Our first offering of the Entrepreneurial Exploration workshop series was well attended and got high marks from the participants. We will be repeating the series in the fall, so stay tuned for more details. For information about upcoming classes and to see the slides from this series, visit the URCI Course Catalog.
URCI 2.0
The center is celebrating its 10th Birthday this year: a perfect time to take stock to make sure that the center is operating at its highest and best use. In addition to a review of the businesses that have been incubated at the center and what their impact, if any, was on the local economy, we looked at the impact of the center as a co-working space today and the current state and functionality of the community lab. What we determined was:
Of all the successfully incubated businesses, only one keeps any presence in Ellsworth with a single office rental at URCI, but it has otherwise moved its operations to Waterville. None of the other businesses have any presence in Ellsworth or the region.
There is significant demand for the private office and co-workspaces at URCI –- particularly from May through November when snowbirds and summer tourists are here.
The lab is 10 years old, obsolete, and meets only the most minimal requirements for viable bio-lab space.
Based on these findings, the Ellsworth City Council asked the staff to further evaluate the center’s highest and best use in its second decade and to report to the Council by the end of the fiscal year in June 2026.
Business Attraction
After conducting surveys around the specialty food, beverage, and distribution, we have established a ‘Food Advisory Group’. The group is brainstorming about how the City or URCI might help facilitate the establishment of some type of food hub in the area. The timing here is excellent as there is a regional food systems initiative called the Downeast Food Systems Partnership being led by Grow Smart Maine, Healthy Acadia and the Sunrise County Economic Council. In April, the Woodlawn Barn hosted the kick-off meeting for this program, and the City is excited to be participating.
Streamlining the Co-work System at URCI
With a good bit of research that included talking with other co-work facility managers, we set our sights on Coworks. The app can manage bookings, invoices, communication and collaboration among the members at URCI. Thanks to a grant from the Co-work Development Fund at the Maine DECD, in early July, we purchased and deployed the system.
Coworks will allow visitors to self-serve to book and pay for co-work desk space. It will also streamline invoicing, conference room reservations, and communications for regular members at the center.
Pay Us a Visit
URCI is a great asset to the community, and we’d love to show you around. Whether you need a place for yourself or a guest to pop in to get some work done or you need a dedicated conference room to host a meeting or presentation, the Center can accommodate. During business hours, you can request a tour from our website or email us. If you would like a tour outside of business hours, visit any of our four Evening Markets on the Lawn on July 18th and 25th and August 1st and 15th from 4:30 to 7:30. We’d love to show you around, PLUS, you can take in the music at the Harbor Park Concerts taking place on those evenings.
Come Celebrate with URCI on August 28th
URCI is hosting an Ellsworth Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours (BAH) to help commemorate its 10 years. The Maine Technology Institute (MTI) is graciously sponsoring BAH. MTI is a fitting birthday sponsor since the Institute was integral to the launch of the center 10 years ago. Thanks to MTI and our amazing Ellsworth food scene, we’ll have some great locally sourced finger foods and beverages to help us celebrate!
Our website is getting a facelift!
Another good idea when a business is celebrating a decade is to look at digital assets like the website. We’re doing just that! We hope to make the site easier to navigate and will be working to ensure compliance with some upcoming accessibility requirements. While we’re tweaking and moving things, we ask you patience. If you can’t find what you need, OR if you have suggestions for the website, please give a call or send an email
A Reminder About Our Blog
It takes a village and there is an abundance of talent and entrepreneurial expertise in and around Ellsworth. You are invite you to share your insights as a guest blogger. We can suggest topics, give you a general outline, and even do some ghost writing for you. We typically post on the first and third Wednesday of each month. If you’re interested in being a guest blogger, or have other thoughts to share, please send a note.
Even in the most active labor, education, and economic markets, selling a successful small business can be surprisingly difficult. In Maine—where we have the oldest population in the U.S.—the challenge is even greater. Finding a buyer who’s both young enough to carry the business forward and financially positioned to buy (with home equity or liquid assets) is often close to impossible.
But there’s a promising solution that’s picking up steam: selling your business to an employee-owned cooperative.
What Is an Employee Co-op?
Unlike Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), which are typically viable only for large companies (think $5 million+ in annual revenue), worker co-ops are a more accessible option for smaller businesses. Here’s how it works:
The business is purchased primarily through a specialized loan.
Employees buy into the co-op with modest investments—often made via payroll deductions over time.
Ownership and decision-making are shared among the employee-owners.
Is Your Business a Good Fit?
Not every business is ready to transition to a worker co-op. Here are the key requirements for success:
✅ Consistent Profitability: Your business needs to be generating a profit.
✅ Prepared Employees: Staff should be experienced and trained in key areas like operations, finance, and sales.
✅ Strong Cash Flow: The business must be able to handle loan repayment through its regular cash flow.
✅ Owner Readiness: You must be prepared to step back from day-to-day leadership. Some owners remain involved as board members, advisors, or technical contributors.
✅ Employee Commitment: Workers need to be willing to learn about running a company and take part in governance and decision-making.
How to Get Started in Maine
You don’t have to do this alone. Maine has robust, free business advising services to help you begin exploring this path.
