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Exhibit space for this year’s Androscoggin Business to Business Trade show on Thursday, June 9th at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee is selling fast, but still available!
Chair’s Comments
This years theme is “Destination: Innovation,” and marks the show’s 16th consecutive performance. The event, organized by the Lewiston-Auburn Economic Growth Council is Maine’s largest one-day business show, attracting nearly 2,500 attendees and 200 exhibitors from around the state each year. Widely considered the “Gold Standard” of trade shows in the State of Maine, this year’s show expects to outperform years past!
Advocacy Survey Moxie Festival Calendar of Events Liberty Festival
Kicking off the morning at 7:15 a.m., the Chamber Breakfast will be held at Bates College Commons on Central Avenue with special guest speaker Michael Austermeier. Austermeier will speak about his role as project manager in charge of refurbishing a vintage 1950’s-era Lockheed Superstar Starliner aircraft for Lufthansa Technic.
Best Places to Work Competition Regional Image Committee
Austermeier will address the crowd about this exciting restoration project currently underway at the AuburnLewiston Municipal Airport. Austermeier will also emphasize how local Lufthansa mechanics, through their innovation, have been able to ensure the plane is refurbished to be virtually identical to the moment the classic aircraft rolled off the assembly line. Only one of four left in the world, Lufthansa plans to use the airliner for VIP rentals and regular passenger flights once the aircraft is airworthy.
What’s Up Chamber Fairy Tale Adopt-A-Spot
NEW COMMUNITY MAP UNFOLDS TO SHOW IT REALLY IS HAPPENING HERE IN THE L/A AREA The Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce is announcing the availability of the new community map. Unlike The Chamber’s previously produced community maps which were renewed every 4 to 5 years focusing on businesses and residents new to the area, this edition of the map has been redesigned to add another dimension: to make it easier for visitors to the area to find our attractions. The new map is the product of over two years of work by The Chamber’s Regional Image Committee. Not only will this new map serve the traditional audiences targeted by the previous maps, it is designed to help a new group of tourists who come to the L/A area to take advantage of all of our cultural, historical and entertainment venues. One side of the map is devoted to helping visitors find these attractions; the other to new residents and businesses.
This year’s event also features a number of other highlights According to Regional including an After Hours bash featuring the culinary delights Image Committee Co-Chair of Schooner Estates, The Great American Grill of the Hilton Jan Barrett, “From destinaGarden Inn Auburn Riverwatch, Rolly’s Diner and Three One tion restaurants to art galCafé. Show hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The show leries to live theaters and has grown in sophistication and size over the past 15 years live music venues to dance performances to festivals to musewith more professional exhibits, modern services, huge door ums and historical attractions to outdoor recreation, the L/A prizes and annual surprises. area has it all! New visitors are finding us every day. The new map helps our tourists find where they want to go in the The LAEGC will continue their annual media blitz advertising in print, broadcast and radio markets in southern, central, L/A area much more easily.” and midcoast Maine providing widespread promotion. Chamber President Chip Morrison is using the new map in
LAEGC Dinner Job Fair Member in Focus Dining & Entertainment Guide
THE BUSINESS SERVICE CENTER AT KEYBANK PLAZA P.O. BOX 59 LEWISTON, ME 04243-0059 PH: (207) 783-2249 FAX: (207) 783-4481 WEBSITE:
The 16th annual Business to Business Trade Show is made possible by our Gold Sponsors WGME-13, Fairpoint Communications, the Sun Journal, Gleason Radio Group stations WTME, WOXO, and WEZR 1240, Nassau Broadcasting stations Frank FM, The Bone, WBACH, The Wolf and Oldies Channel AM 870 and AM 1470. Prime Sponsors include Mainebiz and St. Mary’s Health System.
his community presentations on how the L/A area has changed. Holding the new map up for all to see he said, “This map paints the correct picture of the modern L/A area – a place where people from around Maine and New England and beyond come for fun and leisure activities.” In addition to the traditional hard copy version, the map will be available on line at www.villageprofile.com and on The Chamber website in approximately 60 days.
Exhibit space is still available, with special prices offered to Androscoggin County Chamber members. For more informa- Local businesses and residents can pick up copies of this new tion, contact the Lewiston-Auburn Economic Growth Council map at The Chamber office located in the Business Service Center at KeyBank Plaza, 415 Lisbon Street in Lewiston. at 784-0161 or visit www.economicgrowth.org.
