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V O L . X X X I I N O. X I V J U N E 2 9 , 2 0 2 6 4 C O N T E N T S Game changers Maine athletes, schools navigate the new economics of college sports 10 14 Professional development From apprenticeships to C-suite development, companies steer their futures 18 First jobs, enduring lessons Maine leaders talk about their early business lessons Your Vision. Your Journey. Your pace. Apply Today! sjcme.edu/online Get the degree you want without hitting "pause" on your life. At Saint Joseph's College of Maine (SJC), we bridge the gap between flexible online learning and the personal support of a traditional campus. Why Choose SJC Online? • 100% Online & flexible schedule. • True Mentorship from faculty. • Fast-Track Your Degree • Real-World Edge with expert instructors who guide your future. Affordability Within Reach We believe a quality education should be accessible. We offer: • Competitive Tuition with no hidden fees. • Financial Aid & multiple payment options. • Special Rates for Military, Alumni, and Partners. Multiple Start Dates Per Year Master's Degrees: Business, Education, Health Administration, Nursing, Theology. Postgraduate Certificates: Multiple disciplines available. Featured Programs SP ONSORED BY Leading Through Chaos 2026 Forum Topic: Leading Through Chaos Join Mainebiz for a dynamic morning of insight and connection at the Small Business Forum. Mainebiz publisher Andrea Tetzlaff moderates a panel of seasoned entrepreneurs and business leaders as they share stories of managing through disruption, navigating uncertainty, and offer advice for adapting to rapid change. 7: 3 0 – 1 0 : 3 0 A M / H I LT O N G A RDE N I N N F RE E P O R T D OW N T OW N, 5 PA RK S T, F RE E P O R T MAINEBIZ.BIZ/EVENT/SBF REGISTER AT WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5 PANELISTS TO BE ANNOUNCED! H I G H E R E D U C AT I O N / P RO F E S S I O N A L D E V E L O P M E N T F O C U S R E G I O N A L / I N D U S T R Y T H U M B N A I L O N PA G E 9 » SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER Ken Hanson ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Michelle Phillips Andrew Holub EVENTS & MARKETING DIRECTOR Samantha Elliott OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER Allison Spies DIRECTOR OF AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT Leah Allen A division of New England Business Media LLC P R E S I D E N T / C E O Tom Curtin CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Andrea Tetzlaff DIGITAL DIRECTOR Jan Holder CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mark Jeanneret Carrie Yardley RESEARCH DIRECTOR Stephanie Meagher RESEARCH ASSISTANT Heide Martin ART DIRECTOR Matt Selva HOSPITALITY Buster, Claire, William HOSPITALITY EMERITUS M.J., Malcolm, Zoey PUBLISHER Andrea Tetzlaff EDITOR Peter Van Allen DEPUTY EDITOR Renee Cordes DIGITAL EDITOR Alexis Wells SENIOR WRITER Laurie Schreiber STAFF WRITER Tina Fischer MAINEBIZ IS COMMITTED TO ACCURATE, FAIR AND IMPARTIAL COVERAGE OF BUSINESS NEWS IN THE STATE OF MAINE. P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY F I L E P H O T O University of New England business professor Aimee Vlachos. Kelly Flagg 10 P H O T O / P ROV I D E D P H O T O 18 14 IDEXX Laboratories