Juice Updates

The deadline for the pitch session is November 7.

Organizers of the Juice Conference have received an anonymous donation of $30,000, with the intention that the funds be invested on behalf of Midcoast Magnet into innovative Maine businesses (Existing companies trying to expand as well as start-ups are eligible).

Below is the form required for this session. You can download or view this document using the links above it.

Tickets are still available for the Saturday night performance by the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange. These tickets can be purchased through Bay Chambers Concerts, and there is an added incentive for Juice Conference attendees who will enjoy a 20% reduction on their admission price.

Why Juice? Why You?

If you read a newspaper, work, or drink coffee at a local coffee shop, you have undoubtedly heard about Juice. But like so much information we encounter it may be something that sounds familiar but has not registered on your radar. For those of you fully aware you might think it sounds interesting, but why does it have value for me?

At its most basic level Juice 2.0 is about the economic future of Maine. It is a forum for the innovative, creative, prestigious and yes sometimes wacky minds that strive to make Maine a viable economic environment. It offers insights to thriving businesses and entrepreneurial ideas in their infancy and provides knowledgeable resources to help with financing, marketing and networking ideas.

As a seasoned worker I am interested to learn how old challenges are met with new ideas. I also find that an old idea may have new relevance in an emerging market. Young careerists can benefit by learning about trends in their area or other areas that might be of interest, as they contemplate the future direction of their working future. Individuals concerned about building or refurbishing homes can learn about new materials and green trends to save them money while being kind to the environment. New entrants to the job market might learn about an industry or organization that they can be passionate about. Stay at home parents, seniors and professional volunteers might discover new community centric ideas they can help to bring alive in their own communities.

If you are interested in making a living in Maine, if you hope your children will have jobs that will keep them here, if you have an idea that you would like to bring to fruition, if you are interested in creativity, passion and the courage to bring an idea to reality or you want to feel confident the Maine economy can evolve with sustainability, you will savor the experience of Juice.

Post courtesy of Lee Heffner, Midcoast Magnet blogger

Creative Economy – Creative Solutions

There are two things that virtually every American believes. You can own your own home and you can make your own living. True, not everyone is cut out to be an entrepreneur but the power of the option is unassailable.

Independent fishermen are a prime example of entrepreneurship. They invest in their businesses, they strive to be their own bosses and they work hard to provide for their families. Imagine owning a business that every related economic variable is negative. What would you do? Many would be discouraged to the point of defeat. That is the place ground fishermen found themselves in 2007. The Maine fleet of ground fishermen had declined from 350 boats to 70. Stocks were declining, costs of operation were spiraling upward, days at sea were cut by increased regulation and global climate change impacted the stock in ways yet to be defined. Every market indicator pointed to the demise of the industry.

Photo:Peter Ralston
Port Clyde fishermen, as notoriously independent as any fisherman you may know, banded together to save their businesses. They knew to survive they would have to be creative and look at a centuries old business model in new ways. They formed a cooperative, leased a dock for joint use and forced themselves to look at the obstacles that confronted them. They had to seek an alternative way to sustain their businesses.

Two things evolved. They learned to brand their product and they educated their market on the importance of ground fish to the informed consumer. They learned from the example of organic farmers and the Community Supported Agriculture model.

The educated consumer wants to know where their food comes from, how it is acquired and most importantly that it is fresh. Fresh means local. The price for these assurances can be somewhat higher but what is more important than knowing that you are serving the freshest seasonal food available.
The Midcoast Fishermen’s Cooperative launched a Community Supported Fishery (CSF) that allows consumers to buy harvest shares. In two years the number of share holders has grown from 35 to 350. In addition to shares the cooperative has offered its product at local farmer’s markets and a restaurant demand has also developed.

Photo: Kim Libby
The CSF serves shareholders from Bath to Mt. Desert. To better serve their customers the cooperative has built its own processing plant and the supposed issues of dissent fostered by independence have been mitigated by the results.

