Eight new entrepreneurs recently graduated from New Ventures Maine’s Venturing Forth class, a 60-hour course in business planning. Held at University College Bath/Brunswick, the class covered topics including your customer, competition, marketing, record keeping, taxes, finances, legal aspects, and more. At the end of the class, graduates presented their completed business plans.

Venturing Forth class graduates included Tamara Barry and Sare Curtis, co-owners of Rise: A Wellness Studio in Winthrop; Jim Blier of Waldoboro, owner of Bees Knees Video; Sheila Cohen of Brunswick, owner of Lingua Beat; Stephanie LaCroix, owner of Engine 5 Bakehouse in Waterville; Christine Macchi of Dresden, owner of Christine Macchi Photography and Craft Traveler; Janine Valliere, owner of Echoes of New England in Hallowell, and Emily Weir, an artist based in Brunswick.

Comments by graduates about the program included:

• “The constructive criticism, focus, congeniality, content, pace and intimate environment helped me to find direction and define my business.”

• “The chance to question our visiting experts was most helpful. We had access to so much collective experience in the business world.”

• “I gained clarity, insights, terminology, and great resources to draw on afterward.”

• “I have laid out action steps for the next year and a half, and feel prepared to continue on with business counseling and mentoring.”

• “I feel more confident and directed. It was transformative and exceeded my expectations.”

New Ventures Maine’s 2016 Brunswick Venturing Forth graduates will meet for three follow-up networking sessions to provide continuing support as they launch and grow their businesses.

Upcoming resources at New Ventures Maine’s Midcoast center include the following programs for small businesses, sole proprietors and aspiring entrepreneurs:

• Work for Yourself @ 50+: Thursday, Feb. 23 at Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick

• Business Basics: Thursdays, March 2 and 9 at Camden Public Library or Tuesdays, March 7 and 14 at University College Bath/Brunswick

• Tax Prep for the Self-Employed: Wednesday, March 22 at University College Bath/Brunswick or Thursday, March 23 at Camden Public Library

For more information or to register for upcoming business classes with New Ventures Maine, visit newventuresmaine.org, call (207) 386-1664 or email jenn.dobransky@maine.edu.

To learn more

• FOR MORE INFORMATION or to register for upcoming business classes with New Ventures Maine, visit newventuresmaine.org, call (207) 386-1664 or email jenn.dobransky@maine.edu.