CEI offers women Entrepreneur in Residence program

Axiom Technologies Volunteer entrepreneurs helping Maine's business owners through a new CEI Entrepreneur in Residence Program for women include Susan Corbett, CEO of broadband provider Axiom Technologies in Machias.

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The Women’s Business Center at CEI said recently that it is launching an Entrepreneur in Residence Program aimed at connecting Maine’s women business owners with local entrepreneurs having expertise that could help solve problems.

The program will link women business owners with a specific challenge or questions to local entrepreneurs with industry or area-specific knowledge that could help identify solutions, according to CEI.

About 20 entrepreneurs have volunteered to meet with two to four Women’s Business Center clients a year. They represent a variety of industries and have a range of experience.

Susan Corbett, CEO of Machias-based Axiom Technologies and Bill Zolper, owner of b.good in Portland and South Portland, have both signed on as entrepreneurs in the program.

Initial matches were made this spring during a pilot test of the program.

“For me this was an ideal match,” Kerry Hanney, owner of Night Moves Bread and Pie, with locations in Portland and Yarmouth, said in a statement. “My entrepreneur-in-residence started out the way I am, one person with very little funding but a strong work ethic and lot of passion for their idea. She identified helpful connections for me to make in the community, and shared what her startup timeline was like as well as helpful steps to take along the way.”

The program was created to fill a need the Women’s Business Center identified among clients for industry and area-specific guidance. Entrepreneurs can function as sounding boards for ideas, share personal experiences and lessons learned and help other business owners navigate the frustrations, challenges and questions that are specific to an industry or area of expertise.

The connections create very focused, one-time meetings, during which a business owner can clearly articulate a specific need, challenge or question with which a resident entrepreneur may be able to assist.

Business owners interested in meeting with a resident entrepreneur should fill out our request form that can be accessed here.

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