’m running – yes, that’s me, Marty – am running for United States Congress? It is time we put an end to the partisanship that is crippling Congress. If you’d like to put a startup guy in Washington...2018-09-2800 min
Keep UpKeeping Up with Marty Grohman, Independent Candidate for Congress ME CD1Keeping Up with Marty Grohman, Independent Candidate for Congress ME CD1 by Cynthia Dill2018-09-1839 minThe Grow Maine ShowTopher Mallory of Mexicali Blues, Split Rock Distilling and Royal Rose Simple SyrupsTopher Mallory has three roles: he’s CEO of Mexicali Blues, and co-owner and co-founder of Split Rock Distilling, which also owns Royal Rose syrups. So it’s three interviews in one, for Maine entrepreneurs! We recorded the interview at Topher’s office at Mexicali Blues in Newcastle, after a quick visit to one of the Mexicali Blues stores.
And if you’d like to put a startup guy in US Congress, learn more about me at martygrohman.com
And here are those great coupon codes: RoyalRoseSyrups.com for 20% off simple syrups: growmaine
And one for MexicaliBlues.com (online only) coupon i...2018-08-2400 minThe Grow Maine ShowEd McKersie of ProSearch and LiveandWorkinMaine.comEd McKersie is the founder and CEO of ProSearch Inc., which has been locating talent for Maine based companies – from across the street and across the country – since 1994.
I’ve been looking to get Ed on the show forever. He’s founded a large successful Maine company, and now he helps other Maine companies find talent, so he’s got a heck of a perspective.
Don't forget: If you believe in firsts, and startups, and want to put a startup guy in Congress, visit my campaign website and make a contribution at martygrohman.com.
Make sure to check out Ed's amazing pro...2018-07-2900 minThe Grow Maine ShowSarah Parnell of Groups Recover TogetherSarah Parnell is regional manager at Groups Recover Together, which is an intensive Medication Assisted Treatment practitioner with multiple locations throughout New England, including nine in Maine. I am passionate about opioid recovery and am always looking to learn more, and to do more. I have the results that group therapy plus medication can deliver on the road to long term recovery from substance use disorder.
To learn more about Groups Recover Together, visit their website.
To learn more about Marty Grohman for Congress, go to MartyforMaine.com.2018-07-1900 minThe Grow Maine ShowKai Adams of Sebago Brewing CompanySebago Brewing Company is celebrating 20 years in business, a remarkable thing in any industry. But it didn't happen by chance - the founding partners have relentlessly worked on their business and their partnership, finding ways to work together that have made them all successful.
And the impetus for Kai to become an entrepreneur gets even more interesting: diagnosed with lymphoma as a young man, Kai realized that it was now or never to pursue his dream. With 250 employees, six locations and as one of Maine's leading breweries, I'd say it has worked out. What is holding you back from kicking...2018-06-2600 minThe Grow Maine ShowDerek Volk, President of Volk Packaging Corp. on business in Maine and Heroes Wall ProjectDerek Volk is the third generation of the Volk family to run his successful Biddeford packaging business. He has led the company through significant changes and challenges to the company culture, all the while driving growth and acquiring parts of the company's supply chain.
He's also a passionate supporter of many local causes, including the Heroes Wall, which is a tribute to veterans.2018-06-0500 minThe Grow Maine ShowGorham Savings Bank 2017 Launchpad Recap with Pitching TipsOk, so this episode is really amazing. It’s just the five pitches from last year’s GSB Launchpad and the judges questions, that’s it. Nothing in between, all killer no filler, with the winner announced at the end. Be sure to register for this year’s Launchpad, which is June 6. And stay tuned to the end, when I’ll give my pitch tips based on having listened to hundreds of pitches now. Add your own pitch tips in the comments, too, I'd love to compile a fuller list.
Now, register! It's free and not to be missed:
Watch Five Maine...2018-05-3000 minThe Grow Maine ShowMatt Jacobson of Maine Lobster Marketing CollaborativeNow, want to learn about lobster? What is new shell, what you can make besides the traditional lobster bake? You've come to the right place.
Matt Jacobson is the executive director of the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative. But he's also an experienced executive and nonprofit leader. Among other roles, he ran Maine & Co, which focuses on encouraging businesses to relocate to Maine.
