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VO L . X X I V N O. X V I I § 2 A U G U S T 6 , 2 0 1 8 8 F I L E P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY Susan Corbett CEO / Axiom (Internet provider) also founder of the National Digital Equity Center What's changed: In 201, we formed a 501 (c)() nonprofi t, Axiom Education & Training Center. AETC provides the adult education in Washington County, digital literacy classes through- out Maine and an after-school STEM program for children 10-1. Axiom, a for-profi t, was awarded a Microsoft grant, and named as a Microsoft partner, to reach the last-mile homes with internet connections in Washington County using TV White Space. What's ahead: AETC, under my direction, launched its fl agship program, the National Digital Equity Center, in 2017. It collaborates with global change makers, relentlessly driving disruptive strategies to close the digital divide in Maine and across the United States. We are in process of apply for an AmeriCorps grant that will fund 2 full-time volunteers (two in each of Maine's 16 counties) to provide digital literacy training to businesses and residents across the state. Advice: ink big, think bold. Follow your passion and love the work that you do. 2010 August 9, 2010 V O L . 1 3 N O . X X M A I N E ' S B U S I N E S S N E W S S O U R C E $ 1 . 0 0 Paper and pulp demand rebounds B Y W H I T R I C H A R D S O N A fter one of the worst years in memory, Maine's pulp and paper industries are bouncing back as myriad factors — from global pulp shortages to a short Maine winter — have combined to increase demand and prices for the mills' products. Maine's paper production dropped from 3.8 million tons in 2007 to 2.8 million tons in 2009, the lowest level since the late 1970s, forcing mills to lay off workers and idle machines. "Last year was a terrible year," says Keith Van Scotter, CEO of Lincoln Paper & Tissue, which operated at below capacity for most of the year. But the effects of the recession that stalled demand last year have begun to ease, position- ing Maine's paper industry for a strong third quarter. Production has picked back up and most mills are again running at full capacity, according to Don White, CEO of Prentiss & Carlisle, a timber management company in Bangor that tracks the state's forest products industry. A l S O I N S I D e Continued on page 6 August 9, 2010 V O L . 1 6 N O . 1 7 M A I N E ' S B U S I N E S S N E W S S O U R C E $1.00 p h o t o / A M B E R WA p h o t o / A M B E R WAt E R M A N Employers adjust to the realities of Maine's increasingly 55-plus work force; an adult education adviser highlights costly overlaps with community college curricula; and Susan Swanton of the Maine Marine Trades Association reports on a $14 million grant's impact on the boatbuilding industry, starting on page 26. Sole proprietors Mike Rancourt and his son, Kyle, beat feet to meet pent-up demand for Maine-made footwear, in Newsworthy. Page 3 Appetite for success Elizabeth Banwell introduces young entrepreneurs developing local food systems, in The Third Sector. Page 24 Document demolishers Disabled workers at SecureRMS destroy clients' confidential information, in New Ventures. Page 32 E D U C A T I O N & T R A I N I N G F O C U S Visit us online to sign up for Portlandbiz: the weekly e-newsletter from Mainebiz is your guide to the latest goings-on in the Greater portland area business community — sent to your inbox every tuesday. tuesday. t Sign up at www.mainebiz.biz/portlandbiz. p h o t o S / t I M G R E E N WAY P R O F E S S I O N A L S E R V I C E S : Lisa Dickson Regional manager and principal scientist, Kleinfelder/S E A Consultants C O M M U N I C AT I O N S : Susan Corbett CEO, Axiom Technologies LLC T E C h N O L O G y : Susan MacKay President, Zeomatrix C O N S T R U C T I O N A N D R E A L E S TAT E : Mary howes President, Howie's Welding & Fabrication; managing principal, Otis Mill Ventures N O N P R O F I T : Nan heald Executive director, Pine Tree Legal Assistance Profiles begin on page 17 Sponsored by: F I L E P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY Mary Howes Board chair / Greater Franklin County Development Council What's changed: A lot has changed for me. I have sold all of my businesses and am semi-retired. I take care of my 2-year-old granddaughter part-time, I assist my 90-year-old mom, and I am just taking some time to relax after years of running businesses. I still am active doing volunteer work. I am a board member and secretary for the Androscoggin Land Trust in Auburn. I am chair of the board for Greater Franklin Development Council, an economic development group in Farmington — always looking for ways to improve the economic condition of this area. I spend a lot of time in Rockwood, Maine, and on a boat on Moosehead Lake. I may look for volunteer opportunities while up North. Advice: My best advice to young business women is to stay posi- tive! It really is true that your attitude creates your success. If you keep a positive attitude, positive things happen. You have to always remember that even through the struggles — there will be many — they always pass. Think big, think bold. And follow your Think big, think bold. And follow your Think big, think bold. And follow your Think big, think bold. And follow your Think big, think bold. And follow your Think big, think bold. And follow your Think big, think bold. And follow your Think big, think bold. And follow your Think big, think bold. And follow your Think big, think bold. And follow your Think big, think bold. And follow your Think big, think bold. And follow your Think big, think bold. And follow your Think big, think bold. And follow your passion and love the work that you do. passion and love the work that you do. passion and love the work that you do. passion and love the work that you do. passion and love the work that you do. passion and love the work that you do. passion and love the work that you do. passion and love the work that you do. passion and love the work that you do. passion and love the work that you do. passion and love the work that you do. passion and love the work that you do. passion and love the work that you do. — Susan Corbett, Axiom F I L E P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY Lisa Dickson Associate principal / Arup Americas Editor's note: She declined to take part in the Mainebiz survey this year. In 2010, she was regional manager and principal scientist at Kleinfelder / SEA Consultants in Augusta. Since then, she moved to Boston, where she is associate principal at Arup Americas, an engineering consultancy. She focuses on innovative thinking for how communities endure adversity to become stronger. She led climate resilience projects for clients ranging from the World Bank to Logan International Airport. She has served as a climate-security adviser to the Pentagon and as a technical adviser for the National Science Foundation. Advice: "Be fearless."