Would you like help getting your numbers in order or identifying areas to grow value? Reach out—I’d be happy to connect you with free, confidential advising services to guide you through the process.
Eric keeps an office at URCI and is a business advisor for Coastal Enterprises (CEI) in Brunswick, Maine. He has more than 35 years’ of entrepreneurial experience and specializes in business start-up, strategy, sales and marketing, retail, food and beverage, computer software, and operations management. Through CEI, Eric offers free confidential business advising to help navigate the start-up process, your succession planning, and everything in between.
Walk into any neighborhood restaurant, boutique, or family-run shop and you’ll likely find a small business owner doing the jobs of five people. They’re the face of the business, the accountant, the marketer, the HR department, and the janitor—sometimes all before lunch.
While the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well, the challenges of running a small business in today’s economy are more complex than ever. Rising costs, digital demands, stiff competition, and labor shortages are just a few of the hurdles. And yet, many business owners still believe they have to do it all alone.
That mindset needs to change.
Modern Challenges: The Ever-Expanding Job Description
Small business ownership has always been demanding, but today’s landscape adds new layers of complexity:
Soaring overhead from inflation, rent, and wages
Cutthroat competition from global giants and e-commerce
Digital marketing demands including SEO, social media, and online reviews
Hiring struggles in a tight labor market
Customer expectations for instant service, fast delivery, and constant availability
Burnout, from trying to keep up with it all
According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 58% of small business owners say inflation is their biggest concern, while 61% struggle to find and retain skilled workers.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 50% of small businesses don’t make it past their fifth year.
These are sobering numbers—but they don’t mean failure is inevitable. They mean that no one should try to do it alone.
The Myth of the Solo Hero
The “self-made” entrepreneur is a powerful image, but in reality no business succeeds without support. The belief that you must wear every hat, do every job, and be everything to everyone isn’t just unrealistic, it’s harmful.
Even the most successful entrepreneurs have accountants, mentors, assistants, advisors, and partners. If you’re trying to run a business completely solo, you’re not proving strength, you may be limiting your potential.
Why You Need a Team
A strong team lets you focus on your strengths and outsource your weaknesses. Whether it’s bookkeeping, marketing, or customer service, delegating frees you to lead, grow, and breathe.
As an accountant who works closely with small business owners, I see this every day: clients exhausted from managing their own books, taxes, and financial decisions—often with little training or confidence, and usually after an already long workday. Overwhelmed by daily demands, they become paralyzed, and crucial aspects of the business are pushed aside.
Your “team” doesn’t need to be a full payroll of employees. It can be:
A bookkeeper or accountant who keeps your numbers in order
A virtual assistant who handles administrative tasks
A marketing freelancer who helps you get noticed
A mentor or coach who helps you stay on track
Smart tools that automate repetitive tasks
What Building a Team Looks Like Today
The good news? You don’t need to build a corporate structure to create a support system. Start small:
Hire one contractor or consultant
Join a local business network
Invest in accounting software like QuickBooks—and learn how to use it properly
Connect with peers who understand your journey
Use affordable freelance platforms for graphic design, social media, or web help
Take time to connect with your local business resources
The key is to stop doing everything yourself—and start building the right kind of support around your goals.
First Steps Toward Support
Here’s how to begin building your team:
Identify the biggest time-wasters or stress points (Finances? Marketing? Admin?)
Start small with one area Outsource bookkeeping, or get trained in QuickBooks to streamline your workflow.
Ask your network Other entrepreneurs can refer reliable experts and tools.
Join a community Find a mastermind group, online forum, or local small business meetup.
Change your mindset Leadership isn’t doing everything yourself. It’s knowing what to delegate.
You Were Never Meant to Do It All
Small business ownership is one of the toughest, most rewarding paths out there—but it doesn’t have to be isolating. Success today isn’t about being a lone superhero. It’s about knowing when to ask for help and building a team that lifts your business up.
Whether you need someone to manage your books, help with your marketing, or empty your inbox —there are people ready to support you.
About Kitty Barbee
Kitty is the owner of Barbee Business Services, as well as a partner in her latest venture NorthEast Tax Services. Although her services include QuickBooks Training & Support, Financial Consulting, and Tax Preparation, she prides herself and her experienced team for taking the time to sit with clients, listen to their concerns, and help them navigate through their own unique financial challenges. For more information about Personalized QuickBooks training, Affordable accounting and financial services, and Expert tax preparation and planning visit www.barbeebusinessservices.com for a complimentary consultation.
Twila Fisher to lead Economic Development for Ellsworth
As the Union River Center looks toward evolving into its second decade as an economic development hub for the region, Ms. Twila Fisher brings more than 20 years of experience in both the public and private sectors. She has a proven track record in designing and implementing innovative economic and community development strategies for Department of Community Development for the City of Reading; the Hobart’s Run Neighborhood District; and most recently as the Director of Community and Economic Development at The Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania.
“I’m thrilled to join the City of Ellsworth and contribute to its continued growth and vitality,” said Ms. Fisher. “I look forward to listening, learning, and working alongside residents, businesses, and community partners to build on the city’s momentum and create opportunities that serve everyone.”