There's lots of lobster stuff coming up to promote, too. The MLMC plans a live event in NYC - an in-house broadcast with chefs and lobstermen talking about Maine Lobster. It will be on July 16 (at the start...2018-05-2200 minThe Grow Maine ShowKay Aikin, CEO of Introspective SystemsKay Aikin is CEO of Introspective Systems, a developer of electrical grid management software based in Portland, Maine. The company takes on complex systems and makes them simpler. Somewhere between the internet of things and artificial intelligence, there is an immense opportunity to reduce costs and gain efficiency in electrical systems, communications, medicine, and smart homes. And just about everything else.
This is clearly an immense opportunity. What is not immediately obvious is that Introspective Systems doesn't seek to take on those complex problems themselves, but rather to build the systems that let others do it. It's like running the...2018-05-0600 minThe Grow Maine ShowEntrepreneurial Motivation in the form of PoetryIt might seem odd, but I saw this poem by Gretchen Berg in the Sunday paper, and thought it would make a good episode of The Grow Maine Show. It's part of a column by Portland, Maine's poet laureate, Gibson Fay-Leblanc.
As I read it, I thought of all the flip charts and breakout rooms I've been a part of, and how it feels like a road to nowhere. Maybe you feel the same way too.
So I put that together as a quick episode, together with some updates on upcoming events from ScratchPad Accelerator, Gorham Savings Bank Launchpad, and...2018-04-2200 minThe Grow Maine ShowSean Sullivan, Executive Director of Maine Brewer’s GuildSean Sullivan, executive director of Maine Brewer's Guild, is a great speaker and entrepreneur who happens to think that Maine craft beer is key to growing our economy. Brewing is a manufacturing business, and everything from ocean freight to a good local malthouse is in our favor.
This episode of The Grow Maine Show is brought to you by The Dunham Group. The real estate market is tight. Even if you're not outgrowing your space now, if you think you will, why not check their property listings right now?
Breweries also revitalize Maine's downtowns, especially in rural Maine, by creating...2018-04-0600 minThe Grow Maine ShowMaddie Purcell of Fyood KitchenFyood Kitchen of Portland, Maine is a social cooking competition. Maddie Purcell is founder and ceo. Fyood's team sets you up in a professional kitchen with a full pantry and gives you a mystery basket with four secret ingredients. Your challenge is to make it into something that will impress your friends.
If you've never participated, you've really got to give it a try - either as a judge or as a cook, it's a blast.
This episode is brought to you by The Dunham Group. To get on that Inc 500 list, you need to grow your business fast. That m...2018-03-2300 minThe Grow Maine ShowHeather Blease, CEO of SaviLinxHeather Blease (rhymes with "skis") is CEO of SaviLinx. SaviLinx is a contact center – that’s them on the other end of the phone when you want to enroll in a new dental plan or have problems with your student financial aid. Savilinx was just ranked #28 on the Inc. 500. May I say, that is just incredible. One of the highest listings achieved by any Maine company ever.
This episode is brought to you by The Dunham Group. To get on that Inc 500 list, you need to grow your business fast. That means a good office, a good building. Don’t wait a...2018-03-1400 minThe Grow Maine ShowZak Ringelstein, Democratic Candidate for US SenateZak Ringelstein is a former teacher who has a strong background in entrepreneurship, and now he's running for US Senate. While I generally don't do politics on the Grow Maine Show, I've had Angus King on twice, and so it's only fair I have Zak on. I will have the Republican candidate Eric Brakey on as well if he asks.
Today's episode is brought to you by The Dunham Group. Buying my own building was the single best thing I ever did in entrepreneurship. If you're outgrowing your space, follow my custom link to get you right to the property...2018-03-0100 minThe Grow Maine ShowKate Dickerson of Maine Science FestivalKate Dickerson is the founder and director of the Maine Science Festival. Featuring Robert Krulwich of the popular podcast Radiolab as keynote speaker (listen to the episode to hear of Robert's Maine connections!), this four-day event attracts 12,000 festival goers of all ages to Downtown Bangor and the Cross Insurance Center for more than 60 events and activities available free-of-charge. Featuring forums, workshops, hands-on activities, films, exhibits and presentations, there's no better place to find out about (and celebrate) Maine science.
This episode is brought to you by The Dunham Group. They are commercial real estate brokers. If you're an entrepreneur, one...2018-02-2000 minThe Grow Maine ShowListen to BissonKeith Bisson is president of Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI) in Brunswick. If you've heard of a startup in Maine, they probably had a hand in getting it going. They are willing to take a risk on early stage innovators that conventional lenders and investors won’t, calculating good jobs and environmental benefits in addition to dollars, as core to return on investment. He's pictured here with ceo Betsy Biemann. Together they lead this organization that is core to Maine's entrepreneurial community.