The Midcoast Fishermen’s Cooperative has proven you can preserve heritage and livelihood by looking at old problems as new opportunities.

Post courtesy of Lee Heffner, Midcoast Magnet blogger

Build Green Maine Explores Innovation at Juice Conference

Following the successful Built Energy Forum held at the Augusta Civic Center in February, Build Green Maine is producing four sessions for Juice 2.0 “Building Maine’s Innovation Networks.” Build Green Maine is dedicated to facilitating the rapid transformation of Maine’s built environment to greatly reduce energy inputs and reduce carbon emission.

“Sustainability is an essential theme for the creative economy,” says Skip Bates, Board President of conference producer Midcoast Magnet and Vice President of Business Banking at Bangor Savings. “’Ugly’ is not sustainable, and energy efficiency is essential. This conference represents an opportunity for architects, designers, builders, material scientists, entrepreneurs and consumers to develop relationships and to learn about the forces driving change in our built environment.” The Juice Conference will take place on November 13 and 14 in Camden, Maine. The conference will bring together over 500 of Maine’s most creative entrepreneurs, artists, innovators and statewide leaders at the intersection of technology, tradition and design for the purpose of charting the future of Maine’s economy.

The sessions produced by Build Green Maine are:

• “20/30 Vision: Maine’s Energy Efficient Housing Stock 20 Years into the Future” The heads of key state agencies engage in a moderated dialogue of the elements of a sustainable built environment deep into the future for Maine and its effects on our cultural and economic development. Panelists include John Richardson, Department of Economic and Community Development; John Kerry, Governor’s Office of Energy Independence and Security; Donna McNeil, Maine Arts Commission and Adam Krea, Maine Housing

• “Gutting the Money Pit: A Case of a Deep Energy Retrofit” World-renowned building scientist, Joseph Lstiburek will walk participants step by step through a case study of a deep energy house retrofit. Learn how to prioritize retrofit tasks, learn what NOT to do and learn about the new materials and technologies that will get the job done

• “Smart Houses Don’t Just Stand There: Exploring a collaborative design and construction process with the goal of producing affordable net-zero houses” Matthew O’Malia and Alan Gibson of GO Logic Homes will present an overview of the design process and construction methods for their net–zero model home in Belfast, Maine. The process demonstrates how a close collaboration between the design and construction processes proves that affordable net-zero houses are viable and possible, right now

• “Preservation as a Development Strategy” Staff of Maine Preservation will explain the keys to success where preservation strategies initiated downtown economic development and significant energy savings.

Cost Cutting Ways to be Part of the Juice Conference

Juice Conference organizers have found ways to allow potential attendees to cut their costs.

The early bird registration has been extended to October 25; additionally, conference organizers are seeking volunteers to assist with all facets of the event organization during the two days of the conference. Volunteers will enjoy a greatly reduced entry price of $125 for the entire conference.
Those interested should contact Lori Roming, roming@unityfdn.org for the promotional code that is required for the discounted sign up.

Juice Conference Offers $30,000 to Maine Start-Ups

The organizers of Juice 2.0 are making a call for business plans after an anonymous donor has provided $30,000 to the conference. This anonymous donor asks that these funds be invested on behalf of Midcoast Magnet into innovative Maine businesses.

“One of the most exciting elements of the conference is the pitch session,” says Skip Bates, Board President of conference producer Midcoast Magnet and Vice President of Business Banking at conference sponsor Bangor Savings. “We are looking to introduce start-ups and businesses that are expanding to potential investors and banks. Not only will the conference be a great opportunity to network, we now actually have some money to put to work.”

Collaborating on the pitch session will be Jayme Okma Lee and John Burns of the Small Enterprise Growth Fund, who will organize the pitch session. SEGF has significant expertise in advising and investing in high growth companies. A $9 million ‘evergreen fund’, SEGF is a professionally managed venture capital fund that invests exclusively in Maine companies that demonstrate a potential for high growth and public benefit.