WWW.ANDROSCOGGINCOUNTY.COM
E-MAIL: INFO@ANDROSCOGGINCOUNTY.COM
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CHAIR’S COMMENTS By Susan Stacey
On Wednesday, August 31, the 12th Annual Chamber/CMCC Foundation Scholarship Scramble will tee off to raise funds for scholarships. Start will be at 10:30 a.m. at Poland Spring Golf Club. Last year, over 80 Chamber members signed on as sponsors and the tournament raised $42,000 in scholarships for local students to attend college.
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$5,000 (limited to one) $2,500 (limited to 2) $1,500 (limited to 2) $1,500 $1,000 (limited to 5) $500 (limited to 2) $400 $200
Call Chip or Maureen at The Chamber and let him know that you will join the 30 organizations who have already signed on as sponsors. Let’s keep up our momentum, providing important support for local students to attend post-secondary education.
BUSINESS ADVOCACY SURVEY In late March and April, The Chamber’s Business Advocacy Committee surveyed Chamber members about the issues they thought important to emphasize in our work with legislators and local governments. And over 200 members took the time to fill out the detailed survey. The Business Advocacy Committee will be analyzing the results of the survey and putting together a report to state and local government officials as well as to members.
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Chamber/CMCC Scholarship Scramble
Tournament Sponsor Tournament Co-sponsors Cart Sponsors Reception Sponsors Contributing Sponsor Longest Drive Sponsor Hole Sponsors Green Sponsors
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Solicitors are now seeking the following sponsors:
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Auburn Citizen of the Year at Lost Valley Not Your Normal Formal at Ramada Conference Center Seminar, “Attitudinal Excellence,” with Bob LaBrie of Maximum Potential, 11:30 am at The Chamber Chamber Breakfast at Hilton Garden Inn Riverwatch, 7:15 am, Work Healthy Breakfast LAEGC Annual Meeting at Ramada Conference Center, 5:00 pm KeyBank sponsored Business After Hours at Business Service Center at KeyBank Plaza (Chamber office) Chamber Board of Directors, 7:30 am at The Chamber Seminar, “Working and Living in a Time of Uncertainty,” with Diane Dunton of Potential released Consulting, 11:30 a, at The Chamber Memorial Day, Chamber closed Seminar, “Gender Differences – Enhance Your Ability to Communicate with the Opposite Sex”” 11:30 am – 1:30 pm., at The Chamber
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Trade Show Breakfast at Bates, 7:15am Business to Business Trade Show at Androscoggin Bank Colisee Business After Hours at the Trade Show Seminar, “Make Your Commitment to Get More Energy Savings” with Efficiency Maine, 8:30-11:30 am at The Chamber Business After Hours at Sarah Jeanne’s, 5:00-7:00 pm Chamber Board of Directors, 7:30 am at The Chamber
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Liberty Festival, Auburn & Lewiston Chamber closed for Independence Day Holiday Moxie Festival and Chief Worumbo Canoe Race, Lisbon Falls Chamber Breakfast at Lost Valley, 7:15am Business After Hours, Fox Ridge Golf Club, Lisbon Street in Lewiston, 5-7pm
A TRIBUTE TO AMERICA: LIBERTY FESTIVAL 2011 The best Fourth of July celebration in Maine will be in Lewiston-Auburn again this summer. This year’s 15th annual festival will be held only on July 4th with a celebration on the banks of the Androscoggin River featuring a wide variety of food, games, carnival rides, and live music for all ages, and culminating with THE BEST FIREWORKS in the state. For more information, visit www.libertyfestival.org.
2011 MOXIE FESTIVAL July 8 – July 10
Governor LePage addresses sold out Chamber Breakfast at the Ramada Conference Center.
Plans are underway for the 28th Annual Moxie Festival from July 8-10 in Lisbon Falls. The festival is being organized by a local committee. For information about sponsorship opportunities or events at the festival, check out the Moxie Festival website, www.moxiefestival.com. .
