The Maine Small Business Development Centers (Maine SBDC) has selected Anne Lancaster as the 2023 State Star. The award, given annually, recognizes a member of the Maine SBDC staff who has shown exemplary performance and a strong commitment to small business success.
Anne Lancaster is a business advisor at the Maine SBDC at University of Southern Maine. She works with entrepreneurs and small businesses in York county to start, sustain and grow their businesses. In the four years she has been with the Maine SBDC, she has spent approximately 3,500 hours advising over 900 clients. She’s helped to start 13 businesses, create and save 48 jobs, and generate almost $3.3 million in capital. Anne’s clients rave about her ability to listen, her patience, and her supportive and knowledgeable approach to business advising. Read More
Katie Saunders, NP-C, is a primary care provider (or family nurse practitioner) and an environmental activist. Her husband, Matt Saunders, was a professional chef for over 20 years and is now a stay-at-home dad to their 3 children. Their backgrounds in farming, food, and environmental activism led them to start 1 Earth Composting, a residential and commercial composting business offering subscriptions for curbside pickups of compostable materials. They found that sweet spot within their vocations and passions! 
Phillip Badger has 17 years of experience in the bar/restaurant industry, working his way through each front-of-house position. And though he loves the bar/restaurant world, he’s not a big fan of the late hours so he’s spent the last few years consulting. Having set down roots in Southern Maine he’s ready to share his expertise with fellow Maine restaurant owners. But setting out on his own as a first-time business owner meant he had a lot of questions! 
Lisa Park Laflin grew up in the Farmington area, left for a number of years but returned to raise a family and enjoy the mountains of western Maine. After a long career in non-profit management, she was looking for a way to combine her love for community, art and upcycling. Ultimately, this led her to purchase Wears & Wares, a boutique consignment shop that sells clothing, upcycled and vintage items, and offers workshops ranging from repurposing furniture to making jewelry out of computer parts! 
Michael Odokara has one of the most important elements needed to succeed in entrepreneurship, a growth mindset! Having founded 
Making the transition to digital marketing has not been easy, especially for rural Maine. With a lack of internet infrastructure and old-school mentalities, small businesses need to be inventive with their marketing strategies. Noah and Ashley Sixberry know this all too well, both having grown up in Maine. So they started Sixberry Solutions in 2020 to bring quality website design and effective organic marketing strategies to the Maine market, as well as across the US. 
Krystal Stone and Andrew Furbush came to the Maine SBDC in June of 2021. Andrew, a knowledgeable mechanic with a passion for antique and classic car restoration and Krystal who is great with managing all of the aspects of the auto business wanted to start their own company, MotoResto, LLC. At that time, they were looking to purchase the business where they were employed. Maine SBDC at USM Certified Business Advisor, Chris Cole worked with them on financial projections, terms of the sale, and the feasibility of purchasing the business. By doing this process, it helped Krystal and Andrew to realize purchasing that business was not the right option for them. 
Jeffrey Dobson has a passion for helping people through hard times. Born and raised in Maine, he knows how difficult dealing with the death of a loved one can be. Facing the complex and expensive funeral system after his mother passed in 2005 taught him some valuable lessons. He is now using that experience to guide his new business Dobson Family Funeral & Cremation Services, providing compassionate and affordable funeral & cremation services in Arundel. 
Michael Begley was the 5th generation to work at the restaurant his father’s family owned and operated. So when his mother pitched the idea of a waffle-themed restaurant, he knew it would be worth moving to Maine to help with! In the fall of 2019, they got started in their first location. However, COVID quickly had them shifting their plans and attention to their current Dover-Foxcroft location, in what they lovingly refer to as “The Waffle Barn”. In February 2021, they opened their doors as Peace, Love, Waffles – “the cutest little breakfast joint in New England, specializing in gourmet waffles!” There they offer a robust menu of sweet and savory waffles, plus community events! 
Market research is one of the first things small business owners should consider when starting their business. This research will help you identify who your customers are, what they like, and how best to reach them.