Ms. Fisher s extensive experience in forging partnerships, aligning resources with needs, and designing creative solutions to social challenges will be a huge asset to both the City of Ellsworth and to URCI. Her passion for municipal and historic preservation planning, workforce development and training, sustainability and climate action planning, and federal and state grant implementation will be integral to the City’s readiness to respond to and manage both its current and inevitable future growth.
“The Right Choice for Ellsworth”
According to Ellsworth City Manager, Charlie Pearse, even though Twila was the top scorer in both the resume review and interview rounds, “It was her genuine passion for community-driven work that really struck me; out of a large and competitive applicant pool, it’s refreshing—and rare—to land your top choice. But more importantly, Twila is the right choice for Ellsworth. She’s someone who will hit the ground running, take the time to understand local needs, and move quickly to deliver results. We’re thrilled to have her on board.”
Twila was particularly excited to learn about URCI and the growth potential it carries for the City of Ellsworth. “More than just a hub for new ideas, I believe innovation centers are the heartbeat of a thriving community, where collaboration, creativity, and entrepreneurship ignite economic growth, attract talent, and inspire a shared vision for the future. I look forward to partnering with Tracy (the City’s programming consultant) and learning more about the initiatives already underway.”
If you’re like most small business owners, you’ve probably focused intensely on minimizing your tax liability in order to preserve cash and reinvest in your business. Maybe you don’t pay yourself a regular salary but instead write the occasional check to cover personal expenses and label it an “owner draw.” Often, businesses don’t even know how profitable they’ve been until it’s time to file taxes.
That approach might work—until it’s time to sell.
When you’re ready to exit your business, potential buyers will want to see exactly how much income the business generates for you. Why? Because business valuation is directly tied to what’s known as Seller’s Discretionary Income (SDI)—the total financial benefit you’ve received from owning the business. A quick online search of SDI will give you plenty of insight, but here’s what you really need to know:
Start Paying Yourself
It’s never too late to start documenting your income properly. One of the simplest and most effective ways to show a buyer (and their bank) that your business is profitable is to add a clear line item in your budget for owner compensation.
Better yet, rather than paying personal expenses directly from your business account, transfer money to yourself and pay those expenses personally. This method clearly shows that the business is generating income, which boosts your valuation. Yes, you may pay more in taxes—but that cost is minimal compared to the return you’ll get from showing strong earnings when it’s time to sell.
If you’re in a special situation, such as receiving Social Security and needing to limit reported income, consult your accountant. They can help you strike the right balance between tax planning and presenting an attractive, profitable business to a buyer.
Don’t Inflate Your COGS
Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) refers to the cost of materials or ingredients used to produce your products. It does not include your or your employees’ labor. Many small business owners unknowingly inflate their COGS by including personal purchases or unrelated expenses—making the business look less profitable than it is.
Buyers will scrutinize your profitability. They typically expect to see COGS at 30% or less of total sales (though this varies by industry). If your COGS is high, it may be because:
You’re absorbing personal expenses in business purchases
You haven’t raised your prices in years, despite inflation
You’re not tracking inventory or waste accurately
Take a fresh look at this area—it’s one of the biggest levers in boosting your business’s market value.
Re-Examine Your Supply Chain
While reviewing COGS, evaluate your suppliers and your product mix. If you’re in retail, prune slow-moving or low-margin items. Focus on bestsellers with high profitability, and brainstorm how to grow sales around those winners.
Also look at shipping—both incoming and outgoing. Small changes in shipping strategy or negotiating better rates can result in significant savings and stronger margins.
Highlight Expansion Opportunities
Most buyers aren’t just buying what you’ve built—they’re buying what it could become. Unless your buyer is paying 100% in cash (which is rare), they’ll likely need financing. That means the business must generate enough income to cover both personal expenses and loan payments.
If your current financials don’t show that level of income, you need to paint the picture of how the business could grow:
Are there untapped markets?
Could you expand your product line or services?
Is there potential for online sales, events, or partnerships?
These ideas not only help prospective buyers envision growth—they might even help you generate new revenue in the short term while your business is on the market.
Start Now—Not Later, for Business Succession Planning
Maximizing the value of your business starts with clean, transparent financials and a clear demonstration of the business’s profitability and potential. This isn’t something you can do in a week. It can take two to three full seasons to get your books in shape, build a strong track record, and present your business at its best.
So don’t wait until you’re ready to sell—start now. The effort you put into business succession planning today could make a six-figure difference tomorrow.
Would you like help getting your numbers in order or identifying areas to grow value? Reach out—I’d be happy to connect you with free, confidential advising services to guide you through the process.
Eric keeps an office at URCI and is a business advisor for Coastal Enterprises (CEI) in Brunswick, Maine. He has more than 35 years’ of entrepreneurial experience and specializes in business start-up, strategy, sales and marketing, retail, food and beverage, computer software, and operations management. Through CEI, Eric offers free confidential business advising to help navigate the start-up process, your succession planning, and everything in between.
