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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 9 O C T O B E R 2 , 2 0 1 7 Schoodic Institute names interim CEO Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park said it named a longtime National Park Service educator as its acting CEO. David Manski, who spent two decades as chief of natural resources and cul- tural heritage at Acadia National Park and 35 years overall at the park, will start in mid-October. During his tenure at Acadia, he was instrumental in helping to establish Schoodic Institute as a National Park Service Research and Learning Center. Manski fi lls in as the nonprofi t looks for a permanent successor to Mark Berry, who resigned Aug. 15 to join the Nature Conservancy, where he will be the forest program director, leading forest conservation initia- tives in Maine. Schoodic Institute, which is in Winter Harbor, is a nonprofi t whose mission is to advance ecosystem science and learning for all ages through a partnership with Acadia National Park. e organization works with more than 700 students and 100 teachers a year. Last year, the nonprofi t had $2.3 million in rev- enue and $2.19 million in expenses, according to its annual report. Outcry Downeast over plan to close OB unit A standing-room-only crowd appeared at a forum to discuss Calais Regional Hospital's deci- sion to close its obstetrics unit and about management of the hospital by a forprofi t business. e Quoddy Tides reported that attendees raised concerns about the fi nancial state of both CRH and Quorum Health, which manages the hospital. Quorum is based in Brentwood, Tenn. " e sentiments of those who came to this meeting were clear: ey want Quorum out of their hospital, and they want a hospital board of directors that operates Q: I just received a proposal for consulting services. How should I evalu- ate the proposal and make a hiring decision? ACE advises: Hopefully, you've already had a scoping session — so the con- sultant understands your needs and desired results, and can determine the scope of work and deliverables. Always focus on results to be delivered rather than recommendations. We've seen too many dusty binders of recommendations sitting on shelves. Consider how you will pay and what you will receive. Are services included that develop and train your staff? Some implemented services provide an immediate return- on-investment, so costs don't need a separate budget category. Asking about typical costs or sharing your budgetary range now will avoid surprises later. Evaluate the proposal by ensuring that the deliverables meet your expecta- tions. Are you paying for hours worked or results delivered? Focus on accom- plishments, rather than services offered. Next, look at the consultant's experience. Is there a proven process for achieving results? Has the consultant shared examples of similar work and testimonials from other clients? Is the timeline acceptable? The further the consultant travels, the stricter the schedule will be. You might need to pay more if fl exibility is important to you. Do the costs fi t the budget? If a single cost is quoted, ensure that the deliv- erables are correct to avoid expensive scope changes later. If hourly costs are quoted, you may ask for a "not-to-exceed" cost that includes all expenses. Finally, confi rm that legal requirements are met, including corporate insur- ance, confi dentiality disclosures, and any copyrights of materials. With these steps complete, look forward to a successful engagement. A S K AC E A n s w e r e d b y S t e v e M u s i c a , L e a n E a s t The Association for Consulting Expertise (ACE) is a non-profit 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. Steve Musica, a principal at Lean East, a Topsham firm that provides continuous improve- ment coaching and support, can be reached at Steve@LeanEast.com 94 Commercial Street, Portland, ME 04101 | 207.772.4994 | meetings@visitportland.com If you TRAVEL OUT OF STATE for a meeting, event, or sporting competition, contact the Convention + Visitors Bureau. LET US KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING, and we can help… BRING YOURS HOME! MEETINGS MEAN BUSINESS FOR MAINE + + MeetInMaine.com VISIT PORTLAND M I D C O A S T & D O W N E A S T

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