“Investing in Maine companies is essential to the growth of our economy,” says John Burns, SEGF Fund Manager. “For every dollar that SEGF invests, another $9 is invested alongside by individuals and other venture funds. We’ve helped to catalyze over $90 million in investments, creating jobs at an annual rate of 5% in our portfolio companies, compared to just 1% for the state’s economy overall.”

“Successful entrepreneurship is rooted in collaboration, the free flow of information, and the availability of capital,” says Bates, “Our goal is to develop relationships between creative entrepreneurs and investors.”

Interested entrepreneurs should register for the conference and contact Skip Bates for more information. Business plans must be received by November 1st. Participants in the pitch session will have an opportunity to explain their business plan in a confidential setting. Reviewers will include Susan Snowden, Bangor Savings Bank; John Burns, SEGF; Mark Kaplan, CEI Ventures; and Michael Gurau, Clear Venture Partners. The top rated entrepreneurs will then receive an opportunity to pitch their ideas to an expanded audience of investment professionals. $25,000 investment will be invested in the winning business and two runners up will receive $2,500 each.

Juice Conference 2.0 is Officially a Certified Green Event

The November Juice Conference that is set to power Maine’s creative economy will itself be powered by clean, renewable energy. Offsetting the Juice 2.0 conference with green power is just one step taken by event planners to make this event a certified green event. The Juice Conference received its green certification from Maine Businesses for Social Responsibility (MEBSR) under MEBSR’s new green event certification program.

Juice 2.0 will connect leaders of the creative economy and foster economic growth through collaboration: the conference brings together leaders and innovators in the arts, technology, and entrepreneurial sectors. “As a conference designed to chart Maine’s economic and creative future – a future where green industries will play a large role, ensuring the conference itself was green and sustainable was crucial” said Skip Bates, vice president of business banking for Bangor Savings Bank. “We know sustainability is a vital element to ensure Maine’s economic prosperity – ensuring our conference was green illustrates our commitment to sustainability and innovation.”

To become certified, Juice 2.0 was required to meet a variety of criteria set by MEBSR to minimize the environmental impact of the event. “Coming up with greener practices in all aspects of the conference required both innovation and collaboration with conference stakeholders and vendors” says Bates. Emphasizing electronic registration and social networking for marketing purposes in lieu of paper promotional materials, offering participants mass transportation options, and choosing a venue where all conference sites are within walking distance are just a few of the green initiatives implemented by conference organizers.

Vendors of Juice 2.0 played a critical role in securing MEBSR green event certification. “Our vendors have been extremely accommodating and are devoted to becoming greener and helping our conference have a small carbon footprint,” said George Callas, Midcoast Magnet Board Member and Director of Build Green Maine, a program of Midcoast Magnet. Vendors include Lani Temple from the Megunticook Market which is catering all food served at the Camden Opera House during the conference, as well as the Camden Opera House, which has initiated a greening plan designed to achieve carbon neutrality.

Maine Interfaith Power and Light, a renewable electricity aggregator, will donate the required wind power offsets to make the conference a carbon neutral event. The electricity and heating fuel consumed during the two day conference will be tallied and then offset by wind power credits from the Mars Hill Wind Farm in northern Maine. Additionally, attendees will be asked to offset their own carbon dioxide emissions from driving to and from the conference by making a voluntary purchase of wind power credits. Proceeds from these purchases will fund the development of wind power in Maine and other clean energy initiatives.

Find out a little more about MEBSR in this short video clip.

Joe Lstiburek to Speak about Building Science at Juice Conference

Joe Lstiburek is a building scientist who will speak after Saturday's lunch session on November 14. The title of his talk is Innovations & Implications of Renovation.

