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39 B U S I N E S S P RO F I L E S B U S I N E S S P R O F I L E S S P E C I A L A D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O N University of Maine Graduate and Professional Center/Maine Center Ventures University of Maine School of Law, Room 710, 246 Deering Ave., Portland, ME 04102 Higher Education/ Economic Development/ Nonprofit Terry Sutton, CEO Founded 2017 Number of Maine employees: 5 www.umainecenter.org Conferences/Events: One of the key functions of the Maine Center is to serve as a convener of the employer community; creating a space for employers and academics to connect as well as acting as a liaison between employers and the university sys- tem as a whole. An example of this work is the Arctic Futures Institute: a joint initiative between the Center for Oceans & Coastal Law of the University of Maine School of Law, the Climate Change Institute of the University of Maine, and the World Ocean Observatory. e mission of the Arctic Futures Institute is to understand and communicate issues relating to the northern latitudes through examination of policy and law, science and research, education and public engagement. e University of Maine Graduate and Professional Center is a uniquely collaborative model with law, business and public service programs that are integrated, innovative and well-con- nected with the employer community throughout Maine. is cross-disciplinary, and market-driven approach will differentiate the Maine Center from traditional graduate programs and help Maine attract and retain talent to lead its evolving economy. l e Opportunity Mainers are now competing in a much faster-paced economy, marketing goods and services in a much smaller world. ose who create, lead and manage Maine's private and public enter- prises need to be better and more broadly educated. ere are bright spots in the economic forecast. Maine has a vibrant culture of entrepreneurs and a high first-year survival rate for startups. Maine continues to add jobs in high-wage sectors such as busi- ness and professional services, and to increase international trade. e Maine Center is well placed to build on these positive trends by expanding and deepening the talent pipeline to support current employers and attract new businesses to the state. ree key strengths distinguish the consortium: Innovation & Creativity: e schools of the Maine Center bring a powerful mix of vision, strategy and execution to the fields of business, law and public policy. In addition to conduct- ing ground-breaking research and solving real-world problems, they are developing new programming that takes advantage of the inter-disciplinary strengths of the consortium. Experiential Learning: e Maine Center offers students mean- ingful opportunities to practice their new skills in real world settings, believing that people learn best by doing, and skills and competencies are more valuable when they are grounded in actual application. Service to the Community: Public universities have an obli- gation to support the broader community and contribute to the overall welfare of the state. e Maine Center feels this commit- ment deeply and wants to honor it, both by working directly to solve current challenges and by amplifying the work of others by sponsoring sector-specific initiatives and connecting the academic programs with the employer community. e Offer e University of Maine Graduate and Professional Center offers a number of pathways to graduate students, professionals and businesses seeking to expand their knowledge and expertise. Graduate / Professional Degrees: e Maine Center offers unique and innovative specialized degree programs that bring together business, law and public policy to produce highly quali- fied and employable leaders. As part of its core programming, the Maine Center aims to (i) deliver a student experience that engages with employers to gain more marketable, relevant skills and on- the-job training; (ii) design academic programming that is relevant, responsive and tailored to employer needs, and (iii) provide expanded opportunities for national and international education exchange. Certificate Programs / Executive Education: In addition to its degree programs, the Maine Center provides specialized creden- tials that are highly desirable in today's competitive marketplace. Certificates, like the Certificate in Compliance, provide businesses with targeted, timely expertise and professionals with marketable, relevant skills that make them more employable or allow them to increase their level of responsibility within an organization. e Maine Center will continue to develop a robust executive education program, including options for cohort-based program- ming to support the growth of promising managers in Maine. Incubator/Accelerator: e Maine Center facilitates col- laboration with entrepreneurs, startups and local businesses to foster innovation and new ways to cultivate economic growth and solve problems both within Maine and beyond. For example, the Entrepreneurship in the Blue Economy program is a series of networking events and panel discussions that bring together entrepreneurs and business leaders focused on growing Maine's seafood industry and food economy in general. " Maine Center is a bold initiative that capitalizes on the strengths of our universities and recognizes the central role the University of Maine System plays in driving statewide economic prosperity. " — James Erwin, Chairman of the University of Maine System Board of Trustees

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