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BEST PLACES TO WORK COMPETITION The Maine State Council of the Society for Human Resources Management is looking to honor companies that have established and consistently fostered outstanding workplace environments. It is the “Best Places to Work in Maine” awards program, now in its sixth year. The event is endorsed by, Best Companies Group, the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, Employment Times, HR Times and Mainebiz. “The Maine program has grown significantly each year since its inception in 2005,” said Kristine Avery, Director of the SHRM Maine State Council. “I think the success of the Best Places to Work program is a true testament to Maine businesses understanding that they must retain and recruit top talent to be successful.” In June, Best Companies Group will survey all the Maine companies that have registered online by the deadline of May 27. The scientifically validated survey will incorporate a company’s employee benefits and policies and responses from a comprehensive employee engagement and satisfaction survey. The data collected from the assessment will be used to determine the Best Places to Work in Maine. “Businesses are the backbone of the Maine economy,” said Governor Paul LePage. “The ‘Best Places to Work’ project gives employers the opportunity to highlight the best of the best. There are many great companies, big and small, in our state and I encourage people to take part in this program.” First place winners of the fifth annual “Best Places to Work in Maine” program in 2010 included Unum, based in Portland, in large size company category and Kennebec Savings Bank in Augusta in the small/medium size company category. Mary Hammond, Vice President and Human Resources Officer at Kennebec Savings had this to say about the program: “At Kennebec Savings Bank, employee retention is everything because our employees are everything. We feel strongly that if we treat them well, not only will they treat us well, they will treat our customers and each other well, too. Participating in the Best Places to Work in Maine has been a great ‘pulse check’ on that point. The valuable information in the reports helps us to affirm what we are doing right to keep our employees happy and where we have opportunities for growth.” The Best Companies Group employee feedback report is presented to each participating company, whether or not they made the list. The report includes the summarized employee engagement and satisfaction data, the Maine benchmark report, and the transcript of employee written comments. Many companies use the report to make significant improvements in their workplace culture. Any company with at least 15 employees in the state of Maine is encouraged to participate. Companies selected as a “Best Place to Work in Maine” will be announced at a gala event in the fall of 2011. A complete list of top companies will be featured in a statewide publication put out by Mainebiz. There is a fee to participate in the Best Places to Work in Maine program that helps cover administrative costs and the production of the employee feedback report. Interested companies can apply to participate in the program online at www.bestplacestoworkme.com. The deadline for registration is May 27, 2011, and all registered companies will be surveyed simultaneously following the deadline date.
Representative Bruce Bickford of Auburn and Lewiston with Business Advocacy co-chair Clif Greim of Harriman Associates and Chip Morrison at Business Day at the Capitol on March 29th. Other Chamber members participating included Rick Malinowski, Ken Bellefleur, Vicki Poland, and Mark Plourde of Procter & Gamble, Tom Brennan of Poland Spring Bottling Company, Kevin Healey of St Mary’s Health System, Susan Stacey of Central Maine Community College, Betty Liscomb of Beauti Basics Skin Care, Ralph Wallace of Trask-Decrow Machinery, Mark Adams of Sebago Technics, Elaine Hemenway of Payroll Management, Barbara Trafton of Keller Williams Realty, Kate Egeland of International Paper, Stephanie Gelinas of Sandcastle Clinical and Educational Services, Dan Smiley of Turner Publishing, and Dan Mynahan. Chamber members were matched with local legislators to talk about issues facing local businesses.
PRESENTATION PROMOTES LOCAL AREA The Regional Image Committee under chairs Jan Barrett of the Ware Street Inn and Peter Murphy of Neokraft Signs have developed a twenty minute presentation which dramatically demonostrates all the positive changes in the L/A area over the last decade. That presentation was first given by Chamber President Chip Morrison at the Chamber Breakfast on February 10th and has since been delivered over a dozen times to service clubs and employers all over the local area and beyond. And the reaction of audiences has been one of absolute amazement. Some comments have included: “I didn’t realize that we had become such a destination for leisure and recreation — people from away are coming to L/A to dine at local restaurants, watch concerts, go to theatre and art galleries.” The presentation quotes the Boston Globe depiction of “A Newer, Hipper L/A.” During the presentation Chip frequently says, “Who knew?” And he concludes with “As we developed this presentation, even we were surprised by all the L/A area has to offer. To date the presentation has been made to three rotary clubs, the staff of three local real estate companies, staff groups from both hospitals and Central Maine Orthopaedics, the management team at Fordland, and the Lewiston School committee. Soon the presentation will be available on The Chamber website. Chip says his goal is to make the presentation to more than 10,000 people in the next year — both within the local area and to people who will travel here from away. If you have a group for whom you would like to arrange the presentation, call Chip or Maureen at The Chamber at 783-2249.
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WHAT’S UP…?
Androscoggin Head Start and Child Care announces the hiring of Anneke MacIsaac and Tekia Moore as Site Supervisors.
New England’s Wholesale trade organization, the Boston Shoe Travelers, named Lamey-Wellehan as New England’s “Shoe Retailer of the Year”
Camden National Bank welcomes Ward I. Graffam, Jr. as Regional Vice President and Commercial Regional Manager in the Lewiston office.