As one of the most basic human needs, food, and a diverse range of associated local businesses, constitute an important component of Hancock County’s economy. With a population of less than 60,000, Hancock County feeds more than four million visitors annually in an increasingly long tourism season—and an increasingly long growing season. While most visitors seem to be drawn to our region for its natural beauty and the healthy exercise it offers, the attraction of local seafood, and lobster in particular, is clearly an aspect of that attraction. Globally, food and culinary tourism is estimated to be growing at a rate of 16% annually or $253 billion by 2029 thanks to things like food festivals and a demand for authentic, eco-friendly experiences such as farm-to-table tours, events and workshops grounded in sustainable, organic growing practices. For entrepreneurs in our region, this demand represents an important opportunity, but it also highlights a vulnerability that came to the fore during the COVID pandemic. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, Mainers were very capable of growing their own food for year-round consumption—and exporting cash crops. As recently as my childhood growing up in Ellsworth, all of the access routes into the City were lined with farms and homesteads where people grew enough food for themselves and frequently augmented their income by selling excess produce to their neighbors or operated full scale farms which sold cash crops on a larger scale. During the pandemic, however, as supply chains collapsed, it became clear how far Mainers had moved away from homesteading and growing their own food and how dependent they had become on a global food system that transports what we eat on a daily basis across the country, oceans or continents
An Entrepreneurial Retirement Project
I was fortunate to be raised by parents who remained connected to an earlier food system and economy throughout their lives and even more fortunate to inherit our small family homestead. Located next door to farmland where my mother grew up and on Grant’s Corner, a part of the City which produced and delivered milk and other dairy products for local residents when she was a child, the property was not naturally blessed with prime soil, but it had been managed organically by my parents since they bought the property in the 1940s (at roughly the same time that ‘organic’ terminology was first introduced). Consequently, I also inherited the most important input for productive agriculture—fertile, healthy soil—and as a long term member of MOFGA (Maine Organic Farmers and Growers Association) I have made sure that I have continued and strengthened organic approaches to maintaining soil health. From a business/foot traffic perspective it also helped that the property I inherited was just a mile from downtown Ellsworth and located at the corner of Rt 1 and the Christian Ridge Road, a connector to Rt 1A. Although I have always been passionate about growing my own food (to the point of growing it in pots on a fire escape while in a city apartment), I was discouraged from following that passion as a career, but as I took more and more responsibility for my family home I decided that I wanted to continue and grow my parents’ roadside sales of produce and extend it to include seedlings, perennials and flowers. So Blackstone Gardens has evolved as an entrepreneurial retirement project grounded in an economy and way of living deeply embedded in the history of our region while also satisfying a renewed gravitational pull for locals and visitors alike towards healthier, more sustainable and locally grown food.
With just one acre of land, it has been important for me to adjust the scope and scale of the endeavor relative to what I can produce at any given time. My first goal is to grow a succession of fruit and vegetables that will provide fresh produce (from the garden and cold storage) for our family 12 months a year. For those who are skeptical that this is possible in Maine I can only say that people have been doing this for more than 200 years and probably a lot longer and that as long as one returns to eating a seasonal (but healthy) diet vs insisting on boxes of fresh strawberries in January, it is entirely possible—even more so now, given the effects of climate change. The produce begins with greens, rhubarb and asparagus in April/May and continues with both common summer crops (peas, beans, beets, heirloom tomatoes, cukes, peppers, summer squash, raspberries, etc) and less common ones (fava beans, fennel, eggplant, husk cherries, melons). The late season and cold storage crops include winter squash, kohlrabi, cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Belgian endive, carrots, apples, potatoes, onions, shallots, garlic, etc.
The Growing/Business Plan
My second goal is to grow a steady but varied selection of fresh produce, herbs and flowers to sell from May through October with additional sales of seedlings in April/May and perennials April-October. Because I am located in a high traffic area I quickly moved away from attending fairs or farmers markets, which cost time, labor and money, in favor of serving regular or casual customers who simply stop at my roadside stand. Getting to know my neighbors while providing them with the makings for their supper—or value-added design work with flowers for weddings or other special occasions—has been one of the most rewarding aspects of this growing project.
I have limited my overhead and direct costs (mostly one staff person with occasional part time help or apprentices, plus seeds, amendments and other planting materials) and made a virtue of the small and self-contained scale of the operation.
My long-term garden manager, Jay Barnes, is responsible for our organic growing practices—either growing on seedlings in a passive solar green house (with backup heat if essential) or direct seeding. Growing our own plants from scratch is cost-effective, but it also enhances my level of trust and that of my customers in both the growing process and the product, and it makes it possible for me to offer heirloom and unusual varieties that are otherwise unavailable. With attention to crop rotation and organic soil management, we can plant intensively for maximum yield in comparatively small growing areas (including raised beds and a hoop house). With produce the major assets that I can offer are freshness, healthy growing conditions and the opportunity to walk into the garden and choose the fruit or vegetable you want to buy. The vegetable stand is only a few feet from the growing areas and children often accompany us into the garden to choose the particular veggie they want for dinner—and in the process learn that food really comes from plants vs grocery store displays. While we do pick produce, herbs and flowers that are available on the stand, we do not necessarily display all that we sell in the interest of maximizing freshness and minimizing waste by picking some things only on request.