Never miss a show: subscribe to the Grow Maine Show on Apple Podcasts , TuneInRadio or Stitcher.
In 2017, CEI or its s...2018-02-0800 minThe Grow Maine ShowKevin Cain of MaineSoleMaineSole is bringing handcrafted shoemaking back to Dexter, Maine. It is a remarkable startup story of founders that had no factory, no customers, and nothing but the idea that the proud heritage of a Maine town deserves to be handed down to the next generation.
It's like we entrepreneurs do, jump off the cliff and put the airplane together on the way, right?
Enjoyed this episode? Please subscribe to the podcast on iTunes here, ....or Stitcher here.2018-01-2600 minThe Grow Maine ShowBen Davis of True Course Yachting and Portland Container Co.This is our second time having Ben Davis on. His first visit was one of our most popular episodes ever and we're glad to have him back to talk about his new venture Portland Container Company.
What I think is amazing about Ben is that he seeks advice and counsel, and he listens to it, and pivots. Frankly, I don’t think I did that well enough as an entrepreneur, so it makes me really appreciate it when I see it. Ben has been relentless in seeking out advice and wisdom, and has done it in an a really egoless wa...2018-01-1900 minThe Grow Maine ShowAmerican Author Howard Mansfield, on home and communityHoward Mansfield is an American author who writes about history, preservation, and architecture. He has a particular understanding of what makes a house a home, and a town a community. Learn more about Howard at howardmansfield.com and purchase his books on Amazon.
You can ask a question or leave a comment for a future show at (207) 423-8260.
Subscribe to the podcast feed right here using your favorite podcasting app or subscribe using iTunes.2018-01-0900 minThe Grow Maine ShowSinger-Songwriter Sara TrunzoSara Trunzo is an independent singer-songwriter who was Maine food famous before she became Maine singer famous. She was the director of the Veggies For All program, part of Maine Farmland Trust, and she worked hard on that career for many years before she decided to make a big change and dedicate herself to her music full time. I was very interested in that change and how and why she went about it.
Before I forget: be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play. By subscribing, you'll get the latest episode in your podcast player without having to l...2017-12-0400 minThe Grow Maine ShowAngela Ferrari of Story SpectacularHave you ever wondered if you could go for it, and make a living as an artist? Angela Ferrari is a children's book author & illustrator based in Portland Maine, and the host of the of Story Spectacular podcast. We discuss how she got her business off the ground, what the first steps were, and Maine business resources like CEI and Small Business Development Centers.
I loved the ‘finding your routine’ advice. Here's a link to the Simple Habit app.
Find out more about Angela and listen to her show here.
Also here is a sneak peek of what she has in s...2017-11-1600 minThe Grow Maine ShowPJ Rose and Haj Carr of TrueLine Public RelationsDo you know why you do what you do? Have you found your why?
We've had Haj Carr on before. Through his entrepreneurship journey he has pivoted away from purely focusing on making money to running a business with a purpose. He creates believers, naturally and intuitively. That partnership has been part of TrueLine Publishing, which tends to work with national clients. But how can Maine businesses amplify their online presence? That's the intention of his new venture, TrueLine Public Relations. So we invited the head of this new local business, PJ Rose, on with us too.
This is an...2017-10-3000 minThe Grow Maine ShowSteve Woods, CEO of TideSmart GlobalSteve Woods is CEO of TideSmart Global, a Falmouth, Maine based experiential marketing company. Seems like someone in marketing could come up with a shorter term for the field, but anyway, it's a growing and important area of marketing – actually experiencing and interacting with a product, in a live setting in which you have to put down your phone. It's what many CMO's in the world of automotive and retail are looking for, and TideSmart Global provides it, all over the world. The company also has a strong focus on environmental sustainability, and developed and built Maine's first Net Zero of...2017-10-1300 minThe Grow Maine ShowAdam Burk of Treehouse InstituteAdam is a social innovator and cultural architect. His life and work is dedicated to living well in this place with others. He creates spaces – physical and programmatic – that raise the level of resilience, and improve communication in communities. Adam made a big leap by launching TEDxDirigo in 2010 and hasn't stopped since, also producing MaineLive and other events in conjunction with his nonprofit Treehouse Institute.