The YWCA of Central Maine has contracted with Austin Associates to provide financial, human resource, marketing, and facilities management services. Austin Associates is pleased to join forces with a community resource that is much needed, much valued and meeting the needs of its community for over 130 years. PowerPay, a leader in the payment processing industry, announced their partnership with Payroll Management, Inc. The agreement gives businesses utilizing the services of Payroll Management, Inc. a preferred option for credit card and electronic payment acceptance. L/A Arts is proud to announce Odelle Bowman as their new Executive Director. The Rehab Center at St. Mary’s d’Youville Pavilion has been recognized with an ”Honorable Mention” in Dorland Health’s annual Silver Crown awards competition. Festival Francofun, June 3 & 4 at the Franco-American Heritage Center – Friday 11:30am-11:30pm. Saturday, crepe breakfast 7-10:30am $6. Lunch and entertainment available all day and a full course bean supper 4:30-6pm for $7. Music and dancing, until 11p.m. The cost is $10.00 per day (no food included). Visit Photo Finish where painter/photographer Wayne Miller has just completed a colorful, enchanting mural. This is a great opportunity to take fun photos of your family to celebrate spring! Stop by or call 783-3354. Firestone Building Products Company, LLC, announced that Industrial Roofing Co. has earned the 2011 Firestone Master Contractor Award and the Firestone Inner Circle of Quality Award. The employees of Poland Spring’s Kingfield plant recently welcomed United States Senator Susan Collins to tour the facility and to celebrate adding 22 jobs and earning the 2010 “Best Factory in North America” award from their parent company, Nestlé Waters North America. Mothers Day is coming! René Minnis Photography will be offering custom gift certificates for the Mom in your life. Have a family portrait done for Mom (or perhaps with her!). You will receive a certificate with a personal message perfect for framing. www.reneminnisphoto.com, rene@reneminnisphoto.com, 838-6420. April marks the one-year anniversary of Lewiston Auburn Magazine. Remember Chamber members, you get a half subscription for free! Want the other half for less than $10? Contact Editor Joshua Shea at jshea@independentpub.com for the online link exclusive for Chamber members only!
Macaroni Kid Lewiston-Auburn is the place to find out all about fun family activities in the Lewiston-Auburn area. Subscribe to this free enewsletter. Visit lewistonauburn.macaronikid.com to subscribe. For more information about advertising email colleenls@macaronikid.com. Acadia Business Advisors, LLC has become the exclusive outsourced franchise development company for the Natural Fruit Co and their Fruti Franchise, for North America, frutifranchise.com. Recent Promotions at Camden National Bank: Nancy Richard has been promoted to Retail Lending Officer, remaining in the Lewiston office. Sonia Theberge has been promoted to Branch Manager/Retail Banking Officer, remaining in the Lewiston office. Goodman Wiper & Paper is the exclusive distributor for MeterPak concentrated cleaning products. Most concentrated or ready to use cleaning chemicals are over 98% water. MeterPak products are powder packs that dissolve in water saving space and cutting shipping costs dramatically. Call Ken Goodman at 784-5779. ServiceMaster Fire & Water Restoration and the NIAW of Androscoggin Valley have partnered to present two CE classes, May 11th. Register by contacting Cyndy Zils at czils@smfireandwater.com. 8:30am - 12:30pm - Personal Lines Coverage Gaps and Solutions & 1-5pm Insurance Fraud. Central Maine Community College President Scott Knapp has announced the appointment of Glen Mercier as the Veterans to College Coordinator. The Atrium Art Gallery at USM’s Lewiston-Auburn College presents “A Matter of Perception: Juried Exhibition by Artists with Disabilities,” now through May 24. For more information contact Robyn Holman, curator, 753-6554, or visit the gallery’s website www.usm.maine.edu/lac/art. May 5 - Walking Tall: A Tour of Today’s Shoe Industry in L-A, 9:00 a.m. -12:30 p.m. Join Museum L-A for a morning of travel showcasing three facilities still engaged in manufacturing in the shoe industry. Pre-registration required. Free admission. For more information call 333-3881. Install a new Okofen wood pellet boiler and Heutz Premium Pellet Systems in Lewiston will lock in your wood pellet price to the equivalent of $1.99/gal heating oil until June 30, 2014. Some restrictions apply. For more information, call 782-3171, or visit www.heutzpellets.com. Celebrate Cinco De Mayo (May 5) at Pedro O’Hara’s, Mexican Beer & Specialty Drinks. Trivia, Prizes & Give-A-Ways. Participate in their “Hot Pepper Eating Contest”! Live Entertainment. Come dressed in your favorite Mexican Attire! Be sure to learn about their new Coin Club (mug club). www.pedrooharas.com, 783-6200.