Joseph Lstiburek, B.A.Sc., M.Eng., Ph.D., P.Eng., is a principal of Building Science Corporation. He is a building scientist who investigates building failures and is internationally recognized as an authority on moisture related building problems and indoor air quality. He is a member of ASTM and the past chairman of ASTM E241 – Increasing the Durability of Building Assemblies from Moisture Induced Damage. He is a contributor and reviewer of Chapters 21 and 22 of ASHRAE Fundamentals. Dr. Lstiburek is an ASHRAE fellow and a voting member of ASHRAE Standard 62 – Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality. He is also a voting member of both the ASHRAE Technical Committee 4.3 Ventilation Requirements and Infiltration and ASHRAE Technical Committee 4.4 Building Materials and Building Envelope Performance. Dr. Lstiburek is an acclaimed public speaker and lecturer in building science. His seminars and presentations on building durability issues are attended by hundreds of architects, engineers, builders, and property managers in the United States each year. Dr. Lstiburek received an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toronto, a masters degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Toronto and a Doctorate in Building Science at the University of Toronto. Dr. Lstiburek has been a licensed Professional Engineer in the Province of Ontario since 1982.

Joe is among many guest lecturers at this year's Juice Conference. Visit www.JuiceConference.org for details.

Juice Conference Workshop Sessions Announced

The full schedule of workshops and sessions available at the 2009 Juice Conference is now viewable online. There are over 40 options to choose from at this year’s conference, and there is truly something for everyone who attends.

Sessions such as “The Perfect Pitch” allows attendees to present ideas to business professionals. “Fundraising – Selling the Value of Your Organization” allows attendees to ask the funders the best way to loosen their wallets. “Temples in the Garden” will discuss how we create an economy that simultaneously protects and capitalizes on the natural environment. “Copyright Protection and Licensing” will help explain how to protect your creativity and how to safely and wisely leverage it.

These are just a few of the countless options that you will find at www.Juiceconference.org.

Liz Lerman to Speak at Juice Conference

Liz Lerman, the founding artistic director of the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, will be doing double duty at the 2009 Juice Conference in Camden this November. She will be speaking on the morning of Saturday, November 14; the title of her speech is Dance as Dialogue, Crafting a Sense of Place. At 7:00 pm the same evening, the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange will be performing on stage at the Camden Opera House.

Lerman is a choreographer, performer, writer, educator, and speaker. Described by the Washington Post as “the source of an epochal revolution in the scope and purposes of dance art,” her dance/theater works have been seen throughout the United States and abroad. Her aesthetic approach spans the range from abstract to personal to political, while her working process emphasizes research, translation between artistic media, and intensive collaboration with dancers and communities. She founded Liz Lerman Dance Exchange in 1976, and has cultivated the company’s unique multi-generational ensemble, with dancers whose ages span five decades, into a leading force in contemporary dance.

Liz has been the recipient of numerous honors, including the American Choreographer Award, the American Jewish Congress “Golda” Award, and Washingtonian magazine’s 1988 Washingtonian of the Year. In 2002 her work was recognized with a MacArthur “Genius Grant” Fellowship, and she was recently designated for the National Foundation for Jewish Culture’s Achievement Award and induction into the University of Maryland’s Hall of Fame. Liz’s work has been commissioned by Lincoln Center, American Dance Festival, BalletMet, and the Kennedy Center, among many others. From 1994 to 1996, in collaboration with the Music Hall of Portsmouth, N.H., Liz directed The Shipyard Project, which has been widely noted as an example of the power of art to enhance such values as social capital and civic dialogue. From 1999 to 2002 she led Hallelujah, which engaged people in 15 cities throughout the United States in the creation of a series of dances “in praise of” topics vital to their communities.