“Slow Food”- An Old/New Way of Life
As advocates of the “slow food movement” we place an importance on preparing traditional foods and preserving what we grow for our own use through cold storage, freezing, canning, drying, pickling, fermentation—even tree tapping for maple syrup. Many of the jams, jellies, pickles, green tomato mincemeat, sauerkraut recipes, etc. that we make up annually are the same recipes that my mother or father would have made, but because I have neither a commercial kitchen nor the time to care for the gardens and prepare value added traditional foods commercially, I have not taken that value-added step. However, each year we have customers who ask for those items, and the whole area of value-added food and beverage processing using traditional recipes and local produce represents a huge entrepreneurial opportunity that could further ‘feed’ food and culinary tourism in our region—not to mention healthier eating and more sustainable access to local foods for residents.
For me, this retirement ‘growing project’ is first and foremost a return to a way of life that I value and only secondly a business. For anyone to sustain a career in farming in our region, especially on a larger scale than mine, their motivation almost certainly needs to reflect the order of my priorities, but for anyone with innovative ideas and an interest in being involved in the food system the Downeast region presents some real opportunities.
About Mary Blackstone
Mary Blackstone was born and raised in Ellsworth she considers herself fortunate to be living in her family home and working the land that her parents managed. She is a retired professor and academic administrator and apart from managing Blackstone Gardens, she has been actively involved as a long-time volunteer in several non-profit organizations, especially the Ellsworth Garden Club, the City of Ellsworth’s Arbor Commission and Green Ellsworth. As Community Liaison for the latter organization she was involved in the development of the Ellsworth Green Plan for long term sustainability and since its release in 2021 she has been involved in the implementation of many of its recommendations.
In particular, she has been working for the implementation of recommendations which would making farming a financially viable way of life in the Downeast region. Currently, there are too few farmers in Downeast Maine and too many of those people are aging out of the business and/or operating below the poverty line. The reasons for this are multiple, but mostly they have little to do with the viability of farming in the region and more to do with the failure to develop policies and supports—and a robust local food system such as exists in other states like Vermont. That is why Green Ellsworth, the City of Ellsworth, Healthy Acadia, the Sunrise County Economic Council and GrowSmart Maine are working to develop a local food system plan and a non-profit food hub to implement it. If you are interested in any aspect of a local, sustainable food system in our Downeast region then learn more about Green Plan recommendations in its Food and Farming chapter and get involved in implementation by visiting Healthy Acadia or contacting Mary by email.
Have you ever wondered how a scientific breakthrough turns into a real-world treatment? That question fascinated me as a kid and ultimately led me on a journey to understand how innovation happens in medicine. The process from idea to impact is long, complex, and often filled with challenges—but it’s also incredibly rewarding when a discovery can improve lives.
I’m Ben Pyles, founder of AFR Labs, based in the Union River Innovation Center in Ellsworth, Maine. Before launching AFR, I worked as a laboratory scientist at academic institutions, helping translate genetic and biochemical discoveries into treatments tested on animal models. While many promising breakthroughs begin in cell cultures, moving them into living organisms is an entirely different challenge. It requires persistence, adaptability, and the willingness to navigate setbacks.
The Reality of Research & Development
Bringing a new therapeutic to life requires resilience. Many exciting ideas don’t pan out as expected—some have unforeseen side effects, trigger immune responses, or simply fail in animal models. This process can be frustrating, as setbacks far outnumber successes. But much like entrepreneurship, scientific discovery rewards persistence. It’s a field where failure isn’t just possible—it’s expected.
That parallel between research and business is why I founded AFR Labs. Our mission is to bridge the gap between laboratory success and real-world treatments for companion animals. By focusing on veterinary medicine, we can develop meaningful solutions while navigating a more efficient regulatory pathway compared to human drug development. While treating human diseases is the ultimate goal for many researchers, the cost and time investment can be prohibitive. Pursuing veterinary applications first provides a more attainable way to make a difference, while still gathering crucial data that could one day apply to human medicine.
Lessons in Strategic Thinking
One of my biggest influences is James Wallis, founder of Hygieia Biological Laboratories. He started small, developing a niche vaccine to protect dogs from rattlesnake bites—a product that now saves countless pets each year. Over time, his company expanded, creating vaccines used in nearly every commercial chicken in the U.S. His journey reinforced a crucial lesson: start with achievable goals and build from there.
Jim once advised me, “Forget treating humans—you’ll end up with a pile of academic papers instead of real impact.” At first, I pushed back against that idea, spending years working on an injectable therapy for Angelman’s Syndrome. But I eventually saw his point. The academic world often values publications over practical applications, and moving a treatment from discovery to market is an immense challenge. Many promising innovations stall due to funding gaps, patent constraints, or regulatory hurdles. It’s a harsh reality—one that prevents many groundbreaking treatments from ever reaching those who need them most.
Academic institutions, for all their incredible research, are not designed to bring products to market efficiently. The patent process is often slow, and by the time an invention reaches a potential commercial partner, the clock has already been ticking for years. This limits the time a company has to bring a drug to market before facing competition from generic alternatives. It’s a system that inadvertently discourages investment in risky, high-cost innovations, even when those innovations could be life-changing.
Why Start with Veterinary Medicine?
