A global entrepreneur, executive and investor, Rodrigo Meirelles saw the rise of the entrepreneurial scene in Latin America and continues to identify ways to innovate in global corporations. He led incredible missions with the challenge to develop New Business Ventures for global companies like Telefonica, Nokia, Visa and now with WEX in Portland.

A global entrepreneur, executive and investor, Rodrigo Meirelles saw the rise of the entrepreneurial scene in Latin America and continues to identify ways to innovate in global corporations. He led incredible missions with the challenge to develop New Business Ventures for global companies like Telefonica, Nokia, Visa and now with WEX in Portland.

As a Senior Investment Officer, Shane has assisted entrepreneurs and innovators throughout the innovation process since he began in 2004. His focus is to work with potential funding applicants who are seeking assistance in the development and commercialization process of new and innovative technologies leading to economic impact for Maine.

MTI Website

A global entrepreneur, executive and investor, Rodrigo Meirelles saw the rise of the entrepreneurial scene in Latin America and continues to identify ways to innovate in global corporations. He led incredible missions with the challenge to develop New Business Ventures for global companies like Telefonica, Nokia, Visa and now with WEX in Portland.

About Steve: Steven A. Musica is a Founder and the President of Lean East and consults on improvement efforts that improve customer value while reducing costs.

Steve has twenty years of experience as President, CEO, COO, and VP, Operations in manufacturing and technology organizations and is certified as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. He has founded several technology companies including Beltane Solar. In 2010 Steve began teaching and coaching Lean process improvement principles as a consultant. He is the founder and President of Lean East and leads a small team of process improvement consultants helping develop high performing organizations. Recent clients include government offices, hospitals, and large and small manufacturing, construction, healthcare service and insurance companies.

Steve learned Lean principles with some of the best in the world and now uses his knowledge and experience to help others transform their organizations. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maine with high distinction and high honors and a Masters in Engineering Management (MEM) degree from Dartmouth College

Lean East facilitates transformations that improve outcomes while reducing costs. Our team learned continuous improvement methods from some of the best organizations in the world and have led multiple successful transformations. Learn more at www.LeanEast.com.

Martha Bentley joined the State of Maine’s Department of Economic & Community Development as the Small Business & Entrepreneurial Development Manager in July 2019.  In this role, she works directly with small businesses, startups and entrepreneurs to help them navigate State of Maine resources and requirements and builds connections for stronger and more effective systems of support for growth.  Previously Martha worked at MTI as the Director of Innovation Infrastructure.  She lives in Readfield and is passionate about cultivating the inner innovator in everyone.

Kevin is a leader with over two decades’ experience achieving desired results in high-complexity. His work as a coach, trainer, facilitator, and consultant create win-win benefits.

He excels at helping leaders, teams, and organizations make decisions with better economic outcomes, less risk, and higher employee engagement.

Kevin’s clients range from Fortune 500 companies to local NGO’s.  In all cases, they face increasing rates of change and growing complexity in their business. They appreciate both his pragmatism and focus on people, rather than process, as the foundation of effective change. Even brief efforts have proved enough to fundamentally expand their ability to attain desired outcomes.

Complimenting Kevin’s human-centered approaches are tools, practices, and patterns gained as a seasoned expert in the field of Lean and Agile Software Development. His roles include Enterprise agile coach, manager, Scrum Master, and programmer.

In addition to his powerful interventions, he is an engaging public speaker. His talks covering effective leadership and teams in complexity have been delivered at conferences, public events, and privately within organizations. He has also appeared as a guest on the Agile Uprising Podcast.

Kevin is the principal of Interaction Agility, Inc. He holds a Masters Degree in Positive Organization Development and Change, along with certificates in Appreciative Inquiry and Emotionally Intelligent Leadership and Coaching from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University.

He is an authorized trainer for the International Agile Consortium (IC Agile) and a member of a team of global senior practitioners designing the IC Agile Certified Expert – Enterprise Agile Coaching certification.

Mike spent over 20 years in economic development at the state, regional and local levels here in the State of Maine where he became an advocate for entrepreneurship.  He would then go on to become the first employee and lead the startup effort of Summit Natural Gas of Maine.  Mike joined Thomas College in November 2016 to start up the Harold Alfond Institute for Business Innovation.

Harold Alfond Institute for Business Innovation

Thomas College Website 

If you are between jobs and need some cash quick, if you live in an expensive city and your salary hasn’t caught up yet, if you are saving money for grad school or paying down loans, then you need a side hustle! Learn how to build a website, attract and engage customers, and monetize what you know. 

Nick Rimsa is a software designer living and working in Waterville. After studying psychology and economics at Colby College and graduating in 2013, Nick worked in New York as a research trader, trading tech stocks for the world’s biggest hedge funds. After a year, he realized he wanted to make software products instead of just learning and talking about them. Since then, he’s focused on solving puzzles as a product designer and product manager for companies big and small (including those he’s founded or been part of founding). Currently, Nick’s making Eariously, software that lets you listen to anything digital (like news, articles, blogs) on your phone or laptop. Additionally, in conjunction with RJ Anzelc of Bricks Coworking & Innovation Space, he works to help students turn their ideas into businesses.