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V o l . X X I N o. I I Ja N ua r y 2 6 , 2 0 1 5 24 get to see which students embrace our mission and have a passion for the kind of work we do," she says. While the partnerships have yielded a pool of pharmacists, finding highly- skilled pharmacy techs and patient care coordinators continues to be a challenge, she adds. is is critical, as pharmacy techs fill prescriptions, investigate benefits on behalf of patients, advocate for patients with insurers and build rapport with patients. at requires people who are fluent with pharmacy terms and can organize, multitask and communicate with customers who are feeling sick and vulnerable. "ese are not easy people to find,"she says. Scholarships to internships Kepware Technologies is also on a growth spurt. e communications software company plans to increase its staff by one third in 2015. e University of Maine's electrical engineering program has been a steady source of junior-level talent for Kepware. e company funds three scholarships and hosts five paid summer intern- ships each year. "It's allowed us to get to know the students, and allows them to get to know Kepware," says Brett Austin, president of the 15-year-old company. Company officials also sit on UMaine's advisory board, so they can provide guidance on the curriculum and ensure that students are being equipped with the skills they need to work in current and emerging markets. But those job candidates get snapped up pretty quickly, especially when other Portland-area companies like WEX and Tyler Technologies are vying for that same junior-level talent. "ere just aren't enough candidates coming out of there," says Austin. In an effort to increase the pool of engineers, Kepware is now trying to reach potential employees even earlier, donating laptops to fourth- graders through the nonprofit Adopt A Classroom and sponsoring robotics competitions for middle schoolers. "[Investments like that] won't impact us for 12 years. But we recognize that there's a shortage of engineers all over F O C U S P h o t o / t i m G r e e n way Calling all Maine Entrepreneurs! Enter for a chance to win $30,000 to help fund the growth of your business by submitting a viable proposal on our website. Member FDIC Equal Housing Lender Entry Period: January 15 - March 1 gorhamsavingsbank.com/launchpad WIN $30,000 FOR YOUR BUSINESS! ยป C o n t i n u e d f ro m Pa G e 2 2 Brett Austin, president of Kepware Technologies, uses internships to increase the pool of potential employees.