Developing a human drug can take over a decade and cost billions of dollars. By contrast, veterinary medicine—especially for companion animals—offers a faster and more practical path. Success in animal health can also provide valuable data for future human applications, a strategy companies like Merck used when developing Ivermectin. Originally discovered in a soil-dwelling fungus in Japan, Ivermectin was first approved as a canine dewormer. From there, it expanded to livestock, and eventually, human medicine—where it now plays a crucial role in preventing River Blindness and treating other parasitic diseases.
At AFR Labs, our initial focus is canine osteosarcoma (bone cancer). Originally, we considered brain cancer, but after consulting veterinarians, we realized that tracking brain tumors would require MRI access—something most vet clinics lack. Bone cancer, on the other hand, can be monitored with X-rays, making it a more practical first target. Our goal is to improve survival rates by preventing metastases, which often spread to the lungs, liver, and kidneys.
Canine osteosarcoma is a particularly aggressive cancer, with limited treatment options. Many dogs diagnosed with the disease face amputation followed by chemotherapy, but even with treatment, survival rates are often low due to the rapid spread of the cancer. By developing a therapy that targets metastatic cells before they take hold, we hope to extend both the quantity and quality of life for affected dogs.
One of the advantages of focusing on veterinary applications is that the regulatory process is more streamlined than it is for human drugs. While approval for a human pharmaceutical can take over a decade, veterinary drugs often move through the process in a fraction of that time. This allows us to bring effective treatments to market sooner, while still conducting rigorous safety and efficacy studies.
Looking Ahead Beyond the Lab at URCI
If our treatment proves successful, we hope to expand to other species and eventually contribute to human medicine through collaboration. While my current focus is on veterinary applications, I work closely with individuals who share a vision of translating these treatments into human healthcare. The pathway from animal medicine to human applications is well established, and each successful veterinary treatment provides additional confidence in its potential for broader use.
In the long term, AFR Labs aims to tackle a range of diseases beyond osteosarcoma. Many conditions that affect animals also impact humans, and advancements in one field often lead to breakthroughs in the other. While our journey is just beginning, our mission remains clear: to take scientific discoveries out of the lab and turn them into real-world solutions that improve lives.
Innovation doesn’t happen in isolation. It takes collaboration, persistence, and a willingness to push forward despite obstacles. AFR Labs is committed to bridging the gap between research and application, ensuring that promising treatments don’t just remain ideas—they become realities.
About Ben Pyles
Ben Pyles is the founder of AFR Labs, located in the Union River Innovation Center in Ellsworth, Maine. With a background as a laboratory scientist at academic institutions, Ben has been instrumental in translating genetic and biochemical discoveries into treatments tested on animal models. His work emphasizes bridging the gap between laboratory success and real-world treatments, particularly in veterinary medicine. Under his leadership, AFR Labs focuses on developing therapies for companion animals, aiming to improve survival rates and quality of life. Ben’s strategic approach draws inspiration from industry leaders like James Wallis of Hygieia Biological Laboratories, reinforcing the importance of starting with achievable goals and building from there. His commitment to innovation and practical applications drives AFR Labs’ mission to transform scientific discoveries into tangible solutions.
If you’d like to learn more, feel free to contact Ben.
If you own a business—or are thinking about starting one—you’ve probably envisioned what life will look like when it’s time to retire. But for many small business owners, planning an exit strategy is often put on the back burner until the moment they’re ready to sell. Unfortunately, waiting too long can lead to disappointment when a business broker reveals the market value of the business—sometimes far less than expected. At that point, owners face two choices: spend a few more years optimizing operations to increase value or sell for less than they had hoped—just when they were ready to enjoy that long-awaited cabin by the lake.
The Reality of Business Sales
The statistics can be discouraging: only 10-20% of small businesses listed for sale actually sell. The rest are often forced to close, selling off physical assets instead. But you don’t have to be part of that statistic. With the right preparation, you can make your business attractive to an outside buyer—or even transition ownership to your employees.
What’s Ahead
Over the next few months, I’ll introduce key concepts to help you successfully plan your business transition. Topics will include:
The most important factors that determine your business’s value
Different ways to sell or transition your business
How to get started with succession planning
Key Questions to Consider for Succession Planning
To start thinking about your business transition, ask yourself these important questions:
Retirement Readiness – Have you budgeted for retirement, and do you have a financial goal for selling or transitioning your business?
Your Role After Transition – Do you want to stay involved in some capacity, or are you ready to fully step away?
Legacy and Community Impact – Is maintaining your business’s role in the community important to you?
Understanding Your Business’s Financial Health – Do you have a clear picture of how much your business contributes to your personal finances (Seller Discretionary Income)?
Potential Buyers – Have you identified any businesses or individuals who might be a good fit to take over?
Financial Documentation & Transparency – Are your financial records clean, organized, and able to show consistent income? If you’ve been under-reporting income, are you prepared to adjust your strategy to maximize your business’s documented earnings?
Operational Independence – Have you trained your staff to run the business without you? If you took a two-week vacation, could the business operate smoothly in your absence?
A Final Thought: Selling to Your Employees
One option you might not have considered is selling your business to your employees. Employee ownership is a growing trend, and there are innovative financing options available to make this transition easier.
