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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 9 N OV E M B E R 1 2 , 2 0 1 8 1 gigabit WAN (wide area network) to connect 11 city of Belfast facilities, as well as a shared 500 x 500Mbps internet access for those locations. The proposal was also endorsed by the city's broadband committee. UMaine Foundation hits record for funds raised University of Maine Foundation President Jeff Mills announced gifts and pledges totaling $36.9 million for fiscal year 2018. at total is up 115% over the previous year and brings the total col- lected during the "Vision for Tomorrow" campaign to over $160 million, which is 80% of the campaign goal. "2017–18 was a tremendous year for fundraising at the University of Maine," Mills said in a news release. "As a result, UMaine's endow- ments are now at an all-time high of over $327 million. Private support is provid- ing UMaine students, faculty and staff with crucial resources that enhance their UMaine experience." To kick off 2018–19 fundraising, College of Engineering Dean Dana Humphrey announced a $1 million pledge from the Abbagadassett Foundation to support the Engineering Education and Design Center, UMaine's top capital priority for the Vision for Tomorrow comprehensive campaign. N O T E W O R T H Y N O R T H E R N & E A S T E R N ConvenientMD Urgent Care opened at 543 Broadway in Bangor. Q: Why are some consultants better than others? ACE Advises: Consulting professionals offer services in strategy, operational excellence, finance, IT, diversity, employee engagement, organization, customer service, process effectiveness and innovation. You may be uncertain as to just what mix of subject-matter and problem-solving competencies you need in a consultant, so how you establish the relationship can make all the difference. What can you do? 1. Invest time up front: It's reasonable to expect up to four hours of the con- sultant's time at no charge to assess and build the "fit" or chemistry. a. Ask what they look for in a client. b. Ask what excites them about possibly working with you. c. Ask what they have learned about creating lasting positive change. d. Ask what resources, with different but related skills, they can bring to the situation; and how much experience they have with the resources. e. Ask them what you can do to ensure success. 2. Hold frequent check-ins: One certainty in management is that a project, no matter how small, will have lots of unexpected challenges and opportunities. Whether it's a half-day workshop or a 36-month transformation process, regular check-ins allow you to adjust planned activities as needed. At your 15-to-60-minute check-ins, discuss: a. What's going well, what's worrying you and what you would like their help with. The more open, comprehensive and direct you can be the better. b. What you are learning through this work together and what you are curious about. c. What small ideas/shifts won't cost a lot and what planned expenses can be eliminated. A S K AC E A n s w e r e d b y B e r n a r d M o h r o f I n n o v a t i o n P a r t n e r s The Association for Consulting Expertise (ACE) is a non-profit association of independent consultants who value "Success through Collaboration." The public is welcome to attend its regular meetings to share best practices and engage with industry experts. For more information go to www.consultexpertise.com. Bernard J. Mohr, a change strategist and an expert in human systems innovation, specializes in guiding complex professional service organizations as they grow from good to great. He can be reached at bjmohr@innovationpartners.com or 207-807-4974. Engineering Positions Texas Instruments is looking for people to fill engineering positions working with semiconductor technologies We are recruiting at various education and experience levels Some positions may require travel. Please send in resumes using the individual URL code for the position listed. EOE South Portland, ME Apply for Job Using this Link: http://tinyurl.com/y88xteez Manufacturing Product Engineer: 75 Pearl Street, Portland, ME 04101 | 207.773.5651 | MPMLaw.com protecting what matters From education and business law to real estate, employment law and estate planning — every case, every detail and every person matters. N O R T H E R N & E A S T E R N

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