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How To's

  • How to

    How to help your employees find rental housing in Maine's tight market

    Maria Risbara, guest columnist Updated: December 17, 2025

    Educating employees about speed and preparedness will enable them to act quickly to avoid missing opportunities, our guest columnist writes.

    Maria Risbara, guest columnist Updated: December 17, 2025
  • How to

    How Maine manufacturers can take control of energy costs

    John Lewis, guest columnist Updated: December 15, 2025

    The head of the Manufacturers Association of Maine offers practical suggestions for companies, from a layered purchasing strategy to setting target price in advance.

    John Lewis, guest columnist Updated: December 15, 2025
  • Ask ACE

    Ask ACE: How do I let my clients know I’ve set 'take a vacation' as a New Year’s resolution?

    Carrie Green Yardley, ACE board member Updated: December 15, 2025

    Create a communication plan. Clarify whether you’ll be offline or occasionally checking messages, define emergencies and identify a backup contact. A brief checklist helps clients organize before you go.

    Carrie Green Yardley, ACE board member Updated: December 15, 2025
  • How to

    How to make the most of federal tax law changes in 2026

    Ben Dailey, guest contributor Updated: December 10, 2025

    Our guest columnist breaks down new provisions that could have an impact on businesses in Maine, especially those that invest heavily in equipment or operate as pass-through entities.

    Ben Dailey, guest contributor Updated: December 10, 2025
  • How To

    How creative career pathways encourage employees to stay

    Holly Smevog, guest columnist Updated: December 10, 2025

    Continuous learning is now a core retention strategy, not just an extra perk. But employers need to offer opportunities to learn and grow, career coach Holly Smevog writes.

    Holly Smevog, guest columnist Updated: December 10, 2025
  • How To

    How to celebrate on a shoestring — without losing heart or team spirit

    Ann Leamon and Nancy Marshall, guest contributors Updated: December 9, 2025

    Our guest columnists offer three simple ways to make a holiday celebration memorable and meaningful for employees without overspending.

    Ann Leamon and Nancy Marshall, guest contributors Updated: December 9, 2025
  • How to

    How to lead a strategic transformation: Lessons from the C-Suite

    Marco Forato, Unum Group Updated: December 4, 2025

    Marco Forato, chief strategy officer at Unum Group, offers five lessons to drive business growth.

    Marco Forato, Unum Group Updated: December 4, 2025
  • Ask ACE

    Ask ACE: How do we incorporate flexibility and innovation while meeting our compliance obligations?

    Alex Adler Updated: December 1, 2025

    Even regulated businesses must grow, and unnecessary procedures can drain resources and hinder flexibility.

    Alex Adler Updated: December 1, 2025
  • How to

    How to help AI search find you — and your business — online

    Nancy Marshall, Marshall Communications Updated: November 25, 2025

    If you or your business want to be found, you must position yourself differently than you did in the Google-centric era, our guest columnist writes.

    Nancy Marshall, Marshall Communications Updated: November 25, 2025
  • How To

    How to team with influencers for more marketing home runs

    Greg Glynn, guest columnist November 20, 2025

    Our guest columnist offers some tips on how to work with local influencers, including non-human ones like the mascot for the Portland Sea Dogs baseball team.

    Greg Glynn, guest columnist November 20, 2025
  • How to

    How to express gratitude this Thanksgiving and beyond

    Nancy Marshall, Marshall Communications Updated: November 19, 2025

    In business, gratitude reinforces culture, boosts morale and turns clients into longtime partners, our guest columnist writes.

    Nancy Marshall, Marshall Communications Updated: November 19, 2025
  • Ask ACE

    Ask ACE: How do we protect the business without creating a bunch of red tape?

    Laura McDowell, ACE member Updated: November 17, 2025

    ACE member Laura McDowell, a certified Entrepreneurial Operating System implementer based in Portland, shares how we can protect the business without creating a bunch of red tape.

    Laura McDowell, ACE member Updated: November 17, 2025
  • How To

    A three-step playbook to make your business more profitable

    Dan Reed, guest columnist November 8, 2025

    Improving profitability is about focus and discipline, not complexity, our guest columnist writes along with some nuts-and-bolts advice for small businesses.

    Dan Reed, guest columnist November 8, 2025
  • How To

    How to recruit and retain employees in today's economy

    Virginia Templet, guest columnist Updated: November 6, 2025

    Here are a few best practices one Maine manufacturer has used to recruit and retain employees.

    Virginia Templet, guest columnist Updated: November 6, 2025
  • How To

    How to leverage broadband to build Maine's rural economies

    Kendra Jo Grindle, guest columnist November 3, 2025

    Maine is proving that with broadband access and the right tools, rural communities can adapt — and even thrive — in a digital age.

    Kendra Jo Grindle, guest columnist November 3, 2025
  • Ask ACE

    Ask ACE: How do we make sure a family brand is part of the legacy?

    Dennis Boyle, Seacoast Sales Solutions Updated: November 3, 2025

    Stability, tradition and authenticity are key traits of family businesses, but so is an openness to change.

    Dennis Boyle, Seacoast Sales Solutions Updated: November 3, 2025