Planning ahead gives you more control over your future and ensures that your business continues to thrive. Start thinking about your succession strategy today — you’ll thank yourself later!
About Eric Treworgy
Eric keeps an office at URCI and is a business advisor for Coastal Enterprises (CEI) in Brunswick, Maine. He has more than 35 years’ of entrepreneurial experience and specializes in business start-up, strategy, sales and marketing, retail, food and beverage, computer software, and operations management. Through CEI, Eric offers free confidential business advising to help navigate the start-up process, your succession planning, and everything in between.
When we think of arboriculture and landscaping, the image that often comes to mind is one of men operating chainsaws, climbing trees, or maneuvering heavy machinery: certainly not ‘Women in Green’. But that perception is changing, and I want to see it continue to evolve. Women are increasingly making their mark in this industry, proving that passion, skill, and resilience—not gender—determine success in the field.
My Journey into the Green Industry
My love for trees and plants started in childhood. My father, after retiring from the U.S. Department of Labor, pursued organic gardening—a passion that brought my family to Ellsworth, Maine, where he once showed his vegetables at the local fair. When he passed away during my freshman year of high school, I felt a deep connection to his love for nature, and when it came time to choose a career, I knew I wanted to work outdoors.
I decided to pursue a degree in Forestry at the University of Maine, graduating in 2009. While in school, I discovered my passion for Urban Forestry—a career that allowed me to not only work with trees but also engage with the public. After becoming a certified arborist, I worked for the City of Boston’s Parks & Recreation Department as a planting coordinator, overseeing the planting of over 5,000 trees. Later, I moved on to work for New York City Parks, where I procured over 30,000 street trees across the five boroughs.
When I moved back to Ellsworth in 2016, I found few opportunities in urban forestry, so I shifted into the landscaping industry. Now, I’m fortunate to have built a career that combines both passions—I run my own landscaping and gardening business while also volunteering my time to urban forestry projects in my community.
Breaking Barriers: Challenges Faced as a Woman in the Industry
How did I overcome it? I outworked and outsmarted them. I perfected my craft so that I had the knowledge and confidence to stand my ground. I learned to document my value in clear, measurable ways—like showing how many trees I planted, contracts I managed, and budgets I oversaw. And sometimes, I even used men’s egos against them—like the time a contractor refused to cut a tree after a hurricane, so I grabbed a chainsaw myself and suddenly, he found the motivation to do it.
Like many women in male-dominated fields, I have faced my fair share of challenges—being underestimated, talked over, and ignored in favor of male colleagues. I’ve had contractors refuse to take orders from me, truck drivers insist on speaking to “the man in charge,” and even discovered that a male coworker in a lower-ranking position was hired at a salary $15,000 higher than mine.
Why There Are So Few Women in Arboriculture and Landscaping
The biggest reason? Tradition. For decades, these industries have been seen as “men’s work”—jobs that involve heavy equipment, chainsaws, and manual labor. Many women don’t consider these careers simply because they’ve never seen other women in these roles.
Why Women Belong in This Industry
Women bring attention to detail, collaboration, and adaptability—all skills that make for better, more efficient teams. In my experience, women tend to be safer operators because we don’t let ego get in the way of proper procedures. We’re also more likely to admit mistakes and adjust strategies, leading to better long-term outcomes.
How We Can Get More Women into the Green Industry
I’m encouraged by large companies like Bartlett Tree Experts and The Davey Tree Expert Company, which are actively hiring women for tree crews. But small, family-owned businesses still have a long way to go. Here’s what needs to happen:
More visibility – Women need to see other women thriving in these roles.
Mentorship – Women in leadership should actively mentor and encourage younger women to enter the field.
Education & outreach – Schools, trade programs, and industry groups should highlight opportunities for women.
Fair pay – Women should demand salaries that match their skills and experience.
Advice for Women Interested in Arboriculture or Landscaping
Start by finding a woman-owned business or applying to companies that already have women in leadership roles. Consider getting certifications through groups like the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) or the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP). And most importantly—believe in yourself. It may not be easy, but it will be worth it.
The Future of Arboricultureand jobs for ‘Women in Green’
I’m hopeful that in the next 5–10 years, we’ll see even more women entering and leading in these industries. Large companies are getting the message, but smaller businesses need to follow suit.
Women are smart, hardworking, talented, and passionate—and I firmly believe that if we were running the world, we’d be in a better place. But for now, let’s start by running the arboriculture and landscaping industries.
About Tabatha White
Tabatha White has her office at the Union River Center for Innovation and is a dedicated arborist, urban forestry advocate, and community leader with deep roots in Ellsworth, Maine. A graduate of the University of Maine’s Forestry program and a certified arborist since 2009, she has built a career around sustainable tree management, plant procurement, and landscape design. Tabatha began her career as the Planting Coordinator for the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, where she oversaw the planting of over 5,000 trees across the city. She then transitioned to the New York City Parks Department, managing multi-million dollar contracts and procuring over 30,000 street trees for the five boroughs.
