For years, Corey Zimmerman had worked in healthcare management. She was ready to exercise her creative brain and decided to make the leap into entrepreneurship in 2019. She started The WanderWeb, a web design and digital marketing firm located in Bangor. Corey found her passion for helping local businesses grow by optimizing their web presence. The WanderWeb provides extensive assistance in web design, search engine optimization, photography and video, and social media marketing.
WanderWeb – Bangor
Bath Sweet Shoppe – Bath
An entrepreneur at heart, Jennifer DeChant had always dreamed of owning and running a small business. When her corporate job was eliminated, she took stock of her options. Was now the time to take the leap? During a pandemic? Was it just too crazy?
The Love Card – Penobscot
Even before the pandemic changed the way we interacted with each other, people were looking for deeper connections. Joanne Steenberg found a way to create those shared moments with something called a “Love Card” A simple green circle with a pink heart in the middle and a message on the back saying ‘You are holding this card because you are loved…” They quickly became an easy way for people around the world to make a positive impact in someone’s life.
Wilcox Wellness & Fitness – Brunswick
They say the first year of a small business is the hardest, but for Allison Hopkins year 2 hasn’t been without its challenges as small business owners adapt to COVID-19. In January 2019 she worked with friends Paige and Mike Wilcox to open her own franchise of Wilcox Wellness & Fitness in Brunswick. All things considered, things were going really well. She certainly faced her fair share of challenges and difficulties but while working with Brad Swanson, a Maine Master Certified Business Advisor from the Maine SBDC at CEI, she met her sales goals and a profitable business was well within her sights. She had big plans for the upcoming year.
My-Fit-24 : Gorham
Stacey and Jesse Coleman own My-Fit-24, a 24-hour fitness facility located in Gorham, Maine. Started in 2007, My-Fit-24 provides access to fitness equipment, personal training, and group classes. The couple and their team are passionate about creating sustainable fitness solutions for their clients and community. Their programs are based on science to provide safe and effective workouts.
CrossFit Black Bear – Orono
Lucas Roldan Rozas first came to a business advisor, Alison Lane, for help starting his own CrossFit business but was quickly discouraged by the significant costs involved with starting from scratch. Alison urged him to keep his eyes open for opportunities, since “crazy things can happen.” Within a week, a great opportunity presented itself when the CrossFit business the client worked for went up for sale. Lucas and Alison worked together to craft a business plan and financial projections and, within a few months, he had negotiated a Purchase and Sale Agreement and secured financing through the bank and the seller.Read More
Mountain Side Powersports – Wilton, Maine
Daniel Daigle dreamed of owning his own Powersports dealership. This is why he bought, remarketed, and opened Mountain Side Powersports in Wilton. Located near some of the best trails in Maine, this family-owned and run business will continue the long tradition of selling and servicing snowmobiles, ATV’s and UTV’s, snowblowers, and landscaping equipment.
After first being denied, Dan worked with his bank, Infinity Credit Union, and the Maine SBDC to make needed improvements. Working alongside Business Advisor Peter Harriman, Dan worked to re-analyze his original proposal, together they did more research, and dug deeper to really understand what was going to be involved and what it would take to make it work. The results – a business plan that Infinity Credit Union could trust and back with the loan approval.Read More
Long Shot Revival Homestead
The
Long Shot Revival Homestead, in Orland, is a family farm owned and run by Joe and Haley Brown. Joe is an Army National Guard veteran and initially thought farming and raising pigs would be a good therapeutic outlet as he transitioned back to civilian life. Starting off with just a few piglets, Maine SBDC at CEI Business Advisor Shannon Byers helped them get organized and explored options for expansion, leading to the addition of poultry to the farm. Joe also gained support through a nonprofit called United Farmer Veterans of Maine, aimed at helping Maine veterans navigate and succeed in agriculture and business success. Throughout this growth, he has continued to show commitment to this community in a variety of ways including a 10% discount to fellow veterans.
Hero’s Pizza & Breakfast – Skowhegan, Maine
Derek DeFelice is a decorated Purple Heart veteran and owner of Hero’s Pizza & Breakfast in Skowhegan. Derek and his wife Aaron have worked hard to build this local pizzeria since they purchased it in 2018. Through long hours and sheer determination, they have rebranded and remodeled the restaurant, increase sales, and hired new staff.Read More
Literacy Tech Inc. DBA ReMo – Lewiston, Maine
Michelle DeBlois and Kathryn Lariviere, both full-time middle school teachers, tri-founded LiteracyTech, Inc. with Peter Janett, a web application developer in December 2019. Their vision was to create a web-based application that would bring educators and students together in the independent reading process. The app, which they named ReMo, streamlines the cumbersome and obsolete data management associated with literacy education and helps students engage with books they’ll love.Read More