Listen to the episode for an offercode to register for TEDxDirigo RISE coming up on Saturday November 4, and take a look here for guides to creating comfortable spaces for challenging conversations.2017-09-1300 minThe Grow Maine ShowHelping people with big ideas to know where and how to start: Mike Sobol, CEO of Venture Hall Startup AcceleratorMike Sobol has been growing businesses of all kinds, everything from SEO to dog training, for close to 20 years. Together with Jess Knox and Elizabeth Buckley (local startup/venture legends in their own right), he recently launched Venture Hall, a new educational nonprofit in Maine. It's built on the premise that no one owns the best ideas.
Here's the concept: the power to innovate and create rapid, large-scale change is not a magical quality of the chosen few. It’s a process that can be taught and applied by anyone, anywhere, in any business.
After interviewing Mike, I believe it.
Ve...2017-08-2300 minThe Grow Maine ShowNancy Strojny of Portland Maine SCOREThe Portland, Maine office of SCORE is one of the top chapters in the country, and much of the credit is due to chair Nancy Strojny. Following a successful career in product management at Procter & Gamble, Nancy has been running our local chapter since 2009, successfully advising a who's who of Maine startups and growing the mentorship base to cover multiple areas of expertise.
Benefit from the experience of a SCORE mentor - sign up for a mentoring session today.2017-08-0700 minThe Grow Maine ShowLuke Shorty of Maine School of Science and MathematicsLuke Shorty is a remarkable Maine entrepreneur. As the leader of the Maine School of Science and Mathematics in Limestone Maine, he’s made the moves to grow the school and enhance and expand its mission and role in the community. Luke is also a longtime fan and supporter of podcasts, including The Grow Maine Show, and I really appreciate his encouragement over the years. I actually left a little bit of our pre-show chat in the episode, since I thought it was kind of fun review of Maine podcasts, so we started with that. Here are the podcasts we me...2017-07-1500 minThe Grow Maine ShowLucas St. Clair of Elliotsville PlantationLucas St. Clair of Elliotsville Plantation is one of Maine's most remarkable entrepreneurs. He's taking on a different problem than most entrepreneurs - he wants to create a national park in Maine's north woods. We explore how he did it, and the decisions he made along the way.
Whatever you may think of the idea (which I support), Lucas' efforts and approach are a model for taking on a big challenge. I hope you enjoy the interview as much as I did, and if you want to support a fund for Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument operations, be sure...2017-06-2300 minThe Grow Maine ShowSara Whalen Shifrin of the IDEAS CenterGot an intractable problem you need to break loose? Looking for some fresh ideas and new approaches? Design thinking could be the tool you need. My good friend Sara Whalen Shifrin, Director of the IDEAS Center, is your guide and expert. Rather than the solution you think might work, get to the innovation that your customers actually want.
Sara's design thinking camp, known as Field Guide, is coming up. You can arrive on Tuesday morning June 27 with a formless, empty darkness of an idea moving upon the surface of the waters, and on the fourth day, you’ll have created some...2017-06-1000 minThe Grow Maine ShowJess Knox of Maine Startup and Create WeekJess Knox is the co-founder and chair of Maine Startup and Create Week, an amazing and visionary convening of everything startup for the week of June 19-23 in Portland, Maine. Jess has a long background with startups and economic development, having worked for President Obama's Small Business Administration. He's a big thinker and not afraid to swing for the fences. I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did!
MSCW is full of opportunities. If I had to pick just one (besides my talk), I would go with Maine Technology Institute's Tech Walk, which is the networking opportunity...2017-05-3100 minThe Grow Maine ShowMargo Walsh of MaineWorksMargo Walsh is the founder and CEO of MaineWorks, which provides day labor to industrial construction sites. The company is growing quickly, not just in spite of - but because - it has a developed a specialty in working with people in recovery. Finding success by helping to solve a difficult, pressing problem. Remarkable. I hope you enjoy this episode.2017-05-1000 minThe Grow Maine ShowJanine Cary of the Maine International Trade CenterIn 2016: 2,264 Maine companies exported $2.8 billion in goods and services to 168 countries. International trade supports nearly 1 in 4 Maine jobs. The Maine International Trade Center, led since 2005 by my guest Janine Cary, makes it all happen by advising Maine companies on both the technical and the operational sides of exporting.