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GLEASON MEDIA SERVICES
Dick Gleason
President & General Manager Tel: (207) 784-5868 Cell: (207) 754-3777 E-Mail: DickGleason@Gmail.com Office: 555 Center Street, Auburn, ME 04210
Radio Stations
WOXO 92.7 & 100.7 • WEZR 1240 • WTME 780 & 1450
Internet Services
Email Marketing • Web Site Development www.GleasonMedia.com
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USM’s Lewiston-Auburn College will be presenting an introductory course in applying Lean principles and methods in transactional environments this summer. Tuesdays, 5:30 p.m., May 24-August 16. For more information please contact Betty Robinson at 753-6550 or email brobinso@usm.maine.edu. Shaker Hill Landscape & Nursery is changing the name of the business to Shaker Hill Outdoors and expanding into outdoor recreation. Graduates of the Lewiston-Auburn Training, Distribution and Logistics (TDL) Collaborative were honored recently in a ceremony held at Central Maine Community College. This coalition has undertaken a three-year initiative to develop training and employment opportunities in the TDL sector. Over 1,000 people participated in the Lewiston Auburn Film Festival, held in downtown Lewiston/Auburn on April 2, with organizers estimating at least half were not from the Twin Cities. Filmmakers from as far away as Syria, England, Poland and Australia attended the event. Baxter Brewing Company, Maine’s newest microbrewery and the only New England brewer to ship all its beer only in metal packaging (cans and kegs), recently announced plans to double its current production capacity after only ninety days of operations. Let Shads Advertising help you maximize your return from the June Business to Business Trade show. Whether you are introducing a new product/service or promoting a special offer, they can help come up with creative ideas to attract people to your booth and help you get qualified leads! Visit www.shads.com or call 782-0106. May 21, 6:30pm - 9:30pm at Holly’s Own Deli and Restaurant, Auburn. Middle Eastern Dance Night. Come enjoy a night of live music, including the band Okbari from Portland, and belly dance performances all evening. There is no cover charge, but donations are collected during the night. FMI: www.bellydancingmaine.com. The Maine Blues Festival, being held June 17, 18, 19 in Naples, ME is looking for sponsors and volunteers. Event Sponsor - $3000, Platinum Sponsor - $1000, Gold Sponsor - $500, Silver Sponsor - $250, and Bronze Sponsor - $100. For more information contact Ken Goodman 7845779 or ken@goodmanwiper.com 6th Fenn-Ross Cup Heritage Golf Tournament May 22 at Poland Spring Golf Course. There will also be an opening reception at the Maine State Building for the new home of the Maine Golf Hall of Fame. Proceeds benefit the Poland Spring Preservation Society. FMI: 998-4142 or visit www.polandspringps.org. 4th Annual Poland Spring Heritage Day, May 28, 10am-3pm. Held on the grounds of the Poland Spring Resort and Preservation Park. Proceeds benefit the Poland Spring Preservation Society and other local charities. Last year’s event attracted over 2,000 people! FMI: 998-4142 or visit www.polandspringps.org.
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Representatives of the Central Maine Medical Center Woman’s Hospital Association recently presented CMMC’s Sam and Jennie Bennett Breast Care Center with a donation of more than $4,200 that will be used to cover the cost of mammograms for patients with special needs. Looking to have your hearing checked or know someone who could benefit from this service? Sandcastle Clinical and Educational Services (72 Strawberry Avenue, Lewiston) has added audiology to their menu of services! Hearing evaluations can now be scheduled for individuals of ALL ages. Call 782-2150 for an appointment. The event “Art Walk Lewiston Auburn” will take place on May 27. Motivated members of the community, who care about the importance of art and culture in these twin cities, are organizing an art walk in the downtowns. Join them on a self-guided exploration of art and sculpture in the heart of Lewiston Auburn. For more information visit: www.ArtWalkLewistonAuburn.com At the NorthEast Passenger Transportation Association Conference held in March, the Lewiston/Auburn Transit Committee was recognized by the Federal Transit Administration Region 1, for having the “Best Overall Transit Map” for 2011. Art Boulay of Strategic Talent Management was selected to be a member of The International Faculty for TTI Performance Systems and Success Insights International. For more information visit www.strategictalentmanagement.com/about-art-boulay.aspx. Jim Emerson, President of Emerson Toyota in Auburn is celebrating his 15th Anniversary in business. He will have free give-aways for Celtics and Red Sox tickets along with t-shirts and hats. Samantha Holden was recently hired as a Sales Professional. Call, click or stop by today! www.emersontoyota.com The HR Certification Institute has recently certified Diane McIntire of Brann & Isaacson as a Senior Professional in Human Resources. Martindale Country Club introduces their Cork Club. This club enables members to have wines of their choice on hand and served in the lounge, dining room or deck. Order your wine today to have it in for the beginning of the season! Call Mike at 782-1107, ext 1. Your MBA, Your Way at SNHU Maine in Brunswick and now in Auburn! Get a highly affordable MBA that’s tailored to your career needs and interests. For more information call Southern New Hampshire University’s Maine location 800.427.9238 or email Sheila at s.wenger@snhu.edu to set up an appointment. A $10,000 Make A Difference Day Award from Newman’s Own went to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Maine for projects conducted by Kevin Mitchell and Laura Davis of Rinck Advertising. Diane Thibodeau of Tri-County Mental Health has been recognized by the Maine Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program with the Statewide Excellence in Long Term Care Award.
