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57 B U S I N E S S P RO F I L E S S P O N S O R E D C O N T E N T B U S I N E S S P R O F I L E also traveled to Chicago and New Orleans, participating in com- petitions that challenged them to solve real problems under tight deadlines, blending creativity with data-driven decision-making. At the graduate level, MaineMBA students have also taken their studies abroad in ways that connect global ideas back to Maine's economy. In the United Kingdom, a group of MaineMBA students studied Sustainable Ecosystem Economic Development through coursework, research and an international experiential trip led by faculty. eir visits with government officials, business leaders and nonprofit leaders explored how outdoor industries, culture, heritage and nature-based tourism can support thriving rural communities — lessons with clear relevance for Maine. Together, these experiences prepare students to work confidently across industries, cultures and markets while reinforcing that Maine's economy is part of a larger national and global marketplace. Flexibility and Connection As both emerging and established professionals look to deepen their expertise, the MaineMBA provides a flexible, high-impact pathway for advanced business education. e new Low-Residency MaineMBA, launching this fall, combines the accessibility of online learning with meaningful in- person engagement through periodic in-person sessions, offering a rigorous graduate education that allows students to continue advancing their careers while earning their degree. e cohort-based program combines asynchronous online course- work with three required multi-day residencies held at the Maine Center in Portland's Old Port. Students begin with Foundations of Teamwork and Leadership and conclude with the MaineMBA Academy, the program's capstone course. roughout the cur- riculum, they participate in real-world consulting projects with regional businesses, leadership development and other high-impact learning experiences that connect coursework directly to practice. Built in response to growing demand from professionals seeking career advancement while working full time, the pro- gram emphasizes flexibility without sacrificing collaboration, networking or face-to-face learning. "e Low-Residency MaineMBA enables us to deliver a rigor- ous, applied graduate education that fits the realities of working professionals," says Andrew King, Director of the MaineMBA. "rough a thoughtful mix of online learning and immersive, in-person experiences, students gain the skills, perspective, and relationships needed to lead in a rapidly evolving economy. ose connections will fuel individual careers while creating lasting value for Maine and beyond." Whether they begin by launching a business during their first semester or return later in their careers to earn a MaineMBA, University of Maine graduates leave having already practiced solving the kinds of business challenges they will encounter throughout their careers. at combination of hands-on experi- ence, professional relationships and global perspective prepares them to make an immediate impact — whether they build their careers in Maine or wherever their careers take them. l Below: Photos clockwise from top — MBS students at UMaine's Homecoming; members of the UMaine Chapter of the American Marketing Association at the International Collegiate Conference in Chicago; SPIFFY students at the Quinnipiac GAME Forum in New York City, holding their third-place plaque; a group photo at Pompeii during a recent travel study trip to Italy; a final pitch at the MBS Shark Tank competition