Her current projects include Ferocious Beauty: Genome, an investigation of the impact of genetic research in our lives, and a commission from the Harvard University School of Law for a work observing the human rights legacy of the post-WWII Nuremberg Trials. As a frequent keynote speaker and panelist, Liz addresses arts, community, and business organizations both nationally and internationally. She consults regularly with the Mellon Orchestra Forum and Synagogue 2000, and recently participated in Harvard University’s Saguaro Seminar, which gathered thinkers to promote the growth of civic connectedness in the United States. She is the author of Teaching Dance to Senior Adults (1983) and the co-author of Liz Lerman’s Critical Response Process (2003), and has written articles and essays for such publications as Reconstructionism Today, Faith and Form, Movement Research, and the Rockefeller Foundation’s Community, Culture, and Globalization.

Born in Los Angeles and raised in Milwaukee, Liz attended Bennington College and Brandeis University, received her B.A. in dance from the University of Maryland, and an M.A. in dance from George Washington University. She is married to storyteller Jon Spelman. Their daughter, Anna, was born in 1988.

NPR's Nick Spitzer Will Speak at Juice Conference

Juice Conference 2009 is very proud to report that Nick Spitzer will be speaking at this year's conference. Nick will really get the ball rolling at Juice 2009 as he speaks about Cultural Investment & Economic Recovery on Friday, November 13.



Nick Spitzer from public radio's American Routes will kick-off the two-day conference. Spitzer is the producer and host of the radio show American Routes, a weekly program devoted to vernacular music and culture, reaching over half a million listeners on over 200 stations nationwide. A folklorist and professor of American studies at Tulane University, Spitzer was recognized as Louisiana Humanist of the Year in 2006 and has been a regular guest on Nightline, BBC, and ABC News, regarding his work to help rebuild communities along the Gulf Coast. Spitzer has produced over a dozen LP/CD recordings of American music. He will address the Juice 2.0 conference audience on the topic of “Valuing Culture from Louisiana to Maine.”

Marci Rossell Will Speak at Juice 2009

Marci Rossell electrifies audiences nationwide, speaking on the nexus of economics, politics, culture and the media. Her animated style was honed when she served as the popular, lively Chief Economist for CNBC in the months immediately following September 11th. Prior to her career in broadcast journalism, Marci served as Corporate Economist and Investment Spokesperson for OppenheimerFunds, one of the nation's largest mutual fund companies. Before moving to Wall Street, she was an expert witness for Deloitte and Touche in court cases involving economic issues. Marci began her career as an economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. She brings a world of experience--from Main Street to Wall Street--when discussing the U.S. economy, international events and movements in capital markets.

Marci will speak at 4:00 pm on Saturday, November 14. For a look at the entire schedule, visit www.juiceconference.org.

Skip Bates Discusses the Creative Economy

Skip Bates, speaking at the 2007 Juice Conference, discusses how the Creative Economy has had an affect on the Midcoast region.

What is the Creative Economy?

This is not a business school or theoretical definition of the Creative Economy. There are many resources for official descriptions, chiefly Robert Florida. The Creative Economy at its most basic level is the convergence of sometimes simple, sometimes wild ideas, with a mix of experience and a strong pioneer spirit.
There are examples of the Creative Economy across the state of Maine. Lobstermen have formed cooperatives to find new ways to market their catch while they strive to manage a sustainable harvest. Barb Scully in Damariscotta started an oyster farm that took twelve years of hard work and much trial and error to break even. Today her oysters are considered among the finest in the world. Entreverge in Portland works to combine innovators with traditional business resources to unite experience and imagination to achieve success.
The Juice Conference brings together innovators and leaders to foster existing and future companies. The goal, always, is to create jobs with salaries that provide a livable wage. Each new business that grows out of the Creative Economy offers the possibility that our children will not have to leave Maine to make a living.
Each new exchange of ideas whether at a conference or in small informal networking groups has the possibility of improving the economy of Maine, the family and the individual. Ideas need sustenance to grow and become reality. Some assistance is available in the form of community, organizational and governmental support. Midcoast Magnet, the Univeresity of Maine’s Student Innovation Center and the Maine Technology Institute are samples that offer resources to Maine businesses.
Continue to watch this site as we share businesses to watch and updates about support organizations.

- Lee Heffner