The Lewiston Regional Technical Center will add Travel, Tourism & Hospitality training to their programs offered. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recently announced the appointment of William Card as a Lender Relations Specialist in the Augusta, Maine District Office. Join Tri-County Mental Health Services for a Preview Screening of “The Rehearsal” - Winner of the MPBN Director’s Award for ‘BEST MAINE FILM’ in the L/A Film Festival! At the Lewiston Public Library, Callahan Room, May 27 at 12noon. For more information call 783-9141. Upcoming Wellness Council of Androscoggin County meetings: Mental Health and the Workplace. July 26, 7:30-9:00am. November 1, from 7:309am learn about Tools for Creating and Implementing Worksite Wellness Plans. For more information, contact Healthy Androscoggin at 795-5990 or info@healthyandroscoggin.org.
If you are hiring this year, we can reduce the risk you will hire the wrong person. Our new website shows you how: www.StrategicTalentManagement.com
ART BOULAY, MBA CEO & Chief Talent Officer 207.373.9301 ABoulay@StrategicTalentManagement.com
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CHAMBER FAIRY TALE There’s a lot to be said for joining a Chamber of Commerce, I thought to myself when I started Gold Star Honeybees. Except that a Chamber of Commerce might just be a bunch of dull sleepy business people with no energy, hard to get excited about new ideas, hard to get moving... But when I joined the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce and met Chip Morrison, I found that nothing could have been further from the truth! The rest of the story reads almost like a fairy tale! Read on: Once upon a time, two members of the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce met at a Chamber event. They exchanged pleasantries, and business cards, as you do - and those business cards floated around in those odd places that business cards float around - on the corner of the desk, in a pile by the computer monitor, on the corner of the kitchen counter - waiting to snag on something. Suddenly - a connection was made! Gold Star Honeybees needed a new supplier/manufacturer for the Gold Star Top Bar Hive kit, and Riverside Millwork Center had just the right combination of skills, qualities, and equipment for the job. The two businesses began working together, meeting to iron out the quirks of the kit-building process, and when they were ready, beginning production. And on Monday, March 28th - the first Gold Star Top Bar Hive kits produced by Riverside Mill Works Center were delivered and Voilà! A new and brilliant alliance has been formed.
ADOPT-A-SPOT TO BEGIN 28 SEASON
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With the spring planting season almost at hand, organizers of The Chamber’s popular Adopt-a-Spot beautification program are getting ready. The project, part of The Chamber’s Regional Image Committee, is now in its 28th season. Local businesses and civic groups get an opportunity to help beautify the Twin Cities by planting public gardens on municipally-owned lands in high visibility places. The Chamber provides attractive signs to recognize each spot’s sponsor. While adopters are expected to commit to a spot for only one year, many businesses and groups choose to keep their spot year after year. Over 40 locations were planted last year at parks, traffic islands, welcome areas, boat launches, and bridge entrances. It’s not too late for those interested in getting involved in the program. Call Emily Conley at the Chamber at 783-2249 for more information.
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LAEGC ANNUAL DINNER FEATURES RETURN OF “L-A TONIGHT SHOW!” Mark your calendar, clear your schedule and save the date! Back by popular demand, the Lewiston-Auburn Economic Growth Council is pleased to announce the return of the exceedingly popular “L-A Tonight Show!” Led by internationally renowned artist and owner of the Oddfellow Theater, Michael Miclon will host the event with co-hosts Jason and Matt Tardy also of the Oddfellow Theater. The show expects to be even more popular than last year featuring special guests, musical entertainment and commercial breaks including sponsor messages. The Annual Dinner will be held on Thursday, May 12th at the Ramada Conference Center with a networking social beginning at 4:30 p.m. proceeded by the program at 5:30 p.m.
