Posts Tagged: Alison Lane

Intro to Using Chat GPT in Your Small Business

Decorative image with computer and AI chat screen.

For small business owners, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) can be a game-changer. Among the various AI tools available, Chat GPT stands out as an accessible and helpful tool. Chat GPT specializes in generating text and having human-like conversations. It can assist with various tasks, including writing, brainstorming, planning, and more. In this blog post, we’ll… Read more »

Woof Daycare & Boarding – Glenburn

Group of dogs playing at Woof Daycare & Boarding

Peter Richmond has always been passionate about dogs. When he learned that a well-established dog-focused business was on the market, he saw it as the perfect chance to pursue his dreams. For guidance, his bank recommended he work with the Maine Small Business Development Centers (SBDC).

Crosswind Investments – Bangor

Chelsie Crane with airplane

Chelsie Crane discovered her true calling amidst pages of textbooks when completing her MBA. Driven by her belief that investing and good financial health shouldn’t be reserved for the elite, Chelsie embarked on a journey through the male-dominated field of financial advisory services. A native Mainer and mother of three, she wanted to start her own business to… 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 »

Michael James Murray Photography – Lisbon

Maine coast photo sphere of island, photo by Michael James Murray Photography

Michael James Murray has a long history of photography in his family. He grew up in Rochester, NY, where his dad worked for Eastman Kodak as a Chemist developing the emulsions for consumer photographic film. Later, Michael moved to New York City to work at B&H Photo Video Audio, where he met his wife, a… Read more »

Evolution K9 – Sangerville

Melissa Pitcher opened her business, Evolution K9-Maine, to help guide and educate pet owners. They offer dog training and daycare services that allow pet owners to better understand and improve their relationships with their pets.  

Reflections on 2021: It’s Okay To Just “Be”

By: Alison Lane, Business Advisor & 2021 State Star I used to own a restaurant, and January meant a lot of slow days.  When there weren’t any coffees to pour, dishes to wash, or Quickbooks to update, I would ask myself: “How can I not waste this time?”  “What else can I try to generate… Read more »

Circle Two Disc Golf – Bradford

Disc golf has been rapidly growing in popularity as both a recreational activity and a professional competitive sport. Andrew Kahl is an active member of Maine’s disc golf community and wanted to create his own course on his family’s land. He reached out to the Maine SBDC at CEI for assistance understanding what is involved… Read more »

The Only Doughnut – Belfast

Sally Jaskold, then owner of “The Only Doughnut” in Belfast, came to the Maine SBDC feeling stressed and overwhelmed:  Her successful farmer’s market bakery had morphed into a full-fledged brick-and-mortar operation with multiple employees, and she was feeling limited in her business-savvy skills.  Connecting with Business Advisor Alison Lane allowed her to take a deep… Read more »

WanderWeb – Bangor

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…. Read more »