The State of Maine Small Business Commission

Under Maine Statute, Chapter 381: MAINE SMALL BUSINESS COMMISSION (HEADING: PL 1989, c. 875, Pt. L, @2 (new)), the Maine Small Business Commission was established as an independent commission within the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) to evaluate and coordinate small business and entrepreneurial programs throughout the State of Maine. The Commission consists of 10 members: the Chief Executive Officer of the Finance Authority of Maine; the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development; the District Director of the United States Small Business Administration's Maine District Office; a designee from the Maine SBDC administrative unit, the Dean of the School of Business at the University of Southern Maine; the Chairs of the join standing committee on Business, Research and Economic Development (BRED); the Chair of the Maine SBDC Advisory Board; and 3 public members with expertise and knowledge in small business and entrepreneurship, appointed by the commissioner. The commission is responsible for overseeing the Maine Small Business Development Center Program, enforcing the State contract between DECD and the administrative unit (USM), providing funds along with the SBA and others to the program, and advising the commissioner on strengthening the support infrastructure for entrepreneurship in the State. The Commission brings together the three major collaborating partners of the Maine SBDC: SBA, DECD and USM, to assure a coordinated effort and efficient delivery system of small business technical assistance throughout the State of Maine.

Thaxter Trafton, (Commisioner's Chair Designee)
Department of Economic & Community Development
59 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
(207) 624-9805
fax:
e-mail: thaxter.trafton@maine.gov

John M. Kendall, President & CEO
CHIPCO International
1281 Roosevelt Trail
Raymond, ME 04071
(207) 655-4455 x 103
fax: (207) 655-6665
e-mail: john@chipco.com

Lynn Bromley, Maine State Senator & Senate Chair JSC-BRED
Cumberland - Senate District 30
95 India St
Portland, ME 04101
(207) 799-2065
fax:
e-mail: SenLynn.Bromley@legislature.maine.gov

Susan D. Giguere, CEO
Care & Comfort
180 Main Street, Suite 4
Waterville, ME 04901
(207) 872-5300
fax: (207) 873-6612
e-mail: wecare@gwi.net

Nancy Smith, Maine State Representative & House Chair JSC-BRED
Litchfield, Monmouth and Wales - House District 80
259 Tilson Road
Monmouth, ME 04259
(207) 933-2707
fax:
e-mail: repNancy.Smith@legislature.maine.gov

Beth Bordowitz, Interim CEO
Finance Authority of Maine
PO Box 949
Augusta, ME 04332-0949
(207) 623-3263
fax: (207) 623-0095
e-mail: EBordowitz@famemaine.com

James Shaffer, Dean
School of Business, University of Southern Maine
PO Box 9300
Portland, ME 04104-9300
(207) 780-4020
fax: (207) 780-4662
e-mail: jshaffer@usm.maine.edu

Mark Awalt, Co-owner and V.P. of Finance
JSI Store Fixtures
PO Box 38
Milo, ME 04463
(207) 943-7400
fax: (207) 943-5632
e-mail: mawalt@jsistorefixtures.com

The Maine SBDC Advisory Council

The Maine SBDC Advisory Council is comprised of nine business owners from across Maine who provide advice, feedback and support for Maine SBDC activities. The Advisory Council serves as the voice of Maine SBDC clients in giving insight on new programs and services that are developed to serve the small business community. In addition, Council members function as legislative contacts to communicate their perspective of how our services benefit business owners to both the Maine state legislature and congressional delegation.

Andy Charles, Owner/Operator
Haven's Candies
87 County Road
Westbrook, ME 04092
ph: (207) 772-1557; fax:
e-mail: rhavens2@maine.rr.com

Gary Emmons, Owner/Operator
Exit 43 Quik Stop
712 Main Street
Richmond, ME 04357
ph: (207) 737-2626; fax:
e-mail: quikstop@adelphia.net

Rachel Grivois, CPA
Accounting Services of Maine
Maple Leaf Lane
Herman, ME 04401
ph: (207) 449-1337; fax: (207) 433-0510
e-mail: rgrivois@adelphia.net

Steve Greene, President
Alpha Marketing
67 Main Street
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
ph: (207) 288-4448; fax: (207) 288-4714
e-mail: steve@alphamarketing.com

Diane Sammer, CEO
Emergent Music LLC
565 Congress Street, Suite 201
Portland, ME 04101
ph: (207) 774-3100; fax:
e-mail: desammer@earthlink.net

John Otterbein, Owner/Operator
Wooden Screen Door Company
3542 U.S. Route 1
Waldoboro, ME 04572
ph: (207) 832-0519; fax:
e-mail: customerservice@woodenscreendoor.com

Maine SBDC Counselors

Maine SBDC Business Counselors are qualified small business professionals, who have diverse educational and business experience. Many hold MBA's and/or have owned and operated their own businesses. Often they bring diverse corporate experience to bear on seeking solutions for small business, especially in the areas of marketing, management and operations. Each counselor is required to participate in the New England Professional Development (NEPD) program, which administers core competency standards, personal professional development plans and counselor certification for Maine SBDC personnel.

Counselors can qualify as "Certified", "Certified Senior" and "Certified Master" Business Counselor upon meeting the comprehensive requirements of NEPD. Additionally, Maine SBDC leverages counseling resources through the use of several qualified Associate and Volunteer Business Counselors. Associate Counselors are generally in a situation to provide business technical assistance from time to time by virtue of their organization, experience and job position. Volunteer Counselors are executives in residence who give of their time and talent to help small businesses succeed. The term "Authorized" prior to the title of Associate or Volunteer Business Counselor indicates that a particular Associate or Volunteer Business Counselor has completed NEPD Core Competency Training or its equivalent.

Staff

Dedicated to helping Maine's small business counselors succeed...

Maine SBDC Project Officers

Assigned organizational personnel to the Maine SBDC by its primary funding partners.