Posts Categorized: Recovery & Relaunch Resource Center

A&B Naturals – Bar Harbor

Tommy Maruca and Jonathan Record are first time small business owners but long term fans of A&B Naturals, the natural food store they just bought on MDI! The couple shares a passion for a healthy lifestyle and products that are good for both people and the planet. Values they also share with the previous owner,… Read more »

Great Wave Sushi – Portland

White food truck with man inside smiling, Great Wave Sushi food struck with flowers

Seeing young entrepreneurs launch a new business and develop roots in their community is one of the most satisfying outcomes for the Maine SBDC.  It’s even more exciting to help them scale up, grow and succeed. For Alex and Megan Herzog, starting Great Wave Sushi is the perfect example of how a new business with… Read more »

Yarrow – Kittery

Retail display of house plants and other related items at Yarrow in Kittery Maine

In 2019, Jodie Curtis opened Yarrow, a retail shop that invites customers to be curious and explorative about what wellness can look like! Jodie has a background in retail, with experience in wholesale, product development, and marketing, which helped her understand the complexities of owning a retail business. But for her, the creative freedom of… Read more »

Cadillac Mtn. Summit Shuttle – Bar Harbor

Ellen Finn of Cadillac Mtn. Summit Shuttle and Maine SBDC at CEI Business Advisor Ann McAlhany in front of the shuttle van

The best business ideas solve a problem for their customers and Ellen Finn of Cadillac Mtn. Summit Shuttle definitely does that! She has lived and worked as a local tour guide on Mount Desert Island for many years, just outside Acadia National Park. A few years ago, the National Park System instituted a reservation system… Read more »

The Frappe Shoppe – Brunswick

The Frappe Shoppe sign

Jamie Alexander fondly remembers working at the Brunswick drive-in restaurant, which her grandparents started in the 1950s. The restaurant was a staple in the community and Jamie began working there as a young teen, making milkshakes, frappes, and other drive-in favorites.  It has been her dream for a decade to bring that experience to downtown… Read more »

1 Earth Composting – Hampden

Katie and Matt Saunders stand with their young on in front of compost pile

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… Read more »

Sculpture Hospitality of Maine – Portland

Sculpture Hospitality of Maine logo, grey alcohol bottle silhouettes With teal and orange font reading 'Every Ounce' under a orange silhouette of the state of Maine

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… Read more »

Wears & Wares – Farmington

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… Read more »

NKENNE – Portland

Head shot of Michael Odokara with NKEENE logo

Michael Odokara has one of the most important elements needed to succeed in entrepreneurship, a growth mindset! Having founded ESM Global Consulting, an IT consulting firm, he’s familiar with the need to embrace that sweet spot between curiosity and taking action. So when he decided to learn his native language of Igbo during the pandemic… Read more »

MotoResto – Portland

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… Read more »