If your growing business is looking to begin exporting, Maine International Trade Day on May 25, 2017 presents a unique opportunity to get a rocket start. Sign up here.2017-04-2900 minThe Grow Maine ShowThe Importance of Engineers in Growing Maine’s Economy, recorded at Maine State Chamber of Commerce Engineering Workforce SummitA little self-aggrandizing here, since I'm a chemical engineer myself, but I very much enjoyed this talk by Charles "Chuck" Lawton, well known newspaper columnist and consulting economist. The take is that engineers create jobs, and moving engineers into the Maine workforce is a good thing.
Special thanks to the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, who always put on good events, and Headlight Audio Visual, for the great work on the audio for the event.2017-03-2300 minThe Grow Maine ShowThree Rural Maine Businesses Succeeding Because of Broadband InternetJohn Hafford of DesignLab, Rick Levasseur of 5 Lakes Lodge, and Sean DeWitt of Our Katahdin addressed a group of State Legislators, including myself, back in January. During lunch in a pine paneled room at the Northern Timber Cruisers snowmobile club in Millinocket - at an event curated by the Maine Development Foundation - they made a good case for rural broadband expansion, and maybe made fun of each other a little bit too. In a nice way.2017-03-0600 minThe Grow Maine ShowRural Maine’s Next EconomyI carried my podcast recorder to the Rural Maine’s Next Economy Envision Maine conference at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor on Friday February 10. The temperature outside was in the single digits, but inside the ideas were flowing. I captured two segments - the Rural Sparkplugs segment of four minute talks, and the One Minute Big Ideas, an off-the-cuff opportunity to pitch the crowd on your idea. Here the guests in order of appearance:
Amanda Beal, President of the Maine Farmland Trust
Lucas St. Clair, Elliotsville Plantation, Inc.
George Smith, Author, Hunting/Fishing Activist
Bonnie Rukin, Slow Money Maine
Leah...2017-02-1600 minThe Grow Maine ShowHaj Carr, CEO of Trueline PublishingSalsa dancing CEO Haj Carr is on his fourth startup and his fast growing Trueline Publishing in Portland is a breakout digital success. I rolled out some new questions for 2017, like 'what mistake don’t you make anymore', and 'what’s the toughest problem you’ve ever taken on'. (Haj’s response to this one genuinely surprised me.)
This was a very rewarding interview. I hope you’ll feel the same way. Find TrueLine Publishing online and on Facebook. They’re growing, hiring – get involved.
Sign up for the Envision Maine Conference on Friday February 10 in Bangor, and don’t forget to be awesom...2017-01-3000 minThe Grow Maine ShowMaine Technology Institute’s Tech WalkI walked into MTI's Tech Walk with the ol' Zoom H4N at the ready and conducted some on the spot interviews. It was fun to do, and I met some powerful entrepreneurs created success statewide. In this episode I also put in a plug for a Biddeford based pitch contest called Pitch York County, which I hope you'll participate in.2016-10-1200 minThe Grow Maine ShowDerek Volk of Volk Packaging CorporationDerek Volk is president of Volk Packaging Corporation, a Biddeford-based maker of custom packaging. He's also the author of 'Chasing the Rabbit - a Dad's Life Raising a Son on the Spectrum', about raising a child with autism.
This episode was a lot of fun to do, with a discussion of both business in Maine and adapting the workplace to the needs of employees. Derek and the entire company have remained leaders in this area and are to be commended for it.
Of note is that Derek's son Dielawn Volk is now offering autism coaching services. This is a brand...2016-08-0800 min
#2 – Hitting the Roof: Marty Grohman of GAFIn episode 2 of Sustainacast, I sat down with Marty Grohman of GAF – America’s largest roofing manufacturer. In this discussion, we talked about where...2014-07-2500 min
#2 – Hitting the Roof: Marty Grohman of GAF
In episode 2 of Sustainacast, I sat down with Marty Grohman of GAF – America’s largest roofing manufacturer. In this discussion, we talked about where sustainability at GAF has developed from and where it’s headed.
We discussed the market reach and impact of GAF’s “Certified Green Roofer” program, and talked about various considerations in the world of roofing including recycling, insulation, vegetated roofing, rainwater harvesting and touched on some embodied energy conversations regarding different roof choices.
Here’s the show notes with time-markers of what we covered;
05:00 Introducing today’s guest: Marty Gro...2014-07-2542 min