Success Stories | New Ventures Maine

Chickadee Imagery Owner Advises: Be Your Own Advocate and Forge Ahead

Scott Logan was contemplating a job change when he signed up for a career planning class with New Ventures Maine in 2014.
Owner Stephanie LaCroix Nourishes Community at Engine 5 Bakehouse

In 2013, Stephanie LaCroix and her husband, Roland, purchased a former fire station from the City of Waterville and began renovations. It was Stephanie’s dream to own and operate a bakery. Three years later, she attended a New Ventures Maine Business Basics class and then applied and was accepted into the Venturing Forth business planning cour…
Mardi Klein

In 2017 Mardi was referred to New Ventures Maine (NVME) when she moved back to Maine from New York City. With a background in International Education, Mardi’s plan was to continue working in education. Mardi met one-on-one with Lisa Sweet, NVME’s Southern Region Workforce Specialist on and off from 2017 through 2020. They discussed career opti…
Catching up with Venturing Forth graduate, Sophia Hewitt -Bailey of Lewiston

“I wanted to start a business because I saw a need for specific products that were not available in the Lewiston/Auburn area, or anywhere in Maine. During the Venturing Forth class, I gained more business knowledge and a better idea on how to manage my business. When the class concluded, my goal was to open a store within six months and to have a…
Theresa Berry – Patten

The class made me take things a little more seriously and it held me accountable,” she shares. VF pushed her outside of her comfort zone and gave her confidence. After completing the class she had clear action steps and was able to move forward with opening her business.
Marguerite Ridgway – Richmond

40 Stories for 40 Years – Profilee 39 In 1978, Marguerite Ridgway served as a member of the first Advisory Council for the Displaced Homemakers Project (DHP). She returned to NVME a few years later for assistance in a job change. To boost her confidence during a job search, Marguerite joined a DHP support group. This led to her …
Terry Rattie – Woodland

Terry now owns and operates Maine Cedar Signs. He credits NVME with helping him to “take more time to develop his plan” through “inspirational and informative” services. As a result, he “developed a customer base that exceeded my original expectations.”
Michelle Velilla – Minot

Through NVME’s microenterprise programs, she explored the possibility of providing childcare services in Lewiston, ME. She explains, “After researching ways to help teach children, I decided to start my own childcare business. My business trainer at NVME taught me everything I needed to know about starting and growing a business.”
Sophia Hewitt-Bailey – Lewiston

For a number of years, Sophia had a dream to open a store offering Caribbean food products in Maine. “I wanted to start a business because I saw a need for specific products. The products were not available in the Lewiston/Auburn area, or anywhere in Maine,” she says. She and others would have to travel to Boston or New York to get the items …
Shiela Conroy – Caribou

Her 19 years of experience as a roller operator provides a wealth of knowledge to girls who participate in her workshops. Shiela says that she “loves her job” and passing on knowledge about being a roller operator. She feels that it is important to encourage girls to try new things. Sheila advises everyone to “stick with things for a bit �…

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Two Maine business owners who created a digital presence through the NVME tuition-free Empower by GoDaddy course were case studies in a recently released report by AEO and Empower by GoDaddy. Read More >>
2021 Annual Report

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Chickadee Imagery Owner Advises: Be Your Own Advocate and Forge Ahead

Scott Logan was contemplating a job change when he signed up for a career planning class with New Ventures Maine in 2014. Read More >>
Owner Stephanie LaCroix Nourishes Community at Engine 5 Bakehouse

In 2013, Stephanie LaCroix and her husband, Roland, purchased a former fire station from the City of Waterville and began renovations. It was Stephanie’s dream to own and operate a bakery. Three … Read More >>
Mardi Klein

In 2017 Mardi was referred to New Ventures Maine (NVME) when she moved back to Maine from New York City. With a background in International Education, Mardi’s plan was to continue working in educat… Read More >>