Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 7 J U N E 3 0 , 2 0 2 5 Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital in Pittsfield welcomed Northern Light Primary Care in Unity as well as several providers who transferred from Northern Light Inland Hospital in Waterville. Norway Savings Bank completed its $50,000 commitment to the Maine Museum of Innovation, Learning and Labor located in the former Camden Yarns Mill along the Androscoggin River in Lewiston. The bank also donated $10,000 to Portland Community Squash. Skowhegan Savings awarded a total of $14,000 in college scholarships to seven high school seniors. Thomas College in Waterville an- nounced a partnership with Washington Academy, a co-ed independent high school in East Machias, to extend professional and graduate education offerings to academy employees at a discounted rate. Bar Harbor Bank & Trust employees presented a total of $20,000 in dona- tions collected through the bank's em- ployee-driven charitable giving program, Casual for a Cause, to 10 organizations serving communities in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. The Maine Community Foundation in Ellsworth announced a partnership with Maine Venture Fund in Newport. The foundation committed to invest up to 2% of its investment portfolio to support entrepreneurs and business- es by leveraging the fund's positioning as a venture fund 100% dedicated to Maine-based businesses. Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor said its heart specialists have successfully treated three Premature Ventricular Contractions patients by using a new method called Pulsed Field Energy. Sandollar Spa and Pool opened a loca- tion at 193 Broad St. in Bangor. V e r s a n t P o w e r A s t r o n o m y C t r . & J o r d a n P l a n e t a r i u m Versant Power Astronomy Ctr. & Jordan Planetarium U n i v e r s i t y o f M a i n e a t O r o n o U n i v e r s i t y o f M a i n e a t O r o n o University of Maine at Orono H u s s o n U n i v e r s i t y Husson University Maine Maritime Academy Maine Maritime Academy Maine Maritime Academy ABS Center for Engineering ABS Center for Engineering ABS Center for Engineering B e a r d s l e y M e e t i n g H o u s e & G r a c i e T h e a t r e Beardsley Meeting House & Gracie Theatre B u i l d i n g M o r e T h a n J u s t Y o u r B u i l d i n g M o r e T h a n J u s t Y o u r Building More Than Just Your G r a n d d a d ' s O n e - R o o m S c h o o l h o u s e . . . G r a n d d a d ' s O n e - R o o m S c h o o l h o u s e . . . Granddad's One-Room Schoolhouse... N O T E W O R T H Y M I D C O A S T & D O W N E A S T M I D C O A S T & D O W N E A S T N O T E W O R T H Y C E N T R A L & W E S T E R N C E N T R A L & W E S T E R N A S K AC E A n s w e r e d b y A l l i s o n B i s h o p , C P A a n d f i n a n c i a l c o a c h The Association for Consulting Expertise (ACE) is a nonprofit 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. Q: I'm getting concerned about some of my employees' personal finances, but asking questions is uncomfortable. How can I support them without overstepping boundaries? ACE advises: More than anything else — including work, health or family — personal finances are the top source of employee stress. Like many employers, your concern for your team is personal and genuine. But there are also compelling business reasons to help employees gain better control of their finances. Studies consistently show that financially stressed employ- ees are more likely to be late, miss work or underperform while on the job. They're also more likely to seek employ- ment elsewhere. In some cases, financial stress can even motivate fraud. There are other benefits to improving your team's financial literacy. For example, it can help employees understand why you allocate business resources the way you do, and how their work contributes to the bigger financial picture. This is especially valuable if you're considering employee owner- ship — like an employee stock ownership plan, or ESOP — where understanding financial reports becomes essential. Start by reviewing existing benefits. Employees may already have access to useful tools — such as through an employee assistance plan, or EAP — but simply may not know about it. You can also let them know that the Finance Authority of Maine provides free access to a financial edu- cation platform for all Maine residents at fame.enrich.org. If you do create an ESOP, consider offering internal financial education sessions using your company's own reports to build confidence and transparency. For employees who are struggling, confidential ses- sions with a financial coach may be the most effective solution. The company can pay for unbiased, individualized help that equips employees to take control of their financial lives. If you're looking to support broader cultural change, con- sider launching a financial wellness program. This might include lunch-and-learn sessions with outside experts, online tools and one-on-one coaching. You have real opportunities to support your team's overall health — starting with their financial wellbeing. Financial coach Allison Bishop is a CPA and former treasurer of ACE. From her Portland-based practice, Allison assists clients in aligning their financial decisions with their values by providing a friendly, confidential and non-judgmental environ- ment in which clients feel comfortable discussing their personal finances. She can be reached at allison@allisonbishop.com 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 N O R T H E R N & E A S T E R N

• Cover