Returning to Ellsworth in 2016, Tabatha worked in the private landscaping sector before launching her own business in 2023, specializing in landscape design, plant sourcing, and installation. She is deeply involved in local conservation efforts, serving on the Ellsworth Arbor Commission, a Board Member for Heart of Ellsworth and Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust, and a key advocate for urban forestry initiatives. In 2024, she was elected to the Ellsworth City Council, where she works to integrate smart growth with environmental stewardship, ensuring that Ellsworth remains a thriving and sustainable community for future generations.
In recognition of Organize Your Home Office Day on March 11, Jen Sala shares her expertise and tips about how to do just that.
By: Jennifer Sala
If you want to attract success, you need to create an organized environment so that it feels like a place where a successful person works.
Flow – Visualize yourself walking into your office. What is between the threshold and your chair? Do you have to step over a dog bed, walk around a pile of document boxes, and remind yourself not to trip over the shredder cord? You’ve got a veritable obstacle course between you and your success.
Life doesn’t need to be hard, and success doesn’t either. Create an energy of flow and ease as you move through your space by taking time to consider places where you find hitches and snags as you work. Fix it.
With time, you’ll notice once how much easier life feels. Cleaning this space up will help you set the tone for success and lower your baseline stress level starting the moment you walk into your office.
Clutter – Similarly, piles of clutter and chaos will create more chaos. You’re allowing yourself to lose control and setting that precedence in your life. Your brain is constantly getting the message that you are out of control, overwhelmed, and backlogged and to expect more of that. In turn, you allow that to be your reality. The mind is a powerful thing. It receives information and creates reality around that input.
You also are likely losing things and wasting as much time to find stuff as it would take you to simply clean it up.
The bottom line is that you don’t need to fumble and struggle your way through the day or leave behind unfinished business every day.
The 80/20 Rule: Another Tip Toward a More Organized Office
A good rule of thumb is to make sure you don’t leave any work on your desk at night. When you’re done at the end of the day you put everything away in its home and tidy up. That way, when you start your day you feel organized, in control, and can focus on the task at hand without the distraction of everything else. Have designated places for absolutely everything and keep it orderly. Put things that are new or in-progress somewhere easily accessible and noticeable so they don’t get lost in the shuffle. When things are done, put them away and take a moment to pat yourself on the back for one more small victory on the path to success.
This idea is in line with the 80/20 rule. 80% of your results come from 20% of what you do. 80% of what you do only leads to 20% of your results. Add tidying, filing, and organizing to the list of things you only spend 20% of your time doing and see an 80% return on productivity, efficiency, and creativity.
Position – The biggest mistake I see in offices is the position of the desk. Organization truly begins with where you put yourself, so if you only take one piece of advice from this article let it be this – move your desk.
Think of the office of any powerful executive you’ve ever seen, or even the Oval Office. The desk is facing the door. Not a wall. Not a window. The door. There are a few reasons for this including that you are less able to focus, feel less safe and secure, and are less able to open your mind to ideas and opportunities if your range of perception of the world around you becomes limited for prolonged periods every day.
In fact, within minutes of sitting at a desk and facing a wall people begin to have stress markers, which aren’t inherently bad if it helps you solve a problem, but as it escalates it can inevitably become conducive to anxiety and all that comes with it. This makes sense because you can’t see if someone is coming up behind you and for many that in itself can ba stressful.
Conversely, when folks sit in the so-called power position facing a door they tend to be calm, strategic, and creative. Sitting where you can see the door and have your back to the wall helps you to feel more empowered, in control, safe, and aware. You will be able to take heed when people are coming into your realm both literally and figuratively.
Visuals – Consider for a moment what you can see from your desk. People have all kinds of funny things holed away in the corners of their office that do them no good. There’s no need to indefinitely display the box your printer came in six months ago. Recycle that thing or use it to store some unimportant or old things you don’t need in your way as you strive to tidy. Remember that piles of unorganized or un-filed paperwork send the wrong ideas.
Instead, really think about your goals and what you do want to look at. Maybe you’ve never been to Spain and would love to go. You’re going to need some success to get there, so remind yourself while you’re working toward the goal by hanging a picture of your dream destination. If there is an accolade of some sort, say the Nobel Peace Prize, that you’re after. Find a picture or recreation of the real deal and put it where you can see it. Hang pictures of someone in your field that you look up to. If you want to be internationally known, get a globe.
By replacing clutter and messes with things that symbolize whatever success means to you, you are creating a space where you can focus on your goals uninhibitedly. You are reminded why you do what you do so that you can see the bigger picture of your life unfolding rather than being stuck on the surface of the day-to-day.
All of this comes down to training your brain. Successful people work hard, but if you aren’t where you want to be I assure you it’s probably not because you aren’t working hard enough or aren’t good enough. It’s probably just that your environment is sending the wrong messages or mixed messages to your brain and creating a wonky, likely distressed, energy in your space so your mind and body can’t work in alignment with your goals.
About Jennifer Sala
Jennifer Sala is a former ghostwriter turned interior designer and feng shui consultant. She is involved in a multitude of arts and culture organizations and leadership roles around Ellsworth and Hancock County. Learn more about feng shui and Jen’s services at https://www.revivalinteriorsmaine.com/informed-by-feng-shui.
