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December 10, 2012 Edition

UMF professor urges sustainable forestry

Morgan Palmer

Andrew Barton, a professor of biology at the University of Maine at Farmington, recently published “The Changing Nature of Maine's Woods,” a book detailing the dynamic nature of forests in Maine an

  • It’s the relationship, not the sale, that creates value

    Doug Packard

    As crazy as the notion sounds, businesses that focus on selling actually decrease their chances of achieving long-term profit goals. This can happen because most prospects and customers automatically react negatively toward sales people.

  • VC fund honors three Maine firms

    The Small Enterprise Growth Fund, Maine's venture capital fund, recently honored three of its 19 portfolio companies for exemplary performance in leadership, achievement and public benefit.

  • Teller 2.0

    Matt Dodge

    At first glance, the two newest branches of Five County Credit Union might reflect hard times at the 56-year-old financial institution.

  • Organizational health goes beyond the bottom line

    Nobody who manages in today's business world needs me to remind them that success and survival are not guaranteed.

  • State revenues continue to drop

    Mal Leary

    Curtailment invoked to address budget gapsRevenues continue to fallSales, corporate income taxes lagThe new Legislature has taken office facing serious financial problems, including a funding gap that could reac

Today's Poll

Does your company plan to add staff in the next 6 months?
Poll Description

Sponsored by Kennebunk Savings Bank

Next year will bring a host of new challenges for businesses looking to add employees to the payroll. 

Maine's Paid Family and Medical Leave law will go into effect, which will allow an employee to take paid leave for up to 12 weeks to care for an ill family member or new child, for instance.

The state's minimum wage will increase by 45 cents an hour, to $15.10 (a separate minimum wage provision was approved in Portland that will raise the hourly compensation to $19 within three years).

And rising health care premiums will continue to be a struggle for employers.

For companies that plan to grow, all of these factors will have to be managed.

More Information