2007 Washington County Business Conference
and Marketplace Showcase

April 20 and 21. Pre-Conference Forum April 19

Welcome to the 2007 Washington County Business Conference and Marketplace Showcase. The theme of this year's conference is "Growing Your Down East Business: From Startup to Profitability". At this year’s conference you will be able to attend a variety of workshops organized around four major themes: Entrepreneurship, Marketing and Promotions, Growing from the Inside, and Human Resources and Leadership.

Whether you are just thinking about opening a business, recently started your business, or have been in business for many years, you will discover a wealth of practical information that will help your business grow and prosper. Many workshops will feature Washington County business owners as panelists or presenters. These successful local entrepreneurs will be sharing their knowledge and experiences with you. In addition, representatives from over a dozen of Maine’s premier business assist organizations will be available to chat informally with you about the programs they have available to assist small businesses.The conference is also an excellent networking opportunity. You will meet many interesting and helpful people who share your passion for starting and growing a business.

Since the conference began in 2003, the conference planners have pursued the goal of increasing opportunities for success for Washington County’s aspiring or existing small and micro-business owners. Our conference exists to inform, train, and equip small business owners with necessary knowledge to improve their business skills to further grow their business, increase entrepreneurial skills and improve awareness of community.

A recent survey of conference participants was conducted by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension to determine the impact of the conference. Conference participants reported starting or expanding over 25 businesses since attending the conference. In addition, over 98% of the conference participants said the conference increased their knowledge of operating a business. Many conference participants reported making changes in the business because of what they learned at the conference and, as a result, reported making better business decisions and generating greater sales and profits.

The 2007 conference planning team is pleased to present this year's conference and proud that our efforts and those of previous planning teams strengthen and enhance entrepreneurship in our region. Many people have contributed to this fine event – local business owners, business assist organizations, Washington County Community College, and numerous sponsors. Please take the time to thank them for making this conference possible. We hope you enjoy the conference.

Louis V. Bassano
Extension Professor
University of Maine Cooperative Extension
(on behalf of the planning team)

2007 WCBCM Planning Team

• Dr. Louis V. Bassano, Extension Professor
  University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Machias
• Ruth Cash-Smith, Women's Business Counselor
  Women's Business Center at Coastal Enterprises, Inc, Machias
• Cynthia Fisher, VP of Marketing & Quality Assurance
  Look's Gourmet Food Company
• Brenda L. Frey, Coordinator of Career Development
  University of Maine at Machias, Machias
• Fred Hartman
  DownEast Drawings & Wildlife Art Gallery - Whiting, Maine
• Georgiana Kendall, Washington County Coordinator
  Women, Work, and Community
• Kevin Look
  Fair and Square Builders
• Dr. James C. McConnon, Business & Economics Specialist
  University of Maine Cooperative Extension
• Darin McGaw, Assistant Dean of Student and Community Affairs
  Washington County Community College, Calais
• Marianne Moore
  Curves of Calais, Maine
• Jim Porter, Acting City Manager
  City of Calais, Maine
• Elizabeth Sprague, Small Business Coordinator
  WHCA/Down East Business Alliance (DBA), Calais
• Herb Thomas, Senior Area Manager
  U.S. Small Business Administration, Bangor
• Janet Toth, Business Development Specialist
  Eastern Maine Development Corporation
  Department of Economic and Community Development
• Louise West
  Executive Director - Machias Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, Machias

(Planning team members to be listed soon.)