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2010-2011 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Susan Stacey, Chair Central Maine Community College
Kurk Lalemand, Chair Elect Next Level Business Coaching
Robin Robbins, Treasurer Androscoggin Bank
Art Boulay, Past Chair Strategic Talent Management
Jason Agren Agren Appliance
Jan Barrett Ware Street Inn Bed & Breakfast
Bob Bernier
The Tonight Show-styled theme will feature a number of special guests in attendance including Greg Nadeau, former Deputy Commissioner of the Maine Department of Transportation and current Deputy Administrator for the Federal Highway Administration, Luke Livingston, founder of Baxter Brewing Company, Chelsea Fournier, winner of the LAEGC “Launch L-A!” contest, and musical guest and youngest inductee in the history of the Maine Country Music Hall of Fame, Denny Breau will return to perform a set of his more popular songs.
Advantage Gases and Tools
Susan Berube WGME-13
JoAnne Campbell Mechanics Savings Bank
Michael Cox Central Maine Orthopaedics
Doug DiVello Central Maine Healthcare Corp
Adam Dunbar
As is an annual tradition, the Cities of Lewiston and Auburn will recognize their annual Economic Achievement Award recipients at the event. These awards are presented each year to Lewiston and Auburn organizations or individuals that stand out in their commitment to invest in the community and/or create jobs.
Wells Fargo Advisors
Jodi Eller Procter & Gamble
Patti Gagne Patti Gagne Agency, Allstate Insurance
Stephanie Gelinas Sandcastle Preschool
Registration is due by Friday, May 6th and tickets are selling fast! Reserve your table of 8 for $315.00 or purchase individually for $45.00. Vegetarian and vegan options are still available at no extra cost, but please specify your selection.
Joyce Gibson USM at LAC
Clif Greim Harriman and Associates
Kevin Healey
For more information or to register for the event, please visit us at www.economicgrowth.org, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, call 784-0161 or look for the brochure in the mail. See you there!
8 ANNUAL ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY JOB FAIR
St. Mary’s Health System
Elaine Hemenway Payroll Management Inc
Jennifer Hogan Community Credit Union
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The job fair was held at Central Maine Community College on April 8th. Over 700 job seekers came through the doors to meet with the almost 50 employers at the fair. The event was sponsored by: Northeast Bank, The Chamber, Central Maine Community College, The Employment Times, Gleason Media Group, JobsInME.com, The Lewiston CareerCenter, and the Sun Journal.
Matt Jancovic Oxford Networks
Paul Landry Fish Bones American Grill
Mary LaFontaine Career Center
Michael Malloy Skelton, Taintor & Abbott PA
Scott McKenney Hilton Garden Inn
Bryan McNulty Bates College
Iman Poeraatmadja Burgess Computer
Peter Steele Twin City Times Peter Traill Nason Mechanical Systems Inc.
Hillary Verrill, YPLAA Chair Jennifer Willey Canteen Services
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MEMBER IN FOCUS: by Toni Seger; ProseWorks(tm) Associates
Action Computer If you’re like me, you’re completely dependent on using computers, but you have no idea how they work. Jim Fish, owner of Action Computer, says people like me represent about 90% of typical computer users. Basically, we just want them to work and when they don’t, we need help. When one of my drives failed last summer, I needed help and a friend recommended Action Computer. It was a great recommendation. Action Computer’s Jim, Cathy, Scott and Tom will do whatever they can to save your data while offering the most cost effective options. Jim says, he’s in the sort of business where a customer can just break down and cry because they’ve lost something precious ranging from photos of babies to their entire accounts receivable. “More people back up their data today than a decade ago, but important material is still lost and it can be quite a blow”. Jim also adds, if you’re willing to pay, they can outsource your drive to a data recovery company where each layer is removed and searched. Understanding electronics has always intrigued Jim Fish. As a kid, he liked tearing radios apart and he says if you know a young person who likes problem solving and enjoys taking their bike apart to figure out how it works, you could have the makings of a good computer technician. After service in the air force where he received technology training and worked in radar systems, Jim looked around for something he wanted to get involved in and saw a future in servicing computers. It was 1987 and personal computers were just starting to proliferate among small businesses. “For about four thousand dollars, you got processing power that’s a tiny percentage of what we have today and you didn’t even get a color monitor”, he chuckles. Still, those early PC’s offered substantial advantages to accountants and other businesses that saw them as a good investment and needed maintenance and service. “Speed is critical and that kept improving which meant computers offered more and for less money”, explains Jim. “When they developed dual core systems, they doubled the processing power. Quad core doubled it again.” Today, virus and spyware removal is a big part of Action’s business. “Usually, once a customer realizes something is wrong, it’s too late for simple removal. The machine needs to be wiped clean and the system reinstalled.” Before this is done, a complete ‘picture’ of your data is made and when it’s returned, the data is filtered so that the virus is not returned to the system. These filters are very sophisticated and very expensive. So many viruses are being produced; filters are constantly updated, almost daily. If you’re looking for clues about the sluggish performance of your computer or what your warranty should cover, check out the Answers section at Action’s site: www.acs4u.com/ Macintosh computer owners like myself have long enjoyed not being the primary target of viruses, but Jim says new systems allowing Mac users to run PC programs in their native environment are just as vulnerable to
