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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 35 A U G U S T 1 0 , 2 0 1 5 Savings' community-oriented ethos. And in addi- tion to the bridge simulator workshop, they've begun various internal professional competency and management leadership courses, including mentor- ships and individual and team projects. Plans for the second year include time spent pri- marily in business banking operations that serve the fi nancial and lending needs of small- to mid-size businesses, and in commercial lending operations that serve the needs for mid- to large businesses. ere's good reason to focus on banking, says Dickerson. "Across the state and the nation, banks are experiencing a shortage of talented business bankers and commercial lenders," she says. "And that learning curve is typically even longer." In addition to in-house training and mentor- ship, BSB is collaborating with other education and leadership-training organizations. "A big part of the story is that we have incredible talent and resources in our backyard," says Dickerson. is includes a joint partnership with the University of New England. A team of educators, instructional designers and banking professionals from both institutions is in the process of developing and implementing a program of essential workplace competencies for bank employees with management and leadership aspirations, with coursework in often- neglected subject areas such as change response, confl ict management, and strategic leadership. Eight courses of six to eight weeks are off ered online and through hands-on workshops and assigned projects. "UNE will be fi rst to marketplace with this type of off ering," says Dickerson. " ese courses will become available to any UNE student as part of their curricu- lum, and will also be available to any other business that wants to leverage them for their employees." She added, "We're growing our own talent and developing our own internal employees, but with the full intention of getting these courses out into the world. is helps all of us." e connection with SeaChange Resources came on the recommendation of one of Bangor Savings's current managers, who attended a course last year. e leadership consulting program provides inten- sive, experiential coaching to train participants to think strategically, according to Parrott. Lessons learned through the bridge simulator — clear com- munication, role clarifi cation and team alignment — apply to any industry, "MMA has been a tremendous partner," Parrott says. "Leadership is part of their educational mis- sion, and this is another way to use the bridge. So it turned into a win-win situation." Dickerson has a clear idea of how a leader is defi ned in the context of Bangor Savings. "Customer experience is key for us," she says. "So we know, nearly immediately, who is a people person, with a big heart and good decision-making skills and the ability to do the right thing, and who also is professional and has warmth and real pride in what they do — and genuinely wants to do the right thing for everybody they cross paths with. at's the base for a good leader. Give me that base, and then I can develop a good manager." At the end of the program, says Dickerson, Bangor Savings will have eight ready-to-go business banking and commercial relationship managers, underwriters, and/or portfolio managers, all with a comprehensive understanding of the bank's operations and culture. Depending on the preference and aptitude of each participant, and on the savings bank's business needs at the time, each will be given a position in the business banking and commercial lending division. "I don't know if it will be management positions, but it will be positions of signifi cant responsibility far beyond entry level," says Dickerson. Over the next few years, Bangor Savings plans to develop several similar programs to meet the leader- ship and management needs of other business areas, she says. Bangor Savings also off ers informal outreach and assistance to communities and displaced workers. Dickerson says she is confi dent in Bangor Savings' ability to retain these young employees once the program is complete. "We have a commitment to them and their success at every step along the way," she says. "We've chosen terrifi c candidates who already embody some of our core values. ey'll have the advantages of good posi- tions and higher pay, and it's an opportunity to stay in Maine and fulfi ll their career aspirations." "Staying in Maine was defi nitely something that I would like to do, so that was appealing to me," says Allen. "I'm excited about what this program has to off er. I think that being exposed to all the areas along our journey will give us a good idea of what our strengths are and how to use them." L aUr i e S C H r e i be r, a w r i te r ba s e d i n B a s s Ha r bo r, c a n b e r e a c h e d a t e D i T o r i a l @ m a i n e b i z . b i z u COMMERCIALu INDUSTRIALu INVESTMENT REAL ESTATE u u SALES u LEASING u 6 State Street Bangor, ME 04401 207-945-6222 www.epsteincommercial.com results@epsteincommercial.com "Results are our measure of success" FOR LEASE SUBURBAN OFFICE BUILDING Well-maintained, 13,062 +/- sf masonry office building with generous on-site parking. Located off Stillwater Avenue, across from the Bangor Mall and 1/2 mile from I-95. Flexible layout provides for a single or multi-tenant layout. Embroidery Digital Printing Screenprinting Laser Applique Promotional Products Your Maine Source for all your branded products Serving Maine and Beyond!

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