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viruses in the PC portion of the computer. “Anti-virus software is a multibillion dollar industry which tells you just how serious the problem is.” Action Computer can give your computer a tune-up that Jim compares to replacing your car’s engine. Suddenly, you’re driving a new car! He shows me the inside of a computer and explains how the computer’s hard disk drive is a series of spinning disks where data is read. If a microscopic piece falls off, it creates damage like a vinyl record with a scratch. Keep playing the record and you make it worse. That’s where the need for hardware repair comes in. Today’s diagnostic software has come a long way and service at Action Computer always starts with a diagnosis. Major hard drive manufacturers issue diagnostics for their drives and there are third party diagnostics for testing memory and other components on the motherboard. Action Computer keeps up with all the latest developments. It takes two hours to run a full range of tests and determine if the problem can be fixed from that evidence or if further steps are needed and/or if it’s worth going further. After all tests are run, someone from Action will call with a complete explanation of the situation and all available options. Data is always potentially recoverable, even after it’s been deleted. It’s just the cost of going after it. Since my own problem last summer, I’ve added and upgraded another computer and networked them. Homes today commonly have multiple computers networked that share the use of printers. Small businesses, with more than five computers, usually need a dedicated server providing security and backup, at a central point on the server that is accessible to all stations. Providing peer-to-peer networks is another Action service which Jim compares to the critical foundation of a house. When my laptop didn’t accept an upgrade, I was really relieved it was Action, not me, dealing with it. After a clean install, everything on my drive was returned but, under strict privacy guidelines, was never accessed. Security may be the biggest subject for anyone working with computers. Providing secure firewalls and secure systems for online sales is an extremely important part of Action’s business. Now, Action combines those services with complete web design and building services including a sophisticated understanding of search engine ranking, a number one concern in online sales. Jim shows me attractive sites that are easy to use. As computers became more robust, they also became more energy efficient, especially monitors, a subject that interests Jim who looks for ways to recycle computer parts and refurbish older equipment. If you stop in at 1071 Lisbon Street, you’ll also find Action likes to offer great deals in computer systems and always has something available in their entrance area like a complete introductory system for an unbeatable $700. Whether you’re considering an upgrade or your screen just went dark, call Action Computer at 786-8740.
Prst Std U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #27 LEWISTON, ME 04240
P.O. BOX 59 LEWISTON, ME 04243-0059
CHAMBER PLANS LOCAL DINING & ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE By Chip Morrison We at the Chamber are excited to announce a new program for members that will actively promote the Androscoggin County Region as the state's fastest growing area for visitors! We are unveiling a member supported Dining and Entertainment guide for our communities. Businesses' must be a Chamber member to place their free ads; and the guide will be sold throughout our area - and beyond! Chamber member participation is vital to the success of this program. Figures vary - but your offer of discounted goods and services will pay for itself many times over. One local restaurateur has said that he might give away $500-1000 worth of food, but at a "minimum it would bring in an additional $5000, probably closer to 10,000."
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This collaborative effort is modeled after the successful Portland Dine Around. It will highlight our County as a tourist destination, a recognizable leader in the Arts, and home to some of the best restaurants in the state! Memberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ad sizes will be determined by the total value that is offered to the customer who will be buying the guide. Staff at the Chamber will be available to advise you, and we are anxious to get this underway. Call to set up an appointment to discuss the guide. Our Chamber intern, Kathryn Begg, will also be calling members to seek their feedback and participation. Participation in the Dining and Entertainment Guide will have to be on a first come, first served basis - so don't be left out! When Chamber members succeed - we all succeed! The guides will be assembled over the summer and will be available for purchase in the fall â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in time for the holidays!
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